Class #4 - Nov 1

Class Notes for Nov 1, 2009

Maqsum 4/4
1 . 2 . 3 . 4 .
D T . T D . T . home (listen)
D T K T D K T . walking (listen)


Another variation for frame drums:

1 . 2 . 3 . 4 .
D C . T C . T . 

Where C="Cha"

Maqsum is sometimes also called "maSmuudii saghiir" (meaning "small masmoodi" - We'll learn the bigger masmoodi later). Jas says that beladi is a folksier version of maqsum.

New Calls

Reset - Break, and the person who calls it sets a new tempo.

N to A - The named individual (A) gets the specified number (N) of beats to fill while the rest of the ensemble is silent.


Practice Suggestions

See Vanquishing Wimpy Kas in Your Car


One fun way to practice your rhythm and timing is to play along with a recording. To practice both maqsum and beladi, you might like to use a track entitled (strangely enough) "Maqsum, Beladi" by The Black Drum from the album Rakshasa. You can hear a sample or buy the whole track for about a quarter. (By the way, this album rocks, and you can (currently) buy the whole thing for $3.26).