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Latin rhythm, any tricks?

#2
Learn Clave, learn the basic tumbao. And still practice feeling the 'one' but playing around it. It helps to play the one bar pattern of the 3 side of the clave, then practice tying the '4' over.

I spent quite awhile just tapping clave and tumbao with left hand and right hand or hand and foot. Once you got the tumbao internalised its all good.
 
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#3
I have been trying to conquer the same problem - something that is working for me is to spend some time without my bass first tapping four with my foot and a 3-2 clave with right hand fingers. then when it feels reasonably natural try tapping your foot on 1 and 3 only (don't try this while driving).

Also, try playing the simplest possible line at first. Think root-five-octave-five-root over two measures through a simple progression like Em, A7, D, B7. Get the feel right before adding more chord tones or displacing the roots.
 
#5
Learn the basic Salsa step.

You might blow this off, but I'm dead serious.
Two of my bass teachers told me that. And two of the most in demand bassists in Canada can't be wrong.

The basic step will help you feel where the beat lands.
Watch some Latin guys play. especially the percussionists. They're ALL dancing.
 
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#7
Uh, no, I can't tell if that was a joke but I wouldn't recommend following the kick. For one thing, there is no standard role or pattern for the kick in Latin music, whereas there is a clearly established role for the bass.

The most important thing IMO is clave. Remember that there is more than one clave pattern, and that each one goes "forward" and "backward". You have to play on the "correct side" of clave in any tune, and some modern styles such as Timba involve changing the clave direction mid-song. Next, 6/8 and particularly the 6/8 bell pattern- not that you play it, but that you need to be able to maintain a steady tumbao while everyone else "goes nuts". Then, lead the beat slightly- that helps keep the feel "right" and the dancers moving fluidly.
 
#8
Hi,
I play quite a bit of latin(salsa,timba,merengue) and I would suggest start by playing the downbeat on 1 for now. Very traditional son cubano actually plays on 1.But try to accentuate 1.2 and,3,4. upbeat of 2 and down 4. Eventually, you won't feel the need for the one .
give it a try. it works.;)
 
#9
+1 clave learning

the thing that helped me was stepping in place, like...start on left foot, beats one and 3, right foot beats 2 and 4.

in some patterns, the bass drum and the bass line do have some corresponding beats, but it depends on the style

watch out for dem syncopated beats
 
#10
My 2 cents is to get the music inside you first.

Saturate yourself in the genre. Listen to latin music for as many hours per day as you can. Be into it, until you can feel it. After a few weeks, then try to play along with a simple song with few chord changes. If it doesn't come, forget playing along and just listen for a couple more weeks, and then try again.
 
#11
Here's a basic Salsa pattern for you to practice:

Salsapattern.jpg


Your goal must be to play it smoothly, without thinking about it. That will give you a solid foundation on the style although, as already said, listening lots of Salsa tunes and artists is the first and most important step to get into the genre since Latin music is mostly about playing with AUTHORITY rather than dazzling technique. Hope this helps.
 
#12
Listen to as much Salsa/Latin Jazz as you can. A few of the many names to check out are: Eddie Palmieri, Poncho Sanchez, Mario Bauza, Celia Cruz, and Tito Puente.

The best book I have ever seen regarding the subject is "The Essence of Afro-cuban Percussion and Drum Set" by Ed Uribe. It is mainly a drum book, but it explains everything in great detail (including a very good section on clave). It includes two cd's full of examples, as well as a section devoted to the rhythm section and how charts are arranged.

If you are really serious about lerning latin jazz, this book is the key.
 
#15
bongomania said:
...I wouldn't recommend following the kick. For one thing, there is no standard role or pattern for the kick in Latin music, whereas there is a clearly established role for the bass.
Click to expand...

DWBass said:
...No drum kit.
Click to expand...
Very true . . . the typical basic percussion section for salsa/tumbao is congas and timbales (also called "pailas" or "tarolas latinas") - that's 2 guys . . . NO drumset . . . the bass instrument and piano complete the rhythm section.

I know that there could be many other instruments, too, in the "rhythm section", but this is the minimum that can be used . . .
 
#16
deaf pea said:
Very true . . . the typical basic percussion section for salsa/tumbao is congas and timbales (also called "pailas" or "tarolas latinas") - that's 2 guys . . . NO drumset . . . the bass instrument and piano complete the rhythm section.

I know that there could be many other instruments, too, in the "rhythm section", but this is the minimum that can be used . . .
Click to expand...

It used to be like that (and, as you said, it IS the absolute minimum), but nowadays any "professional" Salsa band has at least three percussionists. Check my entry on Wikipedia about it.
 
#20
Alvaro Martín Gómez A.;4872557 said:
It used to be like that (and, as you said, it IS the absolute minimum), but nowadays any "professional" Salsa band has at least three percussionists.
Click to expand...
My first "professional" salsa experience WAS a while ago, with Willie Bobo, in 1970 (in LA and on tour in South America) . . .

Alvaro Martín Gómez A.;4872557 said:
Check my entry on Wikipedia about it.
Click to expand...
VERY good information . . . como siempre has hecho, Alvaro.
 

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