 |
 Kamuran's Guide for Doumbek Players |
| Updated: Mar 3, 2006 |
The guide features many rhythms (mostly Arabic), a few articles, and many links. Each rhythm is in easy-to-read notation and has a difficulty rating.
Contents of the guide
| Key to the rhythm notation |
The notation for the rhythms, how to make specific drum sounds, and how to count the rhythms. |
| Central Asian drum rhythms |
A diverse collection of 17 rhythms from two drummers I know, Deirdre and Boru, ranging in length from 3 to 16 counts. Some of them are quite a challenge. |
The main rhythm pages, grouped by count length: 2-count | 3-count | 4-count | 5-count | 6-count | 7-count | 8-count | 9-count 10-count | 11-count | 12-count | 13-count | 14-count | 15-count | 16-count 18-count | 19-count | 20-count | 21-count | 24-count | 32-count |
|
| Advice on buying a riq |
A "riq" (or "riqq") is an Egyptian tambourine. A drummer known as "Angus" sent this advice to an e-mail list and I have posted it here with his permission. |
| Drumming Handout #3 |
PDF format, Nov. 2005. A single sheet handout with 32 named rhythms and an average of two variations per rhythm. Readable notation and sound advice. |
| Drumming Handout #2 |
PDF format, Nov. 2002. A single sheet handout with 30 rhythms and a total of 56 variations. Readable notation and sound advice. |
| Drumming Handout #1 |
PDF format, July 2002. Slightly different rhythms. First attempt. |
| Instruction | Personalized tutoring is available, even by email. |
| Accompanying dancers |
Advice on drumming with and drumming for dancers. It's good reading for dancers too. |
| Links | The obligatory links page. Sources for most of the rhythms on here, other recommended sites about drumming rhythms, and selected reciprocal links. |
Questions and answers
Where did I get all the rhythms?
Mainly from people who have been into drumming longer than I have. The links page lists which rhythms I got from which site.
About the author / What's in a name?
"Kamuran" is the name I use for my Turkish alternate-persona in the SCA when doing "Middle Eastern" stuff - like drumming and/or wearing a kaftan and turban. I've been drumming off and on in the Society since about 1994 and have taught rhythm and drumming etiquette every few months since then, mainly at SCA events. Kamuran is also my stage name as a member of Peach Curry.
Kudos received
`` Hey, thanks for all the doumbek rhythms on your website. It's great! I've been a drumset guy for years ... but then two weeks ago I bought a little Turkish doumbek...and fell in love! I then picked-up an Alexandrian doumbek off of e-bay last week and I've been using your web site to memorize about a dozen patterns so far. I love it! I've been playing in drum circles for several months w/ my djembe, but last week I brought my doumbek and the belly dancers danced to my playing! It was so cool! Thanks again. `` --Peter, Oct 2005
`` MY Dear brother Kamuran thanks for this page .. i am a prof. web page designer. I searched abot this content on the web like a CRAZY but found nothing. thanks thnaks you are GREAt if you would like to an exicitng web site i will do that for you without any charge... `` --Naim, Oct 2005
`` Great site! I perform for two bands ... playing doumbek and darabuka. Your page is an excellent reference. Your hard work is appreciated. `` --Bob, Jul 2005
`` Hey, thanks for the rhythm guide. I bought a zarb from Iran in September and have been trying to learn how to play on my own. My fingers are nimble now but I have no rhytms to go by. Although I know the rhythms you have listed are arabic and not persian I am sure they will serve me well in my endeavour to learn to play the doumbak. Thanks again for taking the time to share these. `` --Eiman, Mar 2005
`` I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate your site. I have been playing for a few months now and I think your site has been by far the most helpful instruction I have had. `` --Matt, Jan 2005
`` I stumbled onto your site one day and I've been playing most of the melodies you have up ever since. I've shown them to a bunch of my friends who also play (djembe and darbouka) and they all like them. Thanks for having such a great site up on the net. `` --Blake, Sep 2004
`` Just wanted to drop a note and thank you for putting together your doumbek rhythm's page... It's great how you compared everyone's different version's side by side... I find often that my Saidi is someone else's Ghawazee... and no one seems to agree how to spell baladi :) || Anyhow... great page! thanks again.. `` --Carmine, Dec 2003
`` Great site! I'm a dancer starting to pick up the drum, and your site is the most comprehensive (plenty of advice AND rhythms - fabulous!) I've seen yet. THANK YOU `` --Rheanne, Aug 2003
`` Thanks for the very doumbeck rhythms - I purchased 3 drums about a year ago and until now I hadn't seen rhythms specific to this instrument. We use doumbecks in our church services so this will be really useful in helping our percussionists improve. `` --Lisa, Jun 2003
`` You have one FANTASTIC site... I like the fact that you have lots of rhythms and that they are grouped by time signature and that you have several variations under one title. I liked the one long list you used to have, I printed it out and use it for reference along with Jas's site. But yours is easier to navigate, probably in part because it doesn't have so many esoteric rhythms and it uses more common names. It's also nice that you have your sources listed with the rhythms. Your site is also clean and easy to get around. `` --Bakhtiyaar, Apr 2002
`` Beautiful site, and so informative! ... I found your site and was completely blown away, especially the page with all the rhythms in one place.. and printable too! Excellent! `` --Jalilah Sahar, Oct 2001
`` Just checked out your site! WOW!!!!!!! You have EVERYTHING! ... If you don't mind, I will update my sheets to include variations from yours (and credit you properly of course!). `` --Shu'la, Jan 2001
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Original page posted:
September 8, 1999. Links tested: September 2, 2007. Last tweaked:
September 1, 2007.
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]
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