Indian Rhythms with Dr. Levin

My new songwriting course "Getting Songs Done" is out now! BenLevinMusicSchool.com
My Patreon - / benlevin
Fake Doctor Ben Levin shows a cool way to work on rhythm.
You can hear my music at www.BenLevinGroup.BandCamp.com
www.BentKnee.BandCamp.com
This video is a lesson for musicians looking to expand their musical vocabulary and have a great time doing so.
Video by Rab Berry

[@YaminiKalluri98]

When I was teaching the phrase "Ta Ri Kita Thom" during my Indian dance class in upstate NY. These kids heard it as "Daddy kicked the gnome" they kept singing it like that for 3 months until the camp ended. 🙈😆

[@picosdrivethru]

hahahahhahah

[@kookieslonghair1147]

I'm an Indian classical dancer who uses this system and I can assure that everything he's taught is accurate. You have my respect for learning this rhythm system, it isn't easy or typical. For anyone who wants to see how this rhythm is used, there's a rhythmic exploration called Konnakol popular in South India. These artists are honestly so dope, it blows my mind how well versed they are in rhythm. Here's one of my favorite artists: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaCzm6xsoNWcZ6M and kzbin.info/www/bejne/bXWocneLd9Rgrpo

[@arrestedshrimp]

Wow just checked out those videos, pretty interesting. Would be amazing to see if anyone would be able to make music like that with actual instruments. You know of any artists?

[@fuzzyc]

As someone from south india, I enjoyed this video a lot and liked how you naturally did the indian head bob from just jamming along

[@357CLOUDY]

We humans are all related somewhere along the line.

[@SlyHikari03]

@@357CLOUDY true.

[@slitbodmod5555]

Just an opening of him sniffing a cactus followed by a wide shot of a crazy haired guy standing in a complete bomb site and wearing a lab coat. beautiful.

[@themaggattack]

Jacob mv 😂😂😂😂

[@slitbodmod5555]

Funnily enough, That explains nothing!

[@nahblue]

One's bomb site is the other's homely home...

[@SeanPorio]

I'm just imagining Dr. Levin singing these over Djent music, and it is incredible.

[@xoxo-yk7vg]

I think about this too. :-)

[@rafetizer]

Ha nice!

[@emmettlukas5360]

Check out Mattias IA Eklundh's music!!

[@kingbassk83]

@@emmettlukas5360 That was the first thing that came to my mind when I saw this video recommendation.

[@guglani22]

well there's a band that incorporates djent and vocals that do these kinda counting , Project Mishram . its a mix of indian classical music with progmetal/djent

[@IDJMK]

Every drummer should have to watch this video.

[@BenLevin]

It certainly helps!

[@JivanPal]

Every drummer should take tabla lessons!

[@Maldito011316]

Thank you! With this I can now decypher Meshuggah!

[@gabrielvictorrusso5931]

Adam Nelly brought me here. I'm glad he did

[@BenLevin]

Yay!

[@chai__tea]

same here :-D

[@Wachnin13]

Me too also!

[@ajadrew]

Me too....

[@slayerficated]

Adam Nelly is fucking cool.

[@robbru3112]

"what this system is is a system"

[@MrGreenAKAguci00]

Rob Bru can't argue with that one

[@ferguwat24]

Hey, when you're right you're right.

[@leomassafm160]

People die if they are killed.

[@apocryphonnill1180]

That's a Tautology.

[@theexplodingmothfromhell8012]

Is that what your say at a turtle's funeral?

[@BenLevin]

My suggestion is to write an Indian solfege rap that is catchy to your ear and practicing the lines to the tempo of your pace while you walk. For me, one of the lines was tadinginatom takita kitatakatadingina. If you start at a medium tempo and slowly increase speed with these lines, it will help a lot!

