Songo Lessons
Very Basic Songo
A basic groove which'll challenge your independence but provides a very good groove!
Very Basic Songo Lesson 2
Here's the next installment for our songo lessons. The snare pattern is something I came up with, a long time ago, based on the New York style Mozambique bell pattern. The bass drum's just playing on the 4th sixteenth note of beats one and three. The are many other BD patterns. We'll look at those soon.
Songo Lesson 3
Our next songo type groove uses a new ride pattern, which is basically a dotted eighth and sixteenth note. You can play this on hi hat, ride, bell...wherever! Practice slowly, increasing tempo only when your body is accustomed to the patterns you're performing.
More Songo Grooves
I hope you enjoy this brief but practical (and intense) lesson!
These two grooves work great with "latin" and Cuban types of music. You'll see that the snare pattern is the same. The ride pattern, whether played on hi hat, cymbal, cowbell, changes from one pattern to the other. Take care to play the accents where notated. The "e" of beat "1" (2nd 16th note of beat one ) need not be played as notated.
Use this bass drum pattern to start. (The accent on the downbeat of measure two is a notation error.) After you can perform this pattern, try omitting the downbeat from each measure
Basic AfroCaribbean drum set class at Musicians Institute.
They're "songo-ish" ideas. Enjoy!
More Songo
Giraldo Piloto Barreto Groove
Piloto is a great drummer. Believe me! Most of you have not heard of Piloto. Piloto lives in the the Playa neighborhood of Havana, Cuba. He's the leader of the Cuban band KLIMAX and one of my best friends. What an amazing drummer. Piloto also composes and arranges for KLIMAX as well as many other groups and vocalists. You can hear KLIMAX here and also purchase their latest CD, which is absolutely amazing music!! This is one of many, many patterns that Piloto uses. The right hand plays mambo bell (called contracampana), which is mounted on the rim of the bass drum. The left hand plays hi hat and snare drum. Have fun with this. It's what I'm practicing now! I put up this lesson about a week ago and now I'm seeing how difficult this groove is! So, I'm re-writing and re-presenting the lesson as I am learning the groove. Here's just the hi hat and snare, both played with the left hand. Following that example, you'll see the bass drum has been added.
Now, here's the bell pattern added to the snare drum. The bell is played with your right hand. Following the measure with just bell and and snare, you'll find the bass drum has been added.
