The Most Important Latin Music Terms You Need to Know
If you’re a fan of Latin music, it’s important to know the key terms that are used to describe the genre. Here are some of the most important ones you need to know.
Introduction
Music is an international language that is understood by all. However, there are different styles of music that originated from different parts of the world. One such style is Latin music.
Latin music encompasses a wide variety of genres that originated in Latin America, Spain, and Portugal. These genres include salsa, merengue, flamenco, tejano, and reggaeton, to name a few.
If you’re a fan of Latin music, or if you’re planning to travel to a Latin American country, it’s helpful to know some of the most important terms associated with this genre of music.
Salsa
Salsa is a musical genre that originated in Cuba in the early 1940s. It is a combination of Cuban son, Afro-Cuban rhythms, and American jazz and popular music. Salsa is typically danced to various Afro-Cuban rhythms such as son montuno, mambo, and cha-cha-cha. The main instruments used in salsa are percussion instruments such as congas, bongos, timbales, claves, and cowbells. The lyrics of salsa songs are usually sung in Spanish.
Merengue
Merengue is a type of music and dance that originated in the Dominican Republic. It is a very popular style of music in Latin America and the Caribbean, and is also popular in the United States. Merengue is usually played with drums, guitars, and horns. The tempo of merengue is fast, and the dance is characterized by quick,syncopated movements of the feet.
Bachata
Bachata is a style of Latin American music that originated in the Dominican Republic in the early 1960s. It is typically played on acoustic guitars and features a prominent rhythmic guitar hook known as the “clave.” Bachata has been influenced by a variety of other genres, including bolero, son, and merengue.
Cumbia
Cumbia is a popular music genre originated in Colombia. It has spread to other parts of Latin America and the world, including Mexico, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, Central America, the Caribbean islands, Chile, Argentina and Uruguay.
The origin of cumbia is often traced back to the zambomba folk music of Colombia’s Atlantic Coast. Cumbia began to take its modern form in the 1940s, when Colombian musician Rafael Medina Serna popularized the use of electric guitars and amplifiers in cumbia bands.
In its early years, cumbia was looked down upon by elites as a vulgar and lowbrow genre. But by the 1950s and 1960s, it had become one of the most popular music genres in Colombia. In recent years, cumbia has undergone something of a revival in popularity, both in Latin America and among Latino communities in North America and Europe.
Conclusion
In short, these are some of the most important Latin music terms you need to know. Of course, there are many more out there, but this should be a good start for those interested in learning more about this genre of music. Hopefully this article has helped clear up any confusion and you can now go forth and enjoy all the great Latin music out there!
