Talking drums are part of a family of hourglass shaped pressure drums these include "gan gan" (the smallest member of this drum family) or "dun dun" (the largest of the talking drums.) The drum heads at either end of the drum's wooden body are made from hide, fish-skin or other membranes which are wrapped around a wooden hoop. Leather cords run the length of the drum's body and are wrapped around both hoops; when you squeeze these cords under your arm, the drum heads tighten, changing the instrument's pitch. Talking drums are used to send messages, using a combination of pitch and rhythm to imitate speech. Africans believe that their instruments actually speak a language. This is because most African languages are tonal. Drums don't only play the rhythm some have strings attached to the skins or the player presses down on the skin, which alters the pitch making it similar to African spoken languages. Musicians treat their instruments with great respect .rather than learning them. These instruments are tuned to suit the player's language.
Scale systems vary between regions but are generally diatonic Since African music is passed on through oral tradition; songs are usually based on echo of brief rhythmic and melodic patterns. These patterns usually descend from a pentatonic scale, which is a scale consisting of five tones. At that time European music was based on major and minor diatonic scales, which consisted of eight tones, and their modes. They use the pentatonic scale because there are no semitones and it is easier to sing.
West African popular music combines the old with the new and is called highlife. This style uses a calypso-like melody that is backed with traditional instruments. The harmony of these songs is usually based around chords 1 4 and 5.
Songs are traditionally used to accompany labour or a manual task. An interesting feature of African music is that people don't go to hear music at performances or concerts they go to join in. Performances give the tribe or social group a sense of identity and a certain pride. Music is highly functional in national life, accompanying birth, marriage, hunting, and even political activities. Much music exists for entertainment.
The kora is a 21- string harp-lute, which includes both plucked and sympathetic strings. It is used by professional musicians among the Mandika people of Gambia.
Africa has a huge variety of xylophones ranging form simple slabs of wood to complicated instruments Africa has a huge variety of xylophones ranging form simple slabs of wood to complicated instruments
.M’bira has 22 keys and its 7 note scale is supposed to draw ancestral spirits to earth. M`bira is one of the most popular melodic instruments in Africa. Different cultures use the mbira in different ways. Also, the mbira exists in different forms in different cultures. Some mbiras are used for entertainment and others for religious ceremonies. Often, the people who can own and play the mbira are restricted to chiefs or other important people, especially when it is being played for religious purposes.
The master drummer calls the rhythms and directs the dancers S
The sogo is the largest of the supporting drums. In some pieces it is used as a lead drum. It is about two and a half feet tall, its head is about ten inches in diameter and it is closed at the bottom. Sogo responds to the lead drummer's calls in harmony with kidi.
Kaganu is a narrow drum or membranophone. It is about two feet tall, its head is about three inches in diameter and it is open at the bottom. Although kaganu is known as a supporting drum, it does not respond to calls from the lead drummer like the other supporting drums: kidi and sogo. The main function of kaganu is to give some colour or flavour to the music. Its also a high pitched drum
Kidi is a drum which is about two feet tall; its head is about nine inches in diameter and has a closed bottom. Kidi responds to calls from the lead drummer. This is known as a dialogue. This concept is also commonly known as call and response. Kidi plays in harmony with sogo when engaged in a dialogue.
