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Afro-Cuban piano tips: how to master the montuno

By Keyboard Magazine last updated October 07, 2021

Learn the essentials of these repetitive rhythmic patterns

(Image credit: Getty/xavierarnau)

What has always appealed to me about Afro-Cuban music is that it's simultaneously pianistic and percussive. Unlike in traditional jazz, the piano's
role is often to play a repetitive rhythmic pattern known as the montuno or tumbao.

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Much of the magic in Afro-Cuban music comes from the fact each instrument in the rhythm section (including bass, congas, timbales, and bongos), has
its own tumbao, which interlocks into a rhythmic matrix. To get you started in your own Afro-Cuban piano adventures, here are some typical piano parts
I play in this style.

Ex. 1 illustrates a tumbao adapted for piano from the tres, a six-stringed guitar from Cuba, and is often used for eZect when a more
traditional tumbao sound is desired. I play this pattern on the song "Pueblo Nuevo" on my CD El Medico de Coqui. This basic rhythm is developed in the
next four examples.

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Ex. 1. Traditional tumbao (Image credit: Future)

Ex. 2 demonstrates a montuno pattern played over a I-IV-V-IV chord progression, which is very common in Latin music. When constructing a montuno,
you often play octaves on the root, third, and `fth. Here, we're playing octaves on the third of C, the root of F, and up a half-step to an octave on the root
of G.

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Ex. 2. Montuno progression (Image credit: Future)

Pablo Moya, a great tresero from New York City, showed me Ex. 3. This is another instance of the strong link between the tres and the piano in popular
Cuban music. Notice the movement in octaves between the root of C, the third of F, and a half step-up to the third of G.

Ex. 3. Tumbao Tres (Image credit: Future)

Ex. 4 takes a montuno through a progression of major and minor seventh chords. Notice how the sevenths are in octaves, emphasising the voice leading
between chords. Hint: When playing a progression that goes from minor seventh to a dominant seventh chord, use the seventh of the `rst (minor) chord
to move to the third of the dominant chord.

Ex. 4. Major and minor montunos (Image credit: Future)

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Ex. 5: Bonus example (Image credit: Future)

Nicki's playlist
"The most important thing about learning Afro-Cuban piano is to listen," advises Nicki Denner, who has performed with Sheila E., Savion Glover, and
Candido served on the faculty of the Stanford Summer Jazz Workshop, and leads all-female Latin jazz group Cocomama. "Artists I've been inspired by
including Eddie Palmieri, Papo Luca, Ruben Gonzalez, Noro Morales, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Tiempo Libre, Los Van Van, and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra."

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