Guajeo/Cuban music 🪗

[Random Johnny]

Hi everyone,
I would like to play salsa or cumbia on accordion. There is a pattern called guajeo that pianists play in salsamusic. To get an idea you can follow the link to SoundCloud. It’s far from perfect but you can hear what I mean. I would like to learn how to play this. Maybe someone can help me out? With sheetmusic or what ever information could be useful? Thanks in advance!

Salsa langzaam 2.mp3

Guajeo accordion

on.soundcloud.com

 

[OuijaBoard]

You could try this book of collected sheetmusic described as noted for piano/vocal/guitar. It's titled "Pura Cumbia!" and apparently is one title in "La Serie Pura!" (I see a different volume titled "Pura Bachata!") Sometimes Amazon links to a sample of the contents, but I don't see that for this one. But if it has piano notation, hopefully there'd be enough to give you the gist to analogize to accordion.

https://www.amazon.com/Pura-Cumbia-Serie-Leonard-Corp/dp/0634054422/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3NYQV8V1P3I5Z&keywords=cumbia+piano&qid=1699134760&s=books&sprefix=cumbia+piano%2Cstripbooks%2C108&sr=1-2

I'm a traditional old-school tango fan and not familiar at all with cumbia and salsa--This isn't at all my end of the grazing pasture, but I see that many cumbia accordionists on the 'tube are playing small bisonorics like the vallenato musicians do, though there are also some PA or CBA folks. I see also that there's Columbian stuff and Cuban stuff. A relative of mine by marriage was the late master salsa drummer Francisco Aguabella, but I was familiar more with his jazz playing, as he toured and played with Eddie Palmieri and Dizzy Gillespie in his day as well as playing traditional salsa and religious drum for traditional Afro-Cuban sacred ceremonies.

But perhaps the "Serie Pura" book might help give you a sense of how the pattern goes. I've done this in other genres--grab a piano book when there's no accordion book to be had, to get a sense of the idiomatic conventions like bass vamping patterns (if any), and such.

Here also is a short thread from this forum showing a gent doing charming salsa rhythm on PA, though no sheet music suggestions:

Cuban Salsa in the accordion

I found this video and wanted to share it here because I think it is something different and very well performed:

www.accordionists.info

 

[OuijaBoard]

Here is another piano book I recently acquired but have not yet dipped into. I was online comparing accordion versions of Lecuona's "Malaguena," and stumbled on an album of Lecuona himself playing many of his shorter pieces on solo piano. Many of them were apparently based on traditional Cuban forms perhaps you know better than I---Perhaps some are Guajeo. I actually loved these pieces more for accordion than the famous (or infamous) "Malaguena." I fell in love with these shorter, more folk-based pieces and hunted around for a book. I found a 3-CD set of Lecuona playing many of these pieces on solo piano, and there is a sheetmusic book that includes many of the titles.

This book's table of contents showed many of the shorter pieces I liked hearing Lecuona play on solo piano, along with some of the "extravaganza" compositions.

https://www.amazon.com/Ernesto-Lecuonas-Piano-Music-Complete/dp/1480345687/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2NPMGZ9GEKY98&keywords=lecuona&qid=1699136765&s=books&sprefix=lecuona+%2Cstripbooks%2C126&sr=1-1

Here's a couple, "Danza Negra," and "Muneca de Cristal"--It's not salsa, but they are dance forms and seemed naturals for accordion renditions:

 

[Random Johnny]

You could try this book of collected sheetmusic described as noted for piano/vocal/guitar. It's titled "Pura Cumbia!" and apparently is one title in "La Serie Pura!" (I see a different volume titled "Pura Bachata!") Sometimes Amazon links to a sample of the contents, but I don't see that for this one. But if it has piano notation, hopefully there'd be enough to give you the gist to analogize to accordion.

https://www.amazon.com/Pura-Cumbia-Serie-Leonard-Corp/dp/0634054422/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3NYQV8V1P3I5Z&keywords=cumbia+piano&qid=1699134760&s=books&sprefix=cumbia+piano%2Cstripbooks%2C108&sr=1-2

