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How to Play the Guiro
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These are all names that have been given to the different types of guiros throughout the years. I’m sure there are probably more names. Instruments in Latin countries are many times given names because of the shape, sound and makeup. In this lesson, we will be discussing the common guiros that are used in various cultures. All of these guiros have the carved ridges or grooves in common. The Afro-Cuba guiro is traditionally made from a gourd (see photo 1) and is a fragile instrument. This guiro is used in traditional Cuban music such as danzón, cha-cha-cha, guajira, charanga, and others. The ridges are fairly wide and a little far apart. This type of guiro is played with a small thin stick. This guiro (see photo 2) is used in traditional Puerto Rican music such as plena, danaz, bomba, jibaro (country) music, and others. Today, we fined some of the guiros made of plastic with a plastic stick as the scraper such as the LP Super Guiro. The Dominican Republic also has a guira. This instrument is made out of metal, and rather than ridges the metal is shaped in a cylindrical manner with hundreds of small round indentations (see photo 3). This particular guira has become very specialized, and hearing what some of these players have achieved is amazing.
This type of guira also uses a wire scraper similar to the Puerto Rican scraper and is used primarily for the rhythm of merengue. As I always mention in my clinics, videos and books, once you have learned the basic patterns played on these instruments, make up you own and try these instruments in different styles of music – pop, rock, funk, and so on. Holding the Guiro
The Puerto Rican guiro has two holes like the Cuban guiro. The difference in this case is the location of the holes (see photo 2). For this type of guiro, place your index finger in the one hole and place your middle finger in the other hole. As with the Cuban guiro, sometimes players prefer to hold the entire guiro in their hand. Another way of holding this particular guiro is by placing your thumb in one hole and laying the rest of the guiro in your palms. Classical and folklore players many times will play the guiro in this manner.
The Dominican guira has a handle attached to the back of the instrument. Here all you have to do is grab the handle firmly (see photo 3). The scraper is also held like the Puerto Rican scraper. Players always have their own ways of playing and holding their instruments. This is because most of the players have learned on their own and have not been formally instructed on the instrument. One thing to remember, though, is that the patterns are played with combinations of downstrokes and upstrokes. Let’s Play the Guiro The patterns you will be learning on the guiro are appropriate for all types of guiros discussed in this lesson. Some of the patterns have been created to be played on a specific guiro, in this case the Dominican guira. This is due to the nature of the music and fast tempos in which the instrument is used. In general, though, the standard patterns work on all instruments. What becomes important here is the sound that the player is looking to add to his or her music. Guiro Patterns All of these patterns are widely used and should become second nature and a part of your percussion vocabulary. 1. Cha-cha-cha or guajira, medium tempo
2. Charanga, fast or salsa or cumbia
3. Danzón, slow
4. Catá pattern for rumba (yambú, guaguancó, and the like), medium to fast
5. Bomba, fast to very fast tempo
The Guira All of these patterns are widely used in the merengue style. First learn one well and then begin adding other patterns as variations. As you get more comfortable, make up your own combinations. 1.
2.
3.
4.
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The guiros just discussed are held in different ways depending on which one you are playing. For example, the Cuban guiro has two holes and sometimes three on the opposite side of the ridges. Take your thumb and middle finer and place them in the holds. If there are three holes in the guiro, please you index finer in the center hole. Some players like to hold the entire guiro in their hands. Remember that I am showing how a right-handed player would hold the instrument. If you are left-handed, just reverse the position. The scraping stick is held in your opposite hand with you index finger around the stick as you would do when you are holding a regular drum or timbale stick.
The scraper is held partly in the palm of your hands. Take the wood portion of the scraper with your fingers around the edge of the wood, leaving the wires of the scraper exposed.
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