Latin is played straight and is not swung. Using the various chord tones provides the main notes to construct a very strong bass line. Latin is always spelt with a capital L as it is derived from Latin America.

Example E1 (Bossa Nova)

Example E2 (Samba)

Example E3 (Rhumba)

Example E4 (Salsa)

Example E4 is an Afro-Cuban Salsa with a Tumbao bass pattern. The distinctive feature of this is the absence of bass on beat 1.

Example E5 (Merengue)

Example E6 (Tango)

Example E7

Example E7 has a consistent Tango groove but it could function as a solo due to its melodic character.

Example E8 (Mambo)

Example E9 (Cha Cha)

(The backing track starts with a 1 bar fill and then incorporates this fill into a four-bar pattern)

Cha Cha grooves can have the Cha Cha Cha (two eighth-notes and a quarter-note) in different places such as on the second, third or fourth beat. This Cha Cha pattern has the eighth notes on the third beat and assumes a chord progression of:
D ' ' ' D ' ' ' A7 ' ' ' A7 ' ' ' D

Example E10

As Latin is very rhythmic, slap can easily be incorporated into this style. The E string in Example E10 is tuned up to G. This piece was originally written on a six string bass in the key of C.

You might like to go back to Example E5 and try playing that as a slap riff.