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Hand Signals

Welfare State/ Custard

(Tune sign: make a 'W' symbol with hands)

Notes:

This one’s easy to remember – just think “I’ve got custard in my underpants”!

Start with break 2, with everyone playing "I've got custard" and the tams playing "in my underpants" three times, followed by once of everyone playing together.

When playing break 3, leave one of the instruments playing (e.g. tams or agogos) whilst everyone else plays the break.

Not everyone does the shouty break, but it is quite fun, especially at less formal community events. You can do shouty versions of the short break and breaks 1 and 2. You just have people yell their parts instead of play them. Signal the relevant break then make a "blah blah" type hand signal. Ever thought of audience participation? Get your audience to yell or clap parts. If you're careful you might even be able to play one half against the other.

This one can be a bit tiring for the tams especially. If you see them flagging, call break 3 and give them a rest. Alternatively, why not stop everyone except the surdos - it's quite a funky rhythm they play. Bring everyone else back in one by one, starting with snares and reps, then shakers. Call short break and have everyone come in after it.

It is easier to play the surdo pattern if you play the silent hits (marked "-" on the notation) with your hand. Just be careful not to play them too loudly (they're just to keep help you time).

For a bit of a laid back vibe, why not try stopping everyone except the repeniques and shakers. Reintroduce the other instruments one by one and build the rhythm back up again. 

Most of all - have fun!

[Sound files] [Printable Version]

Groove

x = hit

- = silent hit with hand resting on skin

. = shadow note on snare

l = low agogo bell

h = high agogo bell

The pattern for the tams and agogos can be remembered by the phrase "I've got custard in my und-erpants"

Break 1

(Signal: hold up 1 finger)

S = Surdo

A = All others

E = Everybody

Break 2/ Intro break

(Signal: hold up 2 fingers)

T = Tamborim

A = All others

E = Everybody

 Break 3

(Signal: hold up 3 fingers)

x = hit

. = shadow note on snare

You can either have everyone play the break, or leave one of the instruments playing the groove (e.g. tams or agogos) whilst everyone else plays the break.

Short Break

(Signal: like the "small word" sign in charades - thumb and 1st finger held apart to to signal something small)

E = Everybody

Break 5

(Signal: hold up 5 fingers)

sn = snare hit

. = shadow note on snare

E = Everyone else

Shouting breaks

(Signal: signed as the same as the above breaks followed by a "blah blah" type hand signal)

The rhythm for this break is sung/ spoken rather than played. For example, break 1 would go like this:

For these breaks, people shout their parts instead of playing it on their drums (so for example in a shouty break 1, the surdo players shout "I've got custard" for the first 3 lines, with the shouted response "in my underpants" from everyone else, with everyone shouting the last line together). The short break can be done as a single "We've got custard in our underpants" (the singing breaks only work for breaks 1 and 2, and the short break).

Sound files

[Printable Version]