Any Cuatro Players on this forum?

[ajgus]

...or does anyone know what a cuatro is? A cuatro is a 10 stringed instrument used in traditional Puerto Rican music. I own two hand built cuatros. Both are beautiful instruments, crafted by artisans on the Island of PR. I have a love for all things stringed, so I keep a couple of these in my collection. Anyone else have one/ no how to play one? Just curious...

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[E.D. Patton]

I wish I knew more... Them things is hip!

[Andy Summers]

I have a friend who plays one Great sound!!!

[blacklinefish]

I would love to play a bajo sexto. If I ever get to Texas and see one, it would be hard to pass up. It's like a low-tuned 12-string, but with only 5 sets of strings (one pair removed).

Listen to Intocable's Eso Duele:



Does the cuartro sound like that?
--gh

[SixStringSlinger]

In Cuba there's the tres (Spanish for "three"), which has six strings (three doubled pairs). There's also a Puerto Rican tres which has 9 strings (they're in sets of 3 rather than 2). It's kind of like a mandolin, in a way. Here's a video where you can hear a bit of tres playing. It's in Spanish, so if you don't understand it and want to skip to the tres, the solos are at 1:48 and 2:50.



The video's kinda cheesy but the two solos are cool. The song is basically a Cuban version of "The Devil Went Down to Georgia."

Anyway, I'd really like to get my hands on a tres. Your cuatro looks like fun, too.

[mikespe]

I had a cheap one but sold it a few months ago. I want to get a better quality one but can't justify it just yet. They are nice though and not hard to learn. The tuning is BB EE AA DD GG. Basically removing the high E and B strings that a guitar has and putting the B into the bass. I like them better than mandolins.

[slauson slim]

Yomo Toro is a well known cuatro player - in salsa bands. You'll likely find lots of info with a google or you tube search. Best stuff with the Nuyorican salsa stars of the '70s and '80s.

Cuatro is a lead instrument - an offshoot of the whole latin family of stringed instruments other than the guitar - requinto, tiple, tres, cuatro, bajo sexto, guitarron, etc.

A bajo sexto is a rhythm intrument, typically used in conjuntos with accordian, sax, bass and drum. That Intocable vid is good mix of traditional norteno with pop influences. Fine stuff.

[elgrillo]

Hello!

Great to hear there is interest here in the PR Cuatro!

Yes, it's got a great sound and a beautiful history!

Check out this WIKIPEDIA page for more goodies:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuatro_(instrument)

As mentioned, the Puerto Rican cuatro is tuned like a 5 string bass (B-E-A-D-G).

The low B & E are octaves and the A-D-G are doubles (unison).

My current cuatro was custom built by Roberto Rivera which is thinner than the standard cuatro to minimize feedback on loud stages. (i.e. 12 piece salsa band!)


Roberto is a true supporter of the instrument. In addition to building, he also produces an annual Cuatro Festival in California! (check him out at here).

My cuatro currently uses a Fishman bridge pickup through an all class A tube amp and DI. (yet considering a sound hole lipstick pickup...any thoughts?)

Here is some video of me playing the cuatro with the band Tropicoso.


2005 Performance with Yomo Toro and Larry Harlow in Cincinnati:


Yes, Yomo Toro. The "Jimi Hendrix of the Cuatro". "You Tube" him. Period.
There are also many excellent players. Just spend some time on You Tube!

More goodies here: NicholasRadina.com

Keep up the discussion!

[jazztele]

i have a supro twelve string tuned like a tres. great fun, and instant musica cubano!

i'm a sucker for latin american styles. i grew up in a neighborhood in which it was pretty common to hear cats playing son and guaracha out in the backyard on a sunday afternoon. and don't get me started on the food...

[ajgus]

Yeah, beautiful sounds. I am Puerto Rican. My mother gave me my first cuatro a few years back as a Christmas present. I love it. Then about a year later while visiting the island (I go about twice a year) one of my uncles (or Tios) said he new a guy who hand built cuatros & classical guitars. We went to his shop which was basically an old tattered shack that stood upon a hill in the Puerto Rican countryside. There I got to view his work. All sorts of cuatros & guitars in various states of assembly. Absolutely beautiful work. My uncle then asked me which one I liked best. I picked one off the wall & he handed the old man some cash. I said "what just happened here?". Turned out that my uncle was feeling generous & bought it for me. One of the prides of my collection. I'll try & post some pics later tonight...

[ajgus]

Sorry, all I have access to is an iphone camera. Enjoy...

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Now, as everyone knows, cuatro is Spanish for "four". So, being a ten stringed instrument, I've never really been sure as to why its called a Cuatro. Anyone?..Anyone?...Bueler?...

[SixStringSlinger]

Originally Posted by ajgus

Now, as everyone knows, cuatro is Spanish for "four". So, being a ten stringed instrument, I've never really been sure as to why its called a Cuatro. Anyone?..Anyone?...Bueler?...

The tres has 6 strings, but it's called a tres because it's tuned in 3 pairs. Not sure how that would work on a cuatro, though.

Maybe the dude was borracho and made you a cinco by mistake.

[ajgus]

Es posible, muchacho. Es muy posible...pero, yo no se.