Here's some general style and usage information passed on to us from the drummer who recorded our Afro-Cuban Percussion pack. Feel free to break all of the rules and have fun!
Style Notes
Pilon: Pilon starts with congas, timbales, claves and guiro. Maracas and cowbells may be added for extra color.
Songo: Songo is a modern style that starts with congas, drum set and clave. Timbales (used as a drum set substitute), guiro, maracas and shekeres may be added for extra color. Timbale loops 1 & 2 are 3-2, loops 3 & 4 are 2-3.
Timba: Timba is a very modern style that is very open in terms of interpretation. Timbales (or drum set), congas, and claves are the basic instruments. The conga and timbale patterns from the Mambo, Cha Cha and Songo styles could also be used. Bongos, guiro, maracas, shekeres and cowbell patterns may also be added for extra color. Drum set is also now a regular instrument in Timba. Conga loops 1& 3 are 3-2, loops 2 & 4 are 2-3.
Bembe: 'Bembe' (originally meaning a Santeria ceremony) is often used as a catchall term incorporating many of salsas 6/8 rhythms. For a generic salsa 6/8 groove, combine a conga, clave and either a timbale or 6/8 cowbell pattern. Shekeres may also be added for color.
Mozambique: The Mozambique is a descendant of Cuban carnival rhythms. The Cuban version of Mozambique may be created by layering several Surdo (known as Bombos in Cuba) patterns, several cowbells and several conga patterns numbered 1-3.
The New York Salsa style Mozambique is created by combining one of the timbale patterns, one of the conga patterns numbered 4-6 and a clave. Guiro and maracas may be added if desired, but it is not common.
Note: In many of the styles you'll see “riff” loops. These loops are timekeeping variations that include slight changes in the patterns. These may be used whenever a basic pattern just isn't exciting enough!
Instrument Notes
Guiro: While the guiro is primarily used in the Cha Cha and Mambo styles, it may be added to the Songo, Timba and Pilon. It is not traditional to the Cuban Mozambique. The guiro rhythms are not clave specific.
Bongo: The basic bongo rhythms are not clave specific. They may be used in Mambo or Cha Cha.
Maracas: The Mambo maracas loops may be added to most salsa styles for extra color. The Cha Cha maracas loops are to be used for slower tempos. They are not appropriate for faster styles. The maraca rhythms are not clave specific.
Congas: The conga parts are very style-specific. They are, along with the timbales, what give each rhythm their identity. However, the conga patterns for the Cha Cha and Mambo are interchangeable. The fills in the Cha Cha style do NOT work at the faster Mambo tempos. The fills in the Mambo style will work at slower Cha Cha tempos, however.
Timbales: The typical Mambo arrangement has the timbales playing any one of the 'cascara' variations (either the single or double handed) during the verses. The cascara loops are labeled as either “2-3” or “3-2”. The Mambo bell patterns are to be used during a chorus or montuno section.
Mambo Cowbell: These patterns are typically what a bongo player would play during a chorus or montuno section. In a typical Mambo arrangement, the bongo player plays the bongos during the verses, then switches to a hand-held cowbell when the timbale player switches to the Mambo bell. These patterns may also be added to the Songo and Timba styles for extra color.
Claves: The clave rhythm makes up the rhythmic D.N.A. of salsa music. The choice of which side (3-2 or 2-3) to use depends on the melody of the music. Most of the timbale rhythms are clave specific. Some of the conga rhythms are also clave specific. Please refer to the style notes above for specifics.
As a general rule, if a tumba (lowest conga drum) note lands on the 'and' of 2, then that measure should line up with the “3” side of the clave (the bar with 3 clave hits). The maracas and guiro rhythms are not clave specific.
