How to play a Guiro

By | April 7, 2021

1.

Hold the guiro. There are two ways to hold the guiro if it has two holes. Put your index finger in the upper hole and the middle finger in the other hole, or put your thumb in the upper hole and put the rest of the guiro in the palm of your hand. If the guiri has three holes, place your index finger in the center hole and let the rest of your fingers squeeze the instrument.

2.

Hold the scraper. The scraper bar is held in the opposite hand and inserts your index finger around the stick as you wish when holding a drum.
If you use a scraper, hold it partially in the palm of your hand. Pull your fingers together around the edge of the wooden part and let the conductors in the scraper be detected.

3.

Pull the scraper or hold over the tracks to get music from the guiri. To play an average tempo, such as cha cha, play using a downward, upward pattern of quarter notes. For a faster pace, such as a salsa, use a downward pattern.

Tips and warnings

  • Guiro can follow many rhythms and there are many ways to play it. The more familiar you become with the sounds it produces, the better you will be able to play different rhythms. Remember to play in & #FCFC; iro usually requires both long and short sounds made using long or short strokes.
  • Guiro is a percussion instrument made from a poured gourd. It has two holes cut in one side and parallel grooves cut horizontally along the opposite side. It is played by rubbing a wooden stick or scraping along the tracks to create a rasping sound. The scraper is usually made of a small block of wood with metal sticks attached to it. It can also be made entirely of wood, metal, bamboo, shell, bone, ceramic or plastic. The size of g u0026 # xFC; iro can vary greatly but is usually between 12 and 16 inches long.
    Traditionally, this instrument is believed to have been recorded by Ta & # xED; no Indians, but some claim that it was created and brought to Puerto Rico and Cuba by the Arawaks. Varieties of guiro are played all over Latin America and are known by many different names, such as Guira, Ghicharo, Guayo, Rayo, Calabazo, Ralladera and Rascador. G u0026 # xFC; iro is often used in Latin American music and plays an important role in many typical rhythm sections.

    Source:danspela.com