If you need to play Afro-Cuban in 6/8, this one never fails. I love it. It’s a little tricky in the independence department, but once you work through the pattern and get it locked in your muscle memory, you’ll have it forever.
I know that the notation I’ve written on the PDF is in 4/4, but I’ve always felt that it was easier to think of these grooves as triplets in 4/4 instead of counting to six. A personal decision. Feel free to think of six if that works for you.
Here is the PDF: Essential Afro-Cuban PDF
And here’s a video so you can hear what it sounds like in action…
Mark Feldman is a session drummer from NYC.
He first gained attention as one of the winners of Modern Drummer magazine's very first drum solo contest, judged by Rush's Neil Peart.
He's played with Oz Noy, Will Lee, Alison Krauss, Curtis Stigers, Emily Remler, Joel Hoekstra, GE Smith, Andy York, Marshall Crenshaw, Tony Shanahan, The Drifters, The Marvelettes, Big Brother and The Holding Company, and many other artists.
For more info: onlinesessiondrummer.com
He first gained attention as one of the winners of Modern Drummer magazine's very first drum solo contest, judged by Rush's Neil Peart.
He's played with Oz Noy, Will Lee, Alison Krauss, Curtis Stigers, Emily Remler, Joel Hoekstra, GE Smith, Andy York, Marshall Crenshaw, Tony Shanahan, The Drifters, The Marvelettes, Big Brother and The Holding Company, and many other artists.
For more info: onlinesessiondrummer.com
Latest posts by Mark Feldman (see all)
- Beginner Drummers: Focus on These 5 Things - August 29, 2021
- Nasty Lick 43: Vinnie Colaiuta on “Joe’s Garage” - August 22, 2021
- Essential Afro-Cuban 6/8 Drum Beat - August 15, 2021
Charles Dowd’s “A Funky Thesaurus for the Rock Drummer” is also an excellent resource for 6/8 Latin grooves (although they’re written 12/8)
Ah!! I Need to look into that… thank you for mentioning it. I love the Funky Primer, so I’ll have to check this out too….
Mark F