Le Cri - Tougoudoum Number 11

Jean-Emile HANELA is a drummer whom play is typical of the Hard Rock style of the years 70-80th. If his name is not well-known by the public, he was however the first drummer of the band TRUST, emblematic Rock band in France during this period.

If the clave is omnipresent in the cuban or Brazilian music, one finds it in all the African rhythms ; it is the track, the indicator that crossed the oceans with the slaves, deported from Africa.

We already evoked the concept of "clave". The clave ("key" in Spanish) is a rhythmic pattern on which is constructed the music piece, as a skeleton ; the other instruments, the melody and the song rest on it. It gives the beat and guarantees the cohesion of the ensemble, often difficult to understand if one does not know the "code".

Near to the flam (See TOUGOUDOUM Number 3), the ruff consists in playing two weak notes followed by a stressed note. One uses the rebound (See TOUGOUDOUM Number 8) for the weak notes, that must be quickly played before the stressed note.

The Son is the father of the Salsa, that was invented rather in New York than in La Havana by the cuban and portoricans emigrants. With the Rumba, the Chachacha or the Danzon, it is one of the principal wealths of the immense musical heritage of Cuba.

The seat is certainly the most important element of the drums. In fact, if it is wobbly, you will have difficulties to play the feet. If it is too low or too high, that will favor the pains of the back, neck or arms.

• in regards to the tuning, be sure that your legs form apromatively a 45 degrees angle when you sit on the drums, feet on the pedals ; this position is the better one for the back, even if some drummers prefer to be sat very low or to the opposite very high. Start with regulating the seat before adjusting the other elements of the drums,

• before playing, do you assure that the ground is well flat under the seat ; during a show for example, you maybe will not be able to find easily another position (in obscurity or on a reduced surface),

• avoid using a chair or a stool, that you will not be able to regulate in height ; buy rather a good seat, you will appreciate its solidity and stability,

Very "muscular", the rhythmics do not look for complication, but supporte all the ensemble. The fills are powerful, precise, revealing the technique of the drummer.

As for the flam, it is essential to work slowly and "to think Shave" to succeed it, so with the right that with the left hand.

Beyond the clave, note the play of bass drum, that palys the "Bombo" pattern to rejoin the "Tumbao" (rhythmic and melodic piano pattern), and the cymbal pattern, that plays the "Cascara".

Attention : take the time to work each element separately, then two by two, for a perfect coordination of the members. The left foot can enrich the rhythmic by playing the quarter notes, as the xêkêrê, or the clave itself, which allows liberating the left hand but presents big coordination difficulties ; we will choose here the simplicity for effectiveness !

The European music, more "framed", developed around another beat : the quarter note. This has besides gave birth to a deep misunderstanding, that saw the quarter note assimilated to the "time" :

The clave is at once freer and more complex rhythmically. In a binary context, one finds it in 4/4 (or 2/2 - blocked C), or in 3/4. It is rarer in the so-called "assymetrical" measures.

One of the numerous interests of the clave is its reversible side ; in the example above, one plays it in "3-2", that is : three near notes (here in the first measure), then two near notes (here a eighth note followed by a quarter note in the second measure).

• in regards to stability : usually, the seats have three feet, with simple or double legs, and covered with rubber pieces at the extremity. Do you assure that the feet are at the same level, and that the protective pieces are thick enough to avoid tearing itself if the seat is put on a hard or rough surface,

• privilege the purchase of a seat with the feet that can fold (that is the more frequent case) ; that will avoid losing place when you will carry your equipment,

• play also attention to the stuffing of your seat, for you will spend some hours on it : a well soft seat will preserve your back and your buttocks...

• it exists two types of seat : round or in tractor saddle form ; there's no much to choose between both configurations, this is a personal choice, even if the round seat can "cut" your legs at the level of the thighs (especially if it badly regulated), that may stop the blood circulation and induce a premature tiredness of the thighs,

At the time of a particularly "hot" show (to the clean as in the figurative sense), our drummer feels a persistent pain in the right calf, without paying more attention. Later, in the middle of his solo, he finds himself unable to play the slightest note on the bass drum and is doubled up with pain on his seat : this is the cramp, due to dehydration caused by the perspiration !

Morality : foresee to have a bottle of water close to you, and generally speaking take care of your muscles and tendons !

• buy or make a case for your seat : if the material (leather for the good models) is torn, this can be visible and the tear can get bigger under your weight…

• some models are equipped with a back, that is very practical, especially if you remain a long time sit behind the drums. Nevertheless pay attention not to take the habit to lean back against it while playing, that would prevent a natural position, especially if the back is set too far from the seat,

• do not hesitate to try several models before buying your seat ; you will be the one on the seat, not the dealer…

The time of several turns and two albums, Jean-Emile Hanela plays on the first "hits" of Trust, as Antisocial or L'Elite. Unfortunately, he quit the group in 1980 for temperament incompatibility, too early to know the consecration with
it. Since, it is necessary to recognize that we haven't seen much of this musician recently on scene, and that the band always had trouble to keep
the drummers that succeeded behind the drums.

On the musical plan, Hanela possesses a very effective play, always in phase with the guitar riffs. During the breaks with the bass and lead guitars, the hi-hat often marks the times : the intention is here to look for the precision with taking the first place.

The ruff, part of the drum rudiments, is still played by modern drummers of many styles, like Reggae or Jazz.

The ruff is part of a big family, including the 4 stroke roll, the 5 stroke roll ... up to the 15 stroke roll (very not easy to play).

But one can equally find it in "2-3", this that transforms completely the beat type :

This is essentially the melody of the song or the theme that will determine the usage of a clave in 3-2 or in 2-3.

Played this way, it is the basis of the West Indian Biguine or Brazilian Bahian, two very different styles but resting on this same beat.

Of course the clave can be ternary (most often in 6/8 or12/8), in direct line with its African ancestors (See TOUGOUDOUM Number 7 "The AFRO-CUBAN 12/8") :

Have fun by playing these different claves, then develop your own snare drum, bass drum or cymbal pattern. Here is an example :

In conclusion, note that the cuban clave is usually accompanied by another pattern, that completes and highlights it : the Cascara (see " The rhythm of the month" below :

The ruff can be played in two ways, each depending on the wanted effect and on the preferences of the drummer :

We have just studied the clave. Here now a typical rhythmic of the cuban music : the Son.