This time we are concentrating on the rhythms played by a small frame drum known as the tamborim (a small frame drum played with a stick), and the the agogo bells (twin bells).  The instruments are both held in the left hand and played with a stick in the right hand.  As explained on my previous articles: Samba: The Brazilian Heartbeat - Essential Parts and Samba: The Brazilian Heartbeat - Rhythmic Directions, these styles make use of two bar rhythms, which can be approached two ways, with the incorporation of the rhythmic directions A-B or B-A depending on the melody and arrangement of a particular piece.  The A side has underlying accents on the "e-a" of beat one, while on the B side these accents occur on "one-and".  Examples one and two illustrate this underlying rhythmic base in both directions:
 

Example 1)

Example 2)

The following are some popular samba patterns.  First a pattern played by the tamborim both ways:
A-B direction:

B-A direction:

And an agogo pattern both ways:
A-B direction:

B-A direction:

Keep playing the patterns until you "hear" the rhythmic connections with examples one and two.  After that get some good Brazilian samba records, or any other well written material based on this style, find the correct rhythmic direction, and play-a-long.

© 2000 Alex Pertout.
All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced, without the prior written permission from the author.  First published in Drumscene (1998)

Copyright © 1996-2003 Alex Pertout