Traditional Cuban guitars: the Cuban tres

The first thing to understand about the three cuban is that it is a rhythmic instrument. Although it looks like a guitar, the actual play of it is rhythmic with melodic lines.

This instrument consists of three orders of double strings octave in at least one order. Its chords in many styles reinforce the melody line of a third or sixth above with rhythmic fills in between.

On its origins we must go back to the 16th century, when the Spanish brought their stringed instruments to the Caribbean. One of these instruments was the Vihuela, a forerunner of the modern guitar. While the lute was a popular instrument in the 16th century the Spanish associated it with the Moors and invented their own plucked instrument.

The Vihuela consisted of 4 double strings (8 strings, but only 4 different notes). These double strings are often referred to as "courses." A given course consists of two or more strings tuned to the same note in either unison or octaves. The Cuban tres has three "courses" (hence the name). Sometimes each course consists of three strings, instead of two, for a total of nine strings.

It should be added that the plucked string instruments in the Caribbean were probably replicas of Spanish guitars. Over time the natives developed their own distinct form and it became the main instrument for accompanying singers.

It started out as a mandolin-shaped instrument and gradually increased in size. It is said that the Cuban tres originated in the eastern area of ​​Cuba among the peasants they call peasants. They were influenced by songs in Spanish but mixed these styles with African elements.

The first musicians of the Cuban tres were Nene Manfugás, Arsenio Rodríguez, Isaac Oviedo and Eliseo Silveira. Aresenio is a very important figure in Afro-Cuban music.