SALSA PA'TI

IS A WEBSITE DEDICATED TO TEACHING YOU THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF "SALSA" MUSIC AND THE TWO TIMBALES RHYTHMIC PATTERNS THAT ARE USED TRADITIONALLY.

The Clave

Is the most basic element of Salsa music. It is fundamental for the development of counter rhythms and all other aspects of the music. Clave is a 2/3 beat pattern or 3/2 beat pattern split in two measures.  It is played in a jam block with the modern ensamble but it originally was played with two wood sticks, one with a hole in the middle of the sound and the other solid for the hit. All latin music is based in some sort of clave, which is a deep rooted african tradition. The clave was

CASCARA CON CLAVE

The first pattern we will discuss is called the "cascara" (English"shell")  I believe that is called cascara because it is played on the shell of the timbal, the outside metal part of the drum. The cascara is a two measure pattern in 4/4 that along with the clave can begin in either the first or the second part of the pattern and it becomes a different feel over the same rhythm.
Here is the rhythmic

The cascara pattern is played with the right hand while the clave is played with the left hand. The cascara is played usually during the "A" section or the verse part of the song.

Son Montuno

For the faster more lively part of the song, the timables move from the cascara to what is called the Son Montuno played on the bells. It is another 2 measure pattern for the timbales that lifts up the song and makes it brighter for the dancers. Here it is what it would look like for the Timbales, Congas, Bongo. The clave is still played by the left hand on the timbales.

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