The Venezuelan cuatro has its origins in Europe. The history of the cuatro starts with the Spanish Guitar, an instrument that used to have 4 strings. Besides the Spanish Guitar, there are also many similar instruments throughout history, like in Egipt. The arrival of the Cuatro to South America comes with the Spanish conquers, bringing …
For the past 10 years, TuCuatro has been at the forefront of pioneering how we learn to play the Venezuelan Cuatro. With an online learning portal dedicated to the teachings of the Venezuelan Cuatro, TuCuatro has built a solid foundation that has secured the future of the cuatro and it’s teachings on a global scale. …
If you know the lyrics and chords for a song you can upload it by using our upload song tool at our website. This is a very useful resource that our TuCuatro musicians and teachers have been using to create material for our students. Now it is available for everybody who wants to upload lyrics …
Did you know that you could upload your own song lyrics to TuCuatro? Read More »
How to choose the ideal instrument? It could be tricky to choose an instrument from a variety when you have to consider so many factors, like the type of woods, the quality of work of a manufacturer, the sound that the instrument produces, etc. That’s why we want you to know how we’ve divided the …
How to choose the ideal instrument: Learn about classifications at TuCuatro Read More »
Before buying an instrument, it is critical that you assure that the quality of the instrument is good enough and that it tunes correctly in all frets. Our teachers and musicians are constantly helping customers at the TuCuatro Store by reviewing each instrument to guarantee the quality of the sound. One of the most used …
For all the Balalaika music lovers! Today we invite you to listen to this beautiful instrumental Balalaika composition called “Cassiopeia”, by the musician Anna Zayats. Enjoy this beautiful musical piece by Anna Zayats called “Cassiopeia”, played with a Balalaika, an instrument from Russia, that we also like here at TuCuatro. Our team has put together …
Anna Zayats plays “Cassiopeia” – a Balalaika composition Read More »
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If you do not have a Cuatro and are interested in playing, make sure that you contact us. We have contacts with distributors and will be able to help you source a Cuatro suited for your needs. If you wish to have a long term commitment and would like to have an instrument specially made …
I Don’t Have a Venezuelan Cuatro & Have No Clue How To Get One Read More »
Get to know your Cuatro. This lesson explains the different parts of the Cuatro. It is essential to be able to describe your instrument and also to get to know it. Each Cuatro has specific characteristics and attributes. By using these features, you will be able to orientate yourself on your instrument. So if on …
There are popular composers and famous artists for the Cuatro. These are slightly different, and most of these persons have some sort of affiliation with Venezuela. The most famous being Simon Diaz who has brought incredible masterpieces such as Caballo Viejo (international versions derived from this song are The Gypsy Kings “Bamboleo”) who brings the …
In this occasion, we will go over a couple of instruments which can be considered as relatives to the Cuatro. There are many more than this, but the most popular or known cousins of the Cuatro are: The Ukulele The ukulele originated in the 19th century as a Hawaiian interpretation of the machete, a small …
The answer, BOTH! Many string instruments can be played by making specific strums or hitting the wood. For most instruments, this is optional, but the Cuatro needs this kind of love! There is nothing like strumming regularly in combination with dry strums (known as chasquidos or frenados) and knocking on a specific area of the Cuatro …
New Teaching Methods The Cuatro is no longer an instrument people keep hanging on their walls as an adornment. It is an instrument admired by many and has specific characteristics. The Cuatro player also has certain features. The Cuatro player is persistent, agile and can play from a nice and simple accompaniment to a soloist …
As with other music instruments, the Cuatro has also been exposed to the new age of innovation and interpretation by modern luthiers and artists. Here we are talking specifically about the Electric Cuatro played in the video below by She’s Alone band artist and Cuatro professor Abraham Sarache: Electric Cuatro Demonstration: “Promises” Abraham Sarache – She’s Alone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E24xydBrXAg …
From time to time we will be organizing live lessons. This has been a great success in the past where many students opt for participation, and we have a growing audience in YouTube who also enjoy watching the lessons and contributing in the form of comments and encouragement. The live sessions will always relate to …
All this talk about the Cuatro’s presence in South America. Believe us; it is not the only place! Many interpretations of music are made across the globe, and this will continue to grow. YouTube is bringing us all closer, and we invite everyone to play with TuCuatro, share your progression and your music. Have a …
What is the Venezuelan Cuatro? The Venezuelan cuatro is a string musical instrument from the plains shared between Venezuela and Colombia. The Cuatro is considered the national instrument of Venezuela. This instrument is mainly used for a folk music style called Joropo, which gets to be popular in the plains, but it is also vastly …
Traditionally, the Cuatro is used as an accompaniment instrument to the harp & maracas. The combination of this ensemble creates music genres such as Joropo which is typical folklore music from the lowlands of Colombia & Venezuela. To the Joropo genre, there are several sub-categories such as San Rafael and Gaban, all of which will …
What kind of music is traditionally played with the Cuatro? Read More »
The quality of the Cuatro (as for any musical instrument) has a direct impact on the sound and smoothness during playing. There are exceptions to the rule, as you can get some incredible sound out of lesser quality Cuatros. It is only once you get into playing and try a Cuatro of higher quality that …
What types of Cuatros are available and who makes them? Read More »
Historically, Colombia and Venezuela…..recently WORLDWIDE!! Although the Cuatro is most popular in its region of origin, the intoxicating sounds of the instruments and incredible possibilities have spread. Modern artists such as Jorge Glem and Carlos Capacho have presented the possibilities of the instrument on an international level, but still a long way to go. There …
If you are entirely new to the Cuatro and string instruments, the recommendation is always to start from the very beginning. The first lessons provided are the very basics of how to play, what to look out for and getting the hang of the most basic techniques you need to know. Our lessons are categorized …
For every instrument, cuatro, guitar, ukulele, etc, there is a learning curve, and it does take time to familiarize yourself with the style of play. A common question is how long does it take to learn how to play the Cuatro, the answer is: It is entirely up to you! The most dedicated students who …
How long does it take to learn to play the Cuatro? Read More »
The Cuatro is a four-string musical instrument, a distant cousin of the guitar, which has evolved in the regions of Colombia and Venezuela. There are many relatives of the Cuatro as several string instruments have changed from the first guitars brought by the conquistadores in the 14th century. We will mention some more information about …
How does the Cuatro musical instrument look like and sound? Read More »
Learning how to play a musical instrument can be as complicated or as simple as we like. It all depends on how far it is that you would want to come. Some persons wish to learn some accompaniment songs, some chords and the ability to jam along. Others reach for the stars and try to …
