The most common tumbao played these days is the following:
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
P T S T P T O O P T S T P T O O
l l r l l l r r l l r l l l r r
The most common variation is that of the Son Montuno:
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high P T S T P T O O P T S T O O
low O O
l l r l l l r r l l r r r l r r
Here are some more:
==================
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high P T S T P T O O P S T T O O
low O O
l l r l l l r r l r l r r l r r
[for fast tunes]
==================
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high P T S S O S S S O O
low O O O O
r r l r r l r r l r r l r l
[works well with mambo]
==================
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high S T S O P S T P T O T
low O O
r l r r l r l r l l l r l
[intentionally puts low drum on two side]
==================
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high S T S O B S T T O T
low O O O O
r l r r l r l r l r r l r l
[addition to above variation]
==================
Here is a Changuito stlye variation/roll I have adapted
to 3 congas. It ain't easy but its nice.
Dan Callis
low
high mid
you (this 3 drum set up enables you to play the
low drum with your left or right hand)
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high P T S T P T O O P T S T O O
mid O O
l l r l l l r r l l r r r l r r
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high P T S T P T O O htoohts ht o a nice melodic roll
mid o o for 3 drums
low o
l l r l l l r l rllrlrrlrllrl
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high P T S T P T O O P T S T O O
mid O O
l l r l l l r r l l r r r l r r
============================================================
OK
1.2.3.4.1.2.3.4.1.2.3.4.1.2.3.4. 1.2.3.4.
ptStptOOptStOoOoLlL OoOoLlL OoOo OtStptOO
L denotes Low drum
============================================================
Here are a few variations.
Mary
==================
MAMBO
#1
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high P T S T P T S O P T S P T O O
low O
l l r l l l r r l l r r r l r r
==================
#2
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high P T S T T O O P T S P T O O
low O O
l l r l r l r r l l r r r l r r
==================
GUAJIRA
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high P T S P T O P T S T O O
low O O O O
l r r l r l r r l l r r r l r r
==================
BOLERO
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high P T S T H O O O P T S T H O O O
low
l l r l l r r r l l r l l r r r
==================
SALSA
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high O S S B B S O O S S B B S O
low
r l r l r l r l l r l r l r
("with loud horn section")
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high P S S T P T O O P S S S O O
low O O
l l r r l l r r l l r r r l r r
AND...
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high P T S T P S T S P T S T P T O
low O
l l r l l r l r l l r l l r l r
==================
CHA CHA
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high O S S S O O S S O S
low O O O O O
r l r r r l r l r l r r r r l
AND...
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high O S S S O O S S O
low O O O O
r l r r l r l r l r r r r
AND...
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high O S S S O O S S O
low O O O O
r l r l l r r r l r r r r
AND...
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high O T S O P T O O S S S O
low O O O O
r l r r l l r r r l r r r l r r
============================================================
Here is a three drum tumbao, two claves long, very melodic.
*IMPORTANT* My sticking is for congas set up like so...
tumbadora(lowest)
(high)quinto segundo(mid)
you
..having the low drum straight in front of you like this enables you to
use your left or right hand on the lowest drum.
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high P T S T P T O O P T S T O O
low O O
lower
l l r l l l r r l l r r r l r r
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high P T S T P T S T S O
low O O O
lowest O O O
l l r r r l r r l l r l r l r r
and go back to the top....
Dan Callis in halifax.
============================================================
Hi Dan,
Here is another look at transitioning between guaguanco and tumbao.
Mary
BEGIN WITH GUAGUANCO
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + intro to guanguanco
X X X X X
high H T T H H T T H H T T H H T T H
low
r l r l r l r l r l r l r l r l
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + begin guaguanco
X X X X X
high H T T H H T T H H M M M M M S
low O
r l r l r l r l r l r l r l r l
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high O S O S S S S B S S guanguanco(habana style)
low O O
r l r l r l r l r l r l
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high O B S T P T O O P T S T O O one transition to tumbao
low O O
r l r l l l r r l l r r r l r r
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + tumbao
X X X X X
high P T S T P T O O P T S T O O
low O O
l l r l l l r r l l r r r l r r
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + back to guaguanco
X X X X X
high P T S T P T O O P T S S
S
low O O O
l l r l l l r r l l r r r l r l
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high O S O S S S S B S S guanguanco(habana style)
low O O
r l r l r l r l r l r l
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high O S O S S S S B S S
low O O
r l r l r l r l r l r l
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high S S S B S S (variation)
low O M M M M M O O
r l r l r l r l r l r l r l
============================================================
I was taught, and always have played, the first
note of tumbao as an Open tone. Also using the open
tone on the one after a variation.
O t S t p t O O p t S t p t O O
I do not use the Open tone every two bars as this
appears. Only when bringing in the rhythm.
Happy and Harmonious Drumming
the barkman
============================================================
SON SALSA (from a friend, Orlando Brugal Suarez in Havana)
A few variations...
When I click on send, I get a message about this being sent in plain text,so I am
not sure if all will line up.
Mary
#1
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high P T S T P T S O P T S T O O
low O O
l l r l l l r r l l r r r l r r
#2
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high P T T T S O P T S T O O
low O O O O
l l r l r l r r l l r r r l r r
#3
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high P T T S O P T S T O O
low O O O O O
l r r l r l r r l l r r r l r r
#4 (A DOUBLE SET)
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high P T S T P T S O P T S T OOOO
low O O
l l r l l l r r l l r r r l rlrl
go on to
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high O t O t O t S O P T S T O O
low O O
r l r l r l r r l l r r r l r r
#5 (A TRIPLE SET)
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high P T S T P T S O P T S O O O
low O
l l r l l l r r l l r r l r l
go on to
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high T S T P T S O P T S OOO OOO
low O O O
r l r l l l r r l l r rlrlrlrl
go on to
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high T S T P T S O P T S T O O
low O O O
r l r l l l r r l l r r r l r r
============================================================
Here's one!
Go from tumbao to guanguanco and back to tumbao staying IN CLAVE.
* It is important to sing clave while you play this one.*
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high P T S T P T O O P T S T O O tumbao
low O O
l l r l l l r r l l r r r l r r
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high P T S T P T O O P T S T T
low O O O here is the change on 4
l l r l l l r r l l r r r l r l
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high O S O S S S S B S S guanguanco(habana style)
low O O
r l r l r l r l r l r l
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high O S O S S S S B S
low O O
r l r l r l r l r l r
now back to tumbao on one
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + | 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
X X X X X
high P T S T P T O O P T S T O O
low O O
l l r l l l r r l l r r r l r r
Dan Callis
============================================================