Konnacol

J

Jimmy Steel

Aug 1, 2019
7
4
4,531
#1
Michael,
I have started watching your Konnacol lessons on SBL. It's really great and is giving me lots to practice and think about.
My question is do they use other sounds/tones around India than the ones you used for the four different beats?
I'm asking because for some reason I heard someone use TaKaTeeNa a long time ago but never employed the idea but the phrase seems stuck in my head. Is there a downside to using different tones and is there something I'm not anticipating that could cause problems later or ok to use the one I kinda know?

Again, great class and thanks for your help.
 
#2
So sorry for the very late response, Jimmy!

Thank you for checking out the introduction to konnakol course. There are many syllables used in the recitation of rhythm in India. In the north Indian tradition, the syllables are onomatopoetic versions of the strokes used in playing tabla, the set of drums most commonly heard in that music. In this case, speaking the rhythm will simultaneously describe the technique used to play it! Although tabla players tend to be the most advanced in this form of rhythmic recitation, other musicians learn it as well.

In the south of India, a similar process occurred with the mridangam - which is one of the most common south Indian percussion instruments. In fact, it's likely the mridangam system predates that of the tabla. However, in the south, a generic form of the mridangam syllables was developed to practice and describe rhythms in general, without necessarily referring to the specific strokes on the drum. This is how konnakol came to be.

There are many syllables used by experts in konnakol, but the ones I describe in the course are the most common. While you'd really need more to do authentic konnakol, you can get by, and really do a surprising amount with just those. Good luck!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Watchootognbout, ErikP.Bass and Npunk42
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back