Clave / Conga Combinations


Ok, let me give you some explanation as to what you will be doing now.
In this section, you will learn to listen to the Clave & Conga patterns together.
In this next track, you should do the following: Listen to the count, and then in your mind, isolate each instrument.
What I mean is this...As the instruments are playing, concentrate first on the Clave (By the way, can you figure out which Clave pattern is being played? Is it 2-3 or 3-2 Clave...the answer will be below).
Then play the track again and concentrate on the Conga (Remember, the loud accented notes mark beats 2 and 4...).
After you do that, play that track one more time, only this time listen to BOTH. What you want to listen for is how the two instruments are played together. You will also notice that although their notes differ, they will remain on beat with the Salsa count.
Go ahead and hear for yourself...
 
CLAVE / CONGA MEDIUM -- WITH COUNTING



Were you able to tell what Clave pattern is being played?
That's right, it's the 2-3 Clave!
If you play it again you will hear that both the Clave and the Conga play a note on beat 2.
As you may recall, in the 2-3 Clave the first note that is played is on beat 2, and on the Conga the loud accented note with a high pitch is also played on beat 2.
If you didn't notice that, go back and listen to it one more time. Notice that when the voice over count says "2" both the Clave and the Conga play their notes.
Now once you understand that concept, go on to this next track and you will listen to the same pattern only without the counting.
Make sure you can stay on the beat while you listen...

CLAVE / CONGA MEDIUM -- WITHOUT COUNTING



Now it's time to take it up a notch...
You will listen to the same pattern, only this time it will be faster.
Once again, you will listen to the counting and as you listen, make sure you can isolate the instruments in your mind.
Then listen to the track one more time but while concentrating on BOTH the instruments...

CLAVE / CONGA FAST - WITH COUNTING



Now that was a bit faster and that will be the speed you will be dancing to pretty soon.
Just a reminder...
...make sure that when you are listening to these combinations, that you practice your steps as well.
It is a good idea to have the count in your mind, but it is also good to practice your footwork, along with the patterns that you are listening to.
Now let's try the same fast pattern but without the counting.
For this track, make sure that you are standing up and dancing to it...

CLAVE / CONGA FAST - WITHOUT COUNTING



Some final thoughts before you move on...
The Clave and The Conga are very important instruments to listen for while you dance.
Sometimes you will not be able to hear all of the Clave or Conga notes, however, they are there.
If you are at a club and there is a band playing, take a look at the person who is holding the Clave. If you can't hear the notes of the Clave, just watch him and you will get an idea of where the Clave notes are.
Your next step will be to listen for the Conga beat.
As you have already learned, you will most likely only hear the accented notes. This is ok though...
...because remember, the accented notes mark beats 2 and 4.
So as you can see, even if you cannot fully hear all the notes for whatever instrument, only picking up on certain reference points will help you find the beat.
So don't worry if you cannot hear all of the Conga beats, as long as you can hear the accented notes, you can fill in the rest of the beats.
Remember, the key here is to find the beat so that your footwork is in sync with the music.
You are not studying to be a music professor in college!!
All you want, is the answer to "the question".
In this case, "the question" is:
Where is beat number 1??
Once you figure this out, you will not have any problems at all looking amazing on the dance floor.
Ok, let's move onto the next section where you will listen to a full percussion section playing...
Go ahead and click on the button that reads "Full Percussion"

Full Percussion Section

In this section we have taken the Clave and the Conga, and added the Guiro and the Cowbell to complete the percussion session.
You will notice that a full Salsa band will have more percussion instruments (like the Bongo, Timbales, Maracas, and etc...).
However, these four instruments alone will be enough for you to learn to find the beat.
Once you get used to dancing to each instruments alone and also combined, you will have no problem at all dancing with confidence to a full band.
Now let's listen to what a full percussion session sounds like...
 
FULL PERCUSSION MEDIUM -- WITH COUNTING



I'm sure you noticed that the more instruments we add, the less you clearly hear from any one particular instrument.
As always though, you can always pick up on the reference points that you have learned.
Listen to the next track without the counting, and see if you can pick up a couple of reference points.
Once you pick up a reference point or two, just add in the remainder of the beats.
Let's see how you do...

FULL PERCUSSION MEDIUM -- WITHOUT COUNTING



So how did you do?

I'm sure you were able to pick up on quite a few reference points...for example...
...You were able to pick up the 2-3 Clave, so you know that the first two notes it plays are beats 2 and 3.
Then you were able to pick up the low-pitch accented note of the Conga which marks beat number 4.
If you really played close attention, you will also be able to hear the first accented note of the conga which marks beat 2 (this one is a bit harder because the Clave also plays its note on beat 2, so you can probably hear the Clave note a lot better than the Conga note.)
As you can see, if you only pick out one point of reference, let's say the Clave notes on beats 2 and 3, you can pretty much fill in the rest of the beats...isn't that easy??
Well let's try it one more time, only this time it will be a bit faster...Also, in this one you will listen to the track WITHOUT the counting first.
I want you to try and pick up the beats on your own, (Tip: This one is a bit faster, so just concentrate on whatever points of reference you feel comfortable with)...

FULL PERCUSSION FAST -- WITHOUT COUNTING



Ok, now listen to the same track, only this time we have included the counting and see if you were able to get the timing right...

FULL PERCUSSION FAST -- WITH COUNTING



So did you get it the first time? Well if not that's ok, it was a pretty fast beat.
Now, what you have to do is practice to these beats, and let it become second nature to you.
Well, we're done with this section click on the "Next Steps" button for a hint of what is coming up.

So What Are The Next Steps?

The first thing you have to do is this:

You thought I was going to tell you to take a break huh...=)
Well actually this time I've got something else for you.
Before you go and take that break, go back to the section with the Full Percussion patterns and practice to those.
The reason why those patterns are so important is that they are the foundation for all Salsa songs.
So go back and just practice your footwork with the Full Percussion section, and then...
...Well now you can take your break...
...but only after you are done practicing your footwork to the Full Percussion section.
So what's in store for you in the next section...

Volume 5 - Bringing It All Together

Want to know what that means...
You'll see soon enough...
Seriously though, get outta here and have some fun!! I'll see you soon.