US EditionChimpanzee groups drum with distinct rhythms, research finds
- An international team published a study on May 9 in Current Biology showing that two chimpanzee subspecies drum rhythmically in the wild.
- The research arose from observations of 371 drumming bouts across 11 communities of eastern and western chimpanzees living in Africa.
- The study revealed that western chimpanzees drum with a quicker pace and consistent timing between beats, whereas eastern chimpanzees tend to vary the length of time separating their drum strikes.
- Lead author Vesta Eleuteri expressed surprise at uncovering distinct rhythmic patterns among the chimpanzees, as well as notable parallels between their drumming and human musical rhythms.
- The findings suggest that rhythmic drumming and its communicative use likely existed before humans evolved, indicating shared musical building blocks with common ancestors.
47 Articles
47 Articles
Shouting, grunting and rhythmic percussion: chimpanzees combine sounds like human words
To unravel the origins of human communication it is important to observe those who share with us more than 90% of their DNA: chimpanzees. Deep down in the tropical forests of Africa, these primates not only climb trees or dispute mature fruits. They also communicate and do so with a surprising complexity. Continue reading
Chimpanzees drum rhythmically 'like in human music', study finds
A new study shows that chimpanzees drum with regular rhythm when they beat on tree trunks. Previous research also shows that chimps in regions of west and east Africa have their own signature drumming style.
Chimpanzee groups drum with distinct rhythms
New research from a team of cognitive scientists and evolutionary biologists finds that chimpanzees drum rhythmically, using regular spacing between drum hits. Their results show that eastern and western chimpanzees -- two distinct subspecies -- drum with distinguishable rhythms. The researchers say these findings suggest that the building blocks of human musicality arose in a common ancestor of chimpanzees and humans.
Watauga Democrat
Jungle music: Chimp drumming reveals building blocks of human rhythm
Out west, they groove with fast, evenly spaced beats. In the east, it's more free-form and fluid.
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