The Argument of Time.
I’m sitting with a visiting Tanguero in NYC while I wait for a truck to move a friend. And we get into a quick scuff up about Valz time. I say that Argentine Tango can be broken down and taught in 4, 3, 2 time. He argues back that its 4, 6, 2. I look at him like he’s got six heads, and tell him he’s flat out mistaken. 6 ? Let’s back up a bit…to clear things up.
Tango is 4/4 time. Vals is 3/4 time. Milonga is 2/4. Hence the 4,3,2. Got it. So what was he on about ? That Vals is 6/8 time. And that he knows a few musicians that will correct me endlessly. I point out to him that Vals is 3/4 time and then go on to show him several resources to back up my assertion. He waives that off to point out that there is a subtle difference in 6/8 time that makes it radically different from 3/4 time. Again shaking my head at him, I point out that they are the same thing, then go on to point out one thing that we both agree on which is this, when you are counting time in Vals, you count “One, Two, Three” with the primary beat being on the 1, and not the 3. Although there is a Vals rhythm, several in fact, that you can put to that so that emphasis is on the 3, and not the 1. Its very similar in temperature to the idea of Sincopa in Tango where you have a strong and a weak beat.
Naturally we agreed to disagree, and went back to our respective corners to argue another day (smile).
Noted reading so that we’re all on the same page:
Dos, Cuatro, Sincopa, and in case that link is dead, you can go here.
Also please look at this YouTube Video on Sincopa and Musicality.