Sunday, July 29, 2012

Bembe 5 ( Bembe de Sao, Bembe Nilo Niye)

I will show you 5th Bembe this time.

The bell is the same as other Bembe (see my previous post).

Salidor (Highest drum).




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Salidor (High)    6/8
H T O O (T) S H T O O (T) S
(hands)
L L R R L R L L R R L R



Medio (Mid drum).




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Medio  (Medium) 6/8
S S . S S . S S . S O O
(hands)
L R
L R   L R
L R R



Caja (Low drum).
This rhythm for Caja is ride. Caja player improvise based on this rhythm.




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Caja  (Low)         6/8
T H T T H T O H T O H T
(hands)
R L L R L L R L L R  L L



Please click HERE for YouTube demonstration.

Last time, I received a question where I got these information from. I am studying Afro-Cuban music almost 20 years. I went to Cuba, took classes from many different instructor (including Giovanni Hidalgo), and have many information. I cannot tell which information came from where anymore. I started this blog to share my information to make easier to access this wonderful music to many people. So if you have any comments, please send to me. Thank you.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Bembe 4 (Bembe Omo Aye, Bembe Santa Teresa)

Cuban Rhythm This Bembe is from Matanzas region.
The bell pattern is the same as other Bembes.

Cachimbo (Highest Drum).
Played by bare hands.




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Cachimbo (High)    6/8 O S . S S T O S . S M M
(hands)
R L
L R L R L
L R L


Mula (Mid Drum).
Played by bare hands.




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Mula  (Medium) 6/8
B . O O . . B
O O . .
(hands)
R
R L
R
R L


Caja (Lowest Drum).
Played by one bare hand (for this example, left hand) and one stick (right hand).
The example I posted here is ride.
Caja player improvise.
The right hand (with stick) slap is created by pressing drum head with left hand and hit flat by stick (my YouTube example doesn't have enough "slap" sound but please make sure to make nice slap sound.




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Caja  (Low)         6/8
O . B B T S . . B B S .
(with one stick)
R
L L L   
L L R
Right hand with stick













Please click HERE for YouTube demonstration.