Charango

Product Information

Today, charangos are most commonly made from different types of wood, each offering its own unique qualities to the sound of the instrument. Woods such as mahogany, maple, chestnut, and oak are popular choices, each contributing their own character to the charango’s tone. For instance, maple offers a beautiful visual aesthetic, chestnut provides incredible sonority, and oak, while not typically considered a tonewood, has proven to be an excellent choice for a charango body due to its unique acoustic properties. These woods are not only chosen for their acoustic qualities, but also their durability and resistance to warping, ensuring the instrument can stand the test of time. The only exception to this rule is the middle two strings, which are tuned an octave apart (referred to as ‘octaves’). Although the charango has 10 strings, these are always arranged in matching pairs (or ‘unisons’, using a technical term).

One of the most complete contemporary statements on the origin of the term "charango" appears in the introduction to Duran and Pedrotti's, Charango Method, ostensibly the first complete, bilingual charango method to be published:Its exact origins are uncertain and several theories have been proposed- that it derived from the Spanish vihuela, or from the lute, or the mandolin, or the Canarian timple. Obviously this is down to personal taste, but a few things you should bear in mind first, before making your decision, are:

The charango’s cultural significance is as deeply layered as the music it produces. An integral part of Andean culture and traditions, this small instrument plays a large role in the region’s musical tapestry. Beyond its musical contributions, the charango also serves as a potent symbol of identity, resilience, and cultural pride in countries like Bolivia and Peru. Other factors can also have an effect on pitch stability, including drastic changes in temperature and humidity, as well as transportation and vibration.

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Monsieur Periné, a Colombian group, features charango in many of their songs, mixing Colombian folk rhythms with gypsy jazz.

Learning to play the charango is an adventure in musical exploration. As with any instrument, it requires a blend of technique, practice, and a touch of creativity. This small Andean instrument with its ten strings, arranged in five pairs, may seem daunting at first glance, but once you familiarize yourself with its unique characteristics, you’ll find it a joy to play. I would say the ronroco isn’t the ideal instrument for a five or six-year-old, because of the larger body and corresponding longer scale length and fingerboard configuration.

What is Charango: Table of Contents

Your Connection to traditional and contemporary World Music, including folk, roots, global music, ethno and crosscultural fusions Morcheeba, an electronica group, has an album entitled Charango, which includes a song called Charango, featuring rapper, Pace Won. A charango (kiejtése kb. „csárángo”) kis gitárra emlékeztető húros, pengetős hangszer, elsősorban Dél-Amerika andoki vidékein használt népi zeneszerszám. Létezik egy kisebb, magasabbra hangolt változata, a walaycho (kiejtése kb. „uálájcso”), és egy mélyebb, testesebb, ennek neve ronroco (kiejtése kb. „ronroko”).

A régi amerikai civilizációkban a húros hangszerek ismeretlenek voltak, a charango mintájául szolgáló hangszer bizonyára a spanyol hódítók által használt vihuela, vagy inkább az öt húrpárral randelkező későbbi barokk gitár lehetett. Az egykor ezüstbányáiról híres Potosí vidékén jelent meg először, kezdetben gitárszerű kávás testtel épült, majd a fában szegény hegyvidéken egyéb építési anyagok is előtérbe kerültek, mint például a quirquincho nevű övesállat páncélja. Az Andok kecsuák és ajmarák által lakott vidékein terjedt el, elsősorban a meszticek és az indián őslakosok között. To illustrate this, here are two excellent samples of the instruments being played. The first is Benn Jordan playing the Ronroco, which he says is his favourite instrument: A smaller cousin of the charango is also popular in Andean folk music. It’s called the walaycho (or sometimes the hualaycho or walaychu – pronounced Wul-eye-cho).Rohter, Larry (14 August 2008). "Gustavo Santaolalla's Film Scores Are Minimalist and His Tango Is Newfangled". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved 13 September 2017. The Hatun Charango or "grand charango" is an extended-range charango developed in Peru in the modern era. It has either seven or eight strings, all set in single string courses except for the third course, which is double-strung. It is tuned (A3) • D4 • G4 • C5 • E5 E4 • A4 • E5 [24] Charango bodies awaiting finishing touches. I requested a more traditional looke like the one on the left.Yelkon sent me a photo of some unfinished charango bodies so I could choose the design I liked. Needless to say I was getting very excited… The charango, a treasured emblem of Andean music, has undergone significant evolution over the centuries since its conception. Its journey is a testament to the dynamic nature of musical instruments, reflecting the changes in societal and cultural contexts. In this chapter, we will discuss the transformation in the design and construction of the charango, the emergence of electric charangos, and the future directions for this unique instrument’s development. Changes in the Design and Construction of the Charango Over Time