Learn to play the Cuban tres from a true master.
Your guide is Leonel “Guajiro” Gonzalez, who has played in many Cuban bands including Elito Reve and many sessions in studios around Havana. Leonel will open your eyes as to the possibilities of using the Cuban tres in, not just a traditional context, but also to play Cuban music styles like timba, danzon, mambo and cha-cha-chá.
This is an intermediate to advanced series, but even a beginner could learn from this, albeit slower. We suggest you have some familiarity with the Cuban tres, but arrangers and composers will get valuable insight into this instrument and also Cuban music in general.
Also available as a book and companion DVD, both can be used as stand-alone products or complement each other.
Details
Book
Chapter 1 – Introduction
About the Cuban Tres
Tuning
Picking Styles
Technical Exercises
Role of the Tres
Understanding the montuno
Montuno versus son-montuno
Ensemble Examples
Traditional Son Montuno
Clave
Secret Weapon (Fretboard)
Harmony and Chords
Basic Tumbaos
Chapter 2 – Roots of the Cuban Tres
Chapter 3 – Mambo
Chapter 4 – Bolero
The Diminished 13th Scale
Chapter 5 – Cha-cha-chá
Chapter 6 – Montuno Sections
Guajira
Chapter 7 – Danzón
Importance of clave
Chapter 8 – Timba and Modern Son
Chapter 9 – Punto Guajiro
Chapter 10 – Resources
Ensembles
YouTube
Websites
Audio Examples
Your guide is Leonel “Guajiro” Gonzalez, who has played in many Cuban bands including Elito Reve and many sessions in studios around Havana. Leonel will open your eyes as to the possibilities of using the Cuban tres in, not just a traditional context, but also to play Cuban music styles like timba, danzon, mambo and cha-cha-chá.
This is an intermediate to advanced series, but even a beginner could learn from this, albeit slower. We suggest you have some familiarity with the Cuban tres, but arrangers and composers will get valuable insight into this instrument and also Cuban music in general.
Also available as a book and companion DVD, both can be used as stand-alone products or complement each other.
Details
Book
Chapter 1 – Introduction
About the Cuban Tres
Tuning
Picking Styles
Technical Exercises
Role of the Tres
Understanding the montuno
Montuno versus son-montuno
Ensemble Examples
Traditional Son Montuno
Clave
Secret Weapon (Fretboard)
Harmony and Chords
Basic Tumbaos
Chapter 2 – Roots of the Cuban Tres
Chapter 3 – Mambo
Chapter 4 – Bolero
The Diminished 13th Scale
Chapter 5 – Cha-cha-chá
Chapter 6 – Montuno Sections
Guajira
Chapter 7 – Danzón
Importance of clave
Chapter 8 – Timba and Modern Son
Chapter 9 – Punto Guajiro
Chapter 10 – Resources
Ensembles
YouTube
Websites
Audio Examples