Son-traditional
Cuban son is a traditional genre of music that originated in the eastern regions of Cuba and blends African rhythms with Spanish melodies, forming the foundation for many modern Latin music styles such as salsa."
The earliest form (late 19th–early 20th century), small groups, rural/folk roots.
Instruments:
- Tres (Cuban guitar with 3 courses of double strings)
- Guitar (Spanish influence)
- Claves (two sticks marking the clave pattern)
- Bongó (small double drum)
- Marímbula ( bass role, later replaced by contrabass)
- Maracas
- Güiro
👉 Played in sextetos and septetos.
When son first hit Havana, the sexteto format (6 instruments, no brass) was the model: guitar, tres, bongó, claves, maracas, and bass. These groups were lighter, closer to the rural sound but polished for urban dance halls. Famous example: Sexteto Habanero.
Lees meer >The Spanish guitar arrived in Cuba with the colonizers and became the seed of Cuban music, blending with African rhythms. From inspiring the tres to shaping son, conjuntos, and even modern timba, its influence runs through every note of Cuba’s musical history.
Lees meer >Timba, the explosive and rhythmically rich genre of Cuban dance music, transformed how the bass functions in popular music. In Timba, the bass is not just foundational — it’s fiery, funky, and free.
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