berimbau information - comment on your berimbau description

[Lars]

I just stumbled upon your site while I was looking for general information concerning percussion instruments.

So far, I really do like it. However, I found an error in the section on the berimbau.

The gourd is NOT moved back and forth from the abdomen to change pitch. Moving the gourd creates a kind of wah-wah effect. You also can vary the "feel" of each sound.

Basically, there are three different sound:

a) rattle: w/ the coin only a few milimeters away from the wire. Usually w/ additional emphasis on the caxixi.

b) low sound: only hit the wire below the coin, don't press coin against wire.

c) high sound: press the coin strongly against the wire.

Moving the gourd back and forth AND changing the position of the coin allows you to create slides between the different notes.

The berimbau is also a great instrument to experiment w/.

Thanks for the site and the forum. I think I will visit congaplace again.

Lars

[CongaMan]

Thanks very much Lars,
I really appreciate you help!

You will find the berimbau page corrected accordingly with your suggestions and instructions (I agree with you).

If you find anything else that need to be changed or if you want to collaborate with CongaPlace sending new stuff and musical material do not hesitate to contact me through this forum or directly by e-mail.

Thanks again and let's keep in touch!

[Isaac]

I came across this excellent article on the
Berimbau written by N. Scott Robinson
and Richard Graham.

http://www.nscottrobinson.com/berimbau.php

[Ivan]

In my opinion the berimbau is a very awkward intrument to play... I was at a capoeira event recently and was asked to play - man, it was embarassing... :p

Thanks for sharing the article Isaac.

Ivan

[JohnnyConga]

Berimbau and Pandiero have to be 2 of the hardest instruments to really master....'JC" Johnny Conga....PS ..Ivan how could u pick the instrument up without knowing how to play it and embarrass yourself... ??? Luv ya...."JC" Johnny Conga...

[Diceman]

Great website Isaac, thanks for that. What a cool idea to use a guitar slide instead of a stone!!
Lars, you forgot to mention all the other effects,like hitting stick on gourd, on the bow and below the 'bridge'. As you say it is an instrument worthy of exploration and experimentation.
JC my brother, I have been studying Pandeiro for about two years. Dead right about a difficult instrument to master, but what other instrument, can be the equivalent of a pocket drum kit?

Sabor
Diceman

[Ivan]

PS ..Ivan how could u pick the instrument up without knowing how to play it and embarrass yourself... ??? Luv ya...."JC" Johnny Conga...

Com'on... you know me... Dive first, then ask questions later...

[Charangaman]

I've not yet found a satisfactory stone to use with my berimbau - so I use a £2 coin...

[JohnnyConga]

Before I dive in I'm gonna look for rocks!!....... .."JC" Johnny Conga...

[onile]

Shame on you D'Artagnion, where's your adventurous spirit? :laugh: :p

¿Ay cariño o no-ay cariño?

Onile!

[Isaac]

The Berimibau is very hard on your left hand (if you're right handed). You have to balance it and the weight can cause
some pain in the fingers. Also moving it in and out off your
belly creates the Wa-Wa effect.
An alternative to a good polished round but flat stone, is
a large washer apx. 1.5" .
Also instead of a wood striker, a great substitute is
a thin but hard conductors baton.
It's a great instrument, but you have to put in some time,
get a personal lesson, and also experiment to get your
own tones - fuzz tones, wa-was, and open & close notes.
Also there's a small cacici (basket shaker) in you right hand
so you can create a wide variety of sounds. ~ Isaac.
I took a few short intro lessons with Frank in 1997.

Check out this online lesson by Percussionst Frank Colon.
Frank's worked with Airto, Julito Collazo, Manhattan Transfer,
Gato Barbieri, Weather Report, Wayne Shorter, Milton Nasciemento...and many others.

http://www.drumsontheweb.com/DOTWpag....au.html

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=2341

http://www.drumsontheweb.com/DOTWpag....au.html

http://www.rhythmweb.com/berimbau/

[Diceman]

Charangeman,

Go look on the beach for a stone, its an excuse for a cool day out. I came back with a bag full of flat stones but the best stones were ones that were just a couple of millimetres short of the gap between the bow and the wire and were not too sharp on the bit touching the wire (gives a better buzz sound) You also need one which is a little rough or you could find it slipping in your fingers. The ones which didnt work made great skimming stones IYKWIM. JC are these the Rocks you may be looking for?
For information I found the best stones on Angmering beach between Worthing and Littlehampton.
A trick I was taught was to start by keeping your eye on the top of the berimbau while playing, a bit like balancing a stick on your finger. Very soon you get used to the feel of the equilibrium and naturally adjust without thinking.

Diceman

[Charangaman]

Hey bro's..

I brought my berimbau from a German girl who had brought it back from Brasil.. She gave me some rudimentry lessons - this was a few years ago so I can do the basics but it's hard to find any written notation or patterns to learn....Plus I have difficulty keeping the wire at a good tension as the gourd doesn't sit perfectly next to the bow..

Diceman,

I'm really holding out til I can pick a pebble off a beach in Brasil itself

Anyone everdone Capoeira?

[Diceman]

Yea Charangaman,

Agreed, Littlehampton doesnt have the same ring as Copacabana, but it will get you going.

Diceman