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Practice Beats
Musical Notation Explained

Legend

R-L- RLRL R-L- R---
B-B- TTTT B-B- T---

Top Row

Indicates which hand is used.

  • L = Left
  • R = Right

Bottom Row

Indicates the type of sound to make. Capital letters indicate a normal volume. Lower-case letters indicate a softer (ghost note) volume. Video explanation.

  • B = Bass
  • T = Tone
  • S = Slap
  • - = Rest

Counting

The spacing between the groups of top and bottom rows, demarcates the 1/4 note. There are generally four 1/4 notes in each bar. All notes have an equal duration.

  • B-B- TTTT B-B- T---

    Groups of 4

    4/4 time signature with 16th notes. Count Aloud '1' 'e' 'and' 'uh' '2' 'e' 'and' 'uh' '3' 'e' 'and' 'uh' '4' 'e' 'and' 'uh'
  • B-T B-T BTT T-T

    Groups of 3

    3/4 time signature with 8th notes. Count Aloud '1' 'trip' 'let' '2' 'trip' 'let' '3' 'trip' 'let' '4' 'trip' 'let'
  • TT TS SS SS

    Groups of 2

    4/4 time signature with 8th notes. Count Aloud '1' 'and' '2' 'and' '3' 'and' '4' 'and'

Beats

All Selections Cleared

15 Essential Rhythms

Source
Kresimir Oreski - 15 Essential Rhythms
  1. R-RL RLR-
    B-TT BTT-
  2. R-RL -LR-
    B-TT -TT-
  3. R--L R-L- R--L RLR-
    B--B B-T- B--B BTT-
  4. R--L -LR- R-R- RL--
    B--T -TT- B-B- TT--
  5. RLRL RLR-
    BBTT BBT-
  6. R-L- RLRL R-L- R---
    B-B- TTTT B-B- T---
  7. R--L R-L- R--L R---
    B--T T-B- B--T T---
  8. R-RL R-R- RL--
    B-TT B-B- TT--
  9. RLRL R-R- R--L R-R-
    BTTT B-T- B--T B-T-
  10. RLRL R--L R-L- R---
    TTTT B--T T-T- B---
  11. R-L- R--L -LR- R---
    B-B- B--T -TT- T---
  12. RLR- R--L RLR- R-L-
    BBB- T--T BBB- T-T-
  13. R-L R-L RLR L-L
    B-T B-T BTT T-T
  14. R-R LRL R-R L--
    B-B TTT B-B T--
  15. R-- L-L R-R L-L
    B-- T-T B-B T-T

8 Basic B-T-S Exercises

Source
Kresimir Oreski - 8 Basic B-T-S Exercises
  1. RLRL RLRL
    BBTT BBSS
  2. RLRL RLRL
    BBTT SSTT
  3. RLRL RLRL
    TTSS TTSS
  4. RLRL RLRL
    BTTB BSSB
  5. RLR LRL
    TTS TTS
  6. RLR LRL
    BTT BSS
  7. RLR LRL
    TBB SBB
  8. RLR LRL RLR LRL
    BBB TTT SSS TTT

Egyptian

Source
Various
  1. R--- R-L-
    B--- B-T-
  2. LRL- R---
    TBT- B---
  3. LR -L -R --
    TT -T -B --

African Patterns for Beginners

Source
Djembe Drumming Patterns for Beginners
  1. RL RL RL RL
    TT TS SS SS
  2. RLR- LRL- -R--
    TTT- SSS- -B--

10 Rhythms for Beginners

Source
Djembe Master - 10 Rhythms for Beginners
  1. RLRL
    BsSs
  2. R-L R-L
    B-s S-s
  3. RLRL RLRL
    BsSs BSSs
  4. RLRL RLRL
    BsSs BSss
  5. RLRL RLRL
    BsSs BSsS
  6. RLRL RLRL
    BSsS BsSs
  7. RLRL RLRL
    BsSs BsSS
  8. RLR LRL
    Bss SsS
  9. RLR LRL
    BsB Sss
  10. RLR LRL RLR LRL
    BsB sss SsS sss

Next Level Beats

Source
Djembe Master - Next Level Beats
Notes
Right hand stays on bass.
Left hand stays on edge (at 9 o'clock).
  1. RLRR LRLR
    BsBb SbsB
  2. RLRL RLRL RLRR LRLL
    BsbS bsSs bsBB Sbss
  3. RLRL RLRR LRLL RRLL
    Bsbs bsbb Sbss bbss
  4. RLLR LRLL RLLR LRLL
    BssB Sbss bssB Sbss

3 Essential Djembe Rhythms

Source
3 Essential Djembe Rhythms
Names
Tresillo (Carribean Clave, Malfuf), Hip-hop, and African (World, 4 on the floor)
  1. LR LR LR LR
    Bt tS tt Tt
  2. RLRL RLRL RLRL RLRL
    BtBt SttB tBBt Sttt
  3. R--L R-R- RL-L R-L-
    B--t B-t- Bt-t B-t-

West African Rhythms

Source
Age Delbanco, West African Rhythms
  1. RL RL RL RL
    TT TS SS SS
  2. RLR- LRL- -R--
    TTT- SSS- -B--

Home Grown

Composer
Miles Nature
  1. -R-- L--R ---L -R-L
    -B-- B--B ---T -P-T
  2. RLR LRL RLR L-L
    BTT BTT BTT T-T
  3. R-R LRL R-R LRL
    B-t TTT B-t TTT

Tiriba

Composer
Landuma in West Guinea
Boke and Boffa Regions
Source
tontinkan.net
  1. RLRL RL- RL- R--
    TTTT TT- TT- T--
  2. RLR -L- RL- RL-
    BST -S- BS- BS-
  3. R-- LR- L-- RL-
    B-- TS- B-- TS-
  4. R-L RLR LR- LRL
    B-S BTT BS- BTT

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