Arthur Hull always says “If you can say it, then you can play it.” It makes perfect sense. If you can say the rhythm with your voice, or if you can move the rhythm with your body, then you have embodied the rhythm.
None of my nuclear family members would admit that they are musicians. However, I started saying rhythms out loud as a young girl, thanks to my dad. When I was in 5th grade, my older brother Geoff went to fight in the Persian Gulf War. When he returned, my dad, my little brother and I had prepared a Welcome Home Beat Box Piece just for Geoff. Some of our influences included The Fat Boys (the Human Beat Box and Wipeout feat. the Beach Boys), Dogs Barking Jingle Bells, and chickens singing In The Mood. But we really wanted this original beat box piece to be just for Geoff. We rehearsed a lot, and it paid off because Geoff was in tears when he heard our live performance.
Our performance for Geoff sounded like this: Boom-che-Boom, BoomBoom-che-Boom, Boom-che-Boom-Boom-che, BoomBoom-che-Boom.
I recommend “liking” DrumCircles.net on Facebook by Shannon Ratigan. You get a new rhythm to say every week! I’m taking these to my two drum classes today for my students to say out loud. Some of my favorites include:
♫ Boom, sha-La-Ka-Boom-Boom (pause) Boom, sha-La-Ka-Boom-Boom ♫
Drum circle rhythm WaaHida in 4/4: 1+2+3+4+ ♫♫ Doum-tekkatekkaTek-tekkatekkaTek-ka-, Doum-tekkatekkaTek-tekkatekkaTek-ka-, ♫♫
♫♫ Boom – che-boom_che-boom-a-choc_o_late__choc_o_late, (dramatic pause) Boom – che-boom_che-boom-a-choc_o_late__choc_o_late ♫♫♫
Word association is a great way to get a 6/8 drum circle rhythm going. ♫♫♫ Fol-low-the-yel-low-brick-road-go-do-pa-ta-pa ♫♫♫
Special thanks to Shannon for sharing his rhythmic talents online!
There are examples of saying it and playing it in classical and jazz music. Because I am a classically-trained pianist, I’m especially moved by piano music. Here are some world-famous pianist examples of “saying it and playing it:”
*Classical example. Glenn Gould plays Goldberg Variations. Listen closely to #3. What’s that buzzing in the background? No, that’s not your home heater creaking or birds chirping outside your window. That is Glenn Gould himself. He was often criticized for his vocalizations during recordings, but somehow he managed to become one of the most famous and highest-acclaimed interpreters of keyboard music by J.S. Bach.
*Jazz example. Keith Jarrett plays the Paris Concert. Listen closely to the Blues excerpt. The recording engineers actually do a stellar job of covering up the voice, but, oh, it’s there. When I saw Keith Jarret play live in Philadelphia five years ago, he might as well have had a body double humming along up at the vocal mic.
What’s the last rhythm you said out loud? Share your ideas and comments below.
Hi Kat! I do ALOT of “Ham-Bone” with community drum circles and in schools as call and response: Ham-bone, Ham-bone where you been?, etc…..first with words, then with words and feet, then with words, feet and hands tapping beat, then with rhythm of the words as a call and response….THEN with the patting Ham-Bone – it’s a great rhythm that has direct ties to the “Shave and a Haircut”, 3/2 Clave and Bo Diddley (whose real middle name just happens to be, like mine, Otha!)
The Ham-bone rhythm is also WONDERFUL for tapping/patting….similar in some ways to “pattin’ Juba”. Folks at my community Drum Circles LOVE it….very soon I’ll put on YouTube a lesson of it for all to see.
I am in the process of writing a couple of books on “Ham-bone” – one a children’s book and the other one on it’s usage in drumming, rhythm and singing work (along with other activities).
I also use “THE EARTH IS OUR MOTHER”, several good versions on YouTube. (playing on the 1 X 3 4)
Another cool, easy rhythm (especially for school children!) is Wen Day Ya Ho! (simple 1-2-3-rest) (A Cherokee Morning Chant – again, several good versions on YouTube – see ESPECIALLY the version by the group 3 Generationz and also the one by the group of women that is led by Cherokee actress/activist Rita Coolidge.