SIX SOUTH AMERICAN RHYTHMS

Latin music combines exciting rhythms with a vibrant feel and can be both challenging and rewarding to play. So get ready, says Jon Bishop-it's Carnival time!

- Jon Bishop

Welcome to our feature designed to explore a range of South American rhythms. Each has its own name and own particular sound, and the Latin people are highly proud and protective of each one’s authenticity. What I hope you’ll gain from the lesson are some core techniques and concepts to help you build a vocabulary in these vibrant styles. We have chosen six contrasting rhythms from this exciting continent, and for each we have recorded a 16-bar performance piece, with backing track to practise along with.

The guitar plays an important role in these styles but we can also adapt typical piano parts onto the guitar. A nylon-string is stylistically effective and appropriate for playing these styles, but any guitar can be used so there is no excuse not to get involved.

When studying South American music it’s helpful to know how each of the instruments in the ensemble functions. There are even specific names applied to each instrument’s function within the arrangement.

The ‘clave’ is a rhythmic pattern typically used in Afro Cuban music styles (salsa, cha cha cha, mambo, rumba, samba, etc). The five-stroke clave rhythm forms the backbone of the rhythm section. We have written out two of the most popular claves to study (see technique focus and fig 1 for details).

The ‘cascara’ rhythm (it means ‘shell’ and was originally played on the side or ‘shell’of the timbale drums. Drummers often play cascara rhythms on various parts of the kit and this adds to the complexity of the sound.