Djembe,guitar mixed with bala or gyile?

[Nodrog]

Hi there,

I know I may have touched on this subject before but I am still undecided on a bala or a gyile. I already have a djembe, I have quite a collection of guitars and basses to pick from and I am about to buy a wooden xylophone to fit in with these.

I have an on-going project where I am experimenting, (playing around really), with different African styles and either the gyile or the bala will be a great extra sound texture to mix in there somehow.

Ok, here's my question: I know all you folks on here have a huge collective experience of music listened to and videos viewed mainly in the African area. Can anyone point me to any examples where the western guitar mixes in really well with either the gyil or the bala. I have done quite a lot of research myself and even spoken in person to both gyil and bala players. Course, they all recommended their own instrument and also said they could get me one at a very good price. Thing is, I think I prefer the overall sound of the Ghanian gyile but these are pentatonic and Bernard Woma says he can get me one tuned to G. Well, I do play a lot in G so I'm almost decided.

Then I discovered Gert Kilian who plays the bala which as I understand is tuned as all the white keys on a piano which may be a bit more versatile for mixing with different instruments. However, I'm not just as keen on the overall tone that the bala produces.

I know this is not directly djembe material but I'm hoping to dig into some of this sites vast experience and hope someone can point me to some examples of either guitar/gyile or guitar/bala.

Thank you in advance for your suggestions.

All the best, Gordon.

[BobF]

if you scroll to about 5:58 of this video Abou Sylla (Guinean bala player) is playing a bala tuned to C with acoustic guitar, djembe, etc on here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J36QuTuRNF8

I suck at embedding videos...

[Nodrog]

Hi there,

Thanks Bob for that. That's just the thing I was hoping for. I enjoyed listening to that clip, a little reggae thrown in as well. I'm looking forward to having one or the other because sometimes the guitar can provide the accompaniment and have the xylophone taking the lead and other times there would be a reversal where the xylophone would supply the rhythm and the guitar take the lead.

By the way, I've narrowed it down to if I go gyil then I would hopefully buy one from Bernard Woma or if I go bala then I would use the company based in Canada, Alpha Rhythm Roots who seem to supply a very good 21 Key in Cmaj at a very reasonable price.

Thanks again, Gordon.

[bubudi]

it depends on what you're going to play, gordon. pentatonic scale would limit you a little more, perhaps. but if you prefer it, also try the pentatonic balas from burkina faso and mali (there are a few different types in each country, used by the bamana, senoufo, bobo, etc).

buy yourself a copy of soungalo coulibaly's cd, dengo (one of my favourite all-time cds) and listen to the acoustic guitar work on that album, together with bamana and senoufo balas, bass guitar, earthy vocals, tight dunun playing, karignan, kamelengoni and the indescribably crisp and flowing djembe work of soungalo. there is a lot of sharing the lead between the different musicians/instruments.

[Nodrog]

Thanks Bubudi for that recommendation. I knew that you djembe folks would have some examples to point out.

I will try and track down the recording that you mention. It is confusing because there are so many different variations on tunings on these xylophones.

I'll be sure to write in and let you know what I end up buying. I'm in no immediate rush but it is my birthday in January so who knows? ha, ha,...

Thanks, Gordon.

[Paul]

Hi Gordon,

Check out Habib Koite and especially his Bala player Keletugui Diabate, he is the master. Totally immersed in tradition yet he knocks out some serious salsa grooves in some songs.
Good bala suppliers will make you a bala for what aver key you like. You can get balas in a western scale even with a second bala to put beside it which has the same spacing as the black piano keys.

This is where i get mine from. The pentatonics come in gfdca unless you specify. Some nice free lessons on the site.
http://baragnouma.hautetfort.com/

I am playing kamele ngoni with bala at the moment. I learnt ngoni in gedca and it messes up my sound having to tune up the e to f... I did some concert this year with 2 ngonis, bala, 3 dununs, djembe and jazz flute, It was a crazy sound.. I also love what soungalo coulibaly does on Dengo and cant wait to have a crack at his version of jina muso.

Take it easy

[Nodrog]

Hi there,

Sorry to be replying to myself. My favourite African guitarists are Oliver Mtukudzi, Tuku Music. I love that album. Course this is South African and not trad djembe area. I also like Habib Koite and his recording, 'Afriki'.
Bubudi, if you have the time to check it out, I recently posted a couple of very short samples of the type of sound I am playing around with. These are in the recording section. (I was not for sure where to place them).I used a Boss BR 600 to make these recordings. I used my djembe, acoustic classical guitar and a Tacoma acoustic bass and a little cabasa for top end rhythm. Oh,also my Washburn semi-acoustic on one of them.
This is exciting for me because not only am I learning more about different kinds of African music but also attempting to learn the technical side of recording at the same time.

All very enjoyable and interesting.

Please remember, when I play my djembe, I am not attempting anything traditional. My djembe is being used to supply a back beat for the other instruments. I would rather do it this way than use the drum box gadget in the Boss recorder. It allows more of a free, earthy feel I hope.

All the best, Gordon.

[Nodrog]

Hi there,

Paul, thanks for that. I love the sound from those balas that you directed me to. Problem is, I don't understand French very much. How much would it cost in American $ to have a 21 key in the key of Gmaj shipped to Georgia do you reckon?

Thanks, Gordon.

[Paul]

I will ask him. Thats a mandinka heptatonic is it. Also french dont say G or F they use do ra me fa so... What is g maj in that language..
I know the Fabrice so im going to get onto him about opening up to the rest of the world a bit..

[bubudi]

I will ask him. Thats a mandinka heptatonic is it. Also french dont say G or F they use do ra me fa so... What is g maj in that language..
I know the Fabrice so im going to get onto him about opening up to the rest of the world a bit..

g maj = sol majeur in french

[Nodrog]

Thanks Bubudi.

Gordon.

[bubudi]

nice guitar work on those 2 samples, gordon. you have that south african/zimbabwean sound happening. your technique made the djembe sound a lot like a snare drum. it didn't sound like a djembe at all. was that intentional?

[Nodrog]

Hi there,

I guess I just messed around until I had a sound that I thought fitted in with what I was doing. Actually, I found an effect on the Boss recorder that added a vibration to the dry sound and so I used that effect on the djembe. All this is experimental right now. The guitar and bass went direct into the recorder whilst I recorded the djembe and cabasa using the built in mics.

As I've mentioned often before, the djembe is a very versatile drum and although I'm not seeking a traditional sound like most of you guys, it is still very enjoyable learning to coax different sounds from it, even if it is not the 'correct' way.

Also, I have realized that subconsciously I am probably trying to sound like a full regular western drum kit. I suppose, the bass sound is the kick drum, the tones and slaps have to be anything from snare to toms , to timbalas and the cabasa takes the part of the hi-hat.

It's great fun anyway, thanks for giving it a listen.

Gordon.

[Paul]

Hi Gordon

Had a word with the the guy in bara gnouma. Generally you need to add 50euro on to the price for the states...
He understands some english if you want to mail him

[Nodrog]

Hi there,

Thanks Paul for the info on Bara Gnouma. After checking out the price and also the shipping, it has got over my limit. The total price would be around $650.00. It does appear to be a good quality instrument but because I would be an absolute beginner, this is a little too much for me at this stage.

Thanks again though, Gordon.