How to play vallenato on guitar: paseo, merengue, and easy chords

The guitar's role in vallenato

Traditional vallenato is played with accordion, caja, and guacharaca; the guitar appears mainly in modern ensembles, alongside electric bass and congas (we explain this in the instruments of vallenato). When you accompany on guitar, your role combines three things: the bass, which plays the chord's root, the strumming, which provides harmony and a pulse, and the guacharaca's subdivisions, which fill the space.

That's why the basic pattern isn't steady up-and-down strumming, but a kind of "bass, chord, bass, chord." Understanding that idea matters more than memorizing little arrows.

Paseo in 2/4: the basic strumming pattern

Paseo is the most common rhythmic style in vallenato songs. It's in duple meter: two beats per measure. It's usually written in 2/4 (other authors use 2/2 or 4/4) and counted "1 and 2 and." Here are two patterns, from easier to harder:

Start with pattern A. On the beat, play just one bass note, and on the "and," play a short, crisp stroke across all the strings in the chord. Once that feels comfortable, try the variation: the root on beat 1 and the chord's fifth on beat 2. That's what creates the characteristic back-and-forth feel.

This pattern adds an upstroke after the chord and sounds more like what the guacharaca does. Master pattern A first; this one only makes sense once the first feels automatic. If you need a refresher on reading the arrows, see our guide to guitar rhythms and basic strumming patterns.

Alternating bass notes: imitating the band's bass player

What separates "campfire" strumming from a pattern that sounds like vallenato is alternating bass notes. On each strong beat, you play a different bass string from the chord, almost always the root followed by the fifth. Here are the most comfortable options for the most common chords:

The F in the table is the simplified F chord (fingers 1, 2, and 3 on the higher strings), with the bass on the 4th string. If you're still struggling, learn the barre technique first with our guide to playing barre chords on guitar.

This is also what a bass player does in a band; if that role interests you, see guitar or bass: which should you learn? or our electric bass lessons.

Vallenato merengue in 6/8

Merengue is the vallenato style with a triple subdivision: it's written in 6/8, with two groups of three eighth notes counted "1 2 3 4 5 6" that feel like two big beats per measure. It's more nimble and bouncy than paseo.

Accent 1 and 4, and use those beats to alternate the bass note (root on 1, fifth on 4), just as in paseo. The difference is in the feel: here you count in threes rather than twos. If you want to practice with a click, the metronome lets you select a 6/8 time signature.

Easy chords and vallenato progressions

Many vallenato songs are built on the tonic (I), subdominant (IV), and dominant (V) chords, sometimes with the relative minor. Here are three progressions to get started, in three guitar-friendly keys:

Every key sounds different, and the voice comes first. You'll find more chords and combinations in basic guitar chords for beginners. Vallenato recordings are usually in keys that suit the accordion and singer, so if the key doesn't match your voice or the recording, use a capo or transpose; our guide to easy guitar songs includes a vallenato classic for practicing chord changes at a good pace.

Songs to work toward

Once you've mastered a basic paseo pattern, find the key in the recording and work out the accompaniment by ear with classics like “La gota fría” (Emiliano Zuleta), “Matilde Lina” (Leandro Díaz), or “Los caminos de la vida” (Omar Geles). Listen several times before playing: pay attention to what the bass does and when the chord changes.

How to accompany a singer

Vallenato is built around songs: the voice tells a story, and the guitar supports it. Here are some ideas to make your accompaniment sound professional:

• Follow the singer's tempo. If you're singing, choose a tempo at which you can speak the lyrics clearly. If you're accompanying someone else, let them lead.
• Play more softly under the voice and increase the volume during instrumental passages, when the singer rests.
• Change chords right on beat 1 of the measure to give the singer a clear reference.
• Bring phrases to a close. At the end of each line, you can let the chord ring and take a brief breath with the singer.
• Listen to the singer, not your right hand. If the voice speeds up, follow calmly.
• Mute the strum with your palm on a subdivision if you want to imitate the guacharaca, using a short, dry stroke.

If you also want to sing, check out our singing lessons: accompanying yourself is one of the most useful skills you can learn.

A four-week practice plan

1. Week 1: bass and chord. Practice paseo pattern A with a single chord (C major), about 10 minutes a day, with a slow metronome. Keep your right hand relaxed.
2. Week 2: alternating bass notes. Add the chord's fifth and move on to the C – F – G7 progression, one chord per measure.
3. Week 3: tempo and another key. Increase the click by a few beats only when you can play it cleanly twice in a row. Repeat in G – C – D.
4. Week 4: merengue and a song. Learn pattern A in 6/8 and work out a simple song by ear, or with a teacher's help.

For the click, use the vallenato metronome. Keep in mind that page counts paseo in 2/2, meaning half notes: one half note equals two quarter notes in your 2/4 measure. Start very slowly and build up gradually, because recorded paseos are usually much faster than your hand can manage at first. Before starting, tune your guitar.

How a teacher helps you play vallenato on guitar

Much of vallenato is learned by ear, and a teacher can help you get there faster: they check your right hand, where most of the work happens, teach you to work out chords from a recording, and adapt the repertoire to your level. Lessons can be at your home, with in-home music lessons in Bogotá (depending on each teacher's availability), or by video call wherever you are, with online music lessons.

Message us on WhatsApp, tell us which songs you want to play, and we'll look for a teacher who fits your level and schedule.

Frequently asked questions