If you’ve ever tapped your foot to salsa, son Cubano, or Latin jazz, chances are you’ve been keeping time with the claves—the small wooden sticks that produce one of the most iconic rhythms in Afro-Cuban music.
What are claves?
Claves are simple percussion instruments made from hardwood like rosewood, ebony, or grenadilla. They’re cylindrical sticks, and when struck together, they create a sharp, resonant click. Despite their simplicity, they’re essential to Latin music traditions such as son Cubano, rumba, salsa, and bossa nova. In jazz and fusion, claves often serve as the hidden backbone of the rhythm section.
How to hold and play claves
Claves are played in pairs—one stick acts as the striker (el macho), while the other is the resonator (la hembra).
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Hold la hembra loosely between your thumb and fingertips, leaving a small resonating chamber beneath it.
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Grip el macho in your dominant hand like a drumstick and strike it against la hembra.
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For maximum resonance, avoid pressing too hard with your fingertips. Many players use their fingernails rather than the pads of their fingers for a brighter tone.
Although some ensembles have a dedicated clave player, percussionists often use claves alongside bongos, congas, timbales, maracas, cowbells, or even a drum set.
Understanding clave rhythms
The word “clave” doesn’t just refer to the sticks—it also refers to the rhythmic pattern that drives Afro-Cuban music. The most common are the son clave patterns, which appear in two variations:
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3:2 son clave
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Two measures: the first has three accented beats, the second has two.
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Common in salsa and son Cubano.
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2:3 son clave
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The inverted form: the first measure has two beats, the second has three.
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Frequently used depending on the phrasing of the music.
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These rhythms are the heartbeat of salsa and rumba. Even if not played on claves themselves, drummers often reproduce clave patterns on congas, cajón, cowbells, or drum kits.
Why claves matter
Claves are more than just an instrument—they’re the foundation of Afro-Cuban rhythm. For beginners, learning the clave is the first step to understanding how Latin music grooves. Once you master the 3:2 and 2:3 patterns, you’ll start hearing them everywhere—from traditional son Cubano to modern jazz and pop.