Small Guitars Used in Latin American Music

If you’re a fan of Latin American music, you’ve probably noticed that the guitars used are often quite small. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the reasons why small guitars are used in Latin American music, and some of the most popular types of small guitars.

Origins of the small guitar

Small guitars have been used in Latin American music for centuries. The origin of the small guitar can be traced back to the 16th century in Spain. The small guitar was originally used as a lead instrument in orchestras and as an accompaniment to singers.

Early history in Spain and Portugal

The earliest guitars were all small instruments, similar in size, shape and construction to the modern guitar. The most important difference between these early guitars and their modern counterparts was the number of strings. Early guitars usually had four or five strings, while modern guitars usually have six or more.

The first guitars were probably developed in Spain and Portugal in the 15th or 16th century. These early guitars were often used for accompaniment in dance music and were also popular with troubadours and other traveling musicians. By the 18th century, guitar-like instruments were being developed in other parts of Europe, including Italy and France.

The earliest known depiction of a guitar is a painting by Hernando de la Cruz, dated 1533. This painting shows a four-stringed instrument that is being played by a woman. It is not clear if this is a guitar or some other type of instrument, but it provides an interesting glimpse into the early history of the guitar.

In the 19th century, small guitars became popular in Latin America, particularly in Cuba and Brazil. These instruments were often used for accompaniment in dances such as the Cuban montuno and the Brazilian samba. The most famous exponent of the small guitar was probably Antonio Stradivari, who was born in Italy but worked for many years in Mexico City. Stradivari’s guitars were highly prized by Mexican musicians and he became one of the most popular makers of small guitars in Latin America.

The influence of the Moors

The influence of the Moors in Spain had a profound effect on the development of the small guitar. The Moorish people were originally from North Africa and they conquered Spain in the 8th century. They introduced a new style of music called Andalusian music. This music was played on a type of instrument called the lute. The lute was a large instrument with a long neck and strings that were plucked with the fingers.

Small guitars in Latin America

Small guitars have been used in Latin American music since the 16th century. These guitars are typically used in conjunto music, which is a type of music that originated in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. The most popular type of small guitar is the cuatro, which is used in Puerto Rico.

The cuatro in Puerto Rico

The cuatro in Puerto Rico is a small guitar with four strings, played in a variety of traditional music styles. It is an important part of the musical heritage of the island, and has been exported to other parts of the world where Puerto Rican music is popular.

The cuatro has a long neck and a small body, and is usually tuned to an open chord such as E or G. It is played with the thumb and first two fingers of the right hand, plucking the strings in a syncopated rhythm. The left hand may be used to fret the strings or to hold down a capo, which raises the pitch of all the strings by a fixed amount.

Cuatros are often used in ensembles alongside other instruments such as maracas, güiros, and bongos. They are also sometimes used as solo instruments, playing melodic or accompaniment roles.

The origins of the cuatro are unclear, but it is thought to have developed from smaller variations of guitars brought to Puerto Rico by Spanish colonists in the 16th century. It became an important part of folk music on the island from the 19th century onwards, and has been widely exported since the mid-20th century.

The requinto in Mexico

The requinto is a small guitar that is commonly used in Latin American music, particularly in Mexico. It typically has five strings and is played with a pick. The requinto is used in many different genres of music, including folk, popular, and classical.

The requinto was originally created in the 19th century as a smaller version of the guitarron, which is a large bass guitar also used in Mexican music. The requinto quickly became popular due to its smaller size and its ability to be played with a pick, which made it easier to play melodies than the guitarron. The requinto has since become an important part of Mexican musical culture and is used in many different styles of music.

The requinto has a rich history in Mexican music and continues to be an important part of the country’s musical culture. If you’re interested in learning more about this fascinating instrument, keep reading for everything you need to know about the requinto.

The charango in Bolivia

The charango is a small Bolivian guitar with 10 strings. It is traditionally made from the wood of the armadillo, but nowadays it is also made from other materials such as wood, plastic or metal. The charango is used in various types of music, including folk, rock and pop.

The charango was originally developed by the Quechua people in the Andean region of Bolivia. It is thought that the instrument was created in order to imitate the sound of the panpipes, which were commonly used in Quechua music. The name “charango” comes from the Quechua word for “little zither”.

The charango is often used in Bolivian folk music, as well as in some styles of rock and pop. In Bolivian folk music, the charango is often used to play dance tunes such as the kullawada and the chacarera. In rock and pop music, the charango can be heard in bands such as Los Calchakis and Watatah.

Playing techniques

small guitars used in Latin American music require different playing techniques than their larger counterparts. The timing and syncopation are different, as are the chords and melodies. In order to get the most out of a small guitar, it is important to understand how to play it correctly. This section will cover the basics of playing a small guitar.

Strumming

There are various strumming techniques used on the charango. The most common is a continuous down-up motion. Start with the pick first down, then up, then down again, and so on in a continuous motion. Experiment with different picking directions and speeds to get different sound effects.

Finger-picking

Finger-picking is a playing technique used on string instruments (usually guitars) in which the fingers are used to pluck the strings individually rather than strumming them all at once. This technique is often used in conjunction with other picking techniques such as strumming and pick-and-roll.

Finger-picking can be used to play a variety of music styles, but is most commonly associated with folk, blues, and country music. It can also be used to play classical and Latin American music.

There are a few different ways to finger-pick, but the most common method is to use the thumb, index, and middle fingers to pluck the strings. The order in which the fingers are used can vary depending on the style of music being played. For example, in folk music the thumb typically plucks the lowest string while the index finger plucks the next highest string and so on. In classical guitar, however, the index finger is typically used to pluck the lowest string while the middle finger plucks the next highest string.

Finger-picking is a relatively difficult technique to master and takes some practice to get comfortable with it. However, once you get the hang of it, it can add a lot of richness and depth to your playing.

Small guitar music today

Small guitars have been used in Latin American music for centuries. In the past, they were used primarily in folk music, but today they are used in a variety of genres. Small guitars are popular in Latin America because they are easy to carry and play. They are also relatively inexpensive, which makes them a good choice for beginner musicians.

Popular genres

Small guitars are a type of guitar that includes a variety of subgenres, such as flamenco, tango, bolero, son, rumba and cajón. They are usually played with the fingers or with a pick.

The most popular genres of music that use small guitars are Latin American music, Spanish music and Flamenco. Small guitars are also used in a variety of other genres, such as blues, jazz, rock and roll and country.

Notable musicians

Small guitar music today takes many different forms. You can find small guitars being used in country, rock, jazz, and even classical music. The most common type of small guitar is the acoustic guitar. These guitars are usually played unplugged, or without an amplifier.

There are many different types of acoustic guitars, but the most common type is the steel-string guitar. This type of guitar is typically used in country music and folk music. The steel-string guitar has a bright, lively sound that can be heard over the other instruments in a band.

The classical guitar is another type of acoustic guitar that is popular in small-guitar music. Classical guitars have nylon strings instead of steel strings. Nylon strings give the classical guitar a softer, mellower sound. Classical guitars are often used in Spanish and Latin American music.

Electric guitars are also used in small-guitar music. Electric guitars are usually played with an amplifier, which gives the electric guitar its distinctive sound. Electric guitars are typically used in rock and roll and blues music.

Not all small guitars are acoustic or electric guitars. There are many different types of small guitars that are used in different kinds of music. For example, the ukulele is a small stringed instrument that originates from Hawaii. Ukuleles are often used in Hawaiian music and other types of island music.