Free style soloing

[Djembe-nerd]

In my last session, we were playing Sofa, and my teacher just told me to start soloing. I know the parts but don't know the solo phrases. so I just felt the rhythym and made the best from what I hear on the CD's, videos and from my background of other percussion music to match the rhythym.

It seem to go OK, I was with the rhythym structure, and in phrases although they were mine.

what do you think about this. Is this genuine soloing, improvised soloing, or this is the way masters do too, and its their solo phrases which sound best for the rhythym become the solo phrases for the rhythym everywhere.

P.S. This is not with refence to dancers, just an ensemble atmosphere.

[Carl]

Oh boy....

Why do you guy's ask these questions when I'm at work!!!!

Ok, short answer, I would say that this is LIKE what the great players do. "Feeling the rhythm" and "Knowing all the parts" and "making up what sounds right". But each of those quotes involves a LOT of detail and knowledge. A master drummer who has played for hundreds of ceremonies and with thousands of dancers would naturally "make up" stuff that will work. However they are drawing on a lot more information than we would get from CDs and Videos.

At the same time, what you did, especially since it was under the guise of your teacher, does sound pretty traditional to me. Your mentor gives you a chance to solo, then, depending on how well you do, we will ask you to do it again sooner or later depending on what he thinks of your solo.

I could go on at great lengths here, but I'll have to leave it to one of our more verbose posters (anyone?)

C

[Djembe-nerd]

Thanks for the explaination Carl. I will catch you in christamas for the next question

Yes, our teacher is very tradiotional. He teaches "Do as i do". Its was difficult in the beginning to pick up the djembe parts, cos he starts the rhythym with the dununs and then looks at us and gives us the parts by playing them on his djembe. I got used to it now, and as i am plying more and more, its becoming easier.

Your mentor gives you a chance to solo, then, depending on how well you do, we will ask you to do it again sooner or later depending on what he thinks of your solo.

I guess I am going to get another chance as he liked what I did and the class is today.

[e2c]

Adam, I think I would just go with it, keep playing all the parts - and taking solos when asked. Seems like you're absorbing as much as you can, and it takes time for all of that new knowledge to settle in.

the more you play, the more likely you are to be able to feel and sense the "ideas" and phrasing in the music... Keep up the good work!

[Djembe-nerd]

Keep up the good work!

Thanks,

while soloing, i sense that my tones are not as clear as the slaps, I have to work on that. any ideas besides the basics.

[michi]

while soloing, i sense that my tones are not as clear as the slaps, I have to work on that. any ideas besides the basics.

Hmmm... Not really, other than to play more. It really is a matter of practice, practice, practice. If you know that, on a particular phrase, you have poor pronunciation, play that phrase slowly until it is clear, and then raise the tempo gradually. Every time you lose clarity, drop back a notch again, Eventually, you'll get it better and better.

Cheers,

Michi.

[Djembe-nerd]

They sound OK when I do it slower, but the transformation of the hands from a slap to tone in the faster routine loses something in the tone.

I agree its practice, I am still an infant when it comes to djembe. I guess I am aiming too high in a short period of time It will come with time.


Just keep checking here, if I am missing something

[michel weelen]

.... Sounds come from a good hand position & a relaxed movement ... but sound takes time to come because you need to fix your hand in the sound position you like ... so just keep on playing ... it will come.... with time ...



Fadouba Oularé used to say : there are two kinds off drummers, drummers & photocopies drummers .... Some people lurn phrases ... some people know a lot off them but cannot play in a dance situation ....or when they play a gig it's just like (i don't know the expression in english) ... like a tape machine ....
There is one question one has to ask himself : do i want to sound like ...., do i want to express myself freely, or do i want to express myself in the mood off the rythm ...

I certainly choose the second & third options ....

Phrases are keys that open up a mouvement, from this mouvement you develop, emphasis your own mouvement ...
If you listen well you'll find keys, placements, spaces that will sound to your ear ... keep them, fix them, memorise them, you'r makin your own vocabulary .... this language is yours and will become , with time your style ....
Mamady said about me one day " Michel !!! he has is own style"
Famoudou doesn't play like Mamady, who doesn't play like Sungalo so on & so on ....

Don't forget that African drumming music is a lively tradition ... what does it mean ? it means that it seats on tradition but it is in constant evolution & the evolution is them & now also us ...
When you play with an African or in Africa people ear what you do ... If you know the structure off the rythm, if you'r in time, if you breathe, if you know the "solo accompgnement" & you refer to it, the rest is your's .... connected with the context ....

In a open musical context i will play long "Jazz choruses" expressing myself, in a dance class i focus on energy & signal to mark the dancer the best i can, in a dance ceremonie, or circle, however you name it, it's gonna be signals & chauffés mainly .... See ? Find your way !!!!

[Djembe-nerd]

Some great advices Michel, Thanks

[e2c]

thank you, michel - i think that is very good advice!

I like what Fadouba Oulare said about drummers and "photocopy drummers."