Rhythm List

Rhythms List

This page has hand drum rhythm patterns along with the accompanying bass drum and bell rhythm patterns.

For information on playing the following rhythms visit, Article on handing
Legend

**Kuku**
Instrument	Rhythm pattern - 4/4 Duple (Binary) w/ 16th note subdivisions
Call	do/Pa, -, do, go, +, do, -, go, do, -, Pa, Ta, Pa, -, -, - \|
Break (Interlude)	Ta \| Pa, -, Ta, Pa, +, -, -, Ta, Pa, -, Ta, -, Pa, -, -, Ta \| Pa, -, Ta, Pa, +, -, -, Ta, Pa, -, Ta, -, Pa, -, -, (Ta) \|
Jembe 1	Gun, -, do, go, +, -, Ta, -, Gun, -, do, go, +, -, Ta, - \|
Jembe 2	go, do, -, Pa, do, go, Ta, -, go, do, -, Pa, do, go, Ta, - \|
Jembe 3	Gun, -, -, -, Dun, -, -, -, go, -, do, -, go, do, -, - \|
Jembe 3 (Keita Ver.)	do/Pa, -, do, go, Dun, go, do, -, do/Pa, -, do, go, Dun, go, do, - \|
Bell 1	X, -, X, -, X, -, X, - X, -, X, -, X, -, X, - \|
Doundoun 1	X, X, -, -, X, X, -, -, X, X, -, -, X, X, -, - \|
Bell 2	X, -, X, X, +, X, X, -, X, -, X, X, +, X, X, - \|
Doundoun 2	X, -, -, , +, -, X, -, X, -, -, , +, -, X, - \|
Bell 3	X, -, X, X, -, X, X, -, X, -, X, -, X, -, X, - \|
Doundoun 3	, -, X, -, +, -, -, -, , -, -, -, X, -, X - \| X, -, -, X, +, -, -, -, *, -, -, -, +, -, -, - \|
Doundoun 3 (Keita Ver.)	+, -, -, X, +, -, -, -, +, -, -, -, X, -, X - \| X, -, -, X, +, -, -, -, +, -, -, -, +, -, -, - \|

TOP

**Kassa**
Instrument	Rhythm pattern - 4/4 Duple (Binary) w/ 16th note subdivision
Call	do/Pa, -, do, go, +, do, -, go, do, -, Pa, Ta, Pa, -, -, - \|
Jembe 1	go, do, Pa, Ta, +, -, Ta, Pa, do, go, Ta, Pa, Dun, -, Pa, Ta\|
Jembe 2	Pa, -, - , Ta, Pa, -, go, do, Pa, -, Dun, Pa, Ta, -, go, do \|
Bell 1	x, -, x, x, +, x, x, -, x, -, x, x, +, x, x, - \|
Dundun 1	X, X, -, , +, -, , -, X, X, -, , +, -, , - \|
Bell 2	x, x, -, x, +, x, x, -, x, x, -, x, +, x, x, - \|
Dundun 2	X, -, -, , +, -, X, -, X, -, -, , +, -, X, - \|
Bell 3	x, -, x, x, +, x, x, -, x, -, x, x, +, x, x, - \|
Dundun 3	X, -, X, X, +, -, -, +, -, X, X, +, X, X, - \|

TOP

**Donaba**
Instrument	Rhythm pattern - 12/8 Triple (Ternary)
Call	Pa, Ta, go, Ta, Pa, Ta, +, -, -, +, -, - \|
Jembe 1	Pa, -, do, Pa, -, -, Ta, -, go, Ta, -, - \|
Jembe 2	Pa, -, -, Ta, go, do, Pa, -, -, Ta, go, do \|
Bell 1	+, X, X, +, X, X, +, X, X, +, X, X \|
Doundoun 1	+, -, X, +, X, X, +, -, X, +, X, X \|
Bell 2	X, -, X, X, -, X, X, -, X, X, -, X \|
Doundoun 2	, -, -, +, -, X, +, X, -, X, -, - \| , -, -, +, -, -, *, -, -, X, -, - \|
Bell 3	X, -, X, X, -, X, X, -, X, X, -, X \|
Doundoun 3	X, -, -, +, -, X, X, -, X, X, -, X \| X, -, -, +, -, -, +, -, X, X, -, X \|

TOP

If you have questions concerning these rhythm versions contact Kenne Thomas. The patterns are culturally specific of world rhythms. Some rhythms are direct from workshops of Les Percussions de Guinee.