The Venezuelan cuatro (cuatro venezolano) is a smaller, four-stringed instrument that belongs to the guitar family and is often used for strumming. It arrived in South America with Spanish settlers, and it is an essential part of Venezuelan folkloric music. While traditionally used for rhythmic and harmonic support, a recent evolution in playing technique has made it capable of handling solo parts. The cuatro is used in various genres of Venezuelan music, as well as in other countries like Colombia, Trinidad & Tobago, and Aruba.
There are many skilled Venezuelan cuatro players, including Jorge Polanco, Jorge Glem, Hector Molina, Edward Ramirez, Luis Pino, Daniel Requena, Nil Lara, Juan Carlos Salazar, Henry Linarez, influential singer-songwriter Simón Díaz, and Rafael “Pollo” Brito.
Among the prominent innovators of the instrument is Hernán Gamboa, a founding member of Serenata Guayanesa, who left the group in the 1980s to pursue a solo career. Gamboa created a playing method known as “rasgapunteo” which has become a notable technique for playing the cuatro.
Another influential innovator of the Venezuelan cuatro is Fredy Reyna, who elevated the instrument’s playing capabilities to new heights while also creating a method for teaching the cuatro. Reyna’s solo performances on the cuatro earned him widespread recognition and admiration.
Leonardo Lozano Escalante is another master of the Venezuelan cuatro and is renowned for his ability to elevate the instrument to the level of a soloist. Lozano has composed, performed, and recorded several notable works for the cuatro and piano, chamber orchestra, and symphonic orchestra, further establishing the cuatro as a versatile instrument capable of handling complex musical arrangements.
Henry Linarez is a world-renowned cuatro player from Barquisimeto who has revolutionized the instrument by fusing Afro-American Jazz with Venezuelan Folkloric Music.
The Cuatro Declared Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Venezuela
On April 9, 2013, a momentous event took place as the cuatro was declared a Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Venezuela. This proclamation was made based on various considerations. The Venezuelan cuatro has evolved into a versatile instrument that is played in almost all of Venezuela’s folk music genres such as gaita and Zulian dance, calypso, carols, Christmas songs, parties, and entertainment. This instrument has found its place in various musical styles, including the galerón, polo, jota, malagueña, vals, pasaje, guasa, merengue, música cañonera, música campesina, the paso doble, fulía, tonada, polca, ritmo orquídea, the diamante, and the emblematic joropo. As a result, the cuatro has become a national cultural symbol of Venezuela’s musical expressions.
The cuatro is an essential instrument that adds to the diverse genres and musical, traditional, artistic, and cultural manifestations that typify Venezuelan heritage. It is an integral part of the celebrations of other festivities, sociocultural and religious events, and is considered a national symbol by musicians, makers, and creators of Venezuelan music. The versatility of the cuatro and its interpretive and sound acceptance has contributed significantly to the musical and cultural diversity that defines Venezuela’s musical temperament.
Furthermore, Venezuela adopted April 4 as National Cuatro Day.
C4 Trio
C4 Trio is considered one of the most innovative and exciting cuatro acts in the Venezuelan music scene. The group, composed of three Venezuelan cuatro players and an electric bassist, has created a unique sound that combines Venezuelan traditional music with jazz, Latin music, world music, and pop. They have surprised audiences with their virtuosity, creativity, and ability to extract a wide variety of sounds from the Venezuelan Cuatro. Since their formation in 2005, C4 Trio has collaborated with a diverse range of artists and has released six albums, including “Gualberto+C4″ and “Tiempo al tiempo,” which both won Latin Grammy Awards. Their latest album, “Back to 4,” produced in collaboration with Michael League (Snarky Puppy), was released in May 2022 under the Ground Up Music label. C4 Trio has performed extensively in America and Europe, showcasing the versatility and universality of the Venezuelan cuatro.
Band members include Jorge Glem, Edward Ramírez and Héctor Molina on cuatro; and Gustavo Márquez on bass.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.