Welcome to Fremont Drum

Building rhythm community & rhythm literacy

through the study of
African & Afro-Caribbean Rhythms

Welcome to
Fremont Drum

Building rhythm community & literacy through the study of African & Afro-Caribbean Rhythms

Over 700 Rhythms

Discover, Learn and Play Along

For over 30 years, Will Matthews, author of The New Conga Joy, Drum Talk and Shadowing the Lion, has been gathering dynamic hand drum rhythms from various African and Afro-Caribbean cultures, including: Cuba, Haiti, Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Senegal, Nigeria, Liberia, Benin, Zimbabwe, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Colombia, Uruguay, Peru, and Brazil.

And for over 30 years, Will has been sharing these rhythms with his students – from teens to seniors, men, women, and people of all cultures – and still believes the most rewarding way to heed the “Call of the Drum” is to explore as many rhythms and rhythm cultures as possible.

Online Monthly Memberships!

Now Fremont Drum is offering ALL these rhythmic gems online (over 700 and growing), through our ESSENTIAL or UNLIMITED monthly memberships!

Play-Along Audio

Over-The-Shoulder Video

Easy-To-Read Notation

Explore these controls (for example: playing audio at different speeds) by reviewing the Rhythm Play Panel DrumBlog article!

A World of Rhythms & Craftsmanship

DrumBlog Articles

Visit our DrumBlog to find a world of ideas within 11 categories, including…
  • Artist Spotlight – Worldwide, professional artists
  • Member Showcase – Original music from our members
  • Drum Group/Band Showcase – Non-pro drum groups/bands
  • Spotify Playlists – Highlighting various African countries
  • Bonus Rhythms – New monthly rhythms for members
  • Rhythm Culture – Rhythm origins, histories and stories
  • Drums, Percussion & More – Various drum/rhythm topics
  • Deep Dives – In-depth explorations of rhythm cultures
  • Site Features & Support – “How To” site feature articles
  • Guest Articles – Written by artists and members
  • Drum Beat – News, workshops, events & performances

Online Store

The Fremont Drum store offers hand-crafted drums, instructional materials, rhythm packages for school programs, original t-shirts and original paintings.

FREE Primary Rhythms

4/4 HEARTBEAT – A drum circle favorite! This accessible 4/4 rhythm has it’s roots in Jamaican ceremonial drumming.

12/8 WAVE – A foundational 12/8 rhythm combining Afro-Cuban and Afro-Haitian rhythm concepts.

4/4 Heartbeat

4/4 time

video

4/4 Heartbeat Notation

audio (with shekeré)

in 4 speeds: .75, 1.0, 1.25, 1.5

12/8 Wave

12/8 time

video

12/8 Wave Notation

audio (with shekeré)

in 4 speeds: .75, 1.0, 1.25, 1.5

Explore these controls (for example: playing audio at different speeds) by reviewing the Rhythm Play Panel DrumBlog article!

Free Rhythms

Sample FREE rhythms below from among our 8 different rhythm categories.