[@jonathanghali6190]

Put on subtitles, it's hilarious

[@iLikeTheUDK]

Unexpected Cena at 5:04

[@TheAwesomeGingerGuy]

Jono Ghali "attack with the intention of taking maternity"

[@HarryS77]

talking demon could be 16

[@fryingwiththeantidote2486]

Hi my name is Doremi Faso Latido

[@RCAvhstape]

2:26 tidiness Kentucky to tighten genotype so the corner

[@orritomasson6781]

I learnt it this way: 8notes: mango triplets: banana 16notes: mississippi ("Manitoba" if you're Canadian) quintuplet: university

[@skeletonrowdie1768]

yeah that works good also! the beautifull thing i found in these indian phrases is that each syllable really feels like the beat, so f.e.: ta i really a first beat and ka is really an afterbeat as i feel it :)

[@elprinciperay17]

instead of Banana I use chocolate

[@HANGNAIL]

That's cool! Thanks for sharing. University is a great quintuplet. I think I'll be using that to explain it to my musical friends. Thanks! 😉

[@atriyakoller136]

but banana has a stressed second syllable that is hard to pronounce unstressed when you're trying to accent the first part of the bar (I don't know the proper English for that :()

[@isamusika]

Atriya Koller use pineapple instead😃

[@alenlee5718]

Love that stuff! Syllables for 3 would usually be TaKiTe instead of TaKiTa, so the musician won’t get lost in stacking 3s upon each other. Also, useful to mention would be that there is a complete freedom in how the musician could build a number. For example, 6 could be TaKaDiMiTaKa instead of TaKiTeTaKiTe, and that purely depends on chosen subdivisions or accents within the measure or a beat. Fun stuff to try: 5/4 cycle comprised of 4, 4, 3, 3, 2, 2, 1 & 1 in 16ths note durations with accent displacement, and that make a hella grove (great for Tabla player you know)

[@jakemedeiros3929]

Thank our lord and savior Adam Neely for bringing light upon Ben Levin!

[@larrydigger461]

This is fucking mind blowing, why have I never thought of it like this? Making interesting drum fills will be much easier now.

[@BarryHachet]

This seems like it would be a great exercise for rappers trying to develop a chopper style. (e.g. Bone Thugs, Tech N9ne, Busta Rhymes)

[@calebwright9539]

Thanks for the idea

[@bhargavchavda1478]

Z S yupp

[@timanderson9466]

Your so right!

[@TiKayStyle]

Do Bone Thugs and so on use different tuplets? I would also like to hear reap in 7/8 for example

[@straightouttaalderaan6672]

Watch your language, young man

[@spidersjohnson6853]

What do your neighbors think of you?

[@BenLevin]

I'm not sure...

[@graysonwilson-cacciapalle7989]

You would be the best kind of neighbor

[@danielmeijer3143]

Grayson Wilson-Cacciapalle not sure

[@ravelitschimo]

They think he is an indian and has the tourette Syndrom. Geronimo

[@lumorowenamooncaller9811]

Ta Taco Taquito Sock it to me Sock it to me now Taquito Taquito Sock it to me Taquito Sock it to me Taco Bueno

[@themaggattack]

Jesse Augustine Walker- That's a tongue twister! 😜 I ended up like: "tock it to me now...Tatito tatito." 😂

[@juampi1424]

south mexico rhythmic solfege

[@zacpiya]

Ha ha ha ha ha!!!😂😂😂

[@juliangonzalez2953]

I'll be using this since it's easier to remember

[@Vitriol09]

Sock it to me => Ta-co to me Ta Taco Taquito Taco to me Taco to me now Taquito Taquito Taco to me Taquito Taco to me Taco me now

[@TaboraMusic]

But, when you were talking about 15/16 and 17/16, you didn’t adjust your downbeats, so that really you were still in 4/4, just with displaced accents.

[@busteronlyfullscreenmode]

that's what I was thinking

[@GerSHAK]

+

[@alekisighl7599]

manutabora Its called a ployrythm

[@Zuhdj]

In Southern Indian music, everything is based on what we would call a quarter note. So, for example, if a piece was in 4/4 and there was a random 17/16 measure, it would feel like the downbeat is displaced by one 16th note but the true downbeat would remain on the quarter note. Source: Poolvalur Sriji, my Southern Indian Ensemble professor

[@connorhayes2374]

@@alekisighl7599 Polymeter* Polyrhythm has different division sizes, but he speaks 16th notes over the 4/4, making it a polymeter that repeats every 17 bars

[@cezerelecrucio9717]

I really love how you explained the Indian method by showing how it can make odd time signatures easier. The guitarist from Marbin talked about this stuff and I didn't really understand the point whenever he did. He was just like, "it's better, learn it". I like your approach, Dr. Levin.

[@FitzyyLives]

Bro, I've seen only a few of your videos this far and I really love your different approaches to music. You're definitely the kind of person to look at things from every angle and find the most interesting or entertaining ways to do things. I love your style man. Never change!

