The Charango: A Powerful String Instrument from the Andes

The charango is a small Andean stringed instrument, from the Quechua and Aymara populations in the territory of the Altiplano in post-Colonial times, after European stringed instruments were introduced by the Spanish. The instrument is widespread throughout the Andean regions of Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, northern Chile and northwestern Argentina, where it is a popular musical instrument that exists in many variant forms.

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[LuminousRaw]

Thank you for the gift of sharing this song in your voice. It's one of my favorite songs. I love hearing it in charango version.

[michaelc.vargas]

Hello well done my fellow American!!! I am from the USA and my parents are from Bolivia. Historically speaking the Charango is from Bolivia because it has history in Potosi where they found the first armadillos. This instrument was passed down from my father. I also play Charango as well!!!

[jamesvoigt]

The quintessential sound of Peru that I remember from when I lived there 50 some years ago.

[pablovasquezloayza]

Congratulaciones, tocas muy bien el charango . Saludos desde el Perú, el país de los Hijos del Sol.

[joecat]

Thanks for introducing another interesting instrument to me. Wonder what adding throat singing would sound like, seems like you were on the edge of doing so…

[johnnieguitar]

How is it tuned please? Which notes? Someone gave me one. Good post!

[Tatang]

Thank you for sharing... nice sound & interesting instrument... You too have a good day...

[gcruishank]

That is a gorgeous sounding instrument. Wondering if that what Gustavo Santaolalla plays on his song "Iguazu"?

[CloroxBleachTM]

I’d love to buy one but they’re really expensive in the US.

[mothersgauri]

Very cool ! I see you carry 2 types of sound hole. Can you say if sound is any different between the two? Thanks much.

[alsandoval]

What is thr name of the song you sing in the end?

[tarotgalaxy]

Beautiful instrument….wondering about incorporating this into sound baths

[georgehyde]

I have one but the back is carved into anadean face .looks Ecuador or Peru to me
But would this be a more village crafted piece?

[xaviervel]

Where can I find the tab for that song?

[lopezboys]

Hey do you think you could show us how to know what string decimal goes to which, because right now I’m trying to fix my Charango strings and we can’t figure out what string, (and it seems there’s a decimal number for each string and we don’t know which one it goes to, for example there is the 0.019, 0.020, 0.025, 0.028, 0.030, and last 0.033) do you think you could show us which string goes to which bracket

[alakazam]

So it's a 10 string ukulele with an extra E string
It's like this was made for me

[estherbjerga]

I have been searching for this song played on a churango for so long and I can’t find it 😭 it’s a modern day sort of dark/haunted sounding religious song. I think it might be called undone or at least that word is a strong theme in it. If anyone finds it let me know. 😭😭😭

[RavioliHeichou-Haru]

My father is very skillful with the charango yet he refuses to teach me "yadda yadda parents arent good teachers", so I was wondering how I can learn this instrument properly. My Spanish is scuffed so I'd love some English advice

[franciscojavierortegacanti]

It's Bolivian....i'm from Chile tough

[GorShaman]

S miru po nitke - mertvomu - rubaha...