Part 2 of Latin Guitar focuses on the melodic Latin guitar playing style that is known of as, “Montuno.” This very active Latin guitar style relates to performing a mixture of small chords along with collections of moving inner single note phrases…
Introduction to Latin Guitar – Part 2
THE MONTUNO:
There are two principle grooves that are involved with developing the Latin feel. They are the “Clave,” and the “Montuno.”
The Clave is a Latin feel that more or less resembles what we had previously examined (back in in Part 1), of this two part Latin series. However, in this lesson of Latin Guitar (Part 2), we will look closer at the Montuno, (a mixture of small chords with moving inner single note line voices).
To gain control over the Montuno Latin feel guitar students will need to develop a high level of technical ability related to their fretting-hand technique.
MONTUNO and TECHNICAL SKILL:
It is important that the plucking-hand movements used between the Montuno application of small chords and melodic lines, are always performed seamless and that the accuracy is at a high level of perfection.
Like any technical skill development related to the guitar, the techniques that are used in performing Montuno style can be achieved through a lot of slow work while using a metronome.
Along with accurate technical training, and use of a metronome it is also important that students practice recording each practice phrase that is used throughout the Montuno examples, (provided within this lesson post).
Once a phrase can be recorded in time with a smooth flowing feel, the phrase will be at a much higher level of skill as compared to any phrases which have never been recorded.
MONTUNO CHORDS:
Some of the chord fingerings that are used in the performance of the Montuno style may be difficult to master.
However, with the right amount of effort applied, I know from experience that anyone can incorporate the chords for this technique into their playing. Once developed, the style is unique and easily identifiable.
Download the handout for this lesson using the link provided below. It contains a PDF handout showing each Montuno example performed throughout the video lesson.
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