[@tonycrader8978]

I found Life and Back about a year ago and I'm so glad I did. I've learned so much from the content and art you've made and contributed to, and I'm so grateful for it. Thank you!

[@Matthewsavant]

Brilliant. I’ve been trying to understand this for weeks and finally got it from this. Thanks!

[@Cobra-ky9bt]

Found your channel yesterday, and glad I did. This video is solid fire. Thank you for demystifying the rhythms and counts.

[@sliverhandsonbasses]

Watching this with automatic subtitles is a whole new experience!

[@Peter-dk2ov]

Found your channel recently and I absolutely love the content. I wish I'd found it years ago. So educational

[@hankhomaomes2830]

Man you're awesome and I was so confused to trying to figure out how to fit an odd time or 3/6 to 4/8s, this has helped me a lot

[@ccshredder9506]

Dude this is only the 2nd video I've seen on your channel and I'm in love with it. Subbed!

[@alexjames5290]

this guy is the reincarnation of zappa

[@guitarteachjc]

Doctor! I love everything about this. Excellent teaching, content and such honest presentation. Man, awesome.

[@amypierce7766]

The good chemicals in my brain are having a blast and my heart is blissing on these beats. These rowdy rhythms render a rerouted routine and rich revival. 🥁💛👍Thanks!

[@ze_rubenator]

2 notes (or "short" in eastern/balkan system): _Taco_ 3 notes: (or "long" in eastern/balkan system): _Burrito_ I find most music can be expressed entirely with these two. Blue Rondo Ala Turk is in 9/8, grouped as 2,2,2,3 2,2,2,3 2,2,2,3 3,3,3. But it can be performed as: Taco taco taco burrito Taco taco taco burrito Taco taco taco burrito Burrito burrito burrito

[@farshimelt]

Every time signature can be expressed by a combination of Ta Ka & Ta Ki Ta.

[@danielvalenzuelaguitar]

This made me laugh so much while trying to say quintuples as taco burrito taco burrito :D

[@zucc4764]

this had no business being so funny

[@maxkolbl1527]

This might be one of the most useful things I've ever seen in my life. Thank you so much!

[@mikeythemaestro]

This lesson was freaking mind-blowing... Thank you, I got tonnes of practice to do...

[@MaestroLives]

You rock... I thoroughly love this video hardcore. Excellent work and explanation!

[@JanFee]

Wow that's amazing material !

[@Manas-co8wl]

This is so inspirational! Already I can feel the idiosyncratic possibilities for my work!

[@electriksoul4783]

Absolutely Incredible. I have been learning all signatures out of 4/4 so some of these are very helpful to me and how I play. Thank you. Time manipulation is the top asset.

[@RylonBlackbeak]

Fantastic writing tool. Thank you for brief and clear breakdown

[@mysterybotts]

I've saw some of your other videos and always found them interesting. Watched this one and thought "seriously,why have I not subscribed yet?" This is gold, I wish I could have been introduced to it when I started playing...

[@r2r322]

Levin, fantastic video. Really helpfull to think out of the box with tempos, thank you.

[@roscoestark6589]

just blew my mind with this, thanks Ben Levin

[@Nazarimusic]

it was awesome!, thanks so much Ben!!

[@1macirone]

Great lesson, just what I needed; Thank you (Dr) Levin!!!

[@knotty.rancour6187]

This is really cool! Just what I was looking for and explained really well. Thanks

[@_d_d_man]

Why AM I FINDING THIS ABSOLUTE GEM NOW? Awesome Dr. Levin!!

[@fjeinca]

A great video, Ben. Thanks!

[@GistOfItMedia]

such a fantastic way to understand the feel of any time signature

[@BorysPomianek]

Excellent video!

[@Demonithese]

My roommate plays guitar and introduced me to your videos. As a drummer, this video is incredibly useful and really helpful in helping me explore things like odd meter and polyrhythms. Keep making beautiful and weird music!

[@Carlos-qz7ul]

Very enjoyable ! Loved it ! ❤

[@TheSupermadzy]

Literally... that was so cool. I'm sad its taken me this long to find how awesome this guy is.

[@RhythmiSation]

Thanks for your lesson Ben. Very cool. Takadimi. Konnakol. Rhythmisation. All very cool rhythm systems. Keep the rhythm videos coming.

[@fraukapitaen7]

Wow, I'm awestruck. Gonna give it a try, sounds like productive fun - Thank you!

