FTB 3.1 Salsa Beat Machine: Salsa Instruments, Sounds & Phrasing (exercises to find the 1)

[@thedancedojo]

What did you think of the Salsa Beat Machine, is it helpful in understanding what you hear and finding the 1? Would love to read your comments! - Robin

[@denisvenegas5882]

Dance Dojo i was one beat ahead the whole time on the abre que voy. Why do you think that is and how can I fix it

[@williamstvls]

This is a very helpful tool! I’ve been really enjoying your channel. Best salsa channel on KZbin hands down!

[@thedancedojo]

@@williamstvls Thanks Tom, means a lot! Super happy it could help man. -Robin

[@enricoklausner7269]

this tool is what i just searched for. even started to do my own salsa beat at soundtrap.

[@ChocolateJewels]

Utterly enjoyable and fun. Thanks you for making this video series.

[@ajlevin44]

Hi Robin, great video as always! Sometimes I find it tricky to find the 1 based on the montuno alone. For example, the first montuno at 7:20 has a very clear phrase change on the 1, but to my ear the second montuno at 9:12 has an equally clear phrase change on the 5! Even after listening to it many times over, I still feel like the 5 and the 1 should be swapped. This is a problem on the dance floor for me as well - for many songs, what I think is the 1 turns out to actually be the 5. I think this is my biggest problem in Salsa. Is there a way to train my ear so that this does't happen? What should I be looking for?

[@thedancedojo]

Thanks! And great question AJ. First thing, remember that musicians count in 4s, so the 1 and 5 are the same as far as they're concerned. Because of that, the 1 and the 5 are also similarly emphasized. In this case in the piano montuno at 9:12 there is a piano chord that emphasizes the 5, but that's not a phrase change (just to be specific with vocabulary) - the piano is phrasing in 16 beats. Do you agree, can you hear that? If so, listen to the piano phrase as it starts because that exact sound will repeat, and when that piece of the phrase repeats you know that's the 1. The first 4 beats of that piano phrase sound very different than the 2nd four that start on the 5 (even though the 5 is emphasized). Does that make sense? So instead of just focusing on what is emphasized, combine that with what you hear at the VERY start of the phrase, because tuning into the first thing you hear is how you know it's starting to repeat, which means it marked the 1. Let me know if that helps AJ. With practice it will come so keep at it! Lastly, in terms of functionally dancing on time, you can dance on 1 or the 5, that's fine and everything still works. But as you advance you'll likely gain a preference towards starting on the 1, since that's when the phrases start. Keep at it! - Robin

[@ajlevin44]

​@@thedancedojo Thank you for the response! I can definitely hear the 16-beat phrase with four very clear parts (starting at 9:12, let's call beats 1-4 part 1, beats 5-8 part 2, beats 9-12 part 3, and beats 13-16 part 4). I guess the thing that specifically confuses me is that it sounds like part 1 is very nicely completed by part 2, but part 3 is *not* completed by part 4 in a satisfying way - it sounds like part 4 is just starting up a whole new thing and leaves part 3 hanging! So when I listen to the montuno on loop with no context, I can very easily talk myself into a 16-beat phrase that goes: part 4, part 1, part 2, part 3 and then keeps repeating. To my ear, part 1 nicely completes part 4 and part 3 nicely completes part 2. Does that make sense? I don't have a music theory background, so I apologize if my terminology is unclear. But this type of trick of the ear appears to happen pretty often for me, so I'm wondering if other people have similar issues. Thanks again for taking the time to clear things up :) This is a really good channel.

[@thedancedojo]

@@ajlevin44 totally feel you and understand everything you said - well explained! Absolutely, if you have this question, there are a million others who do too, trust me!! I felt the same way as you when I went through this process. It's not always easy, and each song is a little different. I still make mistakes too! But with time, and repeated listening I think you'll become more familiar with each rhythm you hear. And once you hear that 16 beats enough times you will know where that damn 1 is every time. It's not about being perfect, it's just about getting better, bit by bit.

[@selxud]

Robin @@thedancedojo, thank you for improving morale :) I am going trough a second month of salsa and I have some issues with rhythm and music in general, but your videos are the only thing keeping me on path to becoming a great salsa dancer. Thank you so much for being with us!

[@thedancedojo]

@@selxud You're so welcome. Really appreciate you watching and I"m glad they're helping! Keep at it! :)

[@vivianaberkman180]

Excellent course, thank you!

[@thedancedojo]

You're so welcome Viviana! couldn't be happier you find it helpful :) -robin

[@haonles]

Awesome Tool! Really helpful with your Instructions👌

[@thedancedojo]

super glad it can help! thanks for watching. -robin

[@JSDJerry]

I've been dancing salsa for years, but recently was questioning whether or not I was really finding the '1', as I always thought I was breaking 'on 2'.' I just found this vol. 3 video , which i followed and was able to find the '1' with the piano, but not without the piano. I'll check out the other videos starting with vol. 1.

[@thedancedojo]

Thanks for watching Jerry! Glad you ran into the video. Let me know how vol 1 goes for you and if your ability to find the 1 increases :) -Robin

[@alexplotkin3368]

Great video! Someone had recommended this app to me a few days ago. This awesome. Your videos are really helping. I find hearing the drums really helpful to find the one.

[@thedancedojo]

Yeah the beat machine is a game change for breaking things down and learning! Glad you found it. Dig in :) -robin

[@ashleyhager1347]

Fabulous. So helpful!! Love the salsa bear machine!

[@thedancedojo]

I think we def need a salsa bear machine hahaha

[@mellamohannah5529]

Thank you so much!

[@thedancedojo]

You're welcome! thanks for watching 🙏 -Robin

[@lloydbond13]

This was really really helpful, thanks.

[@thedancedojo]

So happy it can help Lloyd! Thanks for watching -Robin

[@RavikFic]

I found the one on the Piano.. could only be possible because of your 1 and 2 courses. Thanks

[@thedancedojo]

Awesome Shan, so glad it helped! -Robin

[@francrivera]

…is it for the salsa dance ?? 😊😊 😊😊😊

[@thedancedojo]

yup!

[@camila_or]

Can I dance salsa on1 and salsa on2 to the same song? Great videos btw

[@thedancedojo]

Thanks! And yes, you sure can. you can dance to any timing you like. -Robin

[@thidungnguyen6396]

So hard 😭

[@thedancedojo]

If you're struggling with salsa music, it's best to go back and just focus on popular music - it's simpler and you need to be able to hear the simple music before the harder stuff. it's a process that takes time. don't stress yourself out. Just keep at it a bit every day :) -Robin

[@curi777]

Try to use Movavi Sound Grabber

[@jesusramos9872]

Por favor me lo puedes traducir al español soy mexicano y no entiendo nada gracias

[@thedancedojo]

Jesus, gracias por ver, pero al moment no tengo los recursos traducir todo esa serie a español. Tal vez en el futuro. Lost últimos videos que he publicado en el canal tienen subtitulos :) -Robin

[@Welinus-d5b]

not fuktion when I press play noting happen dot 1 turning red no sund nothing after that

[@thedancedojo]

I would reset your browser and computer and check your internet connection.

[@MariaRaevskaya]

Really useful app, but the voice of instructor is disturbing^)) noticed that it's really challenging to find the beat only with clave and congas

[@thedancedojo]

haha. ya those instruments are not beat to find the 1. piano + cowbell are.