It's usually during the weekend that I tackle this kind of thing. The Venezuelan Cuatro is a truly remarkable instrument. It's pitch it's unique with those middle and treble sounds. It lacks bass which limits it a way, but not entirely. This style of playing, what you could call chord melody, was developed by players like Angel Melo and Hernán Gamboa. Later, it would be taken to new heights by Asdrúbal "Cheo" Hurtado. Then, La Siembra del Cuatro started and the level of players came out of the chart. Nowadays, there are incredible cuatro players around the world. A lot of them are the product of La Siembra. But all players are the sum of tradition and musical studies combined.
I take some time every once in a while to tackle this kind of repertoire. By the way I play, I bet you can tell I don't practice enough. That's true! But I don't pretend to be Daniel Requena or Jorge Glen, or any other of the great players. Solo Cuatro is a hobby for me. I enjoy trying to get these pieces right. This arrangement comes by Alís Cruces, a winner of the La Siembra festival. He has a YouTube Channgel dedicated to teaching Soloist repertoire in a simple way. He also teaches Bandola llanera and the easier way of cuatro playing, the one that only focuses in harmony and rhythmic patterns.
I hope my practice doesn't trouble you much. There are spaces between the notes. It is isn't as fluent as I would like. However, like languages, fluency will come with practice and patience. I hope more people get a cuatro in their hands and try to play it. that would be great. For the moment, let's see when I can post the thing sounding smoothly.
Have a week!
▶️ 3Speak
Well. Now I know what a Cuatro sounds like. It resembles a fuller version of my baritone ukelele. You play much better than I do, too. I just know a couple chords.
Yes, it is around that size and not really similar in sound since the strings are not in an ascending order like the ukulele.
The baritone uke is usually strung D-G-B-E like the highest 4 strings on a guitar.
Venezuelan Cuatro has some variations on tunings. The traditional one is A-D-F#-B (that B is in the same octave as the A), a guitar-like tuning G-C-E-A (taking on the ascending tuning pattern of many instruments), a tenor tuning E-A-C#-F#. And there are others. There's also the different kinds of cuatros with more strings and sizes, but those are only played on a specific region of Venezuela.
Yep.. Not having the bass sometimes is limiting.. But it also creates the character of the sound to be played in such instruments. It happens to me with the Ukulele. But then every time I play the guitar I float on the open E and I enjoy my trip on the lpng sustain. Every instrument has its soul. I hope to cross roads with a Cuatro soon! I love the middle tones, its a very peculiar sound.
Big hug @bertrayo.. keep rockin!
Indeed. Registers vary and things get interesting when instruments are limited in some ways but can exploit other things. Cuatros are wonderful. Maybe instead of waiting you can pull the strings of fate. I'd gladly make you one. A cheap one if that's the case. Just give it a thought. Greetings and hugs @palimanali. Stay awesome!
I'd love to have an autentic, por qué en inglés?¿.. Un auténtico Cuatro venezolano! Me encantaría. Pero sería caro el flete hasta mexico!
Ja, ja, ja. Verdad. Bueno, siempre hay opciones para eso. Si tienes alguien en Venezuela que vaya a viajar a México, pues, eso se podría arreglar. Tengo un hermano en Ciudad de México, quizá algún día viaje para allá. Primero tendría que arreglar no tener pasaporte. 😅
Mexico seguro te recibiría muy bien! Es dificil sacar pasaporte allá en Venezuela? Muy caro?
Bueno, esa comida de allá siempre me tiene con la boca aguada. Lo difícil es ahorrar para sacarlo. 200$ con sueldos mínimos de 3$ y toda la burocracia por medio. Es más el problema que lo caro, pero la situación impide hacer mucho para dar con la cantidad de dinero.
You play better than I do so I'm going to declare it legit. An interesting sound to that instrument.
Ha, ha, ha. It's all in the practice factor. Besides, I'm an ok player. The instrument is so versatile. Nowadays, there's fusions everywhere taking this instrument to their central stage.
Practice makes
perfectbetter than no practice.Just getting slightly better.
Working towards slightly better is a good condition to be in.
Nuestras coordenadas:
Ame esto te quedó bien brutal!!!
Y eso que es la práctica y falta hacer el video de verdad. Gracias 😅
Excelente vale! Algún día deberíamos hacer un vídeo haciendo algo experimental juntos sería muy cool lml tocando en pantalla dividida
Ah, claro. Eso estaría genial. Aunque seguro que necesitaría bastante preparación. Me puedes encontrar en discord como bertrayo#1763
Ah vale listo. Jeje bueno yo grabo toda la música improvisada jaja de seguro se llega a un punto medio!
Acá me puedes conseguir en mi servidor de Discord:
https://discord.com/invite/xenWUzt