Cuban Tres - The 3 string guitar from Cuba

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The first thing to understand about the Cuban Tres is that it is a rhythm instrument. Even though it looks like a Guitar, the actual playing of it is rhythmic with melodic lines. Chords are seldom "strummed", and in many styles the Tres strengthens the melody line a 3rd or a 6th above with rhythmic fills in between.

Here is a site with much more information about the Cuban tres - El Tres Cubano.

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Tuning 

There are two widely used tunings. Both are 2nd inversions of either a C or D chord. Traditionally, the tres was tuned to G,C,E or a C chord. Many treseros are now using a D tuning.
Another inconsistency is the use of octave in the tuning, in Oriente (Eastern Cuba), most treseros tune both the G and E strings in octaves, whereas in Oeste (Western Cuba) the trend is to only have the G string doubled. See the following tuning chart for a visual representation.

Basic Son Montuno Pattern for Cuban Tres 

Many people want to know how to play the "standard" patterns. There are many common patterns, but most treseros also embellish them to some degree. For example, if you are playing with a piano, you are much freer to add embelishments than if you are playing with just a bass and bongo.

The following example is a simple montuno pattern that can be used on a 1,4,5,4 progression (for example F - Bb - C - Bb) Many traditional songs use this pattern, Son De La Loma coming to mind first. Please note you can also play these together as a variation. See more at the Salsa Blanca website, if you would like to learn even more about the tres and cuban music in general, you can check out my book El Tres Cubano.

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Learn to play Cuban Music, the Cuban Tres & Changüi 

Learn to play Cuban Music, the Cuban Tres & Changüi

For more information visit http://salsablanca.com/ Learn about the Cuban tres and learn a traditional changüi pattern. Changüi is from the eastern part of Cuba, specifically Baracoa. Changüi came from the fusion of nengon and kiribá. Changüi is really defined more by instrumentation than actual patterns and is in the son family. Changüi, being a newer style, is also more complex than either nengon or kiribá. It is much more syncopated and instead of one pattern, many songs copy the voice a 3rd or 6th higher and then repeat a pattern. This pattern may change after each verse. This video was taken in Cuba several years ago in my backyard, and it features a typical pattern on the tres. After that introduction a trio plays the ensemble parts. The ensemble consists of bongo, bass and of course the Cuban tres. This is a modern interpretation of the changüi ensemble. In the original style the marimbula is the traditional bass instrument. Also, you would have a singer and someone playing guayo.

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Links About the Cuban Tres & Music 

Punto Cubano - Peasant Music From the Western Part of Cuba
Punto Guajiro (also called Punto Cubano) is the country music from the Western and Central provinces of Cuba. This style began to become popular around the end of the 18th century, mainly as a social event. Remember that in the east there were changuis, in Havana and Matanzas there were rumba's. The punto is the same thing, a party in which the music played became a genre.
Grupo Ban Rarra - Music and Dance From Guantanamo Cuba
Grupo Bán Rarra was formed in 1994 by Isaias Rojas Ramirez. He is the groups choreographer, researcher and also a musician and dancer. Sr Rojas is a graduate of the Instituto Superior de Artes de Cuba (ESA).
Cuban Ethnomusicology - Instruments, Music and Culture of Cuba
Cuba has a unique musical and cultural foundation. With it's blend of African and European culture, music is a fusion of the rythmic concepts of Africa and the harmonic concepts of Europe.
Fernandez Music Home Page
Importers of Esteve, Juan Hernandez, Felix Manzanero and Vicente Sanchis classical, flamenco, requintos, and children's guitars.
Portuguese guitars. Videos on Guitarmaking, French Polishing and Guitar Care. Fustero Guitar Tuners. Flamenco Tap Plates.
Luthier Accessories.

Reader Feedback 

Lensmaster

cuban3luthier

Hi there If you need help buying a tres. We are Luthiers of Cuban Tres. We are in Havana, Cuba, But we can ship all over the world. Our Tres are played by the best cuban treseros, and groups. Now we are accepting Orders for 2009. Contact us at cuban3luthiers@gmail.com. It will be a pleasure to help Tres Players find a good instrument.

ReplyPosted August 27, 2008

Lensmaster

John Hughes wrote...

cool lens! I love learning about new stringed instruments. Five stars all the way for introducing me to the Cuban Tres. Check out my lens on learning guitar online

ReplyPosted November 28, 2007