Product Description

This book is a complete, step-by-step, user friendly course on how to play djembe. Right from the start, in addition to learning how to make all the basic strokes, you'll be learning interlocking parts for some of the most popular West African rhythms; Kuku, Djole, Kassa, Madan, Suku, Sunguru Bani and Thiba. After working through only a few lessons, you'll be able to put the parts together and start playing these irresistible rhythms with your friends. The rhythms are written in simple charts, so no music reading is required. The CD that comes with the book gives you a chance to hear how each part sounds separately and how the parts for each rhythm fit together. It was recorded by John Camara, a master drummer from Bamako, Mali. Each rhythm lasts at least five minutes, so you'll have plenty of time to play along. And when John solos during the final three minutes of each track, you'll feel the thrill of playing your part along with an ensemble and lead drummer.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #34181 in Books
• Published on: 2000-02-15
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 96 pages

About the Author
Alan Dworsky, an attorney who'd rather be drumming, lives in Minneapolis,Minnesota.

Customer Reviews

Book is great, CD is pretty good
As a beginner I find the book to be very good, it breaks everything down and gives you steps to learn the patterns. I would give the book a 5 star rating.
The CD is pretty good. The first song, Kuku, is easy to play along with as are some of the others. But on some of the songs, the patterns are played too fast, and I could not keep up, I even had trouble hearing all the drum beats. It would have been very helpful to me if the patterns were played more slowly at first.
The final 5 tracks, Jaguar at Half Moon Lake (parts 1-5), are nice, there is music, singing and drumming. But, I would have preferred something in the style of what was taught in the book, maybe even the same songs that were taught with a full drum circle.

Simple, Understandable
Great intro book. Easy to understand. Great practice drills that you can start playing in very little time.

Fun!!!
This is a great way to learn. I really enjoyed it. The DVD is an excellent addition to learning to play and the CD with it helps you to hear what is being played so you can match it.