Welcome to "Salsa Rhythms On The Beat" Training Program
Volume 3 - The Guiro, Cowbell, Piano, & Bass


Well hello again!!
How was your Salsa dancing last night?
I know, I know... I can see it already...
...you looked so good last night dancing Salsa after learning the Conga and the Clave, that you decided to come back for more =).
Well here we are...at your service.
To start things off, I'm sure that you already know how to use this eBook, but if not, here goes the quick version...
Use the buttons to your left to navigate...use the scroll bar to your right to go up and down...all links are underlined and of a different color.
There how was that?
Well, I must say, we have really learned a lot from the last two ebooks. I'm sure you have already noticed that the Conga and the Clave really are the most important of instruments for a Salsa song.
Actually let's give you a bit of history...The Clave is traditionally a set of 2 wooden sticks. However, you will sometimes see a Clave pattern being played on a rectangular plastic box set on the Timbale player's drum set.
Now, Clave literally means "key".
And that is exactly what the Clave is. It is the key to the rhythm and tempo of whatever song the band may be playing.
That's why you will usually hear someone in the band play a full bar of music only with the Clave right before starting a song. This is the "key" or the Clave for the rest of the group to follow.
Well, now we move onto a couple of instruments that are essential as well for a Salsa song. These instruments are quite complex even though they may seem simple.
The first two instruments we will look at are the Guiro and the Cowbell. The reason why we grouped these two as one is simple. They both mark beats 1,3,5 and 7. You will learn more about this in the next section.
As always, don't forget, we are here for you. If you encounter any problems or just have a question to ask just email us and we will help you in whatever we can (When you get to the final section, you will have our email addresses and other ways to contact us)...




Learn To Count The Beat With The Guiro & Cowbell

Just to give you a bit of an explanation, the Guiro really isn't a fundamental Salsa instrument. However, when it is used in the arrangement of a song...
...it is very easy to follow and it is also a great help to dancers that are just beginning (which is why we have included it here).
The Guiro (or Guira as it is known in Merengue circles) is a lot more common to a Salsa song from Central America than from the Caribbean.
One thing to take note of is that the Guira is a very important part of a Merengue song but it is played at double the speed of a Salsa song.
The timing is actually very simple.
One long note is played on beats 1,3,5, and 7. There are two short notes that are inserted between each long note.
Again remember that the long notes are played on beats 1,3,5, and 7...Let's listen to the first track so that you can get an idea of what we are talking about.

GUIRO & COWBELL BEAT -- WITH COUNTING



Did you get that? I'm sure it was a bit confusing and the reason for that is simple...
There really isn't a "standard" note to the Guiro.
However, if you listen again, you can actually begin to pick it up...
...Just remember that between each long note of the Guiro, there are two short notes.
These two short notes you can ignore, and just pay particular attention to the long notes which are played on beats 1, 3, 5, and 7.
Now the cowbell also covers two bars of music which I'm sure you heard in the last track.
Although the cowbell does seem simple, it is actually quite complex in musical terms. The important thing to remember is that it starts with two long notes, and then proceeds with a pattern similar to the Guiro but with the accents spaced differently.
The cowbell can be played in many other forms and patterns, so consider the tracks we use in this course as only an example.
The easiest way to find the timing, is to follow the long notes that mark the fundamental 1, 3, 5, & 7, and not get too distracted by the fast notes and accents.
Although the Guiro and the Cowbell are played together in both of these tracks, try to pay particular attention to the Cowbell.
The reason for this is that the Cowbell is a lot more common in modern Salsa than the Guiro. By learning to listen for the Cowbell, it will help you find the beat in fully orchestrated Salsa bands.
Let's listen again, and try to follow the beat with the Cowbell only...

GUIRO & COWBELL BEAT -- WITH COUNTING



Ok, I'm sure you can hear that the Cowbell and the Guiro are a lot trickier than the Clave or the Conga. Let's listen to this pattern again, only this time we have removed the counting. Try to see if you can pick up the beat...

GUIRO & COWBELL BEAT -- WITHOUT COUNTING

So how did you do?
If you felt off beat, don't worry...just go back to the tracks that have the count and just allow your ear to become used to this pattern.
One more thing that you must keep in mind is this...
...The pattern you have been listening to is a very basic pattern. When you go out dancing, the Cowbell and Guiro patterns may be different.
What you need to keep in mind is that the entire course touches on many instruments. You need to find the instrument you can pick out from a Salsa song and continue to use that one.
For example, Carlos likes to listen for the Clave, but Fernando likes to listen for the Conga.
Maybe you can pick up the Guiro and you will choose to use that instrument.
The great thing is that even if you can't hear a particular instrument from a Salsa song, you can always pick out one that you can hear...
So go back up and listen to those tracks again, because even though you may not like these two instruments, sometimes you will need them to find the beat...
Once you have listened to the tracks a few more times click on the "Piano" button to move onto the next instrument...



