Rhythm For A Gambian Song

Intro/Outro/Break Section

Count       || 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  | 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  ||
Signal      ||                  | o.OO.O.OO.SSS... || then:

Bells       || x.xx.x.xx....... | ........x...x... ||
+Dun Duns   || D.DD.D.DD....... | ........G...G... ||
Djembes     || s.ss.s.ss.OOSOOS | OOSOS...s...s... ||
               f ff f ff rlrlrl   rlrlr   f   f

Main Rhythm

A phrase we use to remember the Dun Dun tune is:
"Gambian, Gambian - this is the Gambian... rhy-thm!"

>120bpm 4/4 ||:1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &  | 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & :||
Bell 1      || x.xx.x.xx.x.xx.x | x.xx.xx.x.x.x.x. ||
+Dun Duns   || D.DD.D.DD...DD.D | D.DD....G...G... ||
OR:
Ballet Duns || D.DD.D.DD...DD.D | D.DD....G...G... ||
               r lr r lr   rl r   l rl    r   r

Djembe 1    || O..OO.B.O..OO.B. ||  ("Eat your breakfast")
               r  lr r r  lr r

Djembe 2    || B..B..OOS..S..OO ||
               r  l  rlr  l  rl

Djembe 3    || BBOBS...OO.OS... ||  ("Eat up all your veg
               rlrlr   rl lr          - do it for me!")

Bell 2      || ............x.x. ||
+Block      || .x..x....x...... ||

Shekere     || ..xx..xx..xx..xx ||

Mastering the handing for Djembe 1 is an ideal first step to learning Rhythme Populaire.

Take care with the offbeat Block+Bell 2 part which can easily knock other parts off their timings.

We use the usual Signal to cue the Intro/Outro/Break section, where everyone gets to join the Dun Duns' tune. This is also used to finish, after a final echauffement.

(c) Gambian rhythm by Lamin Jassey (transcription - Ianto Thornber) which some Agents of Secret Bass learned at Big Green Gathering from a group called Drummed Up from Newcastle. It was re-notated by Malcolm Smith on 2014-02-03. I don't know which song this rhythm accompanies, but friends are making enquiries...