The Thousand Solutions Blog

What is an Charango? Get to Know This South American Instrument | Blog

Jul 21, 2022

Explore the regions of the Andes where you'll come across a pleasant, albeit somewhat peculiar, instrument for string: the charango.

Find out more about the charango, including the fascinating history behind it and various variants that you can find.

What is What is a Charango?

A string instrument that is very popular throughout the Andean region in Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Peru, a charango is a member of the family of lutes and can be found in dozens of regional variations throughout South America.

Charangos of about the size of the ukulele, were originally built from armadillo shells, though nowadays, it's commonplace to be made of wood. And what it lacks in dimensions the charango far more makes up for in sound and sound that's comparable in tone to a classic mandolin or guitar.

The roots of the charango can be traced to the 16 the century as well as it was the Aymara and Quechua people. The inspiration for the instrument is believed to be derived from the vihuela style of guitar that was introduced into the region by Spanish colonists. Through the years the charango was widely used and has been adapted to other regions, with variations which include the hollow-body charango and the grand charango and the electric charango with a solid body.

How Many Strings Does the Charango Has?

In addition to the variety of strings and courses available, the charango strings may also vary in material. Metal, nylon, gut and mixed-material strings are all options, which contribute to the distinctive sound produced by any style of charango performed.

   Have you just started playing guitar?

   Learn Guitar A Complete Beginner's Guide  

Types of Charangos

The particular differences between varieties of charangos can be smaller and occasionally more prominent but each features a distinct characteristic that distinguishes it from other varieties. Despite these differences, all are all part of the same family of charangos, and all have their roots in South America.

Here are five of most well-known varieties.

Walaycho

Charangon

Go up in size instead of down You'll receive the low-pitched charangon which is a variation with tenor which comes with an octave less than the normal charango. The idea was conceived by Mauro Nunez, a famous Bolivian composer and musician as well as the founder of Bolivian folk music.

Ronroco

As the size of a charango gets bigger, its pitch becomes smaller. This is the case with the ronroco, which is approximately five centimeters larger than the charangon. It is also described as a more bass or baritone Charango. It too came out of Bolivia and comes with five double courses of nylon string.

Chillador

The term chillador refers to two kinds of flat-backed Peruvian charangos that may have 10, 12 or 14 strings. Chilladors have the appearance of an instrument that is small and sounds more like a deep-toned ukulele. Strings may be steel or nylon they can be found in pairs and tripled course. Certain chilladors feature a variety of course lengths, such as the 12-string chillador which features two triple-strung courses.

Hatun Charango

The hatun charango is a different Pervuian invention. The word hatun translates as "grand the charango" and is a reference to the wide reach of this tiny yet powerful string instrument. This type of charango is very modern and has only been around since the year 2001. In contrast to the typical charango It actually only has 7 or 8 strings each of which is set as single string courses with only the final two strings, which are joined.

What is the difference between Charango and Ukulele Charango and a Ukulele

Comparatives between the charango and guitar are not surprising, considering that they are both small instruments that look and play similarly to guitars. In many ways, the charango is a lot like the ukulele's tenor. It is true that a charango has a wider neck than a ukulele, generally, and has 10 or more strings to the ukulele's four. There is also the matter of origin. The ukulele can be described as a Hawaiian instrument, whereas the charango is distinct South American.

If you're looking for other tiny, guitar-like instruments that hail from South America, check out the vihuela, tiple or cuatro.

   How to Write Better Music  

   Music Theory for Songwriters: From Beginner to Producer