Drumset: Latin

“Latin” is a VERY broad topic in music. It generally refers to music and culture from south of the United States, and in that region there are numerous countries and cultures with their own unique musical expressions. “Latin-Jazz” is an even broader topic, as it refers to how Jazz OR Latin musicians combine specific “Latin” styles with Jazz.

Don’t skip the introduction! There’s a lot of important context in there. Make sure you watch it at least once.

Download and print this worksheet to help guide your practice. Use this for the next 4 videos. Getting used to the LOOK of the music on the page is as important as the feel, as many Latin and Latin-Jazz charts have rhythms that are challenging to read. Note that the groove is two measures long, this is a common feature of most music in these styles.

Download and print this worksheet to help guide your practice. Use this for the next 4 videos. This interlocking pattern is the foundation for most of the rhythms in the style, both in the melody and the accompaniment. Once you have it in your hands and ear, you will be able to hear others playing it through the texture of the music. This is an important key to great ensemble playing going forward.

Download and print this worksheet to help guide your practice. Use this for the next 5 videos. The method is a bit silly, but incredibly effective. Most of this music has its roots in aural tradition, which is why a spoken device – even a silly one – carries the feel more accurately than any written out version.

Download and print this worksheet to help guide your practice. These levels are based on traditional Salsa music, and offer helpful insight into the sometimes unexplained variations in published charts.