Groovy Piano Arpeggios Using Latin Rhythms (Tresillo, Son, Rumba and Bossa)

To make piano arpeggios groove, play the chord notes only on the hit points of Afro-Cuban rhythms such as the tresillo, son clave, rumba clave and bossa clave, counted in sixteenth notes, while your left hand holds the root on a steady pulse.

Video lesson by Jason Zac · Intermediate · 16 min

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This lesson from Jason Zac at Nathaniel School of Music shows you how to turn an ordinary piano arpeggio into something unique and danceable. You borrow the hit points of four Afro-Cuban (Latin) rhythms and place your chord notes on them. It suits pianists who can already play simple triad arpeggios and want a more original, groovy sound.

The chords and the basic pattern

The lesson uses four chords: E minor (E G B), G major (G B D), D major (D F# A) and A major (A C# E). They are played in inversions so the right hand moves only a little between chords, which also makes the voicing smoother on the ear.

Each chord is broken into three notes, played either low, middle, high, or starting from the top as high, middle, low. On its own this sounds nice but not unique. The rhythm is what changes it.

Step 1: Count sixteenth notes

These grooves divide each beat into four: 1 e and a, 2 e and a, 3 e and a, 4 e and a. That gives 16 spots in a bar of four. Practise counting them while accenting different parts:

1. Accent the downbeats (1, 2, 3, 4).
2. Accent every e.
3. Accent every and.
4. Accent every a.

The aim is not to play fast. Dividing the beat by four gives you more places to put notes, and the gaps you leave are what make the groove.

Step 2: The tresillo

The tresillo is a two-beat rhythm with three hits: 1, the a of 1 and the and of 2. Loop it so it repeats on beats 3 and 4. Play your three chord notes on those hits. It may sound like a triplet, but it is not: the beat is divided by four, and the three notes fall on uneven divisions.

Step 3: The son clave (3-2 and 2-3)

The 3-2 son clave keeps the tresillo for beats 1 and 2, then instead of repeating it plays the and of 3 and beat 4. The first half feels exciting and the second half relaxed. You can also flip it into a 2-3 son clave, starting with the two-note half and placing the tresillo from beat 3.

A useful variation adds one more note on the and of 4, making the phrase feel more like a flowing arpeggio. Over E minor, for example, that extra note can be B.

Step 4: The bossa clave

The bossa nova clave copies the tresillo in the first two beats, then changes the second half: the hits are the and of 3 and the e of 4. The off-beat e gives it extra excitement, which is why it works well in EDM-style music.

Step 5: The rumba clave

The rumba clave changes the first half instead: 1, the a of 1 and the a of 2 (rather than the and of 2). Beats 3 and 4 stay the same as the son clave.

The left hand: hold the pulse

While the right hand plays the clave-based arpeggio, the left hand plays the root of each chord (E, G, D, A) on a steady, strong pulse. Movement comes not only from the pattern but from that solid pulse underneath, so listeners can feel the beat and dance. It is also excellent hand-independence training.

How to practise

• Count and accent the sixteenths out loud before playing.
• Start with just E minor; one chord already sounds great.
• Play each rhythm slowly, then add the chord changes.
• Try different note orders (low to high, high to low) on the same rhythm.
• Add the left-hand pulse once the right hand feels secure.

Questions about this lesson

Is the tresillo a triplet?

No. The tresillo divides the beat into four sixteenths and places three notes on uneven spots (1, the a of 1 and the and of 2), so it has three notes but is not a triplet.

What is the difference between the son, rumba and bossa claves?

The son clave plays the tresillo then the and of 3 and beat 4. The rumba clave moves the third hit to the a of 2, and the bossa clave changes the last hit to the e of 4.

What should my left hand play with these arpeggios?

Hold or play the root of each chord on a steady pulse, such as E for E minor or A for A major. This gives listeners a strong sense of movement and trains hand independence.

Do I need to play all four chords?

No. If the changes feel difficult, practise the rhythm over a single chord like E minor first; it already sounds good on its own.

Practise it

• Rhythm TeacherBuild accent patterns, divide beats and explore odd metres and polyrhythms.
• Groove MetronomeWork with tempo, accents and polyrhythms instead of a single unchanging click.
• Piano classes at Nathaniel School of MusicLive online or in Bangalore, with a teacher.
• All free music apps40 practice tools for harmony, rhythm, ear training and more.

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