It's funny Im latino and didnt find another video showing how to play timba, then I though what If look for a video in english and here I am hahahaha! Your video is great, thank you very much!
Yeah I used to do this as well. The more I listen & play though, the more I realise that there are certain combinations that seem to work better throughout each stage of the music. E.g. when playing the clave, you often also play the cascara or a mambo bell pattern, but very rarely is this alongside a snare. Reason being, the clave is usually only thrown in for less intense musical moments, however the snare is more intense, hence it's placed alongside a double bell. Food for thought.
Gringo I got a question when you play both patterns together( the bongo bell and the mambo clave), you dont play the typically mambo pattern right? , you use the bongo pattern with the "other" mambo pattern. Muchas Gracias Gringo! :)
Yeah it's a variation. While you you can do the normal mambo pattern (and in some songs, it makes more sense to do that), they tend to use this "variation" more often. I'll explain the differences, and the uses, in another video, but in the meantime, try it like this: If "x" is a strike and "o" is a rest, you would notate a 2 3 clave mambo pattern like: x o x o x x x x o x x x x o x x (repeat) while the variation is: o x x o o x x x o x x x o x x x Hope that helps!
Traditionally, the bongo bell is also mounted with the mambo bell. However, I like your setup because it leaves the hands open for more independence. Also, it makes good stereo imaging if you're being miced. As far as the groove, you got it down. That's the cool thing about timba. You're able to get very creative with it with variations in the setup. I sometimes mount a bongo bell on the hat, and do both patterns on the same bell (making do with what you have). Good work!
I've since changed this setup - I swapped the mambo bell and the clave around. It's good for when you only want to, say, play a mambo pattern and clave, or mambo with timbale taps, etc., more like traditional salsa. Because I play a mixture of salsa and timba I need to have a setup that complements both, and this one seems to be it! Your hands stay in strategic places most of the time, and it's pretty comfortable. Out of all the setups I've tried, the one I'm doing now comes out on top. Will have to post another video with the new setup and some new grooves.
Matt, this is a great instructional video...thanks for sharing your talent. Could you please explain the double bell pattern a little more in detail...thank you!!!
silverghostc6 Hey thanks for your comment. Basically with the double bell pattern, it's easiest to isolate each hand and then practice bringing them together to play at the same time. Let's use the letters O = open cowbell sound, S = strike further up the bell towards where it clamps, and an underscore _ to equal an eighth note rest. For the right hand, you play. O_S_O_SSO_SSO_SS For the left hand you play: _SS__SSS_SSS_SSS Write them down on a piece of paper and you can match them up. The idea of the left hand is just to fill in. So it doesn't always have to be those notes, it just has to play most of the time (think of it like a hi hat in a standard rock beat). The right hand is playing the ever important bongo bell pattern, meaning the most important notes are the "Open" ones, and then the next important note is the single "Strike", which fits the clave. Hopefully this isn't too confusing!
Zildjian AA Mastersounds. They're loud and crispy, great for rock and other old school genres. Though I do tend to use my Sabian AAX studios more these days.
Thank you very much Americans and Europeans should stop being clever to by trying to figure out what is going on in Latin American music but rathe humble them selves and ask the Latinos to explain Latin American music to them
They're LP Matador Timbalitos, 10" and 12". I had these ones set up as opposed to my bigger Pearl Marc Quinones timbales due to not having a lot of space in that room! I don't tend to use them much anymore though, but they are cool for the odd gig where there are space or volume limitations.
what I've seen...play the clave with the left hand and alternate the hits...2/3 ex: clave, snare...clave, open on the big drum on timbal, clave Or...clave, snare- clave , open, open on the big drum
It's funny Im latino and didnt find another video showing how to play timba, then I though what If look for a video in english and here I am hahahaha! Your video is great, thank you very much!
I'm proud of changuito and this gringo because don't let behind our heritage.
Was there in Cuba when Timba came out in the 90's. Sounds excellet.
Thanks for the "clarity" in teaching. This is really a great video.
