While preparing new transcriptions and exercises, here’s a clip playing an Afro-Cuban 6/8 groove in a funk-rock context. Let me explain this groove application:
- The right-hand plays the classic 6/8 bell pattern on the tom rim and ride bell.
- A snare drum backbeat in a half-time feel is added with the left hand, playing ghost notes in between the right hand’s empty spaces. Furthermore, as fills and variations, the left-hand moves on the toms, displacing the accents.
- Dotted 8th note bass drum pattern.
- The left foot hi-hat plays the bembe clave. This is an advanced application; you can also play the hi-hat in 8th notes or in unison with the bass drum.
Check out my previous article, which includes some Afro-Cuban 6/8 rhythmic ideas using Ted Reed’s Syncopation. Keep on drumming!
Afro-Cuban 6/8 Counter-Rhythms Using Ted Reed’s Syncopation
Ted Reed’s Progressive Steps to Syncopation is a great resource for studying different drum aspects: stickings, linear phrasing, coordination, independence, and music styles. There are many interpretations and the possibilities…
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