Son clave (3-2)

Every exercise here grades you on finding "the one" — count 1, the downbeat that opens the phrase. New to that? The counting salsa lesson covers it first.

This is the same son clave pattern as the other clave exercise, played in the opposite order: 3-2 clave plays the "3-side" (three hits: beat 1, the "&" of beat 2, and beat 4) first, then the "2-side" (two hits, on beats 2 and 3) in the second measure.

"The one" (count 1, ringed above) is what every exercise in this family grades you on, no matter the orientation. Flipping the order only flips whether it's announced: in the 2-3 exercise, count 1 falls on an unlit dot and you have to feel your way there; here the 3-side opens right on it, so the stick gives it away.