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Learning from the Balafon: Lesson 18: 6 + 4 African Bell

6 + 4 African Bell Perspectives

This video explores a contemporary treatment of a bell pattern from the country of Benin in West Africa. These drumset examples are adapted to playing the balafon, but can be applied to any instrument. The 2-bar pattern in 12/8 is built with the first bar in a “6” feel and the second in “4.” The alternation of 6 and 4 creates a profound shift in perspective as it is played by the musician and heard by the listener.

Download the attached file for notation and variations.

A Blues Kit for Christian (and everyone else

plenty to do here.

  • Put the chords in Ireal
  • Transcribe my solo
  • Make sure you can play and comp rootless voicings through out this for 4 choruses.
  • Play my solo
  • put my solo into Bb
  • play my solo followed by your solo. Try and make it similer in nature
  • do it in Bb and other keys.

If you click right below here on Bags Groove it should ask you to open up Ireal pro and should import this.