The clave rhythm that is most commonly known is the ‘Son Clave’.  In Cuba there is a style of music called ‘Son’.

The rhythm can be played on the instrument known as the clave, which is two wooden sticks.  ‘Clave’ refers both to the rhythm and the instrument.

The clave rhythm is made of a group of two and a group of three spread out over two bars of 4/4 time or eight counts.  It can start with the three hits which would make it 3-2 clave or it can start with the two hits which would be 2-3.

It looks like this: