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What is Bo Diddley's signature beat called?

  • Five-accent hambone rhythm

  • Four-beat shuffle

  • Three-step waltz

  • Two-step polka

Answer

Bo Diddley's signature beat, known as the "five-accent hambone rhythm," is a distinctive rhythmic pattern characterized by five distinct accents per measure. It is often played on a single snare drum, with the accents created by alternating between open and closed rim shots. The rhythm is named after the hambone, a traditional African-American percussion instrument made from a dried pig's jawbone.
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