Drum Solo
Rannet Al Tabla
by Sami Nossair Orchestra
From the Album Beyond the Desert


the intro
0:00 - The solo starts D---D---D--- etc

Rule - start slow and easy - walk in establish eye contact with the audience

0:05 - 2 phrases of Walking Masmoudi Kebir |D---D---D---T---D---____T---T---| (filling not shown)

Rule - keep it simple - strong body accents on Dums and nothing else (ignore the teka teks)

the rhythm
0:13 - Maqsum starts |D-T-kkT-D-kkT-kk|

Rule - ease in and get the beat - use easy groove moves like: tampoline walk, hip drops, step hips
Rule 2 - continue to establish contact with the audience
Rule 3 - an anchor and a variation per phrase

0:28 - Maqsum picks up volume and energy

Rule - step it up - use higher energy groove moves like: 3/4 shimmies and variations, sharqi step
Rule 2 - add small variation at the end to transition into the next segment AAAB

the licks - most licks repeat a pattern 4 times, sometimes with a variation on the 4th
-strive to make each lick unique by using different parts of your body and interpreting the tabla in a different way each time
- make sure your arms and hands frame, assist or dance during each lick (don't let them be an afterthought)

0:35 - lick one
Rule - play the drums on your hips (exception for the variation)
Rule 2 - change direction or level or both
Rule 3 - AAAB

0:49 - lick two
Rule - something rolly in there - layers optional
Rule 2 - ABAB

1:03 - lick three
Rule - something spinny in there
Rule 2 - pay attention to the tone of the tekas and rolls there, let that effect it's interpretation on your body
Rule 3 - an anchor and a variation per phrase (direction changes count as variations)

1:17 - lick four - a unique pattern: AAAB AAAB
Rule - travel back and forward
Rule 2 - AAAB AAAC

1:31 - lick five
Rule - travel
Rule 2 - repeat the same move and embellish it a little more each phrase
(basically A, fancy A, fancier A, fanciest A)

1:45 - lick six
Rule - level change
Rule 2 - AABB or ABAB

1:58 - lick seven - slowing down lick
Rule - exagerrate the retard
Rule 2 - transition gradually into an new position, more or less repeating the same movement (either traveling or level change)
Rule 3 - end in an interesting pose

special rolly pattern - typically preceded by lick seven, memorize this pattern, you will hear it or something similar to it again
2:07

the rhythm picks up
2:20 - fast maqsum

 

fast licks

2:25 lick one

2:34 lick two

2:42 lick three

2:50 eight counts of rolleyness

2:55 lick four - odd lick funky repeat

3:08 lick five - only 3 repeats

roll
3:20 more rolleyness

3:27 roll

3:31 roll cont. with standard accent pattern

fast licks
3:40 lick six - only 3 repeats

3:47 lick seven - only 2 repeats

3:51 lick eight descends into another roll

roll
4:07 roll with lows and highs

building to the finish
4:23 lick nine builds

4:37 builds to enter into finale