What type of music is clave?

Clave is a rhythmic pattern used in many types of Latin American music, including son, salsa, cha-cha-cha, and mambo. It is a repetitive pattern of two measures, each with four beats. The first measure has a strong beat on the first beat, and a weak beat on the fourth beat. The second measure has a weak beat on the first beat, and a strong beat on the third beat.

The clave pattern can be played on various instruments, including claves (two wooden sticks that are struck together), drums, and maracas. It is an essential part of Latin American music and helps to create the characteristic rhythmic feel of these genres.