John McLaughlin: The Gateway to Rhythm

In a world overflowing with guitar instrucionals and hot licks videos, here comes an educational DVD from The Master - the way it is supposed to be. This DVD deals with the South Indian(Carnatic) system of recitation called 'konokol'. In John's words, it is the simplest and most effective method of mastering rhythm in the world.(coming from a man of John's stature, you better believe that!) Konokol requires absolutely no playing ability as it is all about counting, division and mathematics- the building blocks of rhythm. the DVD starts from square one, teaching syllables and the basic language and moving on to more challenging aspects like odd time signatures - John's pet love for many years. As with John's previous educational DVD 'This Is The Way I Do It', there is a continuous scroll of notation moving along the bottom of the screen, which greatly enhances the impact of the lessons. The DVD contains six chapters, each chapter ending with a demonstration of the material by Selvaganesh Vinayakram (who plays south indian percussion along side John in Remember Shakti) followed by John's demo of the application of konokol on the guitar. Watch out for the Finale in Chapter 6, where they get together to create a beautiful guitar-konokol conversation.Learning this system helps build a bridge between percussionists and melodic instrumentalists. An ensemble or a band conversant with konolol can articulate musical ideas very precisely to each other. Someone who has been in a band will immediately appreciate how difficult it is to get the bloody drummer to play what you want him(her) to! It is not an exaggeration to say Shakti would not have been what it is hadn't it been for konokol. The level of the music they came up with in a very short span of time would not have been possible without konokol.Finally, please remember this is not only for drummers and percussionists. This is not only for students who play indian instruments, or wish to learn indian music on their western instruments. This truly is for everybody. Infact, it will be of value even if you do not play any instrument and want to become a knowledgable audience of Indian Classical Music. That John McLaughlin went ahead and made this DVD reveals how strongly he feels about it, and how important he thinks konokol is to save the world!

I picked this up just after Christmas. I wanted so much more than I got out of this video. It is an okay overview of what is possible, but they gloss over the foundation and go straight to improv. How can one break the rules if they don't know the rules? Like another viewer conveyed- their hands are blocked a good portion of the time. It's surprising to think they didn't think that they didn't think this would be of concern. As for the hand motions, I ended-up finding some Youtube videos that, in my opinion, gave a better way to help keep track over 8 beats (instead of repeating the sequence twice like in this video). I also opted to use the 3 beat counting from the Youtube video I found instead of the one presented. Everyone learns different, so I'm just saying I found ones which works better for me. All in all, this video is an ok introduction, but doesn't really dig in deep.Update: 8/16/13: I haven't used the video since January, but the ideas are still very much working in my head. Very often I find myself disecting phrases using "Ta-Ka-Di-Mi" and "Ta-Ki-Ta" instead of the old "1-E-AN-A" and so forth. Also, when I am learning a new rhythm, I've been working on Bossa Nova rhythms for example, I'll read and use the hand motions with my left hand and clap the rhythm I'm learning with my right. It has really helped my time keeping and sense of timimg. For that alone I'm glad I purchase the video. I still stand behind what I wrote above...

This is a great introduction to South Indian rhythmic concepts. It takes a lot of time and study and dedication and then you will have mastered the fundamentals. If you want something more comprehensive after finishing the DVD i recommend finding a teacher. Through using the exercises on this DVD (which really should be practiced DAILY, as is said in the beginning)i have become a better musician. My playing on the drum kit has improved, my guitar playing has improved, and most importantly, Konnakol is FUN! I have fun doing the exercises and improvising whenever the mood strikes me. I really enjoy this DVD and for me it was a smart purchase. The DVD isn't perfect, but these minor details don't ruin anything for me, and i'm sure other reviews have stated them so i have no need to here. If you think you could benefit from this DVD or have fun with it then i would recommend taking the risk and buying it. The choice is all yours.

whew - I've been waiting years for something like this to come out...purchased John McLaughlin's 3 dvd set "This is how I do it" in the hopes that he would cover (or at least touch upon ) the topic covered in depth here. If you would like to know about the fundamentals of rhythm and the simplest method of breaking it down then this is certainly for you. Players of any instrument will benefit from spending time counting along and working through the progressively more difficult lessons. Very Highly Recommended Indeed! Be certain to check out the bonus footage!

A very interesting approach to learning the Indian system of rhythm taught by two of its masters. John McLaughlin possess that rare combination of being an amazing musician as well as being a very wonderful teacher. This is a DVD that can be taken out 6 months later and reviewed; it does not get stale.Unfortunately I lent this to a friend who lost it, or gave it away. Someday I'll order another copy. However; this is a MUST for any serious musician who'd like to expand their musical horizons.

Excellent demonstration video.

This is a really nice DVD on challenging yourself to incorporate rhythmic subdivisions into your soloing. It is not the easiest thing to sing groups of 5 [as an example] but it does become familiar enough so you can use it with your melodic approach. I wish there was a bit more of McLaughlin's playing the examples but Selva is truly amazing in his vocalization of the rhythms.

I need work sheets to follow the instruction, but I don't know where can I find it.

I'm de3lighted with this product; the time it took to get there, and the potential it has to open up huge gateways to music one may have considered inaccssable to play - although adored to hear. Konakol is an ancient Indian art form which masters the use of time with the voice, and the tapping of the hand. Other masters advocate strict ways of beating the hand; McLaughlin (correctly, in my opinion,) claims you may use a metronome without doing damage to technique or practice. What at first appears simple is a tremendously-powerful way of mastering complex, sustained, and varying rhythmic patterns without doing your head in - and I can promise you, if you go comparing this disc with some of the stuff on Konakol on Youtube you will see there are many ways of practicing it. My gut feeling was that a range from traditional (fundamentalist) to contemporary exists, and these western ears need something close to my mind before I can delve deeper.This is NOT a DVD to be watched once if you are serious about using Konakol. It needs to be used EVERY DAY for practice, until you feel that your grasp of your instrument/voice/drums becomes nature, or somewhat intuitive. This is nothing deeply mysterious, or overtly complicated. It's like any other tool a musician needs when first adopting it into his repetory. At first it's a text, then a practice guide, then a reference work. It also develops your ear for those who love odd time signatures, but don't quite grasp them to tap the foot to, or play a phrase or so. It cuts through habit patterns quite nicely - if practiced - and is fun to jam to if you're sitting on a bus, going to a gig, or with a bunch of friends.Along with McLaughlin's "This is the way I do it", this is a top-class product. If you apply yourself to the material therein, I see no reason why your musical potential will stay static! Enjoy. Pardon some of the spelling errors; I can't find my glasses. Hahahaha. I'm squinting. Grin.

I was very happy to receive the Gateway To Rhythm DVD having been a fan of John McLaughlin for many years. It took a bit longer to arrive than I had hoped but it was well worth the wait! The material is well laid out and easy to follow, although to get the best out of it you have to do what John and Selva advise in the DVD 'Practise the excercises daily!'You get a real understanding of how McLaughlin has used this system in his compositions as well as how to apply it to any form of music. Highly recommended! TQ

Il fascino di un’antica tecnica percussiva vocale indiana

Amo John Mac Laughlin....video interessante ma non esaustivo.

this is a great DVD and it helps a lot with compréhension of the rhythmsI really enjoy it and i work with it all day during breaks every where