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Thread: Reading Music for Hand drums

  1. #1

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    Default Reading Music for Hand drums

    This may sound like a silly question, but I have been trying to find some common resource for learning to read music when playing conga/djembe/etc. So far the things I have found have been all over the map.

    There is box notation where where some sort of code is used to represent the drum tone (slap/bass/open tone/etc). For example, a really nice book Conga Joy uses box notation with S-Slap O-Open B-Base F-Flam, H-heel, T-Toe. Then another conga book use geometric figures like a triangle for slap, star for base, circle for open tone, etc.

    I have seen some staff notation where they will put different symbols on the drum notes (like a circle, X, slash) to represent the tone and the position on the line to represent the drum.

    It seems like nearly every publication I pick up does it it differently. So, finally to my question. Is there any commonality in hand drum sheet music, what is mostly used, and what do you recommend for a hand slammer to learn?

    Thanks!

  2. #2

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    Default Re: Reading Music for Hand drums

    Welcome to Drum Chat midgard! Nice to see a fellow Oregonian on here.

    Most of what I have seen is done in box notation. What your describing from Conga Joy (great book) is the most common that I have come across. I have seen the other types and the best piece of advice I could give is to learn all of them. Hand percussion originates from many different ancient cultures and they all have their own way of notation. There really has not been a lot of effort put into making one type of universal notation. Box notation is as close as it gets. It's not hard to learn all of them. I have seen about 5 or 6 different types. Make yourself a master sheet that cross references all types and you should be good to go.
    Da' Bum
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  3. #3

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    Cool Re: Reading Music for Hand drums

    Can't believe I overlooked this one, dudes...

    I've seen notation both ways (symbols and conventional notes) with letters under them indicating L for left hand, R for right hand, etc., but 1DB is spot-on with his suggestion.

    Another factor too of course is that while symbols are useful for practicing, you're gonna have a tough time notating some types of hand drumming (a high-speed martillo involving thumb "pops", for example, or an ad lib fill)...
    keep the beat goin' ... Don't keep it to yourself!

    Charlie

    "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away." --Henry David Thoreau, "Walden," 1854

    "There's a lot to be said for Time Honored tradition and value." --In memory of Frank "fiacovaz" Iacovazzi

    "Maybe your drums can be beat, but you can't."--Jack Keck

  4. #4

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    Default Re: Reading Music for Hand drums

    Quote Originally Posted by 1DrumBum View Post
    Welcome to Drum Chat midgard! Nice to see a fellow Oregonian on here.

    Most of what I have seen is done in box notation. What your describing from Conga Joy (great book) is the most common that I have come across. I have seen the other types and the best piece of advice I could give is to learn all of them. Hand percussion originates from many different ancient cultures and they all have their own way of notation. There really has not been a lot of effort put into making one type of universal notation. Box notation is as close as it gets. It's not hard to learn all of them. I have seen about 5 or 6 different types. Make yourself a master sheet that cross references all types and you should be good to go.
    HOLA como estas 1DRUMBUM*CREATIVE ARTISTIC ARTIST
    DRUMMER(CAT) EXCELLENT INFO *as you know that you can apply drum
    TRAP Reading as well **since the DRUMS (TAMBORES ) & HAND TAMBORES
    share some Techniques at least for Me I apply DRUMMING TECHNIQUES FROM
    the STICKS to THE HAND & FINGER TECHNIQUES USED for THE HAND DRUMS &TABLA**or ALL of the HAND DRUMS **BUT I am EXTREMMMMXX
    of the (BOX) CREATIVE ARTISTIC ARTIST CAT***GRACIASwithin all My JOURNEYS & BEYOND within this VERY ANCIENT SPIRITUAL ANCIENT ART FORM**

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