How to Play the Rumba: Songs, Techniques and Strategies

The Rumba is your complete, step-by-step system for mastering one of the most exciting and expressive styles on the nylon-string guitar. You’ll learn the essential rhythms, patterns, and strumming mechanics that give the rumba its unmistakable feel—plus deeper concepts like syncopation, golpes, triplet rasgueo, picado integration, and Gipsy Kings–style flair.

Inside, you’ll get two full original rumba compositions, detailed song studies, practical rhythm strategies, and play-along videos to help you lock in the groove quickly and confidently. Whether you’re new to rumba or ready to take your skills to the next level, this course gives you everything you need to sound authentic, rhythmic, and powerful.

*includes the entire Module 4 from The Ultimate Nylon String Guitar Guide and tons more songs, technique tutorials, video play-alongs, tabs and PDF guides! 

What You’ll Learn Inside The Rumba:

Inside this course, you’ll get a complete, step-by-step system for understanding, counting, and truly playing the rumba on nylon-string guitar. You’ll learn:

Rumba Fundamentals

• What the rumba is, where it comes from, and how it works musically

• 3 essential rumba patterns every player must know

• How to combine and vary rumba patterns to sound more authentic

• How to count rumba time and understand syncopation, groove, and feel

• Core rumba chord progressions, including the Andalusian cadence and i–iv–V7 patterns

• How to play rumba in the keys of Em, Dm, and Bm

Essential Techniques

• The Golpe technique (with Colombianas & Tangos variations)

• The Triplet Rasgueo taught step-by-step across three progressive lessons

• How to blend picado and rasgueo with combination exercises

• Expressive techniques for making your rumba sound alive, punchy, and rhythmic

2 Full Rumba Compositions (Created for This Course)

You’ll learn two complete original rumba pieces—designed to help you immediately use all the techniques:

1. “El Espejo” – A Rumba in E Minor

• Performance walkthrough

• Lesson 1 + Lesson 2

• Picado/Rasgueo technique integration

• Using the triplet rasgueo inside the composition

• Speeding up the riff for a powerful ending

• Full conclusion & practice guidance

2. “Espejismo” – A Rumba in A Minor

• Full performance

• Intro arpeggios

• Main theme

• Bridge

• B section

• Ending section using the triplet rasgueo

• Bonus: Romanza as a Rumba arrangement

Part 2: How to Play the Rumba

This module is a packed library of rumba techniques, rhythms, songs, and pro-level strategies—many of which include tabs, play-along videos, and detailed breakdowns not available on YouTube.

Rumba Technique Deep Dives

• 10 Essential Rumba Tips (Parts 1 & 2) — what to do and what to avoid

• Everything you need to play the Gipsy Kings rumba rhythm

• Gipsy Kings tricks for dramatic buildups, endings, intensity, and flair

• The famous McDonald’s Slap Technique explained step-by-step

• Whether to slap or not to slap — how to transform a simple groove with a 2-bar pattern

• A full study in E minor exploring picado + triplet rasgueo in real musical context

Rumba Songs & Studies

• How to Play “Moorea” (Parts 1 & 2) — one of the most popular rumba tunes on nylon string

• Deconstructing a popular rumba to understand what makes it work

• 3 Must-Know Rumbas from 3 maestros

• How to play “Romanza” as a rumba

• Flipping a famous rumba into a parallel key (“Tempestad”) and why it works

• Developing a Juan Martín-style rumba falseta

Play-Along Resources

• A full library of Play-Along Videos so you can practice every lesson at tempo

• Tabs (where applicable) included to make learning fast, clear, and accessible

Refund Policy: 30-Day Money Back Guarantee

I guarantee that if you use this product as directed for 30-days, you will see dramatic improvements in your playing.

If after 30-days you feel you have made no progress with this course, we will issue you a full refund.