Messages

1

Buy & Sell Oud / Re: Look my bags for musical instruments

« on: February 14, 2019, 04:51:45 PM »

It's amazing!

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Doumbek, Darbuka Lovers / Re: Darbuka newbie - *Mod: Buy a Darbuka

« on: February 06, 2019, 09:17:32 AM »

Yes, you're right - let me continue:
I stopped my last posting, even when I was up to tell you, that the Darbouka playing – well I mean the role of a Darbouka in a group of several instruments – seems to be like that, what are the Bongos in a Latin band.

In professional performances with a standard Darbouka most time we have some background playing and the Doums come from another heavier drum instead. The Doum of the Darbouka is for the communication between players and its main function is to do all the ornaments over the base.

When I choose a New Generation I had a belly dance on my mind, with a single dancer and only me with my drum beside. In that case I felt the Doums of an Innovation should be a bit too weak. That’s all I had on my mind, I had no idea, if that instrument would fit my wishes and which sounds I could really do. But I may tell you, I didn’t regret with my drum. It has good abilities for a different resonant playing. I learnt a lot on various styles – however, I failed to stay that stable and fast for a professional challenge.

You can hear the very difference in sounds from the samples. The Innovation comes with sharp Teks, the New Generation can do the Teks more “splashy” - like water drops hitting the ground… I like it - and it’s not a problem to do dry sharp tones too.

The body of the New Generation is a bit taller. The plus of metal is at the down counterweighting the head, what gives the instrument a good balance laying over your knee.

Probably that’s all, what can I tell you on advantages of the New Generation.

See you next time!

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Doumbek, Darbuka Lovers / Re: Darbuka newbie - *Mod: Buy a Darbuka

« on: January 30, 2019, 01:12:53 PM »

...so you can see the rating and listen to some examples - but how I would tell you the difference in my own words???

Well, you can hear great sounds with the standard size (Innovation) Darbouka. Those sounds I heard first from Arabic Pop compilations. It was fall 2009 and I had absolutely not any idea of that instrument. - But those sound... Next year, just in Christmas time I had my first contact with a real Darbouka - a mother of pearl Alexandria - and this moment totally grabbed me. - I had no choice else looking for my own new one. But I didn't know anything...

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Doumbek, Darbuka Lovers / Re: Darbuka newbie - *Mod: Buy a Darbuka

« on: January 29, 2019, 07:08:13 PM »

On slightly another note, I remember you saying that you have a “New Generation” drum.  What sets this instrument apart from a standard darbuka/doumbek?  I feel I have been advancing well in my skills and would like to upgrade to a nicer drum.  Sadly I cannot afford a quality clay instrument, but would still like to get into a nicer aluminum instrument over my plastic one.  Thanks!

Sure, we had a link before, with an overview in weight, size and prices. There you can see the New Generation is heavier, taller and a lot more expensive... I think, well, it's not the answer you're interested in.

My decision some years ago, as I remember I had had same trouble like you these days. -  Then I found this site:

https://www.arabinstruments.com/help-you-choose-darbuka

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Doumbek Advice, Tips Questions & Lessons / Re: Training / Practice plan

« on: January 29, 2019, 02:37:42 PM »

I choose that video to show you three different positions you can hold your drum:

• on the legs
• between the knees,
  and at least
• on a stand

All these positions are with its own playing technique, but it should be same (or similar) sounds, when you are using same drum.

This might be a powerful setting for some experiments with sounds.

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Doumbek Advice, Tips Questions & Lessons / Re: Training / Practice plan

« on: January 29, 2019, 02:12:17 PM »

I see - you're progressing...

Let me answer the hardware question in your "Newbie" topic - we have already some related stuff there.

Here I'd continue with some ideas on how to transfer your skills from drumset to Darbuka:

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Introduce Yourself / Re: New here

« on: January 26, 2019, 04:12:07 AM »

Hi Hans, me too. 
Where are you from?

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Doumbek Advice, Tips Questions & Lessons / Re: Singing, then COUGH! COUGH! COUGH! COUGH! COUGH!

« on: January 26, 2019, 04:02:44 AM »

... nice try, I like it - really - "singing" - what an idea ... 

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Doumbek Advice, Tips Questions & Lessons / Re: Training / Practice plan

« on: January 24, 2019, 04:55:51 AM »

...aaah,  I see ... you're not familiar with latin rhythms...

| a -  - cabal - lo - | a - - cabal - lo - |

We play

|Slap - - slapSlap - Tone - |

on Congas or Bongos

... and now Karachi:

|T--kT-D-|

This pattern came from Andalusia with conquistadors.

And it is common in African rhythms too. - Cuban rhythm Conga uses the pattern, but changes the sounds.

