Tutorial: Clavé variation powers the tension in "Know Diddley"
Vary the meter of a clavé pattern to build interest
While working on the composition “Know Diddley” (track 7 on Painting Time) I was seeking to create tension to the repetitive 3-2 clavé pattern I was interpreting in a halftime funk style (click to listen).
I decided a metric-modulation would do the trick. The following concept occurs about two minutes and two seconds into the track. This rhythmic line is also punctuated by the horns:
It could also be thought of as four measures of 12/16:
I doubled every second and fourth dotted 8th note on a low Brazilian drum, the Surdo. This creates a backbeat feel. Think of where the backbeat falls in a 12/8 blues. The exact pattern I played is less important than the concept, as I would perform it differently each time. A possible realization of the above reveals an asymmetrical linear pattern such as this:
While these are interesting to experiment with, I don’t recommend using them on your local “country club” gig. Play the sample sound file and try some variations to expand your playing around a few new concepts.