Level 5 · Styles & Musicality
5-1 - Tresillo - the Latin key
The 3-3-2 rhythm underneath reggaetón, rumba, and half of Latin music.
How to practice it
Bass on '1', bass on the 'and' of 2, snare on '4': three, three, two. Count '1-and-2-AND-3-and-4-and' - hits on 1, the AND of 2, and 4. Loop it until it stops feeling like math and starts feeling like a wave.
Suggested take: ~90s · start 70 BPM → pass around 100 BPM
1
B
&
·
2
·
&
B
3
·
&
·
4
S
&
·
70 BPM
Start at 70, exercise passes around 100. Legend: B bass · S snare · g ghost · - rest
Tips
- • Say 'ONE-two-three ONE-two-three ONE-two' - the hits land on each ONE.
- • Keep quarter notes going in your foot or your nod.
- • Once solid, add ghost ghosts in the gaps and feel it turn into rumba.
Watch out for
- • The second bass drifting onto beat 3 (turns Latin into marching)
- • Even spacing - 3-3-2 is asymmetric on purpose
- • Losing the snare's brightness on 4
Record your take
Aim for ~90s. Put the phone ~1m away, facing the front plate. You'll get Rafa's feedback within a minute of submitting.
Up next after this: 5-2 - Rumba groove