updated 16 October 2001

STUDY DRUMS IN CUBA | WEB SPECIALS

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Lessons from Dave Lombardo's Power Grooves book here and here!

 

Abakwa Rhythm for Drum Set

 

When asking drum set performers in Cuba what "foreign" drummers need to study in order to develop the feel for playing Cuban rhythms, two rhythms are mentioned to me: rumba and abakuá. Rumba is Cuban folkoric music, developedby the freed slaves when they moved to the big cities of Havana and Matanzas. Rumba is usually thought to be comprised of three main categories: yambú (an older rumba variant, played at a very slow tempo), guagauncó (faster style), and colúmbia, the fastest of the three styles. There are other variants, perhaps not as popular. Guarapachangueo comes to mind. In Matanzas, Cuba, are found yet more variations on the theme of rumba. Rumba is a wide, wide world of drumming, dance, song, and celebration. The soloing of the quinto (drum) can provide drum set players with inspiration to last for years.

Abakuá is a secret men's society, brought to Cuba from the Calabar region of West Africa, specifically Southeastern Nigeria. The drumming of Abakuá is intense, full of deep weaving rhythms and beautiful soloing, which streches the time, weaving between common time and 6/8 time, between duple and triple meters. What a great music!

This groove's inspiration comes directly from my good friend, Miguel Garcia Fernandez, of Havana, Cuba. Miguel is the drum set instructor for my courses in Cuba. I've added another left hand pattern, different from what Miguel taught us. Your right hand is playing cowbell (mounted on the floor tom) and the floor time itself. I believe my bass drum pattern is different as well. Take your time with this groove. Once you get past the coordination and the technical aspects of this pattern, you can hear the melody and harmony. Then you'll be on your way to developing a feel for these wonderful rhythms.

 

If any of you would like to record yourself and send the recording to me, on CD, I'll put the sounds up here! (Please do not send sound files via email. Thanks.) Chuck Silverman Post Office Box 572962 Tarzana, Califoria 91357-2962 USA

 

 

Choose a Lesson Lombardo #1 Lombardo#2 Killer Timbale Solo Bernard Purdie #1 Bernard Purdie#2 Why You Drum Uruguay Samba de Angola Brasil Lessons Double Bass Cowbell! Latin Hand Patters Latin Rudiments 5:2 Hand Exercise Changuito Melodic Exercises Cascara Funk Make It Funky! Basic Brasil Articles of Independence Candombe Hand Ex. Palo DrumSet James Brown FUNK Another Palo Lesson Odd Note Groupings More Musical Groupings Interesting Stickings NY Mozambique MI Class New Ride Pattern Partido Alto Lesson More Partido and Exercises Manny Oquendo - a Legend Making Transitions More Transitions Basic Samba Ostinato lesson More DBL Bass

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Ostinato Ex.	More Double Bass
Partido Alto	Partido Alto + Hand Exercises	Manny Oquendo Legendary Musician	How to Make Transitions	More Transition Information	Basic Samba
Musical Odd Note Groupings using Triplets.	More Musical Odd Note Groupings using Triplets.	Interesting Sticking Ideas	New York Style Mozambique	MI Class	New Ride Pattern
Candombe Hand Exercise	Lombardo Lesson #1	Lombardo Lesson #2	Groovin' Independence	Basic Brasilian Rhythms	Double Bass Cowbell Lessons
Latin Hand Patterns	Latin Rudiments	5 against 2 Hand Patterns	Changuito Melodic Independence	Cascara Funk Lesson	FunkyTwist!
Make It Funky!	More Brasilian Lessons	Why You Drum!	Articles of Independence	Dave Lombardo Power Grooves lesson	Candombe
Killer Timbale Solo	Memphis Soul Stew	Memphis Soul Stew.2	Palo Drum Set Lesson	Palo Drum Set Lesson.2	Get That Funk Outta Here!!

 

Thanks once again for visiting my lessons page, and for checking out the website. If I can be of any help to you, please drop me an email. And don't forget to check out the books, CDs, and videos available here. Thanks!

 

 

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