...The Clave

There is tons of information about the history of the Clave and what its role in music is, however...
...in this course, we describe its pattern and how to dance to it.
(That is the point isn't it...to dance!!)
There are two basic patterns that the Clave is played in, the 2-3 Clave and the 3-2 Clave. The difference is the following:
The 2-3 Clave plays its first two notes on the first bar of music, and then the next three notes on the second bar of music (That's why it's called the 2-3 Clave).
The reverse is true for the 3-2 Clave...It plays its first three notes on the first bar of music, and the last two notes on the second bar of music.
Don't worry too much if you don't understand exactly what that means...because you will listen to it, and it will be much easier to understand!!
The 2-3 Clave is perhaps the more popular of the two patterns. Which is why we will study this pattern in more depth than the 3-2 Clave.
Now the first thing you need to know about the 2-3 Clave is this...The first two notes of the Clave mark the second and third beats in a Salsa song.
The next 3 notes are a little bit different...The first note marks the fifth beat in a Salsa song...
...the note right after that is actually BETWEEN beats six and seven...
and the last note marks beat number eight.
Although this may be a bit confusing at first, remember this...
you don't need to know where all the notes are...
All we are trying to do is give you points of reference so that you can find the beat for the particular song you are listening to.
So basically, once you can hear beats two and three, you can follow along and fill in the rest of the beats.
Ok enough reading for you...let's listen to some tracks...
This first track will give you some vocal instructions on the Clave. Listen carefully because you will understand what I mean when I say that fourth note is between beats six and seven...

CLAVE BEAT -- WITH VOCAL INSTRUCTIONS



Did you get that? As you heard, the first 2 notes mark beats two and three...after that it goes to beat five, then between six and seven, and then beat eight.
To make sure you understand it, this next track will provide the same Clave pattern, only this time you will not have the vocal instruction, only the counting.
As with your other lessons, when the counting stops...
...MAKE SURE YOU KEEP COUNTING

CLAVE BEAT SLOW -- WITH COUNTING



Ok, now that you understand where the notes go in relation to the beat of the song, let's try it without the counting.
Remember, what we are doing here is training your ear to listen for these notes.
This will only come to you with practice.
So let's try it again, only this time you will not have the counting, you will have to do the counting yourself.
Go ahead and try it now...

CLAVE BEAT SLOW -- WITHOUT COUNTING



So how did it go? Were you able to stay on the beat?
Great!! You are really making excellent progress!!
Now that you can find the beat on a slow Clave pattern...
Let's turn up the heat a bit!!
It is now time to make the beat a bit faster. This next track will play the 2-3 Clave pattern a little bit faster but with the counting to help you find the beat...

CLAVE BEAT MEDIUM -- WITH COUNTING



Now that you have an idea of how the count goes, try it without the counting.
Again, this is still a medium speed 2-3 Clave pattern, only this time, we have removed the counting so that you can try to find it yourself.
Go ahead, give it a shot...

CLAVE BEAT MEDIUM -- WITHOUT COUNTING



Well, that completes our beginner's section for the Clave...
What you should do next is this...
Go back and listen to all the tracks WITHOUT the counting, and make sure that you can find the beat in every single instance.
If you find that you are having problems finding the beat, just review the information and listen to the tracks. Once your ear is trained, you will be able to listen to the Clave pattern in every song you listen to.
Ok, if you feel ready to do so, go ahead and click on the "Advanced" button to continue with your Clave lessons...

Learn To Count The Beat With The Clave - Advanced


By now, you should be very comfortable with listening to the 2-3 Clave pattern played at a slow and medium speed.
Now let's take it up one more level...
You will be listening to the 2-3 Clave the way it's played at a club when dancing to a pretty fast Salsa song...
Go ahead and try it...

CLAVE BEAT FAST -- WITH COUNTING



Phew!!
Now that was fast!!
Believe me, when you get out to the clubs, and you hear a Clave beat at that speed...
...prepare for the workout of your life!!!
But believe me, you will also have the time of your life, but only if...
...you can stay on the beat!!
Which is why it's so important that you train your ear beforehand so that when you are on the dance floor, you can look Spectacular...
Now let's try that same beat, only this time without the counting...

CLAVE BEAT FAST -- WITHOUT COUNTING



So, are you feeling like dancing? I know I am, but before that...
We need to cover one more thing...
The 3-2 Clave pattern!!
The 3-2 Clave pattern is basically the same as the 2-3 except in reverse...
Now what the heck does that mean??
Ok it goes like this...the 2-3 Clave is played on the following beats: 2,3 5 & 8.
Do you remember that from our first lesson?
The forth note of the clave is played between beats six and seven, which is why I used the & symbol.
All the other notes fall on the beats I mentioned...
...so again the 2-3 Clave pattern is played on the following beats: 2,3 5 & 8.
Ok, with the 3-2 Clave pattern, it is reversed.
The first note of the 3-2 Clave is on the FIRST beat of the song...
...the second note is BETWEEN beats two and three, and the third note is on beat four.
The next note is on beat six, and finally the last note is on beat 7. So it goes like this: The 3-2 Clave pattern is played on the following beats: 1 & 4, 6,7.
Enough with the verbal explanation...let's listen to the track so that you can get an idea of what I'm talking about here

CLAVE BEAT 3-2 PATTERN WITH COUNTING




As you just heard, the 3-2 Clave is basically the same as the 2-3 Clave with the exception of what bar the beats are played in.
Remember, the 3-2 Clave is played on beats 1 & 4, <pause> 6,7 and the 2-3 Clave is played on 2,3 <pause> 5 & 8.
Now before going to the "Next Steps" section, I would suggest that you go back, and listen to the tracks that DO NOT have the counting voice over, and try to find the beats yourself...
...Go ahead do that now, and then go to the "Next Steps"



So What Are The Next Steps?

What have we learned so far?

Well, up until now you have mastered the two most important instruments in a Salsa song...
The Conga, and The Clave.
This knowledge alone will greatly improve your Salsa dancing. The bottom line is this: Just knowing the Conga and the Clave patterns alone will allow you to find that sometimes mysterious "Beat number one".
From this point you will learn other instruments that are essential to the Salsa beat, however, these two are by far the most important ones to master.
My next suggestion is the same as in the last part...go out and have some fun!!
Practice whatever footsteps you are working on but practice them with the techniques you have learned.
After that though...
Go out and dance!!
Once you can listen for, and recognize the Conga and the Clave beats, you will be ready for the next volume...
Volume 3 - Learning To Count The Beat - Guiro, Cowbell, Piano & Bass.
Until then, have a great time, and come back refreshed, there's still a lot more to go...