Free Video Lessons

Brazilian Drum Set Clinic at DrumShop North Shore.

Here are a few moments from last week’s clinic. Next Clinic coming up at Berklee College of Music on April 3rd, 2015

Bossa Nova or Samba? How to tell the difference

Bossa nova and samba are the most well-known Brazilian song styles. As a performer and educator, one of the most asked questions I get is, “What’s the difference between bossa nova and samba?” If you analyze these two styles based on harmonic progression, instrumentation, lyrics, and dynamic levels, there are quite a few differences. Bossa nova is played softer: it’s a more intimate style, with gentler vocals, played on acoustic instruments, with the nylon acoustic guitar the main reference for the distinctive bossa “sound.” Samba is usually more uptempo, with upbeat lyrics, and comes in different styles. Some samba styles may add electronic instruments, a horn section, and more percussion, and the bands are usually larger.

On the drum set, however, the mechanics of bossa nova and samba are similar. The bass drum/hihat ostinato and their variations are pretty much the same; right hand, left hand pattern combinations use the same phrasings; and solos have the same rhythmic motifs but are different in tempo and dynamics. What is important to keep in mind is that bossa nova is a more sophisticated way to play the samba beat, played with more touch and dynamics.  Bossa beats use cross stick on snare drum most of the time; drum fills are simpler and melodic due to the tempo and mood of the style; and tom toms are not used as part of the main beat. Samba beats can be played louder and faster, on a larger kit; grooves may include tom tom “batucada” style patterns; and samba makes more varied use of the snare drum. Bossa nova is never played loud or fast. Note that there are slower samba styles, such as samba canção; and there is a “faster” bossa nova style known as samba jazz. Samba canção is a ballad tempo samba and what became known as samba jazz is the way we play tunes with the jazz improvisational approach, the samba groove, and the bossa nova way to interpret them. Watch the video below for more information!

Samba  + Partido Alto:

Partido alto is a style of samba developed in Rio, originally from Bahia. It was created during the religious ceremonies of jongo played on candongueiro, angumavita and caxanbú drums. Partido alto adds a specific clave to the samba groove and many variations may be used on top of that clave. Later, partido alto influenced another samba style called pagode.

Bossa Nova in  5/8 Time Signature – Jequibau:

The jequibau, or bossa in 5/8, is a style of bossa nova developed by maestro Mário “Jequibau” Albanese. He was influenced by the famous Paul Desmond’s 5/4 tune “Take Five” however not using a 3+2 metric to compose his quintuple meter, the way “Take Five” is. He was looking for a whole 5 feel and became with this Bossa/samba groove in 5. The HH can be broken or constant.

Samba on Drum Set and Hand Percusson

In this video you will learn to play key hand percussion instruments for samba batucada and to create drum set grooves based on these key hand percussion instruments. Besides drum set grooves you will learn patterns for surdo, repinique, tamborim, and more!