Salsa Music: Clave Y Ritmo

The building Blocks of Salsa 

1. Clave
2. Poli-rythm and Percussion
3. Rest of Rythm Section
4. Singers:
   a)Soneros
   b)Chorus Singers
5. Other Instruments

Salsa Percussion Intruments 

1. Bongo (Played by Bongosero)
2. Conga (Played by Conguero)
3. Timbal or Paila (Played by Timbalero or Pailero)
4. Minor Percussion (normally played by one of the Chorus singers)
   a. Maracas
   b. Guiro
   c. Palitos (They mark La clave)

Other Rythm Section Intruments 

1. Piano or Keyboards- In all its variations
2. Bass (Accustic or Electric)
3. Cuban Tres - A Cuban Guitar-like instrument. Called a Tres because it has three double cords.
4. Other String Instruments
   a) Laud
   b) Puerto Rican Cuatro

Quality of a good Sonero 

1. Of course, can carry a tune.
2. Sings in Clave (Or as my Friend Jay Says, "He must have blackness.)
3. Knows how to improvise.
   a. With Metric
   b With Rhyme
   c. Makes Sense
4. Nice singing voice is helpful
5. They have a sort of battle cry

Example of Good Soneros 

With Battle Cries

1. Ismael Rivera (Especially early work with Cortijo) - Ecua Hey, Juega zapato viejo,
2. Cheo Feliciano - Familia, Sentimiento Tu, se soltaron los caballos (My guess is that los caballos are the trombones.)
3. Tito Allen - Achin, Comando-X,
4. Nestor Sanchez
5. Ruben Blades - Venga ese aja
6. Giberto Santa Rosa - Caminalo
7. Cano Estremera
8. Miles Peña - Alaba'o
9. Victor Manuel - Eeeeh
10. Chamaco Ramirez (Worked with Tommy Olivencia)
11. Domingo Quiñonez
12. Michael Stewart - Querias Swing? Toma Swing!

Elements of a good Salsa Song 

1. Swing - Clave and Poli-Rythm do not work unless the beat is swinging.
2. Crescendo - the song builds momentum and swells into a climax near the end of the song.
3. The Chorus changes at least three times.
4. In my opinion the better songs fade out.

Anatomy of a Salsa Song 

1. Introduction - Of course the part before the lyrics start.
2. The verses - The lyrics of the song. NOrmally in verse form.
3. The Montuno - it is the bridge between the verses and the chorus and improvised singing part. It is normally an intrumental version of the Chorus.
4. The mambo - it is an instrumental break after the first part of chorus and improv singing. It may or may not include some type of solo.
5. More Chorus and Improv singing - may or may not be like the first installment.
6. A bridge - it is an instrumental part, sometimes a solo. Serves as a bridge between second installment of Chorus and improv singing and third installment.
7. Third installment of Chorus and refrain.
8. The end. It could be an intrumental end. Or it could be a fade out, either instrumental or singing.