ZENKOV

Zenkov is a wild Russian beat. I know nothing about its usage in dance, but it is a delightful rhythm to rip through on the doumbek!

Zenkov 21/8

                  1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2|
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-0-1|
D   T   D   T   k D k D k T   k D   T   k|
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-0-1|

Notation:

In traditional Dumbek, TEK and KA may be played with either hand and the TEK indicates the accented strike, however many people find it easier to learn (and teach) by using the traditional names to indicate the hand to strike with. So you may see many forms of notation. Here is mine:

Note that I've preserved various accents "grab","slap","pop" as I've have seen these rhythms written. There is some variation in how people represent these accented strokes -- in any case all of these are a particular accent whether it be a closed (rather than the usual open) tone and/or modifying the sound with the other hand.

Text Key:

D - Dum (right hand clear low tone) T - Tek (right hand high crisp tone) G - Grab (or Stop -- deadened, usually right hand) K - Ka (left hand, sounds like Tek) P - Pop (Ka while deadening head w/ other hand cupped) S - Slap m - Alternate "Dum" (left hand low tone often muffled) r - finger roll 3 - triplet (following 3 strikes)

Note: Accented strikes are indicated with an UPPERCASE letter.

Thanks to Jeff Senn ! Follow this link to Jeff's great page with more Middle Eastern drum rhythms: JAS Drum Page