The Reggaeton drum groove
The pattern, step by step
One cell per sixteenth note, sixteen cells to the bar — exactly what the hub's drum machine plays. Downbeats are shown in bold.
Reggaeton
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kick | ● | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · | ● | · | · | · |
| Snare | · | · | · | ● | · | · | ● | · | · | · | · | ● | · | · | ● | · |
| Hi-hat | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · | ● | · |
- Kick · 4 hits · steps 1, 5, 9, 13 · beats 1, 2, 3, 4 · quarter notes
- Snare · 4 hits · steps 4, 7, 12, 15
- Hi-hat · 8 hits · steps 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 · beats 1, 2, 3, 4 · eighth notes
Where to start
Count "one-and-two-and" and put the snare on the "and" following each strong beat. Once the pattern is set, it does not change for the whole track — that is normal.
What the hands and feet actually do
The pattern comes from Shabba Ranks's Jamaican "Dem Bow" riddim, re-imported into Latin America. All the energy therefore lives in the gap between a straight kick and a limping snare.
The trap
Wanting to vary it. Reggaeton embraces total repetition: the voice and the production bring the movement, never the drums.
Listen to this
To hear the Reggaeton groove in its element:
Gasolina (Daddy Yankee) · Despacito (Luis Fonsi) · Con Altura (Rosalía)
Neighbouring grooves
Play it right now
The Drum Hub's drum machine loads this pattern, plays it at any tempo and lets you edit it cell by cell.
Open the Drum Hub →Frequently asked questions
How do you play a Reggaeton groove on drums?
Count "one-and-two-and" and put the snare on the "and" following each strong beat. Once the pattern is set, it does not change for the whole track — that is normal.
What tempo is Reggaeton played at?
The usual range runs from 85 to 105 BPM. The hub's 1 pattern(s) are set to 95 BPM, and the tempo stays free inside the drum machine.
Is Reggaeton straight or shuffled?
Straight: the eighth notes are even, with no delay on the offbeats. That is what the hub's pattern plays.
Which drummer should you listen to for Reggaeton?
Panama and Puerto Rico, the dembow riddim. Worth hearing: Gasolina (Daddy Yankee) · Despacito (Luis Fonsi) · Con Altura (Rosalía)