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Striking on the 2 and the 3
The basis of the fast beats is the simple hand motion played on
the dayan (small end). As you know, it consists of four
simple notes "tiri ti ta" with a slight
pause before the second ti. We write it like this:
tiri *Ti ta
 And
you know now that "*Ti"
means a loud Ti with an almost pause before
it.
Now, these four notes can also be numbered 1, 2,
3, and 4. You say it like this, “one-two
...THREE four” with the emphasis on the THREE, and the
“one-two” said close together.
To say them with numbers you have to say "1-2"
really fast, then add "3 - 4" just
like in the recording you just listened to.
For now, let's use the number system for this beat. It's
simple that way. What we want to do is hit a soft ge on the 2 and
a loud Ge on the 3, and that's the Main Fast Off-beat in a
nutshell. You only hit the big end of the drum twice – on
the “two” and the “THREE.” How much
simpler could it be? Just like patting your head and rubbing your
stomach at the same time. Nothing to it.
If we were to write it out as a mrdanga mantra, it would
look like this:
tidha *Duk ta
Note the *Duk means
there is an almost pause before the Duk,
and that the Ge of the Duk is really loud because we have written
it with an uppercase "D."
The best way to practice this is by adding one ge at a time.
For example, practice this:
tidha *Ti ta
(putting a ge on the 2 – remember, we're not saying
“tidha *Ti ta”...
we're saying “one-two *THREE four.”)
When you have that down, then practice this:
tiri *Duk ta
(“one-two *THREE four.”
- putting a ge on the 3)
And
when you have that down, then put it together, and get this:
tidha *Duk ta
(“one-two *THREE four.”
- Putting a soft ge on the 2 and a loud Ge on the 3)
And that, friend, is the Main Fast Off-beat. Easy as apple pie
and as sweet as maple syrup.
Listen Online
and practice along..
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