Pandeiro Tips - For the beginner player

[Simon B]

Right - I've got my pandeiro. [Unfortunately it's not a Contemporanea, Jorge - the distributor in the UK can't get hold of them at the moment, so rather than paying for shipping I bought a 10" wooden hide head Gope - please don't tell me they're the worst type!]

I don't know of any percussionist within fifty miles of me who is much of a pandeiro player so I'm going off the Airto video ('Rhythms and Colours') and the Ed Uribe book, 'Essence of Brazilian percussion'. Anyone any general tips? It seems hard going!

Airto shows the tilting style with the full hand slap, but goes off on one in his solos - incredible and naturally confusing. Uribe stresses more the thumbs and fingers on the bottom half - I'm practicing both. Are there any CDs with good pandeiro playing?

Simon B

[tamboricua]

Hi Simon B,

Saludos! Hope all is well! I also do own a Gope 10" with a hide head. It's a very nice pandeiro. Although, I must admit I did change the platinelas on it. I did install larger and drier sounding platinelas. Airto's book, is a good source! Check out Jorge Cortesao's very informative instructional pandeiro videos. Two volumes available. His site is at:

http://www.bridgesto.com

Also take a look at the Pandeiro Book at this site, very nice stuff from Christian Velasquez, Gilson Silveira, and others.

Hope this helps!

All the best,

Jorge Ginorio



Edited By tamboricua on Sep. 03 2003 at 00:51

[Janga]

Hello!
Get some cd's and listen to the music. It will take you few moments to get your swingue. Start playing slowly and relaxed. Step by step you'll manage to catch something new.

[Simon B]

Hi Janga - what CDs do you recommend to listen to with good, audible pandeiro playing on?

I know what you mean about the plantinelas, Jorge - they don't have much jingle do they? Can you buy other plantinelas separately? Presumably it's not too much trouble to change them?

Simon B

[Janga]

Hello Simon!
I prefer things like Fundo de Quintal, Paulinho da Viola etc.
They are usually very traditional and simple stuff.
By the way, what have you listened to?

-J

[tamboricua]

Jorge - they don't have much jingle do they? Can you buy other plantinelas separately? Presumably it's not too much trouble to change them?

Hi Simon B,

Hope all is well! The platinelas on the Gope 10", for my taste are too small and lack projection. Fortunately, I did have a cracked shell 12" pandeiro with bigger platinelas and mounted'em on the Gope. They are not that hard to change at all! If you take out the drumhead and the rim from the pandeiro, looking to the top part of the frame you will see the holes and the pins that hold the platinelas together, remove the pins and you will be able to take out the platinelas.

Check with your local Brazilian percussion distributor to see if they sell platinelas separately. If not, they might have a cracked shell pandeiro somewhere in their wharehouse that no one wants, you might be able to purchase it for less, or maybe get it for free. You never know!

Hope this helps!

Jorge Ginorio

P.D. If you want to hear the "Michael Jordan" of the pandeiro, check out the work of Marcos Suzano.



Edited By tamboricua on Nov. 03 2003 at 01:44

[Simon B]

Although I listen to a fair amount of Brazilian music I am no great collector and pick and mix from various styles. Been listening a lot lately to Joyce and a few old albums I picked up including one from the 60s by Martinho de Vila.

Thanks for the advice on the platinelas Jorge - I see what you mean about the pins; I'll try and get hold of some old ones. In terms of technique, what is more common - to play heel-toe with full hand on skin as advised on this site's Pandeiro Book, or to use thumb-fingers (i.e. more like bongo playing) as Ed Uribe shows in his book Essence of Brazilian Percussion and Drum Set?

Simon B

[Simon B]

Hey Jorge does Susano record under his own name? Just trying to find some CDs by him.
Janga - any Paulinho da Viola recommendations?

Simon

[tamboricua]

Hey Jorge does Susano record under his own name? Just trying to find some CDs by him.
Janga - any Paulinho da Viola recommendations?

Simon

Yes, Suzano has about two or three solo albums. Also, check his work on "Ohlo de Peixe" in collaboration with guitarist Lenine. Killer stuff!

All the best,

Jorge Ginorio



Edited By tamboricua on Nov. 03 2003 at 01:42

[Janga]

Hello Simon!
The album I like the most is "Bebadosamba" (Paulinho da Viola).

-J

[JohnnyConga]

For me the Pandiero along with the Berimbau has to be 2 of the hardest instruments I have ever tried to learn,especially Pandiero. I was shown by one of the greats Paolinho Da Costa who at the age of 18 was crowned "King" of the Sambistas in ALL of Brasil. I still to this day cannot play my pandiero longer than 5 minutes and forget about anything fast, no way . Paolinho does it all spins it on one finger throws it high in the air and catches it again on one finger then rolls the pandiero across his chest to the other hand and back across the back of his neck into the other hand. You have to see it to believe it. But if you have been playing it since you were 4 years old you are a Master at 18.......JC JOHNNY CONGA...

[Rob]

To get started I'd recommend at least one lesson with a teacher just to correct you on hand position and correct technique. Videos are great but I'm not too sure about their usefulness for beginners - after all look at how many "self-taught" conga players do that Karate chop thing with their left hand after seeing it on TV! Most cities in the UK have got a samba school - give them call - if one of them doesn't know anyone who can teach you the basics they'll probably know someone who can.

As mentioned you should check out Marcos Suzano's "Olho de Peixe" and "Sambatown". Forget Michael Jordan - Marcos is the Giovanni Hidalgo of pandeiro!

If anyone's reading this and can help with advice on Marcos Suzano's technique - please tell!

[Janga]

Hello!
If you're looking for a good teacher in UK and especially London, you can find a serious master called Esteves da Silva. He's a former Director of the Bateria of Estacio de Sa. I had a really good workshop with him some time ago. He can without a doubt help you with your pandeiro:)

-J

[timo]

a good way to learn pandeira with out a "qualified" teacher is to go to capoeira school and ask the teacher how it works(preferably a brasialn guy) they usually can show how it works, though you might find that they play it defferently than how your "supposed" to play.. but if they really know then theyl show you (if their nice people)..

[James M]

Hey, Timo. I'm starting capoeira lessons tomorrow. i'm taking them free at the university here, and unfortunately the mestre saves the livemusic for his paid classes. I play berimbau and pandeiro pretty well, but have yet mastererd singing and playing berimbau at the same time. I'm hoping to start a new job soon and maybe earn a little extra to take the pay classes so I can jam along side the workout.