Conga Rhythms with Clave in 4/4 & Conga with Cowbell in 6/8

The first step to learning rhythms is to know the "pulse" of a rhythm. In most Cuban and Haitian rhythms, this pulse is played either by a cowbell or a pair of sticks that you hit together known as the clave. I will begin with a brief introduction to some common 6/8 cowbell patterns and some common 4/4 clave patterns. 

6/8 Cowbell Patterns

#1 (Cuban eg. Bembe)

                 1  2  3  4  5  6  1  2  3  4  5  6

              X     X     X  X     X     X     X

Said          ga un ga un ga ga un ga un ga un ga

#2 (Haitian. eg. Yanvalou)

              1  2  3  4  5  6  1  2  3  4  5  6

              X     X     X     X  X     X     X

4/4 Clave Patterns

                   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Forward Clave      X     X     X       X   X

                   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Reverse Clave          X   X       X     X     X

                   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Rhumba Clave       X     X       X     X   X

                   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Brazilian Clave    X     X      X      X     X

(Bossanova, some Sambas etc.)

Right then, without further ado, here are some rhythms to get you started.

6/8 Basic Rhythms

#1. 6/8  |: . . * . . :|

            _ _   _ _

          B B B B O O  

Leave L hand on drum during two R's (2 & 3)
Leave R hand on drum after last R ( 6 )

#2. 6/8  |: . . * . . :|

              _   _ _

          B   B B O O 

6/8 Bembe (Cuba)

       6/8   |: . . * . . :|

              _ _   _ _

Conga         O S S O S S 

This can be used to practice the slap.
It can also be played with the hands reversed.
Notes for playing the slap:

1. Thumb converges to help form the shape.
2. Reach far into the drum.
3. Wrist participates in raising hand each time.

6/8 Bembe (with stick)

      6/8   |: . . * . . | . . * . . :|

             _   _   _ _   _   _   

             O   X B X X B X   XB  M 

The XB is one note where the R and L hand play together.
The R hand holds the stick. The X's are played against the side of the drum or on the rim.

4/4 Samba

     4/4   |: . * . * . * . | . * . * . * . :|

            _       _     _         _

Conga       O   S   O O   O   S   S O   O

This is one version of Samba.
It is particularly good to practice the left handed slap.

4/4 Tumbao

       4/4      |: . * . * . * . | . * . * . * . :|

                     _       _ _     _       _ _

without slap     h t t f h f O O h t t f h f O O

                     _       _ _     _       _ _

with slap        h t S f h f O O h t S f h f O O

                 _   _       _ _ _   _       _ _

leading tone     O B S f h f O O O B S f h f O O 

The tumbao is the basic latin rhythm and can be played with most sons, guajiras, mambos. The other lessons will go into great depth with the tumbao. The variations and possibilities are truly endless.

Noes:
Left hand stays on drum during slap.
During slap, lift the fingers of the left hand off the drum.
On the second variation, the leading tone later creates 3 tones in a row.