I'm a traditional old-school tango fan and not familiar at all with cumbia and salsa--This isn't at all my end of the grazing pasture, but I see that many cumbia accordionists on the 'tube are playing small bisonorics like the vallenato musicians do, though there are also some PA or CBA folks. I see also that there's Columbian stuff and Cuban stuff. A relative of mine by marriage was the late master salsa drummer Francisco Aguabella, but I was familiar more with his jazz playing, as he toured and played with Eddie Palmieri and Dizzy Gillespie in his day as well as playing traditional salsa and religious drum for traditional Afro-Cuban sacred ceremonies.

But perhaps the "Serie Pura" book might help give you a sense of how the pattern goes. I've done this in other genres--grab a piano book when there's no accordion book to be had, to get a sense of the idiomatic conventions like bass vamping patterns (if any), and such.

Here also is a short thread from this forum showing a gent doing charming salsa rhythm on PA, though no sheet music suggestions:

Cuban Salsa in the accordion

I found this video and wanted to share it here because I think it is something different and very well performed:

www.accordionists.info

Love this guy. He’s a smooth operator on accordion. Lot’s of rhythm

 

[Random Johnny]

Love this guy. He’s a smooth operator on accordion. Lot’s of rhythm

You could try this book of collected sheetmusic described as noted for piano/vocal/guitar. It's titled "Pura Cumbia!" and apparently is one title in "La Serie Pura!" (I see a different volume titled "Pura Bachata!") Sometimes Amazon links to a sample of the contents, but I don't see that for this one. But if it has piano notation, hopefully there'd be enough to give you the gist to analogize to accordion.

https://www.amazon.com/Pura-Cumbia-Serie-Leonard-Corp/dp/0634054422/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3NYQV8V1P3I5Z&keywords=cumbia+piano&qid=1699134760&s=books&sprefix=cumbia+piano%2Cstripbooks%2C108&sr=1-2

I'm a traditional old-school tango fan and not familiar at all with cumbia and salsa--This isn't at all my end of the grazing pasture, but I see that many cumbia accordionists on the 'tube are playing small bisonorics like the vallenato musicians do, though there are also some PA or CBA folks. I see also that there's Columbian stuff and Cuban stuff. A relative of mine by marriage was the late master salsa drummer Francisco Aguabella, but I was familiar more with his jazz playing, as he toured and played with Eddie Palmieri and Dizzy Gillespie in his day as well as playing traditional salsa and religious drum for traditional Afro-Cuban sacred ceremonies.

But perhaps the "Serie Pura" book might help give you a sense of how the pattern goes. I've done this in other genres--grab a piano book when there's no accordion book to be had, to get a sense of the idiomatic conventions like bass vamping patterns (if any), and such.

Here also is a short thread from this forum showing a gent doing charming salsa rhythm on PA, though no sheet music suggestions:

Cuban Salsa in the accordion

I found this video and wanted to share it here because I think it is something different and very well performed:

www.accordionists.info

Fransisco Aquabella I remember he used to paint his face sometimes when performing. He was definitely into Santeria. Great player.

 

[OuijaBoard]

Love this guy. He’s a smooth operator on accordion. Lot’s of rhythm

Agreed! The thread comments note his channel shows him playing a variety of styles, and perusing them, he really just "has it," in terms of getting a feel for the idiomatic rhythmic patterns and making them swing. Another delightful accordion stylist (and character) in this vein is Basil Bunelik, whose youtube channel and website overflow with charming renditions in different world music styles on vintage accordions . . . with headwear appropriate to each.

Not exactly on point to your search, but here he is with a Peruvian rhythmic pattern:

 

[OuijaBoard]

]]]Fransisco Aquabella I remember he used to paint his face sometimes when performing. He was definitely into Santeria. Great player.[[[

Yes, and a gentleman in the truest sense of the term, as well.