Formal structure
Key differences from salsa form:
- No fixed order — modules can be rearranged or repeated as needed.
- Multiple montuno rounds — each with its own coro, groove, and intensity.
- Functional elements everywhere — mambo, bloques, gear shifts aren’t tied to a single section.
- Improvisation and cueing — bandleader and singers often decide live which module comes next.
Simplified Timba Structure
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Intro – set the tone, maybe a Diana or a short riff.
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Canto – main verse text, light groove.
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Coro/Pregón Cycles – the “dance engine”:
- Coro (refrain)
- Pregón (lead vocal response)
Functional elements (bloques, mambos, bomba, gear changes) appear anywhere in these cycles.
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Coda/Despedida – repeat coro or riff until a dramatic or abrupt ending.
Simplified Timba Structure with montunu
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Intro
- Quick setup: could be instrumental, a short vocal warm-up (diana), or a quick riff.
- Sometimes you even get a tease of the Montuno groove here, but just for a few seconds.
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Canto (Verse)
- Lead singer delivers the main lyrics.
- Groove is lighter and more open than in the dance section.
- Often serves as the storytelling or emotional setup before the party explodes.
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Montuno (Coro/Pregón cycles)
- This is the main dance engine.
- Structure inside:
- Coro: repeated vocal refrain from the backing singers.
- Pregón: lead singer improvises or responds to the coro.
- Piano tumbao and clave lock in a tight groove.
- Inside the Montuno, you can have:
- Gear changes (switching feel or groove)
- Bloques (rhythmic breaks)
- Bomba / Presión (energy peaks)
- In timba, there can be multiple Montuno rounds, each with a new coro and maybe a new groove.
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Coda / Despedida (Ending)
- Often a repeated coro or riff.
- Could have a final Montuno burst before the cut-off.
- Can be abrupt, theatrical, or fade out.
Verse
The canto">canto, or verse, is where the lead vocalist sings the main lyrical content of the song.
In Timba, the canto">canto often contains a narrative or thematic element and is supported by the rhythm section and background vocals.
Verse
The canto">canto, or verse, is where the lead vocalist sings the main lyrical content of the song.
In Timba, the canto">canto often contains a narrative or thematic element and is supported by the rhythm section and background vocals.
canto">
Verse
The canto, or verse, is where the lead vocalist sings the main lyrical content of the song.
In Timba, the canto often contains a narrative or thematic element and is supported by the rhythm section and background vocals.
Verse
The canto, or verse, is where the lead vocalist sings the main lyrical content of the song.
In Timba, the canto often contains a narrative or thematic element and is supported by the rhythm section and background vocals.
Verse
The canto, or verse, is where the lead vocalist sings the main lyrical content of the song.
In Timba, the canto often contains a narrative or thematic element and is supported by the rhythm section and background vocals.
Verse
The canto, or verse, is where the lead vocalist sings the main lyrical content of the song.
In Timba, the canto often contains a narrative or thematic element and is supported by the rhythm section and background vocals.
- Coro = the Choir, sings a repeating phrase.
- pregón">Pregón = the lead singer sings varying or improvised lines
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- Coro = the Choir, sings a repeating phrase.
- Pregón = the lead singer sings varying or improvised lines
Lees meer >Outro (Coda)
The conclusion of the song, which often mirrors the intro">intro or brings the song to a close with a final statement by the band.
intro">
Introducción
This is the opening section of the song, which sets the mood and intro">introduces the musical motifs.
It often features a horn section and can include elements from the song's main themes.
intro">
Introducción
This is the opening section of the song, which sets the mood and introduces the musical motifs.
It often features a horn section and can include elements from the song's main themes.
Outro (Coda)
The conclusion of the song, which often mirrors the intro">intro or brings the song to a close with a final statement by the band.
intro">
Introducción
This is the opening section of the song, which sets the mood and intro">introduces the musical motifs.
It often features a horn section and can include elements from the song's main themes.
intro">
Introducción
This is the opening section of the song, which sets the mood and introduces the musical motifs.
It often features a horn section and can include elements from the song's main themes.
Introducción
This is the opening section of the song, which sets the mood and introduces the musical motifs.
It often features a horn section and can include elements from the song's main themes.
Introducción
This is the opening section of the song, which sets the mood and introduces the musical motifs.
It often features a horn section and can include elements from the song's main themes.
This section is characterized by a more open and interactive part of the song, where there is a dialogue between the vocals and the instrumentalists, leading to a more improvised feel. The montuno is typically built on repetitive piano and bass patterns and may include call-and-response singing.
Lees meer >A vocal improvisation or melodic gesture, sometimes used to transition between sections, often marking the move into the montuno or to reintroduce energy.
Lees meer >bloques
Rhythmic breaks or unison hits played by the whole band, often interrupting the flow to create surprise and tension. These are choreographed and add drama, excitement, and syncopation.
Gear changes, or "cambios de marcha," in Timba are particularly thrilling elements that contribute to the genre's dynamism and energy. These changes are essentially shifts in rhythm, tempo, or even in the music's texture that inject excitement and often encourage dance floor responses. They are used strategically throughout a song to create tension and release, keep the audience engaged, and highlight the musicians' versatility and creativity.
Lees meer >Mambo
In Cuban music, especially in salsa and son,
the "mambo" section typically refers to a brassy, rhythmically intense instrumental break,
often featuring repetitive horn lines, call-and-response patterns, and building energy toward the climax of a song.
Mambo
In Cuban music, especially in salsa and son,
the "mambo" section typically refers to a brassy, rhythmically intense instrumental break,
often featuring repetitive horn lines, call-and-response patterns, and building energy toward the climax of a song.
Pression
Timba gear family characterized by the absence of a bass tumbao, the absence of a conga marcha, and usually the absence of bells. The building of musical intensity and drive, often created through layered rhythms, bloques, and dynamic changes that push the energy higher.
bloques
Rhythmic breaks or unison hits played by the whole band, often interrupting the flow to create surprise and tension. These are choreographed and add drama, excitement, and syncopation.
The clave is a fundamental rhythmic pattern and organizing principle in Cuban music. It serves as both a musical pattern and a guiding concept, deeply rooted in Afro-Cuban traditions.
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