The Afro-Cuban 6/8 rhythm embodies the heartbeat of a rich and diverse cultural heritage, transcending the boundaries of geography and time. Its incorporation on the drumset opens doors for new rhythms involving coordination, independence, and polyrhythms. In the following two videos, I show you some ideas: Check out my previous articles to know more and … More Exploring Afro-Cuban 6/8 Rhythms
Some of the main rhythms in West Africa are based on 6/8 feels and the essential concept of clave. The application of Afro-Cuban 6/8 on the drumset opened the way for new rhythms and ideas, involving coordination, independence, and polyrhythms. With this article divided into two parts, I introduce a lesson to develop your coordination … More Exploring Afro-Cuban 6/8 Vocabulary Using Ted Reed’s Syncopation
The applications of the Afro-Cuban 6/8 feel are endless, inspiring you to play new grooves. Today I’ll talk about applying this rhythm in a funk/fusion style: adding the snare drum backbeat, ghost notes, and the dotted 8th-note bass drum pattern. The 6/8 cowbell rhythm will be played on the hi-hat, as shown in the figure … More Afro-Cuban 6/8 Funk Application: Accent Displacement
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: Check out my previous article, which includes some Afro-Cuban 6/8 rhythmic ideas using Ted Reed’s Syncopation. Keep on drumming!
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 are endless. Exploring Afro-Cuban 6/8 by moving the left hand around the kit to create syncopated rhythms is a great way to enhance your coordination … More Afro-Cuban 6/8 Counter-Rhythms Using Ted Reed’s Syncopation
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