What is Corridos Tumbados?

So what is it? Let’s define the genre. 

Corridos Tumbados is a modern Mexican style of music that takes elements of traditional songs (Corridos) and fuses them with that of trap/hip-hop and reggaeton. 

“(It’s) regional Mexican like the one you, or, I don’t know, your parents used to listen to; but with a younger seasoning, a younger regional Mexican…” -Natanael Cano to the LA Times

A Growing Genre from the Border  

While it’s difficult to cite the first official tune, the genre’s pioneer Nataneel Cano is considered Corridos Tumbados royalty. His 2019 hit “Soy el Diablo” was one of the first tunes that blended trap with Corridos and make headlines. 

This style of music went mainstream by 2022, and by the time 2023 rolled around, mixes of Corridos Tumbados had completely flooded YouTube. And while many associate the genre with Mexico alone, it originated on the border. 

“The peculiar border we have with the U.S., so culturally rich, is the place where many music genres combine…(The border) is where the first Corridos Tumbados came about,” describing them as “A combination of hip-hop with Mexican instruments.” -Saucedo to BBC

Where it Came From

Corridos Tumbados is a subgenre that has roots in Mexican folk tales and storytelling: Corridos is a traditional narrative song from Mexico. The elements of corridos can still be clearly heard in the genre today; it just has had a bit of a modern makeover.

• “Corridos”- Traditional Mexican songs that tell a story, a ballad

• “Tumbados”- Laid back, chilled-out

Another popular name for the genre is “trap corridos” because of the genre’s hip-hop influence.

Corridos of Old

Traditional corridos are narrative songs that tell stories of historical events, heroes, or everyday struggles. 

In the 19th century, corridos were ballads that were sung with guitar. The songs tackled daily life, criminals, journies, and historical events. They were extremely popular during the Mexican revelation. Their popularity even led them to influence American country music. 

This playlist will give you a feel for this type of ballad. One example of a traditional song from this genre is “La Cucaracha”, which everyone knows. It was even in my old Essential Elements band book back in elementary school…I digress. The main difference between Corridos and Corridos Tumbados is that the latter is far more urban. Both tell stories and help us make sense of life.

Themes and Lyrics of Corridos Tumbados

Lyrically, Corridos Tumbados tackles drugs, love, and life as a whole. Because some of the tunes detail the lives of drug lords and their acts of violence, Corridos are sometimes criticized. However, the one thing to note is that it’s real. That’s the beauty of the genre. it isn’t sugar-coated. 

Let’s look into some case studies of two popular Corridos Tumbados songs: “Ella Baila Sola” and “El Azul”. 

“Ella Baila Sola”: A Song of Longing

The chart-topping “Ella Baila Sola” is a song about two friends and a beautiful woman they see at a party. Here is the translation of the second half of the lyrics:

“I’m not a guy who has money But speaking of the heart, I’ll give you everything She grabbed me by the hand My buddy didn’t even believe it, it was me when I passed by

Her body I swear to God it was so perfect Her waist as a model Her eyes I fell in love from the beginning She likes it and I like it”

Source: Billboard magazine/Jessica Roiz

“El Azul”: An Example of Narcocorridos

Then there’s “El Azul”, aka “The Blue One” the song about a drug trafficker who was very much- real. His name was Juan José Esparragoza Moreno. This would be an example of the subgenre narcocorridos. Narcocorridos are corridos/songs that talk about drug traffickers both real and fictional. Here is an approximate translation of the chorus:

“And with the Ángel Azul corridón

I ask God's forgiveness for my sins

But that's the way it is” (Source: Genius)

As you can see, the themes of Corridos Tumbados are quite broad, ranging from songs of longing, heartbreak, and desire to what life is like when you’re involved in the cartel.

Corridos Tumbados Controversy

 Coridos Tumbados has become so popular that, on at least one occasion, the former Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador has even spoken up about it. According to the online magazine El Financiero, the president had said that he (and the government) would not censor artists, but that he would not stay silent on the matter.

"They are free, we are never going to censor, they can sing whatever they want, but we are not going to stay silent when they say that 'tachas' are good and that they have a 50 caliber gun, and that the most famous drug traffickers are their idols and those types of corridos with those lyrics aimed at young people. I am very ill-considered or cautious, I always ask who promotes all that” -Obrador (translated).

It poses an important artistic topic: How much should be censored? After all, narcocorridos reflect the world as it is: unabridged. 

Instrumentation 

• Guitars: Renquito, 12 string 

• Brass instruments: Charcheta, trombone, trumpets

• Trap beats, synths

• Folk instruments, hand percussion

• String bass 

• Vocals

Musically, the genre often incorporates acoustic instruments like guitars and bass but merges them with urban beats, auto-tune vocals, and has (of course) a modern production style. 

One guitar traditionally used in Corridos is called a renquito. You can think of it like a smaller classical guitar. It has nylon strings is tuned one-fourth higher than a standard guitar, and is usually about 40-41 inches long. This guitar acts as the lead or melody instrument. Corridos Tumbados sometimes use 12-string guitars instead of 6-string to beef up the sound. 

