The clave

3.The whole band lines up with it

In salsa, the clave is the rhythm everyone else fits around. The bass, the drums, the piano and the singers all play parts that agree with it. Musicians say a part that goes against the clave is crossed (cruzado).

Even when nobody is playing the clave sticks, the music is still built around it. That is why musicians often talk about a song being in clave.