Djembe Lesson : How to improvise around a learned solo phrase

[@slowroadsouth]

Jon, thank you so much for all of these tutorials. I'm a novice drummer and have had little idea how to think about phrase building for solos, switching between 3/4 feel in 12/8, etc I just stumbled onto your page and it's giving me so much to work with. Cheers, dude. I live out in the middle of the US, but if I ever make it through Sheffield I'll definitely drop by!

[@djembeweaver]

Glad to hear you've found them so useful Jeff. Other than teaching set solo phrases no-one explains how to improvise like djembefolas do and I found that really frustrating when I was learning so I try to take a different approach to teaching... I have a new djembe learning website that will be going live in about a week. It has all the old videos plus lots and lots of new ones all packaged up in complete lessons with blog-style write-ups, hundreds of play-along audio files at different speeds and written scores of absolutely everything I explain. It will be at djembeweaver dot com...although this links to my old website at the moment it will link to the new one shortly. For a small monthly subscription you get access to the entire database of lessons. I will be adding new lessons every month with video, audio, score and write-ups to ensure continued value for money. Search for it next week and you'll have everything you need to build technique and fluency on the one hand, and a library of accompaniments and rhythms on the other! Good luck and keep practicing!

[@djembeweaver]

By the way I've been in a workshop with Seckou Keita (the kora player) where he taught us to do exactly this, i.e. improvise around learned solo phrases, so this technique is definitely 'authentic' in the sense that Africans approach solo in this way. He was very clear that you should not just learn solo phrases and churn them out one after the other. Besides, it should be clear from listening to djembefolas that they improvise around phrases. I hate hearing Mamady Keita solos played note for note. Even if they are played skillfully with good technique and timing it shows a lack of imagination and a fundamental misunderstanding of what solo should be.

[@slowroadsouth]

djembeweaver Awesome! Well keep up the good teaching. I look forward to the website. And thank Zoe for me! All of her dunun work brings a lot to the videos.

[@djembeweaver]

Jeff Miller Ha! I will thank Zoe for you...she'll be chuffed to bits! She is a total star and a great dundun player!

[@djembeweaver]

Jeff Miller Hi Jeff. Just thought I'd let you know that my new online djembe learning website is now live at www.djembeweaver.com. Please share it as much as possible! If I get enough subscribers it will allow me to create great new content every month including professional quality videos and much more besides! Thanks for your continued support :)

[@Dandrum2727]

Thanks for sharing this(and all your videos). I've been playing djembe for many years but just started working on solos over the past couple of years and I appreciate everything you have to offer.

[@djembeweaver]

Great! Really glad you've found them useful. I try to teach people to improvise, rather than to just churn out learned solo phrases one after the other. The most important thing of all is to try and stay relaxed while you solo, otherwise it sound jerky and awkward. My advice is to stick to simple things and try to play them beautifully with good technique. Simple things played well are always beautiful whereas complicated things played badly are never beautiful ;)

[@Dandrum2727]

djembeweaver Yes, exactly! I've learned the traditional solos for several rhythms- Mendiani, Soli, Kuku, Kassa, etc and lately I've been practicing working off and around those solo phrases so I was happy to see this video confirming some of what I have been doing. And yes, I start simple and with good technique and build from there. Always a pleasure seeing what you have to offer:-)

[@djembeweaver]

Dandrum2727 Good for you my friend :)

[@djembeweaver]

Dandrum2727 By the way I have been in a workshop with renowned djembefola Seckou Keita where he taught us to do exactly this...i.e. improvise around learned solo phrases rather than just churn them out one after the other...so it is definitely 'authentic' in that sense...

[@djembeweaver]

Dandrum2727 Hi Dandrum. Just thought I'd let you know that my new online djembe learning website is now live at djembeweaver.com. Please share it as much as possible! If I get enough subscribers it will allow me to create great new content every month including professional quality videos and much more besides! Thanks for your continued support :)

[@liorsabag6195]

Hi can you explain this in tone & slap plssss, I can't get it 😕

[@brendamweaver]

Not quite as good as actually having you here for the weekend Jon but thanks all the same.

[@djembeweaver]

Shame you can't send dinners over the internet though...