clave
A two-bar rhythmic pattern that serves as the organising principle of Afro-Cuban and Latin music.
In Depth
The clave (meaning key or keystone) is the rhythmic DNA of Latin music. The two main types, son clave (3-2 or 2-3) and rumba clave, provide the temporal framework around which all other rhythmic parts are organised. Every instrument in a Latin ensemble aligns its pattern relative to the clave, creating the interlocking polyrhythmic texture that defines salsa, mambo, and Afro-Cuban jazz. Playing in clave means maintaining alignment with this fundamental pattern.
Musicians who lose their orientation to the clave are said to have crossed the clave, one of the most serious rhythmic errors in Latin music, equivalent to losing the beat entirely.