Tag: Variations
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Don’t Force Your Entire Repertoire
One of the main things you can do to improve the quality of your solo is to decrease the quantity of different solo phrases. Forcing Your Repertoire Many people try to sound better by running through a large repertoire of phrases when they solo. In just a few minutes, they play everything they’ve learned for the rhythm, and […]
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A Theme-Based Approach to Soloing
The difference between a phrase-based and theme-based approach to djembe is profound. It may be one of the biggest reasons why many students will never sound like their African teachers – no matter how long or hard they’ve been studying, or how hard they’ve been practicing. If we want to advance leaps and bounds in our djembe playing, […]
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Intro To Active Accompaniment
“Active Accompaniment” describes a style of advanced dynamic accompaniment playing we hear in Roots Djembe music. It has to do with the presence and priorities of the accompanist. A player who plays Active Accompaniment aims to actively contribute to creating both better feeling and better sound in the music. This is in contrast to the […]
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The Soloist’s Progression: Theme-Based Soloing
The soloists progression is a basic formula for a good solo. It’s not to be followed rigidly. In fact, the whole point is to increase fluidity and let your solo progress organically. The concept of the soloists progression should be understood, and then used as a guide. Don’t underestimate it’s power. Using the soloists progression will, in […]
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Solo Meditations
A solo meditation is a practice exercise in which you focus on one single solo theme, represented by a root solo phrase. Meditations help to develop an intimate relationship with the rhythm. Here’s a great example of one possible Solo Meditation for Madan. They are an incredibly helpful exercise that’s actually very fun to do. Its especially fun if […]
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Slicing & Building
Working with “slicing and building” is how we refer to one of the most ancient soloing techniques in djembe music. It’s done by taking a basic phrase and extending or shortening it to build and release musical tension. This is usually done by either doubling the length of the phrase, or slicing it in half. In theme-based soloing, slicing & building is one of the […]