Here are the workshop notes on the odd time signatures.
We started with breaking up the bar into subdivisions of 2's and 3's starting with the 9/8.
count... 1-2, 1-2, 1-2, 1-2-3 accenting the one on every beat (try to loop the bars when you are counting, to get a feel for the rhythm). If you play dums on the one beats you begin to hear the stronger 4 beats within the bar (being all the one beats). This brings us to another method of remembering how to count odd time signatures. If you count just the 4 beats and make the last one a long count 1-2-3-4(23)it is easier to maintain the rhythm when the music starts getting faster (as it so often does). Counting this way also helps with the dancing and dance steps eg. a dance for this rhythm would go something like - short(step)-short-short-long(123)
When we relate this to the tabla/darbuka, the basic framework for the 9/8 rhythm would be alternating hits on the 4 main beats of the bar - Dum(1)-Ka(2)-Dum(3)-Ka(4).
TIP: To help keep the time and the feel of the rhythm you can add Ta Ka on the
last beats. See Below.
Beats 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Count 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 3 | 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 3 or 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 Tabla D k D k t k | D k D k t k
After the 9/8 we looked at the variations of the 7/8 rhythm, either 3-2-2 or 2-2-3. The same method of counting can be used for the 7's and you should always fall back on breaking the rhythms down into its subdivisions if you get stuck. See Below.
7/8 - 3-2-2 Beats 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Count 1 2 3 1 2 1 2 | 1 2 3 1 2 1 2 or 1 2 3 | 1 2 3 Tabla D k D k | D k D k 7/8 - 2-2-3 Beats 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Count 1 2 1 2 1 2 3 | 1 2 1 2 1 2 3 or 1 2 3 | 1 2 3 Tabla D k D k | D k D k
The other method of remembering these rhythms was to speak them or related them to specific words/syllables. Eg the 2-2-3 version of the 7/8 rhythm we used "ap-ple ap-ple pine-ap-ple ap-ple ap-ple pine-ap-ple" or the other way round (3-2-2)"pine-ap-ple ap-ple ap-ple pine-ap-ple ap-ple ap-ple" Confused?
Let's break it down a bit. ap-ple ap-ple pine-ap-ple | ap-ple ap-ple pine-ap-ple 1 2 1 2 1 2 3 | 1 2 1 2 1 2 3 Dum Ka Dum Ka | Dum Ka Dum Ka Other way around pine-ap-ple ap-ple ap-ple | pine-ap-ple ap-ple ap-ple 1 2 3 1 2 1 2 | 1 2 3 1 2 1 2 Dum Ka Dum Ka | Dum Ka Dum Ka
This brings us to the final rhythm which was the 11/8. We used the rhyme "monkey you're so funky" to get us through it. Here's how it breaks down.
Beats - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Count - 1 2 1 2 1 2 3 1 2 1 2 | 1 2 1 2 1 2 3 1 2 1 2 Tabla - D k D k D k | D k D k D k Speak - Mon key you'reso fun ky | Mon key you'reso fun ky
Phew!!! I've broken them down as simply as I could however odd time signatures are hard work! Don't expect to get them without quite a bit of concentration in the beginning, but it's definitely worth it once you do as it broadens your repetoire and makes you a more versatile drummer. So good luck and if you find anything I've written too confusing and need to ask me anything feel free to email me a mike@bamedamcamp.com and I'll do my best to explain it. Happy drumming!!!