Latin Drum Set Patterns -
Where did they come from?
By: Megan Thomas

You have come across this cool drum set part and find out that it is a Latin groove. Latin styles are often generically lumped together even though that is much like lumping together drum set parts from rock, punk, reggae, blues, r&b, jazz, country, and metal. There are a lot of styles out there that not everyone has been exposed to or if they have, are not truly familiar with. Most of the traditional Afro-Cuban Latin styles did not originate with drum set being a part of the instrumentation. The percussion instrumentation depending on the exact style may have consisted of timbales, congas, guiro, maracas, bongos, cowbell, etc. Therefore, the drum set parts are usually based on the original parts of one or a combination of the previously listed instruments. The drum set part will change based on the instrumentation of the ensemble. For example, the drum set part would be different if the ensemble has a conguerro and a timbalero than if it just had a conguerro or even no percussionists at all. The tom parts usually come from the conga pattern. The cymbal part often comes from the timbalero's bell pattern. The bass drum sometimes doubles the bass guitar part. The snare pattern could be based on either the clave or conga part. Following is a drum set part for a Cha-Cha.

The top notes are on the bell of the ride which is filling the cowbell part. The top space is the first rack tom, which is an open tone on the conga part. The next space down is a rim click on the snare drum, which is somewhat of a conga part. It is almost like a slap tone. The next space down, which is the second space from the bottom, are played on the floor tom. These floor tom notes are being played in substitution for open tones on the tumba (lowest conga drum). The bottom line is the bass drum and the very bottom note is the hi hat being played by foot.

The Cha-Cha has many drum set variations since the conga, timbale/bell pattern, and bongo parts are the original instruments and the drum set part didn't exist. The pattern above is one of many that could be used when there are no percussionists on the gig.

There are a number of styles, like the Cha-Cha, that never had drum set parts. Some of those styles are the Guajira, Bolero, Son, etc. The drum set can be used in any of these styles in lieu of percussion or in addition to percussion. The important thing is to play what fits the tune and the instrumentation. Remember that the most complex pattern isn't always the best choice for every tune.