Kuku (coucou) Rhythm
Download or Print the full Kuku Rhythm Guide in PDF Format
History
Kuku is a circle dance and drum rhythm of West Africa. Traditionally, women danced Kuku to celebrate their return from fishing. It is very popular, and is today played at all kinds of celebrations such as parties and the full moon. Traditionally Kuku was performed only on djembes. Two djembe were tuned as normal, and one was tuned lower to get the deeper sound. However, it is common to now here dundun part improvised along with the djembe parts.
Group Performance
Kuku is played similar to a round, with one part overlaying another. There is also a “call” which is played to signal the start, change, or end of the rhythm.
Parts
There are many improvisational and variant parts to Kuku. Just doing a simply google search for Kuku will bring up dozens of websites, videos, notations, and explanations of Kuku that are all slightly different. It is a basic rhythm that has been added upon, revised, and improvised. Many teachers have their own style. Don’t worry about which ones are “right”. The Kuku parts presented here are quite common and will fit into any Kuku, regardless of what other improvisations or variant parts may be added.
T= tone, S= Slap, B=bass, f=flam, r=right hand, l=left hand
Word Patterns to help you learn and remember the part are also noted.
Call
|
T |
- |
T |
T |
- |
T |
- |
T |
T |
- |
S |
S |
S |
- |
- |
- |
|
r |
- |
r |
l |
- |
r |
- |
l |
r |
- |
r |
l |
r |
- |
- |
- |
|
Let’s |
- |
Get |
Rea- |
- |
dy |
- |
To |
Stop |
- |
Right |
- |
Now |
- | - | - |
Djembe 1
|
B |
- |
T |
T |
- |
- |
S |
- |
B |
- |
T |
T |
- |
- |
S |
- |
|
r |
- |
r |
l |
- |
- |
r |
- |
r |
- |
r |
l |
- |
- |
r |
- |
Djembe 2
|
T |
T |
- |
S |
T |
T |
S |
- |
T |
T |
- |
S |
T |
T |
S |
- |
|
r |
l |
- |
l |
r |
l |
r |
- |
r |
l |
- |
l |
r |
l |
r |
- |
|
Cou |
Cou |
- |
For |
Co |
Co |
Puffs |
- |
Cou |
Cou |
- |
For |
Co |
Co |
Puffs |
- |
Resources
Below is a list of some excellent resources on the internet that will be useful when practicing basic djembe techniques or Kuku at home.
Djembefola – Free online Kuku tutorial (http://djembefola.com/learning/kuku/DjembeKuku.php ) This tutorial is especially nice because it gives you the notation directly below the video. A small box moves along the notation in time with the video, showing you what sound to make at the right moment.
AfroDrumming – Kuku Tutorial (http://www.afrodrumming.com/djembe-rhythms-kuku.php) This has the same call and 1st Djembe part as above, but a different second djembe part. Has description and notation, but no video or sound.
Mike Powers Online Tutorials - (http://www.powerspercussion.com/lessons/online-lessons) – Includes a nice video on Kuku with 4 different parts. His website also has the parts in printable boxed and standard notation. The video shows the patterns played slow and at full speed.
Jim Donovan Videos – (http://www.jimdonovanmusic.com/) He has some great instructional videos on basic techniques on his website and on youtube.
Brother Sean Demo – (http://www.x8drums.com/v/blog/2008/01/kuku-african-rhythm-on-djembe-brotha.asp ). Performed by NYC professional percussionist and instructor, Brotha Sean.
Youtube!
You will find a ton of videos of people performing and instructing you in how to play Kuku on youtube. Here are a handful of my favorites:
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4 pings
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January 14, 2012 at 3:09 pm (UTC -4)
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