If you want to play salsa on saxophone, you need to understand the rhythm of the clave since it lays down the foundation for the music.

Salsa dancing- antkriz on flickr

There are two main types of clave patterns- 3-2 and 2-3.

Here the numbers represent down beats and the “+” represents upbeats.

Below the pattern is written 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8. to show each beat and upbeat.

The 2-3 clave
..2.3…5..+..8.
1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.

To say it out loud- 2,3, 5, , and where the ‘and’ is the upbeat of 6, 8

The 3-2 clave
1..+..4…6.7…
1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.

To say it out loud- 1, and, 4, 6, 7 where the ‘and’ is the upbeat of 2

There is also a pattern called the rumba clave.

The rumba clave
1..+…+..6.7…
1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.

To say it out loud- 1, and, and, 6, 7 where the first ‘and’ is the upbeat of 2 and the second is the upbeat of 4.

Check out Salsa Latin Jazz to try it out!