Kalani - Rhythms from Around the World

2011 MENC Northwest Division Conference

Presented by Kalani, MT-BC
Sponsored by Peripole-Bergerault (peripole.com)
KALANI

Four of the most popular hand drums used today are the Congas, Bongos, Jembe, and Doumbek

The Congas and Bongos are both considered “Afro-Cuban” or Caribbean instruments, even
though they were influenced by African culture. The playing style, rhythms, and applications of
these instruments are unique to Cuba. Congas an Bongos are often played in the same ensemble
and combined into Multi-percussion setups, played by a single percussionist. They are popular
in drum circles (recreational drumming), interactive drumming (developmental drumming),
professional applications (entertainment), music therapy, and music education.

Conga Techniques

Bass Tone (B) Open Tone (O) Slap Tone (S) Hand/Fingers
Full Hand Fingers Flat Flingers Relaxed Alternating Full Hand
and Fingers (shown)

Congas are held between the legs, slightly tipped to the dominant-hand side.

Bongo Techniques

Holding Position Muted Tone with Part A - Thumb Part B - Fingers

Open Tones (Thumb) (T) (F)
(O) (M)

Bongos are held between the legs with the small drum on the left. However; for classroom
applications, placing them on a stand (for either sitting or standing) is recommended.

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Djembe (Jembe) Techniques

Drum is tipped slightly Bass Tone (B) Open Tone (O) Slap Tone (S)
away to emulate the Flat hand just inside Flat fingers. Knuckles Relaxed Fingers
hanging position the edge (not center!) are in line with edge. Same Pos. as Open

Notice that the thumb is held away from the hand for all jembe tones. The hand bounces off
the head for every stoke. Jembe technique is symmetrical, with primary beats played with the
dominant hand

Doumbek (Darabuka, Derbeki, Tabla) Techniques

Drum is at an angle Low Tone “Doum” (D) High Tone “Tek” (T) High Tone “Ka” (K)
towards the body, held Fingers towards the Ends of fingers near Fingers near the edge
in place with the arm. center - Bounce off. the edge.

Because the doumbek and djembe are similar in shape, it might appear as if they are related.
They are not. The djembe is from West Africa (Guinea, Mali, Ivory Coast, Senegal) and the
Doumbek is from Egypt and the Arab Nations. The djembe is carved from wood (originating as
a large mortar for pounding grain) and the doumbek is traditionally made of clay, likely
originating as a storage vessel.

Sound Advice

Congas, Bongos, and Jembes are all traditionally made of

Not quite ready for bare-hand drumming?
Try using hand drumming gloves.
Play longer. Sound Great. Be Comfortable.
Part of the Kalani line by Vic Firth
kalanimusic.com playsinglaugh.com
wood and have natural (animal skin) heads. This
combination produces an authentic sound and helps
students (and audiences) gain an understanding and
appreciation for the instrument as it is found in
traditional settings. Providing tunable instruments for
your students not only gives them the chance to learn
how to tune a drum, it prepares them for middle, high
school, and college instrumental ensembles.
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 Latin (Afro-Cuban)

ãc œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ .
j .
ã c œ. Œ Œ Œ
Cowbell

Claves
œ œ œ œ

Maracas ãc œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ .
.
R L R L

Bongos ãc œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

.
M F O T M F O T

Congas ãc œ H
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
F S F H F O O
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

Brazilian

Samba
(sahm-bah)
Medium /Fast Tempo

j
Agogo ãc œ œ
œ œ
5 œ ‰
5 ‰ œ œ

Shaker ã c >œ œ œ >œ >œ œ œ >œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

> > > >

Surdo (Bass) ãc y ˙ y ˙
X = Muted
Note: Agogo Bells are often made to allow the two bells to be pressed (clicked) together
with the holding-hand. Play "clicks" in between the notes indicated (in the rests).

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 West African

Kuku
Medum-Fast (105-120)

ãc œ œ œ ‰ œ œ ‰ œ œ ‰ œ œ ‰
œ œ œ œ
Djembe J œ J œ J œ J

Dundun ã c œ. œ ‰ J
œ œ ‰ œ
J
œ.
œ ‰ J
œ œ ‰
œ
J
— —— ! — — — — — ! —— — ——!—— — ——!——
Bell ãc

Rattle ãc œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

Middle Eastern (Arab)

Baladi

Zils ãc œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

Doumbek ã c >œ œ
>
œ œ œ
> œ
>
œ œ œ
>
œ œ

For more resources, articles, and continuing education, visit the Developmental
Community Music website playsinglaugh.com.
Kalani is available for clinics, residencies, concerts, and special event.
Visit kalanimusic.com for more information and to find out about availability.
Kalani’s books and DVDs are available through music education retailers. Visit
VicFirth.com to find out about recreational and classroom drumming products.

kalanimusic.com playsinglaugh.com peripole.com email: office@kalanimusic.com