Cuatro 101: Beginner Lessons for the Puerto Rican Cuatro
A fun-filled journey to learning to play the cuatro!
If you are a novice and are eager to learn the Puerto Rican cuatro, don’t fret for lack of opportunity! This course is creative in its explanations and instructions, keeping it simple from start to finish. The course covers everything from music theory, scales and chords to danzas and classical music.
The course is perfect for basic beginners
It starts where you would want to—parts of a cuatro and posture while playing a cuatro. These seemingly simple steps are the foundation to being one of the best! The course has been written in the notation and tablature formats. All-time favorites find themselves in the pages—from Jingle Bells and Twinkle, Twinkle to Aguinaldos.
Step-by-Step Instructions
The forte of this course is its stress on the step-by-step instruction guide that helps you along in a proactive manner. That way, you don’t skip the really important matters!
For a fun filled journey to learn the cuatro, and through it the beautiful Puerto Rican heritage, don’t go further than this course!
Your Instructor
Samuel Ramos is currently the multimedia designer for the Walt Disney Company. He holds a Bachelors in Music Education from Antillean Adventist University and a Masters in Educational Media Design and Technology from Full Sail University. After graduating from college, Samuel served as a music teacher and an Assistant professor in the Guitar Department at the Inter-American University of San German, Puerto Rico. Recently, he served as the Digital Learning Designer for the University of St. Augustine at the San Marcos, California campus, and as the Sr. Instructional Technologist for the University of San Diego. Prior to that, Samuel served as the LMS Administrator/Instructional Designer for Taylor Guitars in San Diego, California.
Between teaching jobs, Samuel authored several instructional books for learning several instruments including the Puerto Rican cuatro, guitar, and mandolin among many others.
In his spare time, Samuel designs instructional content for his online community and blog at 4jibaro.com, a place where Puerto Rican music is the focal point. He constantly strives to increase awareness of Puerto Rican music and its heritage. With music as his wand, he attempts to transform the world, one cuatro at a time!
Course Curriculum
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StartMusic Theory: Staff & Musical Alphabet (4:33)
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StartMusic Theory: Rhythm, Measure & Meter (5:02)
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StartWhat Are Tabs? How to Read 'Em
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PreviewThe Parts of the Puerto Rican Cuatro (0:58)
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StartTuning the Cuatro (5:30)
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StartThe Pick—Picking Patterns (1:21)
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StartPosture and Numbering the Fingers
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StartExtra Credit: Guido of Arezzo and the Birth of Modern Musical Notation