Punto Guajiro (also called Punto Cubano) is the country music from
the Western and Central provinces of Cuba. This style began to become
popular around the end of the 18th century, mainly as a social event.
Remember that in the east there were changuis, in Havana and Matanzas
there were rumba's. The punto is the same thing, a party in which the
music played became a genre.
Lyrically, the form is always decima. The Punto is based on the lyric not the music. This is in contrast to Son and the related styles from the Eastern Provinces of Cuba. Because of
this the singers are known as poets not singers and a distinguishing
feature is that the lyrics are often improvised.
Punto Libre — (also called pinareño or
vueltabajero) This form comes from the western Provinces (Habana,
Matanzas & Pinar del Rio), and is probably the most recognizable.
The meter is always regular (in tempo) and another feature is the
instruments stop playing when the vocal starts singing. There is some
light plucking on the Laud or the Guitar. Another variation is Controversia.
Punto Fijo — (also called Camagüeyano) This form is
from the Central Provinces and has even spread to the east. the
distinguishing feature is that the accompaniment remains the same
during the vocal part. The patterns are always repeating.
Segadilla — This form is special as the end of the musical phrase does not coincide with the end of the vocal phrase.
Tonada— This is the peasant version of punto and is very similar although differences in harmony and lyric may be noted.
Punto Cruzado — In Punto Cruzado, the singer doesn’t start at a barline. Instead they come in on some arbitrary beat contrary to the band.
