Afrobeat Pulse drum pattern
An interlocking practice pulse with restrained kick, cross-stick and articulated sixteenth-note hats. Press Play to hear it with a sampled drum kit at 108 BPM, change the tempo or swing, and follow every hit on the grid.
How to count the Afrobeat Pulse
Count it as: 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a. The pattern is one bar of 4/4 (16th-note grid).
The Afrobeat Pulse pattern, hit by hit
Each character is one step of the grid and each group is one beat. X is an accented hit, x a normal hit, o a quiet or ghost note and - a rest.
| Voice | Pattern |
|---|---|
| Kick | x--- --x- x--- -x-- |
| Cross-stick | --x- ---- --x- ---- |
| Closed hat | xooo xooo xooo xooo |
Tempo and feel
Patient and cyclical. Repetition should deepen the pocket rather than increase volume. The default tempo is 108 BPM. Slow it down until every hit is controlled, then raise the tempo a few BPM at a time.
How to practise the Afrobeat Pulse
Hold the hat row alone. Add cross-stick quietly. Bring in the kick without changing the hands.
Variations to try next
Accent every third hat. Move cross-stick to tom. Leave beat 1 open.
Where to hear this feel
Records in this family include Fela Kuti - Water No Get Enemy, Tony Allen - Secret Agent and Antibalas - Che Che Cole. This is a style study written for practice, not a transcription of any one recording.