`The Soca Parang is a more modern rhythm that combines the 4/4 measures of soca with the Parang flavor and progressions. The Soca Parang is the only Parang rhythm where we will not do 6 strums per measure. We will only do 4 strums per measure as shown in the following diagram:
Nevertheless, the Soca Parang rhythm requires a few silences that will enrich the rhythm that we play on the cuatro. For this reason, we will need to count in eights instead:
Your right hand will move smoothly and the movement will be always oscillatory. The only thing you will do differently is to include silences the way this diagram shows:
So our full Soca Parang movement would be this way:
As you can see, we will be playing a total of 16 strums where our right hand will do:
Be sure to do each one of these 16 strums, very slowly at first and then progressively increasing the speed.
We will play a simple example where you will only use three chords. These chords are G, A7, and D. The progression we will be using to play this example is as follows:
Now as an example we will listen to a catchy song that uses this Soca Parang rhythm. “Sweet Man” by Baron: