VOLUME 60

ONLINE EDITION

Root Tones Robert "Baabe" Irving III Root Tones Robert "Baabe" Irving III

Getting to the Root of People, Places and Things Musical The Drum & Drum Language

Because their language is tonal, drums can act as a speech surrogate with the low, high and middle tones imitating the tonal patterns of the spoken language Master drummers can use drums to reach people on a deeper level. When African drums were banned in the Americas during slavery, it was done with the clear knowledge and thus, fear of this powerful form of communication.

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