I have a few true passions and if you have not noticed as yet music is one of them. However, not only do I appreciate a variety of good Latin music (in my esteem) I also enjoy learning and understanding the acoustic contributions and what each instrument represents musically to a specific rhythm. It’s one thing to enjoy a genre but it’s interesting to understand what instruments are essential or the fundamental contributors to the distinction of a genre. Therefore, I decided to compile a mini glossary in Spanish so that for those of you who don’t know how to say a certain instrument you can learn a few terms.
Many of you have been to live Latin concerts and before the band starts to play have you ever just looked at the instruments? It amazes me sometimes how the combination of each one culminates into beautiful sounding music. Each genre –salsa, merengue, bachata, cumbia and vallenato the rhythms I listen to, I admire separately for the acoustic representation that each rhythm produces.
Also I would like to note that understanding salsa the instruments, rhythms and terms could be a separate discussion. Salsa is a broad term to describe a rhythm within a rhythm in my opinion. It is a creation from Cuban son and from there it became the primary music produced in two key lands Puerto Rico and Colombia. Cuba is still a strong contributor to the genre but I don’t believe that salsa music from Cuba is a pure form. If you really understand salsa and the rhythm you will notice that Cuban music in general is a fusion of rhythms, charanga, guaguanc?, cha-cha-cha etc. there’s usually a mix and it is very unique sounding. However, this is not to discredit Cuba. In terms of contributors to salsa and son Cuba is one of the leading countries.
As well, the lyrics of these genres sometimes are about the instruments or the lead singer would call out to the instrument or make a comment about the instrument- 'llora guitarra m?a, llora', 'y.. la pandereta empez? a sonar'…if you listen carefully to the lyrics you would not miss these references to the instruments.
Los instrumentos
el acorde?n * (vallenato, merengue t?pico)- accordion
la bater?a- drum
el bajo- bass
el bongo, bong?- bongo (drum)
la clave (Cuban salsa)- I don’t know the English equivalent but they are two sticks used to create the clave rhythm.
las congas- a type of drum- a conga drum
el cuatro * (Puerto Rican salsa)- a string instrument similar to 'el tres'
la flauta- flute
la g?ira * (Dominican merengue)- g?ira (metal scraper)
la guitarra- guitar
la harm?nica- harmonica
la pandereta- tambourine
el piano y teclado- piano and keyboard
el requinto * (bachata)- a small guitar used in bachata specifically
el saxofono- saxophone
el (la) tambor(a) * (specific to Dominican merengue)- drum
el timbal- kettledrum
el tres * (Cuban salsa) – I don’t know the English equivalent but it’s a Cuban string instrument derived from the Spanish guitar.
el tromb?n- trombone
la trompeta- trumpet
el viol?n- violin
* a key instrument used in that particular genre
In Spanish there are two verbs to express 'to play'.
Tocar- to play an instrument
Jugar- to play a sport.
For example:
a) Toco la guitarra
b) Juego al tenis
These verbs are not interchangeable.
-LDG.
....y la pandereta empez? a sonar
Many of you have been to live Latin concerts and before the band starts to play have you ever just looked at the instruments? It amazes me sometimes how the combination of each one culminates into beautiful sounding music. Each genre –salsa, merengue, bachata, cumbia and vallenato the rhythms I listen to, I admire separately for the acoustic representation that each rhythm produces.
Also I would like to note that understanding salsa the instruments, rhythms and terms could be a separate discussion. Salsa is a broad term to describe a rhythm within a rhythm in my opinion. It is a creation from Cuban son and from there it became the primary music produced in two key lands Puerto Rico and Colombia. Cuba is still a strong contributor to the genre but I don’t believe that salsa music from Cuba is a pure form. If you really understand salsa and the rhythm you will notice that Cuban music in general is a fusion of rhythms, charanga, guaguanc?, cha-cha-cha etc. there’s usually a mix and it is very unique sounding. However, this is not to discredit Cuba. In terms of contributors to salsa and son Cuba is one of the leading countries.
As well, the lyrics of these genres sometimes are about the instruments or the lead singer would call out to the instrument or make a comment about the instrument- 'llora guitarra m?a, llora', 'y.. la pandereta empez? a sonar'…if you listen carefully to the lyrics you would not miss these references to the instruments.
Los instrumentos
el acorde?n * (vallenato, merengue t?pico)- accordion
la bater?a- drum
el bajo- bass
el bongo, bong?- bongo (drum)
la clave (Cuban salsa)- I don’t know the English equivalent but they are two sticks used to create the clave rhythm.
las congas- a type of drum- a conga drum
el cuatro * (Puerto Rican salsa)- a string instrument similar to 'el tres'
la flauta- flute
la g?ira * (Dominican merengue)- g?ira (metal scraper)
la guitarra- guitar
la harm?nica- harmonica
la pandereta- tambourine
el piano y teclado- piano and keyboard
el requinto * (bachata)- a small guitar used in bachata specifically
el saxofono- saxophone
el (la) tambor(a) * (specific to Dominican merengue)- drum
el timbal- kettledrum
el tres * (Cuban salsa) – I don’t know the English equivalent but it’s a Cuban string instrument derived from the Spanish guitar.
el tromb?n- trombone
la trompeta- trumpet
el viol?n- violin
* a key instrument used in that particular genre
In Spanish there are two verbs to express 'to play'.
Tocar- to play an instrument
Jugar- to play a sport.
For example:
a) Toco la guitarra
b) Juego al tenis
These verbs are not interchangeable.
-LDG.
....y la pandereta empez? a sonar
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