A Typical Salsa Orchestra

By SalsaSteph

Clave - Two round, wooden sticks struck together to a 2/3 (son clave) or 3/2 beat (rumba clave). The clave’s rhythm sets the foundation for all the instruments, just as the drum is to rock, or the bass is to jazz.

Conga drum - A Cuban drum or tumbadora, made of a solid, hollowed log with a nailed-on skin. Today, you can tune them, and are made of either fiberglass or wood. You will see two or three tall drums in a salsa orchestra. (African origin)

Bongo drum – Two small drums attached by a thick piece of wood, held between the knees. It was invented in Oriente, Cuba. (African origin)

Guiro - A serrated gourd or calabash, scraped with a stick that fits in your hand. (African and indigenous origins)

Maracas – Two hand-held shakers, make from gourds, coconuts, wood or rawhide and filled with beans.

Timbales - A set of two (tunable) drums mounted on a tripod and played with wooden sticks. Cowbells, cymbal and woodblocks may also be added on. From Cuba. (European origin)

Bass - Before the middle of the 19^th century, a botija was used to play the low bass sounds in son. This was a ceramic jug, originally used to import olive oil from Spain (European origin). The contrabass was introduced in 1920.

Horn section - Trumpets, saxophones, trombones, etc.

Depending on the desired effect or sound in an arrangement, you will hear one or more of the following instruments for an even more layered, complex rhythm:

• Keyboards
• Piano
• Vibraphone
• Guitar, (six-string Cuban tres)
• Electric guitar
• Rock drum set (used in songo)
• Violin, cello, flute (used in charanga)