With this set, begin with #1A, #1B, and #1C as a series. Then move on
to the #2 series, then the #3 series, etc.
PULSE
1
.
.
2
.
.
3
.
.
4
.
.
SHORT
BELL
x
.
x
.
x
x
.
x
.
x
.
x
DRUM
#1A
i
.
.
o
.
.
i
.
.
o
.
.
DRUM
#1B
o
.
.
i
.
.
o
.
.
i
.
.
BELL
x
.
.
x
.
.
x
.
.
x
.
.
DRUM
#1C
o
.
(o)
.
(o)
(o)
.
o
.
o
.
o
a
b
c
Once you are comfortable with #1C, then leave out note "a", then leave
out "a + b", then leave out "a, b + c"
PULSE
1
.
.
2
.
.
3
.
.
4
.
.
LONG
BELL
x
.
x
.
x
.
x
x
.
x
.
x
DRUM
#2A
i
.
.
o
.
.
i
.
.
o
.
.
DRUM
#2B
o
.
.
i
.
.
o
.
.
i
.
.
BELL
x
.
.
x
.
.
x
.
.
x
.
.
DRUM
#1CD
o
.
(o)
.
(o)
.
(o)
o
.
o
.
o
a
b
c
(Same as above #1C above OR: choose "a, b or c" and play as press (i)
notes)
PULSE
1
.
.
2
.
.
3
.
.
4
.
.
SOLI
BELL
x
.
x
.
x
.
x
.
x
x
.
x
DRUM
#3A
i
.
.
o
.
.
i
.
.
o
.
.
DRUM
#3B
o
.
.
i
.
.
o
.
.
i
.
.
BELL
x
.
.
x
.
.
x
.
.
x
.
.
DRUM
#3C
o
.
o
.
o
.
o
.
o
o
.
o
PULSE
1
.
.
2
.
.
3
.
.
4
.
.
BELL
x
.
x
x
.
x
x
.
x
x
.
x
DRUM
#4A
i
.
.
o
.
.
i
.
.
o
.
.
DRUM
#4B
o
.
.
i
.
.
o
.
.
i
.
.
BELL
x
.
.
x
.
.
x
.
.
x
.
.
DRUM
#4C
o
.
o
o
.
o
o
.
o
o
.
o
PULSE
1
.
.
2
.
.
3
.
.
4
.
.
BELL
x
x
.
x
x
.
x
x
.
x
x
.
DRUM
#5A
i
.
.
o
.
.
i
.
.
o
.
.
DRUM
#5B
o
.
.
i
.
.
o
.
.
i
.
.
BELL
x
.
.
x
.
.
x
.
.
x
.
.
DRUM
#5C
o
o
.
o
o
.
o
o
.
o
o
.
PULSE
1
.
.
2
.
.
3
.
.
4
.
.
BELL
x
.
.
x
.
,
x
.
.
x
.
.
DRUM
#6A
.
o
o
.
o
o
.
o
o
.
o
o
BELL
.
x
x
.
x
x
.
x
x
.
x
x
DRUM
#6B
i
.
.
o
.
.
i
.
.
o
.
.
DRUM
#6C
o
.
.
i
.
.
o
.
.
i
.
.
DRUM
#6D
.
o
o
.
o
o
.
o
o
.
o
o
DRUM
#6E
.
.
o
.
.
o
.
.
o
.
.
o
BELL
x
.
x
.
x
.
x
.
x
.
x
.
DRUM
#6F
.
.
o
.
o
o
.
.
o
.
o
o
BELL
.
x
x
.
x
x
.
x
x
.
x
x
DRUM
#6G
.
.
o
.
o
o
.
.
o
.
o
o
PULSE
1
.
.
2
.
.
3
.
.
4
.
.
BELL
x
.
.
x
.
.
x
.
.
x
.
.
DRUM
#7A
.
o
.
o
.
i
.
o
.
o
.
i
DRUM
#7B
.
o
o
.
.
i
.
o
o
.
.
i
DRUM
#7C
.
.
o
o
.
i
.
.
o
o
.
i
PULSE
1
.
.
2
.
.
3
.
.
4
.
.
Use
the SHORT, LONG or SOLI bell patterns with:
DRUM
#8A
o
.
o
o
.
o
o
.
o
o
.
o
DRUM
#8B
o
o
o
o
.
o
o
.
o
o
.
DRUM
#8C
.
o
o
.
o
o
.
o
o
.
o
o
My opinion is that it is useful for the beginning player to also experiment
with tapping a foot, or stepping to the underlying pulse (indicated here
by the numbers 1 - 4) . One way to help develop this ability is to
have the feet "play" the basic pulse while also playing the bell, as in
the 4/4 patterns: 1A, 2A, 3A, 5A and 6A, as well in the 12/8 patterns
1A-6A. I know there are differing opinions about the usefulness of
foot tapping - I have observed that many African dunun players tend to
unconsciously dance or step to the pulse while playing. (I'm also aware
that there is often an underlying pulsation cycle of three in Mande drumming,
especially in the 12/8 rhythms.) If you are using a drum machine
for practice you might experiment with programming a shaker sound to represent
the pulse, as a cue for stepping or foot tapping. Here is an example of
this concept using the short bell.
PULSE
1
.
.
2
.
.
3
.
.
4
.
.
SHORT
BELL
x
.
x
.
x
x
.
x
.
x
.
x
DRUM
o
.
.
i
.
.
o
.
.
i
.
.
FOOT
TAP
T
.
.
T
.
.
T
.
.
T
.
.
STEP
R
.
.
L
.
.
R
.
.
L
.
.
BELL
x
.
.
x
.
.
x
.
.
x
.
.
DRUM
#1D
o
.
(o)
.
(o)
(o)
.
o
.
o
.
o
a
b
c
.
.
.
.
.
.
One last set of patterns I have found useful to strengthen the drum/stick
hand, as well as develop speed and stamina are:
PULSE
4/4
1
.
.
.
2
.
.
.
3
.
.
.
4
.
.
.
BELL
x
.
x
.
x
.
x
.
x
.
x
.
x
.
x
.
DRUM
o
o
o
.
i
.
.
.
o
o
o
.
i
.
.
.
o
o
o
.
i
.
.
o
o
o
o
.
i
.
.
o
o
o
o
o
i
.
.
.
o
o
o
o
i
.
.
.
...it's great to learn all drum patterns not only with their foundational
bell pattern, but also with straight or double-time bell. Eventually the
drum/stick hand frees up and is able to play "off the bell" (as in the
above exercise or in 4/4 #1C or #1E double-time bell), while the
bell pattern continues and holds you in the groove. Here's a couple of
traditional rhythms in which the drum can be played off the bell:
PULSE
4/4
1
.
.
.
2
.
.
.
3
.
.
.
4
.
.
.
BELL
x
x
.
x
.
x
x
.
x
.
x
x
.
x
x
.
DUNUN
o
o
.
o
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
o
.
.
.
o
PULSE
12/8
1
.
.
2
.
.
3
.
.
4
.
.
BELL
x
.
x
x
.
x
x
.
x
x
.
x
DUNUN
o
.
o
.
.
i
.
.
o
.
o
.
If you have found these patterns and concepts useful for your practice,
I also recommend you look into the 7 Wheels of Bembe or Clave for further
permutations:
