Finding the Salsa Dance Beat
http://addicted2salsa.com/videos/intermediate
I am very happy to have found out that interest in learning to dance on2 (NY/PR) timing has started becoming very popular on addicted2salsa.com. To help everyone become more familiar with the clave and the VERY important conga slap, I have edited the original salsa clave track I created in Garageband for Episode 25 : Finding the Salsa Beat and modified it for an easier learning experience. This should help everyone make it part of their daily schedule to play the track at least 3 times a day while they do some other task. Doing this will allow your brain to sink-in that conga beat and rhythm subconsciously – so that it starts becoming easily recognizable by your ears.
At first, I recommend forget about the clave when listening to the soundtrack. Focus on the tu-ku (small pause) PA! (conga) sound first. That PA sound are your 2s and 6s when dancing on2.
Duration : 0:2:14
August 7th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
This is good.
…
This is good.
Unfortunately, many salsa instructors teach their students to dance to numbers instead. 123567. And they end up dancing like robots.
Then there are some who try to be politically correct by saying the clave is important, although they have no idea why it is important (I don’t blame them… they don’t need to find a use for the clave when they can get by with just 123567)
August 7th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
I dont get it ??
I dont get it ??
August 7th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Excellent for bongo …
Excellent for bongo riffs !!!!
August 7th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
No, not really. In …
No, not really. In this example conga plays rhythm “Tumbao moderno”. But there are Salsa songs where another rhythm is played – Guaguanco. Technically it’s not a Salsa we dance Salsa con mucho sabor
Also, congas can do the accent on the Clave note Ponche (the last note on 3 side) by playing single Open Tone instead of playing the double Open Tone.
August 7th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
The so called ‘pa’ …
The so called ‘pa’ is also made by the Conga and is called a ‘Slap’ This basic Conga pattern is called the Tumbao, and is present with variations in most Salsa and Latin Jazz music. When dancing on 2 you align your main steps to the Conga Slaps. As a Conga player a well executed Slap will cut through all the other instruments like a crack of a whip.
August 7th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
do all salsa music …
do all salsa music have the conga on 4 and 8, and the “pa” on 2 and 6?
August 7th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
You upload a lot of …
You upload a lot of really helpful and informative clips. Thanks for the effort, much appreciated.
August 7th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
please, please, …
please, please, PLEASE.
do not dance on 2
why would anyone, ever, would want to dance on 2
August 7th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
yes you are right, …
yes you are right, the slap is on 2 and 6 (it was very late when i wrote it). but there are 2 kind of clave rhythm. The one you write is the 3/2 and there is also a 2/3 clave which i wrote down. Cheers
August 7th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
luks easy
luks easy
August 7th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
That isn’t quite …
That isn’t quite right. The slap is on beats 2 and 6. The clave is hitting on beats 1, 2.5, 4, 6, 7.
August 7th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
You hear the “slap” …
The sticks are just the clave hitting 2,3,5,6&,8. Nice to dance on it, check it out 
You hear the “slap” ? that’s 2 and 8. the deep double “bumbum” is 4, 4& and 8,8&. You can hear them clearly, that’s why the graph is striking out.
August 7th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
im not sure how to …
im not sure how to read this :s
August 7th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
thanks so much for …
thanks so much for uploading this. It really helped me hear the on2 beat.
Having danced on1 for a long time, trying to listen for a different rhythm from the same 8 beats is really tough.
thanks again!!
August 7th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
thanks for …
thanks for uploading this! It’s been so very helpful in helping me “hear” the on2 beat. I’m so used to dancing on1 for so long that i totally couldn’t get the on2 beat at all. This really helped.
thanks so much! I think i’ll be able to do an on2 on2 now..rather than an on1 on2, if u get what i mean.
August 7th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Nice work. keep it …
Nice work. keep it up. mean time come for social media marketing for esteembpo**com gf
August 7th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
co za scierwo;]
co za scierwo;]
August 7th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
is very easy ¡¡¡¡
is very easy ¡¡¡¡
August 7th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
umm this doesn’t …
umm this doesn’t make any sense to me.
August 7th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
man I m always …
man I m always wrong on new songs when I try to dance to them… i m used to 4/4 house beats :s
August 7th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
rhythm is rhythm .. …
rhythm is rhythm .. dancing on a specifc count / style is up to you
August 7th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
do you have one of …
do you have one of these for on 1
August 7th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Then you should …
Then you should help those who can’t with your ability.
August 7th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Everyone – find an …
Everyone – find an Eddie Torres Timing CD. This is *unbelievable* help!
August 7th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
as a newbie (if …
as a newbie (if your a non latin) i DO NOT recommend starting with the conga – see below… but thats just my idiotic opinion