🎶 Latin American Music Challenge | Week 5

Welcome to our tonebase Guitar Community Challenge! For the next few weeks, we’ll be diving into the vibrant world of Latin American music, exploring rhythms, colors, and styles that have inspired guitarists around the globe.

This is your chance to work on masterpieces and hidden gems by some of the most iconic composers:

  • Heitor Villa-Lobos (Brazil) – lush, virtuosic preludes and études

  • Agustín Barrios Mangoré (Paraguay) – romantic, poetic works full of soul

  • Abel Carlevaro (Uruguay) – brilliant studies and innovative techniques

  • Leo Brouwer (Cuba) – modern masterpieces mixing folklore and avant-garde

  • Manuel M. Ponce – sonatas, and romantic masterpieces

  • Antonio Lauro – famous Venezuelan Waltzes

  • Atahualpa Yupanqui – folk-rooted pieces

  • Jorge Morel – virtuosic concert works and arrangements

  • …and many more treasures from across Latin America!


How it Works

  1. Pick your piece(s) – anything from the Latin American repertoire that excites you.

  2. Introduce yourself – share what you’ll be working on and why.

  3. Post updates – you can share progress videos, practice tips, or reflections.

  4. Support others – comment, encourage, and learn together.


📅 When?

  1. Start: September 29th

  2. End: October 30th

  3. Watch Party: October 30th 🎉


Why Join?

✅ Discover new repertoire
✅ Build consistency in practice
✅ Get feedback from peers
✅ Celebrate Latin American music with the community


💡 Whether you’re tackling a full Villa-Lobos Étude, polishing a Barrios gem, or exploring a short Brouwer piece, this challenge is for everyone — from curious beginners to advanced players.

👉 Jump in by introducing yourself below and telling us what you’ll be working on!

Let’s bring the sounds of Latin America to life together. 💃🎶 

36 replies

null
    • Dale_Needles
    • 3 days ago
    • Reported - view

    Here is Agustin Carlevaro's arrangement of Astor Piazzolla's milonga, "Soledad".  As many of you know, Agustin Carlevaro was Maestro Abel Carlevaro's older brother. Agustin was an architect by profession, but he was also an accomplished guitarist and arranger of Piazzolla's music as well as other tango composers. I was fortunate to call Agustin a friend and have fond memories visiting him in his music studio in his home in Montevideo, playing music and talking about the Tango.  Even more special was to hear Agustin and Abel play duets of Uruguayan folk music from their childhood, something that I will never forget.

      • Ron.3
      • 2 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Excellent Dale - another one that's new to me, Your memories certainly sound very special.

      • Dale_Needles
      • 2 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Thanks, Ron. Yes, that was a special time in Montevideo in the 1980s hanging with Abel and Agustin Carlevaro. I was very fortunate. 

      • Reinhard
      • 2 days ago
      • Reported - view

       thank you for sharing this performance. In my mind I was in Buenos Aires while listening to it. I did not know this arrangement. I could listen to piazolla all day long and I consider to learn my first piazolla piece but I have not yet decided which one.

      • Dale_Needles
      • 2 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Thanks. You might want to check out Agustin Carlevaro's arrangement of Adios Nonino.  It is a great version and very playable. Piazzolla has been quoted to say that Agustin did some of the best arrangements of his works. It was published by Guitar Solo Publications.  If it is out of stock, let me know and I can email you a copy. 

    • matt.1
    • 3 days ago
    • Reported - view

    Here's my latest Candombatan from Maximo Diego Pujol.  Starting to come together.  I'm glad I did this challenge. I always need outside motivation to really make progress. I also did video for another Pujol piece I've been working on, Preludio Triston.

      • Retired
      • Jack_Stewart
      • 2 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Great progress on Candombaton, Matt. You have really brought all together. Very impressive!

      Your performance of Tristan was wonderful as well. I don't know this one (either of them actually). It has an interesting mood shift for the middle section. Well done.

      One observation, you occasionally have a buzz on the high strings when fretting with your 4th finger. (I get this also, probably why I notice it.) A small detail to focus on. Otherwise both performances were excellent.

      • Dale_Needles
      • 2 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Nicely played. Tristan sounds like it was inspired by Piazzolla. Also, liked hearing that candombe rhythm in the first piece. 

      • Ron.3
      • 2 days ago
      • Reported - view

       2 great performances Matt - I've really enjoyed listening to your playing and progress over the last month

      • Reinhard
      • 2 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Candombaton is new to me but I already knew preludio triston.  great performances. I really like how you apply different tone colors in preludio triston.

      • matt.1
      • 2 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Thanks Jack. I agree about the buzzing. It's annoying and I need to fix it. 😄

      • matt.1
      • 2 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Thanks Dale! I'm glad you noticed the rhythm.  I really struggle with syncopated rhythms.  I put a lot of effort into this one.  Hope it doesn't sound too square.

Content aside

  • 2 days agoLast active
  • 36Replies
  • 80Views
  • 10 Following