What is a Jamaican steel drum? Answers The Complete Guide to Jamaican Steel Drums.
Most of the traditional Jamaican drum types are African.During slavery, drumming was often banned because the whites were not happy with the sound of the drum.The slaves used the drum to communicate in ways that the whites couldn't understand, so that they could cause unrest and revolt.
There was no way to permanently silence the sound of the Jamaican drum.The slaves had a vital part to play in their worship.After use, drums would be dismantled to avoid detection.
The traditional Jamaican drum is often used in popular music in Jamaica.
African drums and drumming have retained their dominance over our traditional folk forms in the area of folk music.
Buru music is a recreational dance and drumming style from Africa.In which the three drums are collectively known as The Harp, Buru has had a great influence.
A double-headed drum is called the Bass drum.The music is underpinned by a steady stroke on the 1st and 3rd beat.The bass player is able to syncopate the stroke.
The Funde is a drum with a single head.The heartbeat rhythm is what makes Nyabinghi music.The fundeh player doesn't do much because of the importance of keeping the heartbeat going.
The smallest of the three is the Keteh.It is a single-sided drum with hands.The keteh player plays on the 2nd and 4th beats.
The Maroons use a single-sided Jamaican drum called the Gumbeh.There is a small drum hidden inside.
The hands are used to play the Gumbeh.The Maroons play their drums with sticks.
Kumina is a Jamaican folk form.There are both sacred and secular elements to the dance ritual.On its sacred side, it focuses on communication with ancestral spirits, with spirit possession being a result of this communication.
African indentured labourers who came to Jamaica after the abolition of slavery practiced the Kumina tradition in the parish of St. Thomas.
Rum is poured to appease the spirits of the wood and goat skin before Kumina drums are made.The drum skin is rubbed with rum and sometimes sugar water.
The drummer uses their heels and fingers and hands to change the pitch and tone of the drums.A second player sits at the back of the drum and plays a different rhythm with sticks known as "katta tick".
The Kbandu is a male drum.It is about 20 inches long and 14 inches in diameter.There is a drum with hands.
The Playin Kyas is higher in pitch.It is a bit smaller than the Kbandu.The player does more complex rhythms than the Kbandu.The Playin Kyas are used to summon spirits and communicate with them.Different spirits will be called by different rhythms.
The Tambu drum was once used to communicate with ancestors.
In the parish of Trelawny, where indentured Africans also settled, the drum was used to dance music.Kumina and Tambu are both from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
One player beats katta sticks on the side of the drum while another player uses the heel to vary pitch.
The Djembe comes in different sizes and is shaped like a goblet.The drums are held between the knees.Conga drums are open at one end.The hands are used to play all of them.Congas can be played in twos or threes.
The Jamaican drum has become accepted by society.Traditional drums are used to accompany singing in Roman Catholic and Anglican services.It would have been revolting in colonial times.
I like the rhythms of our drums.They took me to a place that felt somewhat outside of myself, but a little frightening.Drugs are not needed, high from the beat.