Recently I started finger drumming after around a year-long break and decided that I would like to learn some afro rhythms. I started learning, quickly remembered basic patterns and enjoyed the process. Now in the book “West African Rhythms for Drumset” there are a lot of variations around the same core patterns. Such observations ignited a question about “Finger vs palm choreography” which is shown in the attached picture. Line one for me represents palm choreography with a core of RLLRL RLLRL while the bottom line represents finger choreography where 4 fingers would be assigned to 4 different notes (colour coded R-red-right L-left-lime green). I highlighted only four notes to maintain readability.
Why I am raising this question? Because it seems to me that even though palm choreography is easier to learn, it very difficult to adjust it, and include minor improvisation elements (at least for me). Meanwhile, in finger choreography, I can detach or add the whole pattern altogether (that is still the plan, not the achievement).
I would appreciate any insights, or opinions on this. Did anyone encounter the same thoughts? Btw, my music knowledge is based on piano, so maybe that is the source of these thoughts.
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Hey Povilas! Welcome back. This is an interesting chain of thoughts… The strange thing is that for me, the palm choreography (by which I assume you mean wrist movements) for me feels like a source of an infinite amount of improvisational options that should actually be easier to execute.
The whole idea is that you get really good at playing a pattern like RLLRL RLLRL and then you can hit any pad you like with that pattern. Any sound, or a combination of sounds. If you get good at switching patterns it becomes even more fluid.
I now improvise all kinds of rhythms with my two hands on my lap and then take that to the pad controller which does seem to work nicely.
But that’s not to say a method where each finger has it’s own sound isn’t viable. I do think this is already a little bit part of how I play as well… I mean, the kicks are usually my thumbs, snares are index finger and hihats are played with middle finger.
I hope I understood your explanation well. If not, feel free to correct me.
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It seems that you understand what I meant:)
I agree that learning patterns with the wrist and then transferring them to a different combination of pads is easier. For now, it seems rather difficult to add lines of specific rhythms on a specific drum sound because it will be tied not to a finger, but between hands. In any case, I just wanted to share my current thoughts. I will share my progress sometime during the summer.
Thank you for your response!
Ah yes, what might be a good long term exercise for fluidity and spontaneity with the wrist movements is to simply close your eyes, then visualising the 16 pads and then imagining the sound you want to hear and then hitting that pad. Ideally with one hand first and then the other.
And then you start imagining a sequence of for example 4 notes, you visualise where they are, still eyes closed, and then you try and play that sequence.
At some point you can slowly just do this continuously, one sound at a time, creating these interactions between your hands and playing the sounds you hear in your head. It will probably not be a drum beat or anything, but it will sort of train that muscle of being able to play something you hear in your head.
It will probably take some time before this will be useful in real life, but it does help in the long run with breaking free from just playing stuff that had to be 100% memorized beforehand.
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Thank you for the inspiring suggestion! I will try it:)
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