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Salsa metronome

The bell marks every beat and the clave shows the two bars. Press Play and change the tempo with “−” and “+”.

Tempo
180BPM
Clave
Sounds

Questions and answers

What does the salsa rhythm look like on the eight-count?

This is how the parts of the rhythm section fall on the dancer's count: eight beats over two bars, steps on 1-2-3 and 5-6-7. Clave 2-3: two strokes in the first bar, three in the second; in 3-2 the pattern starts from the second bar, and both bells and the cáscara shift with it. The timbalero plays the mambo bell instead of the cáscara in the loud sections, together with the bongo bell.

Count1&2&3&4&5&6&7&8&
Clave clave
Bongo bell campana
Mambo bell campana
Congas tumbadoras
Bongos martillo
Güiro güiro
Cáscara cáscara
Piano montuno
Bass tumbao
  • — sound: PA
  • — sound: TA
  • — sound: CHI
  • — sound: KON
  • — sound: U
  • — sound: TI
  • — sound: K
  • — sound: KUN
  • — strong strokes
  • — weak strokes
  • — how long the sound rings
  • — time-keeping strokes
How is a salsa metronome different from a regular one?

A regular metronome clicks the same on every beat and does not show where the “one” is and where the “five”. Here the clave, a two-bar pattern, sounds over the click, so you hear the whole eight.

You can add the instructor's count and any instrument of the rhythm section to the click: congas, bass, piano.

What tempo should I set for salsa?

Salsa is played at 160 to 220 beats per minute, most often 180–200 at parties. A step is easier to learn slower: start at 140–160.

The tempo here goes from 60 to 260 beats per minute, and “−” and “+” move it by 10.

How do I practise salsa with a metronome?

Set a slow tempo and dance the basic step to the click and the clave. If you lose the count, switch the instructor on. When the step is clean for a few minutes in a row, add 10 beats per minute.

Once you reach party tempo, add instruments one at a time: congas, bass, piano. This way the metronome gradually turns into music.

How do I leave only a click on every beat?

Switch the clave off on its card. The bell stays with the Every beat pattern: an even stroke on each of the eight beats.

Does the metronome work on a phone without internet?

Yes. Open salsabeat.ru/en/ on your phone and add the site to your home screen: after that it opens like an app, works offline and keeps the screen awake.

More topics: Salsa rhythm · Clave 2-3 and 3-2 · Counting in eight · Congas: tumbao · Campana · Timbales: cáscara · Montuno and bass · the whole trainer and general questions