Learning Montunos on Guitar, Part 1

Here’s some helpful applications I use to practice with on the computer and different electronic devices.

Also, please check out these ideas on GuitarKitchen!

 

A salsa flag - with a cloud heart and the lettering, as stripes - Clave Cencerro Tumbao Son Guanguanco Dizzy Congas Cascara 12/8 Mambo Good Vibes Habana Baile Cuba Puerto Rico New York Peru Bongo Colombia Bolero Güiro Chekeré Celia Fania Ray Barretto Cha-Cha-Cha Amor Héctor Lavoe Irakere Bebo Valdés Chucho Valdés Trompeta Timba Santana Tito Timbales Pacheco Mongo Chano El Rincón Peace & Love Salsa Songo Latin Jazz Groove Flute Montuno Danzón Descarga Sol y Mar Miami Chuchito Son-Montuno Rumba Los Van Van Piano Trombone Bajo Boogaloo Juan Formell Buena Vista El Tres El Cuatro El Quinto

Drum Machine

Beatcraft on PC.  Here are some beats that I use to practice. You can program most any software to do the same thing.

If you are on a Mac, you can use GarageBand and/or Logic.  You use the percussion drummer and choose Latin Percussion.

You can use the clave, the clave and tumbao, and the clave, tumbao and cascara.  I also usually put in a back beat, too. And sometimes a splash cymbal on the 1 of a 4 bar phrase – or the 4 of the last bar of the 4 bar phrase.

2-3 son clave diagram
2-3 son clave diagram
Clave with tumbao diagram (2-3 son clave)
Clave with tumbao diagram (2-3 son clave)
Clave with cascara and tumbao diagram (2-3 son clave)
Clave with cascara and tumbao diagram (2-3 son clave)

Metronome

Here’s an open source metronome on the PC.  And I am checking out Tempo Perfect for free, you can use it on Mac as well.  You can also use the metronome on Garage Band on the Mac.

On iOS, I use ProMetronome and Metronome Onyx and am about to try highly ranked Metronome Plus.

On Andriod, I use ProMetronome and Mobile Metronome.

Clave

On iOS and Android.