I have and will continue to talk about Latin rhythms and the specific drum set beats you can use. But for the drummer new to playing Latin style music or you have no idea what type of song it is, there is one pattern you can do with your hands along with 3 possible patterns you can do with your feet.
There is one musician that every drummer should respect and get along with to be successful. That is the bass player. A good bass player can make a drummer’s life so much easier – while a bad bass player can make for a long and painful gig.
Cha Cha Drum Style is the first in the series: Essential Latin Drum Set Beats. Over the years I have collected a bunch of books that talk about playing various Latin styles and patterns on drum set. I kept going from one book to another searching for answers and ideas. Here are simple, stylistically accurate and essential Latin rhythms and patterns to play Cha Cha on drum set.
Afro Cuban music centers around the “Clave”. With distinctions being made between Son and Rumba styles. Initially, I thought they were talking about a pair of hardwood sticks used to make a hollow sound when struck together. And even though the “Claves” will play the “Clave” – There is much more to understanding the term and how it is applied to developing simple, stylistically accurate and essential Latin rhythms and patterns to play on drum set.
Developing a Closed “Buzz” Roll on snare drum is essential. Not only for a concert percussionist, but also for a drum set player. Get your “Buzz On” by practicing these exercises.
Bossa Nova is the second in the series: Essential Latin Beats for Drum Set. Over the years I have collected a bunch of books that talk about playing various Latin styles and patterns on drum set. I kept going from one book to another searching for answers and ideas. Here are simple, stylistically accurate and essential Latin rhythms and patterns to play Bossa Nova on drum set.
I have previously posted about playing the Clave with Meinl Pedal Mount and Afro Cuban Salsa patterns on drum set: Mambo, Salsa Cascara and Salsa Campana. Also, an explanation of the Afro Cuban clave in Clave Essentials. I have combine these postings and developed a series of drum set practice exercises.
I recently purchased a Meinl Pedal Mount to attach a Jam Block to start playing the Clave pattern with my left foot on Salsa music. Generally, I was never really sure what to do with my left foot on the hi-hat for Afro Cuban style music. I had seen other drummers play the Clave part with their left foot using a pedal mount and decided to incorporate it into my drum set playing.
Drum set players need to understand and listen to the music form to determine when to vary time keeping patterns and play fills. Each music section serves a purpose and provides contrast and formal structure to the music. Musical drum set players highlight the different music sections. They vary their texture, rhythmic patterns and add fills between sections.
Mambo is the third in the series: Essential Latin Beats for Drum Set. Over the years I have collected a bunch of books that talk about playing various Latin styles and patterns on drum set. I kept going from one book to another searching for answers and ideas. Here are simple, stylistically accurate and essential Latin rhythms and patterns to play Mambo on drum set.