Charango
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The Charango is similar in shape to the ukulele, and is used to provide accompaniments in Latin American folk music. An armadillo shell originally formed the body of the charango ; today it is generally made of wood. The charango is played mainly by men and used primarily for courting and festival dances.
| Family |
| Strings |
| Pitch range |
| More than one-and-three-quarter octaves. |
| Material |
| Armadillo shell and/or wood, with steel strings. |
| Size |
| 17-25 in (43-64 cm) long. |
| Origins |
| The charango looks similar to a tiny Spanish guitar. It first appeared in the 18th century in the Andes, probably as a result of contact with Spanish settlers. |
| Classification |
| Chordophone: an instrument that produces its sound by the vibration of strings. |
| And also... |
| The charango or iginally gained its name from "kirkinchu," which means "armadillo" in the Quechuani language spoken in the central Andes region of Peru and Bolivia. |
