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Groove Lesson 2
‘Dancehall’
This rhythm is widely used over many different styles and genres, and it is prominently known as ‘dancehall’. It builds upon the first groove we learnt (Rumba Catalan). It’s a simple pattern which is easy to learn and a lot of fun to play once you get the hang of it.
The groove is in 4/4 time and we play 8th Notes which means we are subdividing our beat into 2. This lesson has 3 different groove variations, we start with the most basic variation. Each variation builds upon the previous one and has an intense practise along. Once you have learnt and practised all the variations, there is a final play along video where you get to try the rhythm in context with me and my musicians. If you find the play along too fast, go through the practise along consistently till you have built up your speed to play along.
Playing time: 34 mins 24 secs / 7 videos
Groove overview & variation 1
Groove overview & variation 1
In this first video lesson of the Dancehall groove we look at the overview of the general groove, such as time signature and the subdivision of the beat as well as learning the first, most basic variation for this groove. This variation has 3 accents in the pattern which spans over 1 bar, and the remaining strokes are to be played as ‘ghost notes’.
Playing time: 6 mins 3 secs
Variation 1 Practise along
Intense practise along lesson over various different tempos, starting slowly and moving up our tempo. Try to be precise in your technique and playing your strokes evenly. Focus on making a clear distinction between your accents and your ghost notes, and creating a beautiful sound that grooves. It is recommended that you go through the practise along during your practising sessions. These practise alongs will help you to learn how to practise effectively and to internalise the rhythm.
Playing time: 6 mins 49 secs
Groove variation 2
Groove Variation 2
The second variation for this groove.
This variation builds upon variation 1 but has an added accent, so it has 4 accents in the pattern which spans over 1 bar, and the remaining strokes are to be played as ‘ghost notes’.
Playing time: 2 mins 1 secs
Variation 2 Practise along
Intense practise along lesson over various different tempos, starting slowly and moving up our tempo. Try to be precise in your technique and playing your strokes evenly. Focus on making a clear distinction between your accents and your ghost notes, and creating a beautiful sound that grooves. It is recommended that you go through the practise along during your practising sessions. These practise alongs will help you to learn how to practise effectively and to internalise the rhythm.
Playing time: 4 mins 56 secs
Groove variation 3
Groove Variation 3
The third variation for this groove.
In this video we utilise both variation 1 and 2 in a combination, alternating between the 2 patterns that we have already learnt in order to create a new variation, which spans over 4 bars instead of 1 bar. The first 3 bars we play variation 1 and on the fourth bar we play variation 2, which is then looped from the top.
Playing time: 2 mins 47 secs
Variation 3 Practise along
Intense practise along lesson over various different tempos, starting slowly and moving up our tempo. Try to be precise in your technique and playing your strokes evenly. Focus on making a clear distinction between your accents and your ghost notes, and creating a beautiful sound that grooves. It is recommended that you go through the practise along during your practising sessions. These practise alongs will help you to learn how to practise effectively and to internalise the rhythm.
Playing time: 7 mins 32 secs
Groove play along
Groove Play Along
‘Long long road’
By Heidi Joubert
Now let’s apply our newly learnt groove practically with live music. Play along with me and live musicians in this play along section. If it is too fast for you, I suggest dedicating time to go through the practise along videos of the groove variations on a regular basis to build up your speed and technique first, then return to try this play along. Note that there are a couple of different variations which are used in this play along video.
Playing time: 4 min 22 secs
Did you enjoy these lessons? Got any questions or comments?
I would love to hear from you! Leave a comment below and I’ll get back to you soon!
9 Comments
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Hello. I like a lot practicing with your videos. However, I found a kind of quantum leap between the practice sessions and the Groove play along. The tempo is so fast…
Sorry, my comment was intended for the groove lesson 1 (not 2).
Hello There!
Yes some of the play alongs are rather fast, it is recommended that you go through the practise along videos for quite some time, and also to practise on your own with a metronome before attempting to play along to some of the play along videos. I do however realise that it helps to practise the groove in a music context at a slower speed too, so I will be adding up some extra recommended video links to music relevent to the particular groove where you can practise and play along at a slower speed.
Long Long Road, what a song! Have you got it available off the site anywhere? Got goosebumps jamming along, thanks! 🙂
Hello There! I will be recording this song along with some of my other songs very soon, I am preparing to record my fist debut album or my own songs, and this song will be on there! Thanks for the encouraging words and for confirming my suspicion that I should add this tune to the album!!!! Hope you are loving the lessons!
Big hugs
Heidi
It’s a Snow Day here in Taos, New Mexico and your cajon lessons are rocking!
Hello Peter! Thats great to hear! Keep rocking it out!
Heidi
Hi Heidi
Fantastic videos – Easy to understand, great with the rythm/little notesheet in the top, fun and great training to play along with You and superb, fantastic and a lot more to play with your trio –
I would love it if You get the time to do the Bulerias one day. I have seen all (I think) Your videos on Rumba, Bulerias, on YouTube – and if it is possible with an advanced Rumba and Bulerias it would be fantastic
Hello Soeren
Thanks for your comment! There are 4 more parts of the Modern MEthod which will be released in the future, it is already filmed and is being edited at present. In this there are loads more rhythms and grooves, some much more advanced, including an advanced Rumba Lesson which I think you would greatly enjoy! I am hoping to release these parts within the next few months, so keep an eye out and be sure to subscribe to me newsletter to stay updated on the new releases!
And thank you for your awesome words re the lessons! It would be AWESOME if you could leave a short review on the shop page, even just copying what you wrote here! It really helps others to know what to expect.
Simply go to https://cajonbox.com/product/modern-method-for-cajon-unlimited-access/#reviews and scroll down, the reviews tab will be open and just leave your comment and thoughts!
And thank you so much for your support and for learning with my Modern Method, it really means a lot to me!
Love
Heidi