Table of Contents
Introduction
This page contains more than 10 finger cymbal rhythms that are suitable for belly dancing to 4/4 music, particularly Egyptian music based on the Masmoudi Saghir rhythm (also often called Beledi in the United States). '4/4' means there are four beats to a measure and a quarter note gets one count. Not every one of these rhythms will work with every 4/4 song — listen to the music, and play rhythms that fit well with it. Some of these patterns may also sound fine with either 2/4 music or 4/4 music from other ethnic sources, such as some Turkish music. Again, listen to the music, and if these patterns seem to fit, go ahead and use them. Many belly dancers play only the Gallop (Threes) rhythm throughout their dance. This is very boring to listen to, and it is the mark of a dancer who is still very much a beginner in the art of using finger cymbals. To keep your cymbal playing interesting, vary the pattern that you use, but always be sure to pick patterns that work with the music. How to Use These PatternsSo, how should you use the suggested 'standard' rhythms that appear on this web page?
PHOTO CREDIT: Photo by Carol Grow Johnk, Iowa City, Iowa. |
These are not the only patterns you can play to Egyptian 4/4 music. They are a sample to help you get started. Ultimately, your goal should be to quit consciously thinking about patterns, and focus on letting the music shape what you play. Using The Rhythm Pattern DescriptionsIn the following descriptions of cymbal rhythm patterns:
PHOTO CREDIT: Photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California. |
Pure copper finger cymbals for belly dance. 2pcs/ pairs of Belly Dance Copper Cymbals. Material: Copper. The images are for reference only. 1, The real color of the item may be slightly different from. Sabian Finger Cymbals - Light - $22.49 Sabian Finger Cymbals - Heavy - $22.49 Treeworks Finger Cymbal Tree: 7 Cymbals - $79.85 Treeworks Finger Cymbals - $20.45 LP Finger Cymbals - $34.99 Rhythm Band Finger Cymbals, Set of 4 - $9.99 TreeWorks 24-Bar Wind Chimes (Mark Tree) with Triangle & Finger Cymbal - $119.95 TreeWorks Triangle Mount with Finger Cymbal and Beater - $24.55 Meinl 2 3/8' Pair.
Gallop (Also Called Threes or Longa)
Never, NEVER, NEVER call this 'triplets'. Please. In music, the term 'triplets' means something entirely different. If your teacher called it 'triplets', then she's teaching you an incorrect term. You don't need to tell her to stop, but please don't continue the error yourself.
This is the simplest finger cymbal pattern, and is sometimes called Threes because each set includes three cymbal strikes followed by a pause. It also works with most 2/4 music.
Listen to It | < Click on the note to hear it. | ||||||
Sound Pattern | 3 3 3 3 | ||||||
Spoken As |
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In Musical Notation | |||||||
Counting Diagram | Accent the beats capitalized below. 1---+---2---+---3---+---4---+---| R r l R r l R r l R r l | L l r L l r L l r L l r | 1---+---2---+---3---+---4---+---| | ||||||
Which Hand to Use |
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Masmoudi Saghir (Baladi)
This is the classic drum rhythm used in many Egyptian songs, and it's very useful to be able to play it on your finger cymbals. The name MasmoudiSaghir means 'little masmoudi' (as opposed to the slower MasmoudiKebir which means 'big masmoudi'. Masmoudi Kebir is the one most people in the U.S. have been trained to think of when they hear the word 'masmoudi'). In some places (including the U.S.), there is a widespread practice among both drummers and dancers of calling this rhythm baladi, even though that's not what Egyptians would call it. On the 'three' sections, alternate between right and left, with the accented DOOM sound falling on your stronger hand (that is, on your right hand if you're right-handed, or your left hand if you're left-handed.
Listen to It | < Click on the note to hear it. | ||||||
Sound Pattern | 3 1 3 1 3 | ||||||
Spoken As |
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In Musical Notation | |||||||
Counting Diagram | Accent the beats capitalized below. 1---+---2---+---3---+---4---+---| R R r l r R r l r r l | L L l r l L l r l l r | 1---+---2---+---3---+---4---+---| | ||||||
Which Hand to Use |
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Masmoudi Saghir with Rest
An interesting variation of the masmoudi saghir rhythm is to omit some of the standard notes that would normally appear in it. In this variation, the third DOOM is replaced with silence. Another variation you could try is to replace all three of the DOOMs with silence. Alternate between right and left hands as described above under 'Masmoudi Saghir / Baladi'.
