| The difference between a regular, acoustic guitar and | | | | ensemble, which is how more modern contemporary |
| a Latin guitar is not all that widespread. An acoustic | | | | Latin music is enjoyed. The Latin guitar, keeping to its |
| guitar is an evolution of the Latin guitar in many | | | | namesake, uses what is called a clave, in order that |
| ways. When someone says they want to learn to | | | | the music produced falls within certain parameters. |
| play the Latin guitar, what they actually mean is they | | | | The clave is put together using a 3-2 progression and |
| want to learn to play an original guitar from the | | | | sometimes composed using other patterns. In full, a |
| Romantic era, or the Latin area of the world - namely | | | | clave is a musical pattern held to the rhythm of two |
| Europe. The Middle East and parts of Africa have also | | | | sticks that sort of lead the group as a composer |
| used a guitar for centuries and it is hard to decipher | | | | might lead a symphony. While some improvisation is |
| where the modern guitar takes most of its form. | | | | allowed, the group generally follows the beat of the |
| However, the Latin guitar is still played in Central and | | | | clave coordinator. |
| South America. It is also still played in Spain, and used | | | | When playing the Latin guitar, it is important that one |
| for such types of music as Flamenco. | | | | understands how Latin music is held together, made |
| The modern Latin guitar was enhanced and fully | | | | up of a beginning, middle, and end, with a generally |
| developed in Latin American countries, namely in | | | | long introduction. In fact, many northern American |
| Havana Cuba, where modern Latin guitar rhythms are | | | | listeners would say that the introduction is overly |
| rooted. Latin guitar often inspires dance and has been | | | | prolonged. But, for Latin music lovers, the introduction |
| said to inspire silent meditation on an almost religious | | | | gives the listener a chance to become involved |
| level. The reason, however, that many people want | | | | -letting the power of the music seep in and take |
| to learn to play the Latin guitar today is because the | | | | over. The middle of the song is followed by a band |
| genre of music has something that other types of | | | | that plays various chord progressions that intensify |
| music cannot come close to matching - rhythm. The | | | | as the playing continues. The piece is then ended by |
| player has to be able to concentrate and play | | | | playing something similar to the introduction, only |
| numerous rhythms at once and cross with other | | | | shorter, and something that leads to a feeling of |
| instruments that also add their own musical harmony. | | | | closure. All of these variables work together to |
| In the traditional, Cuban sense, other rhythmic | | | | create, hold, play, and end a piece of Latin music, |
| instruments, such as the congas, timbales, and other | | | | even when played on the guitar. |
| stringed instruments, always accompany the Latin | | | | For the best resource on how to Learn to Play Latin |
| guitar. Oftentimes, a piano or keyboard will join in the | | | | Guitar, read more at Learn and Master Guitar. |