The basics of Latin Music 

Jesus Christ, he should be about 28 now…. Dude went to the entirety of his teenage years, possibly college and now is probably married

Andrew Chando Yu "a musician who's never touched latin music" Sure you've touched latin music...... you've obviously been touched by IT..... but to the point, if you learn clave you might find your entire music listening experience has changed. You'll become aware of the power of those 5 beats over 2 measures; clave is just as powerful played as not played. Like the fact that Latin percussion is as complex as it is simple...... take each rhythmic entity separately, find that they are simple repeating patterns over a one- or two measure phrase. That's the simple of it, but stack them to play simultaneously and you've got some highly sophisticated syncopation, counterpoint, and ultimately, an entire mathematical system invented centuries ago, often credited to the Yoruba nation of Nigeria. It could have been that mathematics wasn't in the original plan but surely some high-level math can be applied analytically :) ....... and I utter these things at the oracle Rebeca Mauleon....?!?! SO MUCH I'm rather desperate to know, which brings me here too seldom. If you use any sort of multitracking software such as Sonar, Cubase, Ableton Live, Studio One (PreSonus) and a MIDI editor's part of it, I recommend the following supplemental knowledge source: www.formedia.ca/rhythms/index.html also, RU-vid channel host Michael de Miranda's percussion lessons: ru-vid.com/show-UCzxbCDm6R9Tm_Ae_MWSCaiw I hope it's not improper to post those links on Rebeca Mauleon's page...... haven't been able to find the website creator/author of the first site, but there's a wealth of rudimentary Latin percussion there. (Edit) look for clave in all music...... if it makes you feel the urge to move your body or parts thereof, it's got clave. Much learning I did with drumstick on dashboard.

Whoo - thank you for all of this!

Claudio Gonzalez no such thing, brother. So called Latin music is a white supremist terminology that has been imposed on an African device

Thanks for your comments - I am happy to clarify the clave question, as it is a common one stemming from the misconception that "2-3" and "3-2" refer to types of clave patterns. This nomenclature has to do with the "direction" or phrasing of the pattern within a piece of music, NOT what type of clave pattern is being used. In popular Cuban music as well as salsa and Latin jazz, there are two commonly used types of clave patterns: SON CLAVE and RUMBA CLAVE, both which are commonly notated in 2-measure phrases. Each of these clave patterns can be played in either 3-2 or 2-3 direction, and it is the MELODY which determines that direction. Furthermore, if the music is notated in 2-measure phrases, and the number of measures in a phrase remains even, the clave direction should not change. The direction will shift to the other side when there is an odd number of measures in a phrase, "naturally" turning the clave around. Of course, every song is different, and it is up to the arranger to make these transitions as smooth as possible. I hope this helps! --R. Mauleón

Rebeca Mauleon I am enlightened anew, Rebeca! I hadn't known the extent to which the direction of clave was so dependent on the melody; I'd thought it was solely the harmony, but the harmony itself is absolutely dependent on clave, from what I'm experiencing..... it's so far beyond just hearing it that one begins to realize the incredible power in just five notes. A dear friend Gali Sanchez gave me one initial exposure, and once I "got it" (dashboard drumming, etc.) my entire musical experience turned 90 degrees (and more) :) I'd frequently told him "man, my life has sunken into this hopeless addiction to clave, and it was your doing!!!!" It is fascinating that so many hundreds of years ago, those five notes became the grid of nearly infinite syncopations and accompaniments, and also the fact that out of the (probable) thousands of salsa songs I love, no two sound alike, yet that force behind them is such a common thread. As simple as it is complex. And about the even/odd phrases determining direction changes.... any recommended listening will be pursued with great appreciation. I gotta stop here.....your reply made my day..... many thanks :) P.S: you said "if" the music is notated in 2-measure phrases..... is clave not always a 2-bar phrase, or is that determined by tempo, or....? I'm a little sketchy on "cut" time if that's the factor...? and oh yeh... your Round Trip stuff was golden :) Love it a LOT. Your style is absolutely distinctive.

I think it is easier to explain. I know for me its easier to understand. Not so awkward at first.