Learning to play the 6/8 bell in sync with your foot, (or even better both feet moving evenly) is the single most important thing we can learn when beginning to play drums no matter what the style or type. Afro Cuban, West African, Haitian, Brazilian and any drums originating out of West Africa and the Congo all use this pattern and all of the related hand drumming patterns originate out of this bell in some way or other. By learning to feel the relationship of the bell to the 4 pulse (where you move your foot or feet) will completely change the way you feel rhythm.

For those of you unfamiliar with traditional West African derived drumming this bell part is cyclical, it repeats and starts with a “lead in note”. Also, it does not change.
When learning and practicing this rhythm pattern it’s important to “drop in” to your body and feel it, not just think about it. It is about the relationship of the pattern with your body. There are two things happening at once. Yin and yang, positive and negative.
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