Yeah I used to do this as well. The more I listen & play though, the more I realise that there are certain combinations that seem to work better throughout each stage of the music. E.g. when playing the clave, you often also play the cascara or a mambo bell pattern, but very rarely is this alongside a snare. Reason being, the clave is usually only thrown in for less intense musical moments, however the snare is more intense, hence it's placed alongside a double bell. Food for thought.
Gringo I got a question when you play both patterns together( the bongo bell and the mambo clave), you dont play the typically mambo pattern right? , you use the bongo pattern with the "other" mambo pattern.
Muchas Gracias Gringo! :)
Very Good Video!! Sounds like Funky Rock Salsa!! Interesting!!
Yeah it's a variation. While you you can do the normal mambo pattern (and in some songs, it makes more sense to do that), they tend to use this "variation" more often. I'll explain the differences, and the uses, in another video, but in the meantime, try it like this:
If "x" is a strike and "o" is a rest, you would notate a 2 3 clave mambo pattern like:
x o x o x x x x o x x x x o x x (repeat)
while the variation is:
o x x o o x x x o x x x o x x x
Hope that helps!
we need more lessons man about salsa drumming :P .
Traditionally, the bongo bell is also mounted with the mambo bell. However, I like your setup because it leaves the hands open for more independence. Also, it makes good stereo imaging if you're being miced. As far as the groove, you got it down. That's the cool thing about timba. You're able to get very creative with it with variations in the setup. I sometimes mount a bongo bell on the hat, and do both patterns on the same bell (making do with what you have). Good work!
I've since changed this setup - I swapped the mambo bell and the clave around. It's good for when you only want to, say, play a mambo pattern and clave, or mambo with timbale taps, etc., more like traditional salsa. Because I play a mixture of salsa and timba I need to have a setup that complements both, and this one seems to be it! Your hands stay in strategic places most of the time, and it's pretty comfortable. Out of all the setups I've tried, the one I'm doing now comes out on top. Will have to post another video with the new setup and some new grooves.
wow so amazing... i really love it... super nice
Matt, this is a great instructional video...thanks for sharing your talent. Could you please explain the double bell pattern a little more in detail...thank you!!!
silverghostc6 Hey thanks for your comment. Basically with the double bell pattern, it's easiest to isolate each hand and then practice bringing them together to play at the same time. Let's use the letters O = open cowbell sound, S = strike further up the bell towards where it clamps, and an underscore _ to equal an eighth note rest.
For the right hand, you play. O_S_O_SSO_SSO_SS
For the left hand you play: _SS__SSS_SSS_SSS
Write them down on a piece of paper and you can match them up.
The idea of the left hand is just to fill in. So it doesn't always have to be those notes, it just has to play most of the time (think of it like a hi hat in a standard rock beat). The right hand is playing the ever important bongo bell pattern, meaning the most important notes are the "Open" ones, and then the next important note is the single "Strike", which fits the clave. Hopefully this isn't too confusing!
Would've been an amazing time.
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the lesson man, nice to share the knowledge!! I really like your hats, what model are those?
Zildjian AA Mastersounds. They're loud and crispy, great for rock and other old school genres. Though I do tend to use my Sabian AAX studios more these days.
Awesome, thank you!
What would you like to see/learn? :)
Here is a video for added inspiration.
Manolin "Al que le toco le toco + Me pase de copas" @ New Morning (France - Paris)
I use my left hand to play clave and snair...right hand stays on the salsa bell but I don't play the cowbell pattern...
Thank you so much! If you need help or wanna learn other latin rhythms tell me & I'll help you :)!
Thank you very much Americans and Europeans should stop being clever to by trying to figure out what is going on in Latin American music but rathe humble them selves and ask the Latinos to explain Latin American music to them
Bro ! what size are your timbales ?
They're LP Matador Timbalitos, 10" and 12". I had these ones set up as opposed to my bigger Pearl Marc Quinones timbales due to not having a lot of space in that room! I don't tend to use them much anymore though, but they are cool for the odd gig where there are space or volume limitations.
i join you with my bass in istanbul Matt. Thanks
what I've seen...play the clave with the left hand and alternate the hits...2/3 ex: clave, snare...clave, open on the big drum on timbal, clave Or...clave, snare- clave , open, open on the big drum