Part III
SALSA MUSIC & INSTRUMENTATiON
RHYTHMS
Legend - clave indicator = bold;
core dance = red;
Disclaimer: The following is not
intended to be all-inclusive but rather used as a preliminary way to understand some fundamental rhythms pertaining to the
most common instrumentation in salsa music. Hopefully, after much practice, the dancer will be able to dance to the individual
rhythms on this program. As they become proficient, they should be able to isolate each rhythm in commercial salsa music thus
allowing their dancing to become more expressive. The material here and on the audio program becomes a point of reference
establishing a base knowledge of rhythms relative to dancing mambo.
When you apply your attention to the following frequently
played rhythms that are present in salsa music you will hear, understand and appreciate what is going on with the clave. More
importantly, as dancers, we will be able to isolate the change in the rhythms that correspond to the two side of the clave.
Just remember that beats 2 and 3 (or 6 and 7) in all of the two bar rhythms (presented in this segment) will be the corresponding
element that will readily synchronize our dance steps with the rhythms.
Note: When encountering
one bar rhythms keep in mind that they do not inform the listener as to which direction the clave is in. They do, however,
have a connection to one side of the clave pattern which maintains their relationship to that rhythm. Making the adjustment
to dancing, then, is relatively simple.
Click Here For Part IV - Music Phrasing 
