West African Rhythms for Drumset [Paperback]

Royal Hartigan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 24, 1995

With Freeman Kwazdo Donkor and Abraham Adzenyah. Based on four Ghanaian rhythmic groups (Sikyi, Adowa, Gahu and Akom), this book and CD will provide drumset players with a "new" vocabulary based on some of the oldest and most influential rhythms in the world. A groundbreaking presentation!

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

With Freeman Kwazdo Donkor and Abraham Adzenyah. Based on four Ghanaian rhythmic groups (Sikyi, Adowa, Gahu and Akom), this book and CD will provide drum set players with a 'new' vocabulary based on some of the oldest and most influential rhythms in the world. A groundbreaking presentation!

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Warner Bros Pubns (July 24, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0897247329
• ISBN-13: 978-0897247320
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 8.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #681,457 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My name is Dan Thress and I the editor of this book/CD., August 6, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Paris, France) - See all my reviews

This review is from: West African Rhythms for Drumset (Paperback)

I would like to post the following quote from Modern Drummer Magazine (September 98) in the interview with drummer Billy Martin of Medenski Martin & Wood.

MD Do you have a particular mode of practice?

BM I highly recommend Royal Hartigan's book West African Rhythms for Drumset. I feel that if drummers would check out some of the patterns in this book they'd really get a lot out of it. What's great about it is you're playing some traditional rhythms that are adapted for drumset, which I think is important because they've been tried and tested over hundreds of years. It's good for coordination, and these rhythms are musical, they're not just technical exercises. And Hartigan talks a little bit about the history. I think it's one of the best books our on drumset stuff.

MD So this book is a real source for you?

BM Well, It's one book that I would pull out if I needed some inspriation as far as really trying to get into into playing something different.

Tha! nks! Please feel free to contact me if you want to find out more about it.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is excellent!, August 6, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: West African Rhythms for Drumset (Paperback)

This book and accompanying CD are essential to any real drummer. These rhythms are the real deal and if you can learn to play them, you will have a great foundation to play with anyone (Afro, Latin, Jazz, etc.). Even if you are NOT a trap drummer but play traditional african music, this book gives you the traditional fokloric ensemble set up with examples on the CD. I like that these traditional ensemble examples on the CD have each instrument/part come in announced succesion against the bell. I used to live in Ghana playing drums and I really learned a lot from this book. It has something for everyone, no matter what your skill level! OK enough gushing! Buy it you won't regret it!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you had to choose just one book, this would be a great one!, March 12, 2009

By 

William H. Vaughn "Whvaughn" (Indianapolis, IN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: West African Rhythms for Drumset (Paperback)

I've had this book for some time and I always come back to it- it's great for history, ideas, coordination- everything. I mainly play jazz/funk and some blues. I find the grooves in this books useful on many levels. They are great for interedependence work outs, great for post bop type grooves, and just great fun to play. There are so many good ideas and great info here I really consider this a must have. I tend to work out of Jazz/Bop books (Art of Bop, Jazz Mesages, Beyond Bob, etc.), Technique books, Funk Books (Code of Funk, Funk Drumming by Mike Clark), or work on latin/world grooves- I find this book covers everything I love about practicing from each of those types of books (if that makes sense). Anyway, buy it- you'll love it. Royal Hartigan seems VERY knowledgable and he seems like a wonderful guy. You can find some videos of him on the Vic Firth site (the education part) and probably on you tube- definitely worth checking out!