Changüí & Melodic Tumbao
In this lesson we touch upon the advanced grooves in Cuban music. We explore a couple of advanced forms of montunos starting with an advanced form of Changüí.
Highly Syncopated Changüí
Like many forms of Cuban music, the spine of Changüí is the clave. Changüí montunos are highly syncopated through the use of off beat accents and cross rhythms.
Before attempting to play advanced Changüí grooves it’s important that you have fully mastered the clave rhythm and how this aligns and interacts with montuno patterns.
Melodic Tumbao: Bass Lines & Melody
We explore a modern form of son montuno which is harmonised with 3rd intervals. We keep the highly syncopated form that we previously explored in the Changüí style.
This style of playing is called Melodic tumbao which is the most difficult form of tumbao in modern Cuban Timba. Elio demonstrates the bass patterns of this style whilst tapping the clave and then the melodic aspect of the tumbao asuming that you are playing with a bass player.
Lesson Downloads
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Changüí & Melodic Tumbao File Type: pdf
Related Lessons
In this lesson we explore the most common montuno patterns that you hear in Salsa and early Cuban music from the early 1940s.
In this lesson we explore some common exercises that are useful for students who have never played Cuban piano styles or montunos.
In this lesson we explore two of the most important and foundational elements of Cuban music which are the clave and the cascara.
Practice Tips
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Study and emulate authentic Changüí recordings to absorb the rhythm and overall feel of this style of Cuban music.
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Clapping and tapping the rhythms is an important step to internalise the feel and syncopations of the Changüí style.
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Regular and diligent practice and an understanding of the history and musical elements of Changüí is essential to mastering this style.