Learn To Count The Beat With The Piano

The piano is at the base of modern Salsa music.
The contribution of the Piano to a Salsa band is extremely rich, consisting of sophisticated harmonies, and syncopated rhythms...
...It is because of this very important role that there is no "standard" Piano pattern.
The pattern we have chosen for you in this course is an example of a very common pattern in Salsa music.
First listen to the pattern with the counting...

PIANO BEAT MEDIUM -- WITH COUNTING



Now, I'm sure that you have heard that beat before. The reason for this is that this is a very common Salsa pattern.
The key to learning the beat to the Piano is actually very simple...
...You just have to dance to it!! So for this lesson, all you have to do is listen to the track with the count so that you can get an idea of where the first beat is, and then listen to the track below without the counting, and just dance to it.

PIANO BEAT MEDIUM -- WITHOUT COUNTING



After some time of practice with the Piano pattern provided, go and click on "The Bass" to discuss this very common instrument...
...I will also give you some tips and tricks on these very complicated instruments we have just listened to.

 

Learn To Count The Beat With The Bass

The Bass is the instrument whose pattern differs the most between Salsa and other forms of music.
In Salsa the first note of the Bass is actually played off beat, between beats 2 and 3, then the second note marks beat 4.
This is what gives you the typical Salsa groove.
First, let's listen to the next track which will provide you with some vocal instructions on how the notes are broken down...

BASS BEAT MEDIUM -- VOCAL INSTRUCTIONS



As you just heard, the first note is between beats 2 and 3, but the second note marks beat number 4.
Once you know this, it is actually very simple to fill in the rest of the beats.
Let's try that now.
You will listen to the Bass pattern but only with the counting...

BASS BEAT MEDIUM -- WITH COUNTING



Can you hear how the Bass is played in a Salsa song?
All you really need to remember is that the first note is played between beats 2 and 3 and that the next note is played in beat 4.
Now, practice dancing to the Bass only.
At first, it will be really weird, and it will just feel strange.
However, it will grow on you, but most importantly...
...if you can dance on beat to this isolated instrument...
then dancing on beat to an entire band will be a breeze!!!
Try it now without the counting...
remember practice with a step that you are learning, or even just the Basic Step.
The key here is to dance on the beat and it will be the same with any dance step you choose.

BASS BEAT MEDIUM -- WITHOUT COUNTING




So how do you feel so far?

Well, you have really covered a lot of ground in these three parts...so let's recap:
You have learned that in a Conga pattern the even beats (2 and 4) are marked by notes of high and low pitch.
You have also learned to isolate these two Conga notes (beats 2 and 4), because these will be the notes that you will most likely hear in a Salsa song.
You have learned that the 2-3 Clave marks beats 2 and 3 on the first bar of music, and then notes 5, and 8.
You also learned that the fourth note of the 2-3 Clave is actually between beats 6 and 7.
You have heard how the 3-2 Clave pattern is basically the same as the 2-3 Clave except in reverse...
Meaning the first note marks beat 1 the next note is between beats 2 & 3, then it marks beat 4 on the first bar of music.
On the second bar of music the last two notes of the 3-2 Clave mark beats 6 & 7.
On the Guiro you have learned that a long note is played on beats 1, 3, 5, & 7 and that between the long notes there are two short notes that are inserted.
You have also learned that the Cowbell is essentially the same.
It plays its two long notes through beats 1, 3, 5, & 7 and proceeds to a pattern similar to the Guiro.
You have also heard a very common Piano pattern used in Salsa and have had the chance to practice to this very common pattern.
Finally, you have learned that the Bass is perhaps the most unusual of all.
However, you have heard how it plays its first note off beat between beats 2 & 3, and that the very next note is played on beat 4.
I'm sure you have also noticed that this volume has been probably the most complicated of all up until now.
Let me share a little secret with you...
...these last four instruments: Guiro, Cowbell, Piano, and Bass are a bit complicated, however, you will find that the more you listen to these instruments alone (meaning isolated from the rest of the Salsa song), you will begin to notice that you will have an "ear" for the tempo and beat of the music.
After some practice you will listen to a song, and just by second-nature, you will be able to pick up the first beat.
The Conga and Clave were a lot easier because you can actually follow the notes.
But listen to the tracks on this ebook again and again while you practice your steps. You will find that it pays off in the end with much better dancing and an ability to always dance on the beat.



What are the next steps?
My next suggestion is always the same...go out and have some fun!!
I mean just take a look at all the information that you have just absorbed... it truly is amazing!! So your homework assignment is this...
Go out and practice finding the beat with at least one different instrument each time you go out and dance.
Then move onto the next section, which will be...
Volume 4 - Salsa Rhythms On The Beat Combinations
In Volume 4 we will listen and dance to several basic combinations and full blown percussion Salsa patterns.

Finally, where can you go for help if you are stuck with something?? Well that's simple. We are always here to help you in whatever you need. Below you will find our email addresses, and a link to our Feedback page.
On the Feedback page, you can email us with any question you may have.
If there is anything else we can do for you, please do not hesitate to contact us and let us know what we can do to help.
Thank you so much, and we look forward to helping you in your dance goals!!