... and now Ayoub:

|D--kD-T-|

I'd bet a million, that you just know those patterns ... and some related variations and fills. - Adapt those stuff for your new drum. It increases your repertoire up to 1001%!!!

 

I actually learned a lot adapting Conga stuff for Darbuka (as technical exercises). It helped me to do nice sounds and be fluent while increasing the speed.

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Doumbek Advice, Tips Questions & Lessons / Re: Training / Practice plan

« on: January 22, 2019, 07:29:38 PM »

WOW - you surprised me - you really did your lesson!

... and now, listen it again:
.... a caballo, a caballo, a caballo, a caballo ...

Something common.?!

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Doumbek Advice, Tips Questions & Lessons / Re: Training / Practice plan

« on: January 17, 2019, 11:37:43 AM »

Hello, again,
Let’s try to come to a point with the video stuff and then have the mind free for new ideas.

…and you’re right! – It’s Saidi in the performance.

The clue is – it isn’t present in the original tune. So we have both: a regular change from Maqsoum to Baladi and an irregular change from Baladi to Saidi too. A great illustration for the stuff we started with here in this topic!!! – That’s what I’d like to show you…

That’s enough for now. You may see in the clip, the performance was at a wedding day. You can find the couple right in the picture at mark 1:55. The video is named to be an improvisation.
I guess someone of the guests asked the musicians to play the widely known tune – and they did it.
In those bands it is normal to have some new stuff on the least drum –with instruction to play the base only for training. That newbie failed once being confused whether the double Doum in Baladi occurs - but when – fromt or middle…?!. – (Saidi is often used for bellydance, and comes a bit various and tricky.)
You can hear (and see) the man failing first time at 0:45s. Only due to the great professionalism, I hope so, the whole ensemble follows and plays Saidi with a taste of Baladi like one man. It’s life - really, I like it!

Let’s stop with that now. (I will come back on this stuff in the “Semantics” topic.)

Better look here this:

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Doumbek Advice, Tips Questions & Lessons / Re: Training / Practice plan

« on: January 11, 2019, 04:51:19 AM »

So are you saying that different rhythm patterns will never be played in the same tune, even if they are the same time signature?  I used the example of Beledi and Maqsum because they are so similar.

But you have your answer here in the video, listen:
At start there's something with three heavy Doums 6 times, then you have a change in temp and it's 8 times Maqsum changing to a slower Baladi which is framing the solo part...

(... and I found something unexpected I wonder you might hear it too ...)

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Doumbek Advice, Tips Questions & Lessons / Re: Some words on semantics - [beginner to intermediate to advanced]

« on: January 11, 2019, 04:35:57 AM »

Many thanks ... the topic isn't  full yet.

(Here my "never" is that same of driving school, saying "Never brake inside turns, do it before!!!")
 

... but we've moved forward with your response:

The approach we have to solve next is: "Never ever...?!"
 

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Doumbek Advice, Tips Questions & Lessons / Re: Training / Practice plan

« on: January 09, 2019, 08:15:12 AM »

 

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Doumbek Advice, Tips Questions & Lessons / Some words on semantics - [beginner to intermediate to advanced]

« on: January 09, 2019, 07:46:16 AM »

I’m curious, is there ever a time when the rhythms Maqsum and Beledi would be played in the same sitting?  Alternating the Doums and Teks?

To alternate Doums and Teks? - Never ever...! 

The basic pattern of a rhythm is build of a row of different Doums, Teks (and rests). That is typical - this gives the rhythm a signature, a meaning - a unique style at least.

You may ask me, as a beginner: "Ok, but I have some Ka in the base I'm now playing...?" - So let's stop on it and me tell you: "What is a Ka?!" - ... should be same like a Tek- but actually played with wrong hand instead.  Ka is featuring the Teks. Playing some alternating Tekka you get an ornament, a roll!

That's why it is important to do the Tekka with the same or similar sound, independent of you are playing right now a Tek (with your strong hand) or Ka (with the weaker one). It’s communication. Audience but dancers will hear your pattern and get some orientation what’s going up now.

That way Doums and Teks are encoding semantics of the pattern. - In Arabic rhythms there is it like in Arabian language too:
All the Arabian words have a root what’s encoded by the row of (mostly three) consonants in it, i.e. “KTB” means “written”.

That gives the word a basic meaning, what never will change for the whole word family and all word forms within are featuring with different vocals in between the root of the words:

• “KiTaaB” gives you the result of the writing, a book (but it may be a note or a letter as well)
• “maKTaB” marks the place of the writing - an office (but same for the table you’re writing on)
• “alKaaTiB” – the person who performs the writing etc.

And in drumming?! – You have a basic pattern and several variations of it. - It’s like telling a story in words…