Timbale lessons · Intermediate course
Timbales Groove Toolbox
Learn timbal parts for danzón, cha-cha-chá, plena, mozambique and more with Marcos López, percussionist for Marc Anthony since 2019.
Taught in Spanish · English subtitles
Start your 7-day free trialRisk free. Cancel anytime.
The course
- Level
- Intermediate, after Timbales 101 and Timbale Fundamentals
- Length
- 14 videos · 3 h 41 in total
- Taught in
- Spanish · English subtitles
- Your teacher
- Marcos López, percussionist for Marc Anthony since 2019
- Free now
- Timbales notation legend (PDF)
- With your trial
- All 14 videos and 12 Spotify listening playlists
What you'll learn
- The danzón: the baqueteo and the paseo, and how they fit together
- Cha-cha-chá, cáscara and contracampana variations for slow and fast tempos
- A funk, pop and R&B pattern for the timbales
- Folkloric rhythms adapted to the timbal: bomba sicá, plena, bembé in 6/8, pilón and guaguancó
- The mozambique, including the New York (Oquendo) style, and the conga de comparsa
- Each style slowly at first, then up to tempo, with variations
You can hold down the cáscara and the bell. Then the band calls a danzón.
This course gives you more styles to work on, with clear demonstrations and variations for each one. Marcos breaks each style down slowly, brings it up to tempo and adds variations. Each style also has a Spotify listening playlist so you can hear it on recordings. Watch the free previews to see how Marcos teaches.
Watch free previews
Short clips from the course. Tap one to watch it full size. The full lessons come with your trial.
The full course
Taught in Spanish by Marcos López, with English subtitles on every lesson.
- 00Introduction
- 01Lesson 1 · Danzón
- 02Lesson 2 · Cha-Cha-Chá Variations
- 03Lesson 3 · Cáscara Variations
- 04Lesson 4 · Contracampana Variations
- 05Lesson 5 · Funk
- 06Lesson 6 · Bomba Sicá
- 07Lesson 7 · Plena
- 08Lesson 8 · Bembé in 6/8
- 09Lesson 9 · Pilón
- 10Lesson 10 · Guaguancó
- 11Lesson 11 · Mozambique
- 12Lesson 12 · Conga de Comparsa
- 13Course Wrap-Up
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Your membership also includes play-along loops
Members get recorded play-along loops, from percussion-only tracks to a full rhythm section. Listen to three 16-second samples.
Played by Axel Tosca (piano), Oscar Stagnaro (bass) and Paulo Stagnaro (percussion), with Ramon Stagnaro (guitar) and Eric Doob (drums) on some loops. Mixed by Gabo Lugo.
What members are saying
"I'm a student at MTSU playing in the Salsa band and this course has helped me learn about the styles I've come across playing in the group… The tracks are a lot of fun to play along with and have helped me work the feel."
"Been playing percussion for almost 30 years for a plethora of artists and records… Paulo has been amazing at helping stretch my horizons and boundaries when it comes to playing and chops."
"El curso está tremendo, empecé el de timbal. El contenido me encanta, super claro."
("The course is amazing, I started the timbales one. I love the content, super clear.")
Your trial also includes
Questions before you start
Is this course for beginners?
It's an intermediate course. Start with Timbales 101 and Timbale Fundamentals, which cover stick technique, the cáscara, the contracampana and independence. Your trial opens every course, so you can start there.
Which styles does it cover?
Danzón, cha-cha-chá, cáscara and contracampana variations, funk, bomba sicá, plena, bembé in 6/8, pilón, guaguancó, mozambique and conga de comparsa.
What do I need?
A set of timbales with a cowbell. Some lessons also use a jam block.
Is it in Spanish?
Yes. Marcos López teaches this course in Spanish, and every lesson has English subtitles.
Who is Marcos López?
Marcos has been Marc Anthony's percussionist since 2019, and he has also performed with Gilberto Santa Rosa, Paco y Catriel and Thalía. He teaches all of the timbales courses on CongaChops.
How does the free trial work?
You get 7 days with every course, masterclass and loop. Sign-up asks for a card, and you can cancel anytime from your account before the 7 days are up.
Start the Timbales Groove Toolbox and get access to the entire CongaChops library with your 7-day free trial
Learn the timbal in danzón, plena, guaguancó, mozambique and more.
Start your 7-day free trialRisk free. Cancel anytime.