This first lesson is for anyone wanting to start playing the cuatro with a solid foundation. It was designed for those who struggle to find a clear path, it covers everything from the musical alphabet to playing open strings.

Objectives

• Explain the physical properties of a cuatro string and how it produces tone and pitch.
• Identify high and low sound and the notes on the musical alphabet.
• Identify the different parts and components of the instrument.
• Perform basic picking and fretting techniques.
• Discuss the importance of proper posture, left- and right-hand positions.
• Identify the notes on the open strings: G, D, A, E, and B.

Required Materials

• Puerto Rican Cuatro
• Pick

Estimated Time to Complete: 45 minutes