Afro-Cuban 9/8 ?

[Geoff J]

I was watching youtube & a bassist was talking about afro cuban 9/8 beats being 3 + 3 + 3

any resources on this

I could not find any sample beats when I googled

[Garvin]

Nope. No no no no... 6/8 or 12/8 only...

There is no 9/8 rhythm that can legitimately be referred to as true "Afro-Cuban" (that I'm aware of)

I would have an awful lot of questions for anyone claiming otherwise.

[Geoff J]

Yup, sounded awfully weird to me, also

There are african 9/8 beats, right ?

[Joe P]

I agree with Garvin, but perhaps it would be an afro-cuban-type rhythm that had a "3" feel, subdivided into triplets?

for example:

1--2--3--
x-x-xx-x-
---s---tt
b-----b--

x=ride bell
s=snare
t=tom
b=bass

[zambizzi]

Nope. No no no no... 6/8 or 12/8 only...

There is no 9/8 rhythm that can legitimately be referred to as true "Afro-Cuban" (that I'm aware of)

I would have an awful lot of questions for anyone claiming otherwise.

You couldn't subdivide it to make it as such...sort of like the way you see guys playing a clave in 5 on the kit? Or, would doing so make it something other than the common Afro-Cuban 6/8 rhythm? What if it stuck to a similar sound and ride/bell pattern?

It seems like you could do something like this by doing something as simple as adding 3 notes to the phrase.

[Garvin]

Yup, sounded awfully weird to me, also

There are african 9/8 beats, right ?

That's a can of worms... The only rhythm that I've learned, or heard in about 10 years of study of West African music that wasn't in something resembling 4/4 or 6/8 is called Koredjuga from Guinea... I'm sure there are more odd time things in the North African countries like Mauritania, Egypt etc... As a function of the muslim influence on North African countries (as well as West and Central Africa).

There are over 50 countries in Africa (depending on whose map and when you look). Huge countries with very specific cultures and musical styles. Genres within genres within genres and very specific instruments. I've only scratched the surface in 10 years of study of the music of Guinea, Mali, Ghana and Senegal. So, yes I'm sure there are other rhythms which are in this time signature, but it is not common to West African or Afro-Cuban rhythmic traditions that I'm aware of.

[Joe P]

Why don't you put the video link on here and ler us ask the bassist on youtube itself?

[rob85]

For Afro-Cuban:

Odd Meter Clave Book - Conor Guilfoyle
"If you’re serious about expanding or combining your Cuban and odd meter vocabulary (non-drummers as well), then this wonderful book will deliver countless hours of useful study"
MODERN DRUMMER MAGAZINE-NOV 2007

As for west african, when it comes to rhythm you can be sure they've tried it all. I'm not sure if theres any in 9, ut have a look here and you should find out. www.paulnas.eu/wap/

[Geoff J]

Thanks guys

Rob, killer recommend
http://conorguilfoyle.com/files/Mozambique%20in%209.mp3

this is a must have !

[Deathmetalconga]

Nope. No no no no... 6/8 or 12/8 only...

There is no 9/8 rhythm that can legitimately be referred to as true "Afro-Cuban" (that I'm aware of)

I would have an awful lot of questions for anyone claiming otherwise.

I've never heard of anything in 9 in Afro Cuban. However, you could play just about any meter and add elements of Afro Cuban rhythmic style, modified clave, etc. It wouldn't be traditional or "authentic", but then again, the Western trap set, electric guitar or erhu aren't traditional Afro Cuban instruments, but I've heard them all do it very well. Before Europeans brought Yoruban slaves to Cuba, there was no such thing as Afro Cuban anything; people change and add to music all the time.