# A salsa and bachata glossary

> Short explanations of the terms you hear in classes, at socials and at competitions. Music, counting and adjudicating.

Author: Bahadır Sevgin (WDSF Caribbean Adjudicator, Senior Latin Dance Coach) · Category: Guide · Updated: 2026-10-12
Source: https://bahadirsevgin.com/en/resources/dance-glossary

Knowing a word is the first step to hearing it. This glossary gathers the terms used across the other guides in one place.

## Counting and steps

- **On2**: The salsa timing where the break step is taken on 2 and 6: 1-2-3, 5-6-7. In the basic step there is no weight change on 4 and 8; at an advanced level these beats are filled with taps, kicks and syncopations.
- **On1**: The salsa timing where the break step is taken on 1 and 5.
- **Break step**: The step that changes direction. In On2 it lands with the conga slap on 2 and 6.
- **Tap**: A light accent with the foot, without a weight change. In bachata it completes the basic on 4 and 8.

## Salsa music

- **Clave**: A two-bar rhythm pattern, either 3-2 or 2-3. It isn't always loud in a song, but the other instruments play around it.
- **Campana** (cowbell): The bell that plays the beats straight and clear in the lively parts of a song. Usually the easiest place to find the one.
- **Tumbao**: The repeating rhythm pattern of the conga and the bass. The conga's short, sharp slap usually falls on 2 and 6, its open tones on 4 and 8.
- **Montuno**: The piano's repeating pattern. It carries the texture and energy of the song.

## Bachata music

- **Requinto**: The lead guitar in bachata. It plays the melody and the ornaments.
- **Segunda**: The rhythm guitar in bachata. It holds the chords and weaves the ground of the song.
- **Güira**: The metal rhythm instrument that keeps the beat steady and constant. Where to go back to when you lose the tempo.
- **Martillo**: The steady pattern the bongo plays in the calm sections.
- **Derecho**: The calmer section of a bachata song, where the singer leads.
- **Mambo**: In salsa, the section where the horns take over; in bachata, the section where the güira and bongo intensify and the energy rises.

## Competitions and adjudicating

- **Preliminary round**: A round in which adjudicators mark the couples they want to see in the next round. Who goes through is decided by the total of those marks.
- **Skating system**: The majority rules used to calculate a final result. A couple's place is decided by the placing a majority of judges gave them.
- **Scrutineer**: The person who collects the judges' sheets, enters the marks, calculates the result according to the rules and checks it.