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Charango

The charango is a small Andean lute that was traditionally made from the body of an armadillo. There are a number of types and sizes with four to fifteen strings, and a wide range of tunings. The most common charango has ten strings arranged in double courses. The charango is usually performed in a small ensemble with guitar and flutes to accompany singing. The charango is as percussive as it is melodic. Often, very complex staccato rhythms are played in chords with a characteristic strumming technique. The fiery technique and rhythms of the charango have made it a very popular world instrument..

Country: Peru, Bolivia
Region: South America
Type: lute

Charango - small lute form Peru and Bolivia
©  R. Raine-Reusch, May 2002