Tumbao in G minor for Guitar and Cuban Tres

Enviado por tresero el Jue, 11/07/2019 - 08:19
Jon Griffin

Many guitarists I've talked to want to know how to play tumbao on the guitar. Don't confuse montunos, which are a section of a tune, with tumbao. I created this for someone and decided to add the tres part as well. It's not that difficult, but does show how the bass tumbao plays as well as the Cuban tres.

It's based on a progression in G minor.


The guitar part is mimicking the Cuban tres, but also filling in with some chords. Again, using substitutions so you can emphasize those altered tones. It's time to go beyond triads and sevenths.



Tumbao in G minor for Cuban tres and guitar
Tumbao in G minor for Cuban tres and guitar


After talking to my friends and great musicians, Juan Vega and Robert Sink, I decided this wasn't so phrygian after all, but basically G minor.