What djembe Rhythm have you played more than any other?

[James]

I heard that dundunba is the most recorded djembe rhythm (can't rememebr where I heard that).

I wonder what the most commonly played Rhythm is? This is meaningless, but interesting and may point to the most popular rhythms played outside of Africa.

I know you'll want to say more than 1 (I did), but lets try keep it to 1.

For me, I would say Macru.

[BobF]

I play with a group (Charlotte Community Drummers) that does bi-weekly open West African drumming that's free and open to the public. Since there are so many beginners that come we play Kuku a lot. So much so that I could go a LONG LONG time without playing it and be very happy.

[michi]

Similar sentiment here with respect to Australian drum circles and Yankadi. Played every time (usually poorly). It's one rhythm that I feel has been nearly destroyed by over-use...

Cheers,

Michi.

[Dugafola]

any variant of kassa for me.

it's used as dance class warmup a lot.

dansa probably close behind.

[Onetreedrums]

Out here in Boulder/Denver, Dansa is definitely out front followed by Kuku. In general, lots of variety out here with teachers from Mali, Guinea, Senegal, and Ghana, but it seems like Dansa and Kuku are most reliable folys for warm up or if drummers are limited. Djeneba likes to mix up the dances from week to week, but Fara has started focusing on one dance for a month (mendiani this month!) which I think really benefits both the dancers and drummers.

[Paul]

I think it depends where your region is influenced by..

In ireland about 8 years ago i was kuku, tiriba, sorsonnet.... Teachers based in Gambia were the first to come here... I left kuku for years and then came back to it... its got to be hard and heavy for me...

When I went to play in mexico no one played kuku but everyone played djole....

Yankadi/macru came up time and time again in dance classes... again if macru doesnt kick off its boring.. Too often the dununs are just straight rhythm without any conversation going on...

When i went to Burkina it was diansa diansa diansa...

[Dugafola]

Fara has started focusing on one dance for a month (mendiani this month!) which I think really benefits both the dancers and drummers.

i wouldn't be opposed to that at all!!! especially if the duns are split up!

[Onetreedrums]

We still haven't been able to convince Fara to split up the duns and instead been utilizing a ballet set-up with sangban and bell. It's still really nice, but one day we'll convince Fara to get split them up.

[Dugafola]

We still haven't been able to convince Fara to split up the duns and instead been utilizing a ballet set-up with sangban and bell. It's still really nice, but one day we'll convince Fara to get split them up.

what's up with that? he prefers ballet over split?

at least you got the sangban to help round it out a bit. ballet has the advantage if he wants the music at redonkulous tempo...like most of the Merveille crew...

[Onetreedrums]

Your right on ... with Fara, it's all about redonkulous and tight tempo in dance class (gotta make 'em sweat). This is how his troupe, Kissidugu (kissidugu.org) performs as well, so I think he's trying to keep that pretty consistent and really train the ballet dunun player(s) in that style. When I was in the troupe, Fara concocted a seven dunun ballet arrangement for Kuku Reverse. Ralph and Tober (the dununfolas) were looking like balafolas with that many dununs, but it sounded incredible. I am sure at some point, he'll incorporate a dununba into the troupe's repertoire and split up the dununs ... we'll see. I'll dig for a video of the seven dunun piece.

[Djembe-nerd]

For me its Sinte and Kuku.

Sinte is a dance class favorite here, and Kuku used to be the ending rhythym to the classes I used to go to always. The teacher had something that he used to end it with Kuku always.

[bubudi]

I'll dig for a video of the seven dunun piece.

would love to see that, nate!

[bubudi]

duga, kassa gets used a lot for dance class warmup here too. soko is easily the most taught dance.

[dununbabe]

soli rapide

[Dugafola]

thought about this more...

dununba - any and all
soko
soli
sofa
djaa - we used to play this often with FK's short and long break...dropped off for some reason