Base-3 hand drumming rhythms
	Updated: 25 Jul 2003

This page has notation and difficulty ratings for hand drumming rhythms (mostly Middle Eastern) that can be done in three or six counts.

This page is part of Kamuran's Guide for Doumbek Players.

CANTIGA 18
[easy-medium, 3 or 6 count, from me]
1-+-2-+-3-+-4-+-5-+-6-+-
T   K   T   t k t k D   

** I have played this to #18 from the "Cantigas de Santa Maria".

DARJ
[medium, from Jas]
1-+-2-+-3-+-4-+-5-+-6-+-
D   k t k   D   T   -   
D   D   -   T   T   -    

"ELEPHANT"
[easy-medium, 6 count, syncopated, African?]
1-+-2-+-3-+-4-+-5-+-6-+-
D   -   d   K   -   K 
D   -   d   K   t   K
D   k   T   K   -   K  

extensions:
[medium-tough]
1-+-2-+-3-+-4-+-5-+-6-+-
D k t k t L T k t k t K  == L for left-handed Doum
D k t k t L T k t k D K  == ditto

KHLAS
[easy, 3 count]
1-+-2-+-3-+-
D   D   T T   == also see Darj in Base-4
D   D   k k   == me

QUDDAAM / QODDAM
[easy-medium, 3 or 6 count, Andalusian]
1-+-2-+-3-+-4-+-5-+-6-+- 
D   t k t   t   D   t     
D   - k t   k   D   - t   == [medium, syncopated]

samaa'ii darij / SAMAI DARIJ
[easy-medium, 3 or 6 count]
1-+-2-+-3-+-4-+-5-+-6-+-
D   T   T   D   T   -     == Jas #1
D   T k T   D   T   -     == Jas #2
D   -   T   T   T   -     == Jas #3

also: [medium]
1-+-2-+-3-+-4-+-5-+-6-+-
D - tk- tk- Dk- tk- - -   == Nott

** In the variation above, notice that the Ka hits are NOT on the 
   half-count. This makes for a "choppier" sound.

also: [medium-tough, from Nott]
1-+-2-+-3-+-4-+-5-+-6-+-
D   T k T   D   T   -     == verse 1 of 3
D   T   T   D   T   -     == verse 2 of 3
D   r   T   D k T   -     == verse 3 of 3

SUFI, MOROCCAN
[medium-tough, syncopated]
1-+-2-+-3-+- 1-+-2-+-3-+- 1-+-2-+-3-+- 1-+-2-+-3-+-
D - k - k -  D - - k - -  D - k - k -  D k - k - - 

TSAMIKO
[medium, 3 or 6 count, syncopated, Greek]
1-+-2-+-3-+-4-+-5-+-6-+-
D - - k T - k - T - k - 

VALS
[easy, 3 or 6 cont]
1-+-2-+-3-+- 
D   T   T     == Carmine says Vals is Turkish for "waltz" 
D--KT K T K   == Carmine (filled); syncopated, [easy-medium]

ZAR
[easy-medium, 3 count, trance rhythm]
1-+-2-+-3-+- 
D   t   k    == one option of many...

D   t k t k  D   t k t k  D   t k t k  D   D   T     == Jas
D   t k t k  D   t k t k  D   t k t k  D   D   D     == see #1 below
D   t k t k  D   t k t k  D   t k t k  D   T   c     == see #2 below

** [1] This is a variation I used to call The Lion's Roar; 
       get increasingly louder (crescendo) in the last measure.
   
** [2] This is a variation I used to call The Skipping Lion; it can be fun
       to mix up the beats at the end (D K T, D c c, c c c, c T D ...)
   
For rhythms that can be done in even multiples of six counts, see the Base-6 page.

??? 
[medium, various 'sixes' via Uncle Mafufo]
1-+-2-+-3-+-
D k t k t k   
D k t K t k
D D k t t k
D D K - t K  == North African
D - t - t K
 
 

Central Asian rhythms

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Original page posted: January 14, 2000 • Links tested: December 5, 2009 • Last tweaked: April 19, 2009
 
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