Samba Drum Set Style Essentials

Samba Drum Style is the sixth in the series: Essential Latin Drum Set Beats. Over the years, I have collected a bunch of books that talked about playing various Latin styles and patterns on drum set. I went from one book to another searching for answers and ideas. There was some agreement. But mostly disagreement about what is authentic and correct for each Latin style. Here are simple, stylistically accurate and essential Latin rhythms and patterns to play Samba on drum set.

Samba Style on Drum Set

Samba is one of the most famous Brazilian musical styles and has many variations. Another popular Brazilian style is Bossa Nova. Samba drum style patterns, when applied to the drum set, are derived from the Brazilian Carnival celebration and its later acceptance in the Jazz genre. The hand patterns center around the Partido Alto pattern. The constant foot pattern is taken from the rhythm of the Surdo drum pattern.

A Brief History

The style traces back to the Brazilian state of Bahia in the seventeenth century. Descendants of African slaves combined their percussion techniques with Latin American folk music to create an early version of Samba. The first songs on record come from the 1910s, starting with 1917’s “Pelo Telefone.” Over time, different regions of the country created different variants and new dance genres. In the late 1960s and into the 1970s, it gained in popularity, led by Brazilian artists like Nelson Cavaquinho, Guilherme de Brito, and Cartola. Today, Samba is well known throughout the world. Movie audiences encountered Samba via Hollywood films starring Carmen Miranda. Today, tourists experience it via the annual Brazilian Carnival parades. Samba also has found its way into other musical styles, from Cuban Salsa genres to jazz.

Other Essential Latin Drum Set Beats: 1. Cha Cha 2. Bossa Nova 3. Mambo 4. Salsa Cascara 5. Salsa Campana 7. Songo 8. Bembe 9. Conga and Mozambique 10. Beguine, Bomba, Bolero, Guaguanco, Merengue and Rumba 11. Calypso, Soca, Reggae and Ska

You may also want to see: Three Basic Latin Beats to Cover Your Ass