| The instrumentation of Cuban Conga rhythm differs | | | | wood block, or bell fused with intricate rhythms in |
| depending on whether it's for the Conga Habanera | | | | the maracas and other hand drums. Over the years, |
| (from Havana) or the Conga Oriental (from Santiago | | | | lyrics were added to Cumbia song arrangements, and |
| de Cuba, in Oriente Province). Conga Habanera utilizes | | | | eventually orchestral and electronic instruments were |
| the requinto, quinto, and conga drums, various sized | | | | added. Today, Cumbia is popular throughout North, |
| bass drums, cowbells, snare drums, trumpets, and | | | | Central, and South America, and is frequently included |
| frying pans. The Conga Oriental replaces the frying | | | | in the repertoire of Afro Cuban ensembles. The |
| pans with brake drums while also employing the hoe | | | | typical Cumbia drum set pattern is characterized by a |
| blade, and replaces the traditional trumpet with a | | | | steady rhythm made up of a quarter note followed |
| corneta china or trompeta china (Chinese coronet or | | | | by two repeated eighth notes, along with a strong |
| Chinese trumpet). The Conga Habanera features | | | | back beat from the snare drum, and a repetitive |
| sounds more often found in city life, whereas the | | | | bass drum pattern usually matching the rhythm of |
| Conga Oriental retains a rustic musical character. just | | | | the bass player. Typically, the hi hat foot |
| as the Mozambique is adapted for the drum set from | | | | accompaniment doubles the snare drum back beat. |
| several instruments, the Cuban Conga rhythm for the | | | | There is no clave rhythm in the Cumbia style. The |
| drum set attempts to encapsulate the rhythms | | | | tempo is quick with a double time feel at quarter |
| played by many percussionists into the playing of a | | | | note = 160-252 beats per minute. |
| single individual. Though the rhythmic patterns in the | | | | Pilon was pioneered in the 1970s in the eastern part |
| Conga are more numerous than one person can | | | | of Cuba, most notably by the group Los Bocucos. Its |
| actually play, the following grooves include its most | | | | steady rhythm is influenced by the sound of workers |
| prominent features, capturing its overall feel. The | | | | pounding coffee beans. Much like the Mambo or the |
| Conga pattern is played at the very brisk tempo of | | | | Guaguanco, this two measure Afro Cuban pattern |
| quarter note = 216-264 beats per minute. | | | | has both a signature conga pattern and also a |
| The Cumbia dates back to the early 1800s and is | | | | signature timbale melody. When adapted to the drum |
| from the Caribbean coast of Colombia. Its roots can | | | | set, the snare hand commonly plays the timbale |
| be traced to Gaitero music folkloric music played on | | | | pattern while the feet and ride hand play repetitive |
| two flutes (indigenous flutes made out of cactus | | | | patterns. The drum set pattern itself has similarities |
| wood), maracas, African hand drums, and other | | | | to Cumbia, though the roots of the two styles are |
| instruments. Similar in evolution to other Afro Cuban | | | | not related. The pattern is based on a 2-3 son clave |
| genres, Cumbia developed through the mixing of | | | | rhythm (not usually played by a drum set player). |
| African slaves and their descendants with local tribes | | | | The tempo is quarter note = 172-224 beats per |
| and settlers in the new world. Rhythmically, Cumbia is | | | | minute. |
| characterized by a constant pattern on a high drum, | | | | |