Clave
The clave is a fundamental rhythmic pattern and organizing principle in Cuban music. It serves as both a musical pattern and a guiding concept, deeply rooted in Afro-Cuban traditions.
🎵 1. Clave as a Rhythm
There are two main types of clave rhythms:
🔹 Son Clave
Common in Cuban son, salsa, and popular Cuban genres.
| X - - X - - X - | - - X - - - - |
| - - X - - - - | X - - X - - X - |
🔹 Rumba Clave
Used in rumba and more folkloric Afro-Cuban styles. Has a slightly more syncopated feel.
| X - - X - - X - | - - X - - - - |
🧠 2. Clave as a Concept
- The clave is the structural foundation of Cuban music.
- Musicians must "play in clave", meaning their rhythms and phrasing align with the underlying clave pattern.
- The music can be in 3-2 or 2-3 clave, depending on where the stronger accent falls.
⚠️ Switching between 3-2 and 2-3 is called a clave reversal. It must be handled carefully to maintain rhythmic integrity.
🥁 3. Instruments That Play Clave
- Claves: Two hardwood sticks struck together to play the clave rhythm.
- Other instruments imply or support the clave:
- Congas
- Bongos
- Timbales
- Piano ( montuno patterns)
- Horn lines
🚀 4. Clave in Modern Cuban Music
- Genres like timba and modern salsa treat clave more flexibly.
- Advanced arrangements may temporarily obscure the clave or play against it, only to realign later.
- Despite this, the clave always governs the music’s deeper structure.
📌 Summary
- Clave = heartbeat of Cuban music
- Two types: Son and Rumba
- Orientations: 3-2 and 2-3
- Musicians must stay "in clave" or risk disrupting the groove
🎧 Want to Explore Further?
Consider listening to:
- "Quimbara" – Celia Cruz (3-2 son clave)
- " Yambú" or " Guaguancó" styles of rumba ( rumba clave)
This section is characterized by a more open and interactive part of the song, where there is a dialogue between the vocals and the instrumentalists, leading to a more improvised feel. The montuno is typically built on repetitive piano and bass patterns and may include call-and-response singing.
Lees meer >Rumba
Cuban rumba is an Afro-Cuban music and dance genre characterized by complex rhythms, call-and-response vocals, and expressive, often flirtatious movements, rooted in African and Spanish traditions.
- Oldest of all, Late 1800s
- Clave blanco ( Son clave used in yambu)
- Originated in urban areas of Matanzas and Havana
- Not related to religion
- A form of collective culture
Lees meer >The dance involves a flirtatious "chase" between a male and female dancer, with the male attempting a symbolic pelvic thrust called the vacunao,
and the female using body movements to evade or accept it.
Lees meer >The clave is a fundamental rhythmic pattern and organizing principle in Cuban music. It serves as both a musical pattern and a guiding concept, deeply rooted in Afro-Cuban traditions.
Lees meer >