[@stefan1024]

Great stuff! You made me play around with your 5-3-3-5 pattern in a step sequencer and I ended up with 5-3-5, which sounds quite "normal" even though it's a 13/16 rhythm. Thank you!

[@ShivaAshutosh]

One of my fav youtube videos of all time.

[@wilroberts7492]

Awesome video. Thanks!

[@groovermctoober4508]

I thorougly enjoyed this lesson, Dr.!

[@guyhughes4185]

thanks so much been wanting to learn this for years

[@iosephantonivs4262]

Wow! You are really an excellent teacher!

[@kellywdowiak]

you very clearly explain something that is no easy to understand!! I am teaching my 7th graders about Indian Classical music and this will go perfectly with my lesson on Tala.

[@Pualn08]

This an awesome video!!! Very useful and helpful. Thanks for posting

[@PowerOfClaw]

Frigging AWESOME lesson. Very clear. I am trying to do world rhythms on Clawhammer banjo. This is very helpful. THANK YOU!

[@monnamar2478]

this was mindblowing, thanks !!

[@ryanholio]

That was awesome! Thanks man 😊

[@MagikHateBall]

Nice monitor loving the old school!

[@TheIntune100]

Good to see that u understand & u r interested in Indian music. Thnks.

[@manaireem5738]

this is fascinating and i can tell i undrestand mesures better , thx for the video very useful

[@elliotcowell3139]

that was beautifully explained thank you !

[@BenLevin]

Lol, I love tacos!

[@metalforlife4ever]

Thank you so much, Ben :)

[@brianmcguire5175]

Perfectly broken down. Understood this instantly. Great teacher

[@4carhur1more]

This just shed light on a song I heard from Bela Fleck and the Flecktones at the end of their album "Live at the Quick". Futureman was calling out these rhythms to his band mates and they were calling them back to him and ended up playing those rhythms in the song that followed. I didn't understand whether or not they had what they were saying planned or not but this makes me realize that they likely improvised how they did the parts of the song that included the called out rhythms which makes the last song on that album that much more fascinating! Then again, it still could have been planned but very impressive none the less. Great video, Ben!

[@LooMinn]

You just synthesized the entire John McLaughlin DVD :The Gateway To Rhythm to under 10 minutes. Brilliant! Going to rewatch this again but at a slower speed. Bravo Ben Levin.

[@djoverkin]

this is a godsend for technical metal improv, thank you for bestowing this knowledge upon us

[@TechnoShamanism]

Great intro, thanks man!

[@oriurian]

Thank you Doctor! I feel so much better now!

[@bouffantmoose]

Subscribed. Thank you, man! Very good lesson!

[@japagowtrio8008]

That was very good. Thanks.

[@augustacorns]

Very good explanation of Konnakol.

[@DanZaiOfficial]

So friggin cool. My favorite new KZbin channel. I don't even know what you say... I'll be sharing this with my muso friends.

[@bassismath9118]

I play bass n from India n wanted to use this ideas for slap bass... found ur video...amazing job..

[@marekkowalewski776]

Amazing ! Really thank you

[@ajadrew]

Thank you Ben for your clarity....:-)))

[@ianmascari890]

I love this video 💜

[@udipeled2103]

Thank you so much man this tought me a lot in 7 minutes!

[@davidsimpson2560]

I can't make my mouth do some of that at speed!! But I do it in my head, and it's interesting how quickly you can break apart a time signature using that method. I listen to a lot of music with unusual time signatures, and as a drummer, I'm always looking for quicker methods of identifying the individual parts of complex rhythms. Thanks for explaining this so well!

[@justinebricenocortez2832]

Dude, this is gold!

[@JakobPek]

Thank you so much Doctor!

[@MrMuratcengiz]

Loved it

[@PODseidon]

Your video is awesome, it's very useful ! Pls keep up the good work!

[@Mindstrikedojo]

Ben you are brilliant

[@lexa001]

Best rhythm video EVER!

[@iko4836]

Amazing ! Thanks !

[@GeorgesMayrink]

This was really, really cool. Extremely useful. Also quite entertaining. ;)

[@DavidDorenfeld]

very cool. thanks! great lesson.

[@antony.emmatty]

Really wow.. crash course kinda feel 😍

[@CarlosValman]

Really cool, bro

[@VOTECHGURU]

Awesome, man.