Customer Reviews

West African Rhythms for Drumset

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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!

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!

Had this book nearly a year, recommended to anyone seeking to add to their drumset vocabulary. Material is well presented and structured, how these Ghanaian traditions and styles adapted on to the drum kit, it has given me plenty of ideas about concept of timeline, creating diff.textures, use of brush/stick/hands on drums, 12/8 melodic phrases etc. Study of these rhythms will greatly add to your grooving abilty and improve co-ordination, internalize them and then improvise and have fun with them, buy it.

West African Rhythms for Drumset is hands down one of the BEST books ever. The writers and editors did their homework because they have given the drum world a true gem. There is so much valuable information in this book its hard to desrcibe in a simple review. Any drummer or hand percussionist can and will benefit from this masterpiece. 5 stars and a total A++++++++++. Larry Salzman www.larrysalzman.net