Rhythm Reference Project

Imagine, an MP3 Library of 50 West African Rhythms with all the djembe and dundun parts for 50 West African Rhythms!

The West African Rhythm Reference Project is finally available for download. If you have ever wanted recordings of every djembe accompaniment and every dun dun part for all the popular West African rhythms, it is finally here, in high-quality digital recordings for your iPod or MP3 player.

Imagine carrying over 400 of parts with you to listen anytime you want. Just dial up a rhythm by name on your iPod and listen to find the part you need to remember for dance class, practice at home, or teaching students. All parts are played by a master drummer from Guinea, former lead drummer for 9 years for the famed national touring performance troupe, Merveilles de Guinea. Recorded at Immersive Studios, one of the leading studios, using 5 mics for each drum, and professionally engineered to make learning easy, these are some of the best quality recordings of djembe and dun duns ever produced. All tracks include a shekere to indicate the correct pulse. Each part is introduced with the traditional break for that rhythm. Over 400 parts when you by all three collections. A PDF file is included with complete detailed notations and cultural context for each rhythm.

Three audio collections are available as digital downloads, covering the 50 most popular West African rhythms.

1 Djembe Collection — the djembe accompaniments for 50 rhythms, with complete detailed notations in PDF format, PLUS two five-minute Djembe Kan by Fara Tolno
——- 84 tracks, including multiple versions for most rhythms
——- Bonus track with 10 minute solo Djembe Kan by master drummer Fara Tolno
——- First accompaniment is played on a high drum, second on a medium drum, third on a low drum
——- pdf file with complete detailed notation and cultural context for each rhythm
——- 34 of the 50 rhythms include alternate versions as played in different regions

2 Dun Dun Collection — Traditional and Ballet style dun dun parts for the same 50 rhythms
——- 139 tracks, including multiple versions for most rhythms
——- Each part introduced by the traditional break for that rhythm
——- pdf file with complete detailed notation and cultural context for each track

3 Dun Dun Advanced Ballet — Ballet style duns with interesting variations
——- over 60 tracks
——- Each part introduced by the traditional break for that rhythm
——- pdf file with complete detailed notation including all variations, and cultural context for each track
——- Bonus track with 10 minute solo Dun Dun Kan by master drummer Fara Tolno

Download the breaks, accompaniments, dundun parts, and notation for 50 rhythms at The Rhythm Reference Project