Learning Vallenato Alberto Betancourt

Vallenato is a musical genre born in Colombia, in Valle de Upar. People born in that Region are called "Vallenatos" and so that name for this kind of music.

That genre has 4 different rhythms: Paseo, Son Vallenato, Merengue Vallenato, and Puya.

Each rhythmic pattern is a different stuff. So a tune is a Paseo, other tune a Puya, other tune a Merengue Vallenato, other is a Son Vallenato... Those patterns are not mixed in a same piece.

The typical Vallenato group is an ensemble of accordion, caja, guacharaca, and voices. The Vallenato accordion has buttons (no piano keys). The caja Vallenata is a very expressive drum similar to a low bongo. The guacharaca is a thin güiro.

In Dance groups are added bass, congas and timbales. Timbales-set has also Cymbal, cow-bell and wood-block. Rhythmic patterns are written for MIDI keyboard in standard kit (Midi Channel 10).

Paseo Vallenato:

Paseo is a 4/4 pattern in a medium tempo, more or less: q = 160.

This is the classical pattern for Paseo Vallenato. This bass figure is used in old classical Paseos.

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Paseo Vallenato in piano:

Son Vallenato:

Son is same pattern as Paseo but in a slower tempo like: q = 140.

Conga's figure may be played also by timbales, adding pulse in half-notes in cymbal or cow-bell, or wood-block.

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Merengue Vallenato: Merengue Vallenato is a 6/8 pattern, and it is very different from Merengue Dominicano.

It is an interesting polyrhythmic pattern in 2 & 3. Bass works as 3/4, caja works like 2/4 with triplets.

There are many figures in caja. I expose here some examples.

Tempo may be more or less: q. = 112

This is an exciting pattern for Merengue Vallenato:

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Puya: Puya is a fast pattern in 6/8.

Tempo may be more or less q. = 140.

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Piano patterns for Puya

Good luck and enjoy Vallenato.

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