Listen to It | < Click on the note to hear it. | ||||||
Sound Pattern | 3 1 3 Silence 3 | ||||||
Spoken As |
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In Musical Notation | |||||||
Counting Diagram | Accent the beats capitalized below. 1---+---2---+---3---+---4---+---| R R r l r r l r r l | L L l r l l r l l r | 1---+---2---+---3---+---4---+---| | ||||||
Which Hand to Use |
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Eight-Count
Alternate evenly between your right and left hand throughout.
Listen to It | < Click on the note to hear it. | ||||||
Sound Pattern | 8 Even | ||||||
Spoken As |
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In Musical Notation | |||||||
Counting Diagram | Accent the beats capitalized below. 1---+---2---+---3---+---4---+---| R l R l R l R l | L r L r L r L r | 1---+---2---+---3---+---4---+---| | ||||||
Which Hand to Use |
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3-3-7
Listen to It | < Click on the note to hear it. | ||||||
Sound Pattern | 3 3 7 | ||||||
Spoken As |
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In Musical Notation | |||||||
Counting Diagram | Accent the beats capitalized below. 1---+---2---+---3---+---4---+---| R r l R r l r l r l R r l | L l r L l r l r l r L l r | 1---+---2---+---3---+---4---+---| | ||||||
Which Hand to Use |
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3-7-3
Listen to It | < Click on the note to hear it. | ||||||
Sound Pattern | 3 7 3 | ||||||
Spoken As |
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In Musical Notation | |||||||
Counting Diagram | Accent the beats capitalized below. 1---+---2---+---3---+---4---+---| R r l r l r l R r l R r l | L l r l r l r L l r L l r | 1---+---2---+---3---+---4---+---| | ||||||
Which Hand to Use |
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3-5-5
Listen to It | < Click on the note to hear it. | ||||||
Sound Pattern | 3 5 5 | ||||||
Spoken As |
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In Musical Notation | |||||||
Counting Diagram | Accent the beats capitalized below. 1---+---2---+---3---+---4---+---| R r l r l R r l r l R r l | L l r l r L l r l r L l r | 1---+---2---+---3---+---4---+---| | ||||||
Which Hand to Use |
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Sevens
Listen to It | < Click on the note to hear it. | ||||||
Sound Pattern | 7 7 7 7 | ||||||
Spoken As |
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In Musical Notation | |||||||
Counting Diagram | Accent the beats capitalized below. 1---+---2---+---3---+---4---+---| R r l r l r l R r l r l r l | L l r l r l r L l r l r l r | 1---+---2---+---3---+---4---+---| | ||||||
Which Hand to Use |
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Roll of 15
Listen to It | < Click on the note to hear it. | ||||||
Sound Pattern | Constant roll | ||||||
Spoken As |
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In Musical Notation | |||||||
Counting Diagram | Accent the beats capitalized below. 1---+---2---+---3---+---4---+---| R l r l R l r l R l r l R r l | L r l r L r l r L r l r L l r | 1---+---2---+---3---+---4---+---| | ||||||
Which Hand to Use |
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5-5-13
Listen to It | < Click on the note to hear it. | ||||||
Sound Pattern | 5 5 13 | ||||||
Spoken As |
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In Musical Notation | |||||||
Counting Diagram | Accent the beats capitalized below. 1---+---2---+---3---+---4---+---1---+---2---+---3---+---4---+---| R r l r l R r l r l r l r l r l r l R r l r l | L l r l r L l r l r l r l r l r l r L l r l r | 1---+---2---+---3---+---4---+---1---+---2---+---3---+---4---+---| | ||||||
Which Hand to Use |
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3-5-1-3
Listen to It | < Click on the note to hear it. | ||||||
Sound Pattern | 3 5 1 3 | ||||||
Spoken As |
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In Musical Notation | |||||||
Counting Diagram | Accent the beats capitalized below. 1---+---2---+---3---+---4---+---| R r l r l r R r l R r l | L l r l r l L l r L l r | 1---+---2---+---3---+---4---+---| | ||||||
Which Hand to Use |
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Now, Have Fun With It!
Now it's time to experiment. Here are some exercises: Try making up your own combinations that work well with 4/4 music. Try combining some of these patterns with each other. Here are a couple of ideas to get you started:
Put some Egyptian music on your sound system, and listen for the masmoudi saghir rhythm. Suggested song titles include 'Bint El Sultan' by Ahmed Adaweyya or 'Taht il-Shabbak' by Fatme Serhan. If you don't hear the rhythm, maybe you chose a song that doesn't use it. Try another. Once you find one that does have this rhythm, practice all the various rhythms on this page in time to it. Then move to doing your own improvisations to it. PHOTO CREDIT: Photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California. |
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