Clave is a Spanish word meaning 'code,' 'key,' as in key to a mystery or puzzle, or ' keystone,' the wedge-shaped stone in the center of an arch that ties the other stones together. The rhythm also …

There are two basic types of clave: son or rumba clave. Most Afro-Cuban styles of music are built around one version of the clave pattern, which is fixed and repeated throughout the song, and forms …

Translate Clave. See 9 authoritative translations of Clave in English with example sentences, phrases and audio pronunciations.

May 21, 2025 · It’s not to do with tonality as the term ‘key’ usually refers to, but instead, the clave holds the music together like a keystone. It’s essentially a repeating rhythmic pattern that is often played on …

Claves were originally used in Afro-Cuban folk music and are among the instruments that maintain various fixed rhythmic patterns in Latin-American dance bands.

Apr 24, 2025 · This guide will teach us how to play the clave, an essential percussion instrument in Latin and Afro-Cuban music. In this post, we'll explore the history of the claves, get familiar with your new …

Aug 22, 2025 · For beginners, learning the clave is the first step to understanding how Latin music grooves. Once you master the 3:2 and 2:3 patterns, you’ll start hearing them everywhere—from …

Clave is both the keystone that holds all the pieces in balance and the guide to the sonic landscape. It is a clue to the puzzle of how the pieces fit, and the cornerstone of the music structure.

The clave is a binary rhythmic pattern consisting of two contrasting measures—one with three strokes (the "3-side") and one with two strokes (the "2-side")—that functions as the structural "key" …

Traditionally, clave was written in 2/4, but has undergone several transformations over the years, as will be discussed. Clave is a pattern consisting of two rhythmic figures in a relationship of tension …