Tres (instrument)

Cuban tres

Cuban tres
String instrument
Other names	Tres, tres cubano
Classification	String instrument
Hornbostel–Sachs classification	321.322 (Composite chordophone)
Developed	19th century in eastern Cuba
Related instruments
Bandola, bandurria, laúd, Spanish guitar, tiple, cuatro

The tres (Spanish for three) is a three-course chordophone of Cuban origin. The most widespread variety of the instrument is the original Cuban tres with six strings. Its sound has become a defining characteristic of the Cuban son and it is commonly played in a variety of Afro-Cuban genres. In the 1930s, the instrument was adapted into the Puerto Rican tres, which has nine strings and a body similar to that of the cuatro.

The tres developed in the second half of the 19th century in the eastern region of Guantánamo, where it was used to play changüí, a precursor of son cubano.^[1] Its exact origins are not known, but it is assumed to have developed from the 19th century Spanish guitar, which it resembles in shape,^[2] as well as the laúd and bandola, two instruments used in punto cubano since at least the 18th century.^[2] Tres playing revolves around the guajeo, an ostinato pattern found in many Afro-Cuban music styles. Tres players are commonly known as treseros (in Cuba) or tresistas (in Puerto Rico).