Another folk instrument I’d like to underline is the tololoche. This is a bass-type string instrument that is tuned in fourths and is surprisingly similar to the double bass (although it is somewhat smaller than the W. European double bass).

And while many of the brass instruments are familiar and common (trumpet, trombone) the Charcheta is another one you probably haven’t heard of. A charcheto is an alto horn, sort of like a euphonium or baritone. Another thing to note is that the brass technique for Corridos is very bright- oftentimes to the point where the sound is almost overblown.

Corridos Tumbados songs sometimes take Reggaeton-type synths. It may also borrow beats like the timeless dem-boy rhythm.

Famous Corridos Tumbados Artists and Bands

Peso Pluma- A famous Mexican singer and Corridos Tumbados artist his work on the song "Ella Baila Sola”

Natanael Cano- known for being “The King” of the genre. 

Ovi- Aka Ovi Crespo, is a Corridos Tumbados artist who collaborates with Cano. He is also known for his work in Latin Trap and Reggaeton. 

Dan Sanchez- A songwriter and musician who wrote many of Cano’s hits including “Soy El Diablo”

Victor Cibrian- Has a popular storytelling style inside the Corridos Tumbados genre.

Yahritza y su Esencia - A famous Corridos Tumbados trio which often features soulful dual vocals

Becky G- One of the most notable female Corridos Tumbados artists. She is known for her intimate vocal delivery and brass-infused songs.

Some artists also combine other genres with Corridos Tumbados. For example, Aleman is a rapper who collaborates frequently with Corridos Tumbados artist. Even Bad Bunny has gotten in on the genre with his release of “Un X100to” with Grupo Frontera. This song has a placid tempo/feel, and of course, Reggaeton vibes. 

How to Make Corridos Tumbados

Here are some of the most common ingredients inside the genre:

• A quick 3 feel 

• Guitars

• A prominent bassline

• Hand percussion 

• Rolling, strummy, feel

• Dark undertones

• Trumpet and other brass accents

• Guitaristic ornamentation (adornos)

Many Corridod Tumbados songs are in 3 and oftentimes hint at a minor tonality. Like the Corridos of old, they are also very ornamental. And while bright brass lines might sound crass on their own, pairing that with a strummy guitar pattern will likely result in a delicious sonic combination…

• Don’t shy away from distinct bright tones or dark/minor sounds

• Listen to hip-hop and reggaeton 

• Borrow elements of trap and R&B

Starting out with a solid track like a rhythm guitar, bass, or steady folk instrument will set up your Corridos Tumbados song for success. Later, add in little licks or ornamental parts. These are traditionally called ‘adornos’, and are like the icing on the cake. To be able to ice the cake, you need to make the base first! 

Artist Seth Cottingim wrote a Corridos Tumbados song in 2 hours or less, check out his process here to glean some more inspiration. He started with a 4-chord bassline.

 Not a virtuosic guitarist? Me neither. Let’s check out another way: Try this DAW with a pre-existing sound pack.

Creating Corridos Tumbados Inside of Soundtrap

• Again, start with a foundational layer: Think Guitar, double bass, or percussion 

• Import loops/tracks one at a time 

• Listen carefully at each step

• Watch your chromatics! 

Soundtrap has an original Corridos Tumbados Sound Pack, which was inspired by the singer Peso Pluma’s work. Inside you’ll find 114 total loops, loads of guitars and double basses, and song starters that have a rich full sound, with adornos already built-in. Soundtrap’s sample Corridos Tumbados song begins in an alluring 6/8 time with that rolling, lilting feel, with double-tongued brass accents. 

When stitching together your own track, be sure to listen carefully to each individual loop you eat... Even though the loops will import into the key, Corridos Tumbados loops tend to have a lot of half-step motion and chromatics inside (this is what gives the genre so much flavor). Use your ears, and carefully layer one track at a time to make sure no wanted ‘crunchy’ notes end up in your mix. 

One nice ‘quick trick’ you can use when writing Corridos Tumbados is to introduce a new instrument or timbre to aid in transitioning from one loop to the next. Feel free to make it your own and include electronica, Hip-hop, trap, or Reggaeton elements that you like into the mix. The genre is purposefully fusion, so go ahead and play with it. Who knows, maybe you’ll end up making a subgenre of your own.

Corridos Tumbados: Conclusion

Corridos Tumbados is a beautifully honest genre that is quickly making its way throughout the music world, spreading its fiery tenacity far and wide. The new genre combines traditional instruments with real-life experiences, and peppers in the darkness of trap resulting in a truly one-of-a-kind sound… 

So, does the music call to you? 

Try making Corridos Tumbados today for free inside Soundtrap.

About the author

Aleah Fitzwater is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, music journalist, and blogger from Temperance, United States. Aleah holds a Pk-12 instrumental music education degree. Her main instruments are flute, piano, drums, bass, and guitar.