HAND PATTERNS

Hand patterns are primarily used to give a rhythm momentum. They are somewhat similar to drum rudiments except that they are usually naturaly derived and simpler.

Examples (rests are indicated by "-")

Alternating       r l r l r l r l .....

Broken 
Alternating       r l r - l r l - .....   (inserted rests)

Incomplete 
Alternating       r l r - r l r - .....   (skips every second left)

Short Tertiary  r l - r l - r l - .....
Full Tertiary	  l r r l r r ....
Broad Tertialy	  l - r - r - ....	(polymetric)

Additional hand patterns may be found employed in specific rhythms.

Examples (Calypsos, two common hand patterns.)

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
|:, . , * , . ,:|
B   t O B   O
r   r l r   r		(An alternating type pattern)
r     l  r  l		(An open pattern - no touches)

An alternating type pattern refers to the even spacing of one hand so that the opposite hand may be free to play between. This is a structure that permits alternation.

An open pattern is a pattern that adheres strictly to the sounded rhythm itself and has rests, but no touches.

With the alternating pattern, any note in a sequence can be struck. However, this is rather energy consuming because the hands are moving all the time.

The broken alternating pattern has built in hand syncopation:

1 & 2 & 1 & 2 &
r l r - l r l -

The second half is a 'mirror image' of the first. It also allows fexibility in timing. The following example shows the broken alt. pattern moving from an 8 to a 6 bit pattern:

1   2   3   1   2   3   1  &  2  &  3  &  4  &
1  &  2  &  3  &  4  &  1   2   3   1   2   3
r  l  r  -  l  r  l  -  r   l   r   l   r   l

by squeezing the rests out.

The short ternary pattern can be used for hocketts, just the same as the binary hocketts

.

r l - r l - r l -...      hockett, binary

The full ternary pattern is often performed with a stick in the right hand because it is very energy consuming.