Welcome to the rhythm Bembe! This book/Audio set is a self-study method designed to reveal the beautiful music that has been developed and maintained in Cuban culture. This is accomplished through reading, interpreting percussion charts, and interacting with a series of audio recordings and exercises which concentrate on the drum, percussion, and vocal parts of the rhythm Bembe. While working through the progressive exercises and charts, you will begin to understand rhythms with a triplet swing, in other words, rhythms in multiples of three beats.

In traditional Bembe, the supporting drums tend to remain rhythmically fixed, not deviating from a basic pattern. Also, traditional Bembe usually incorporates only a single mid-range support drum. In this lesson some of the artistic license has been applied to these traditional aspects, adding a second mid-range drum to the ensemble, and expanding on the basic dialogues maintained between the supporting drums. Course objectives, a bibliography, and an extensive glossary are included. Includes access to online audio.

The Roots of Bembe

Rhythmic Concepts

Melodic Concepts

Drum Trechnique

Bembe Drum and Shekere Parts

 Interactive Section

Bembe Songs