THE CHARANGO Legend of the Charango

A legend tells of a little boy from a far, far away village who would listen to

the Elders play their Charango. The boy too, wanted to play it different

from all the rest. One day while in search of a Charango master he encountered a Llama.

The boy said “I am looking for a Charango master.” The Llama

responded by saying “Walk up the mountain top and you will meet one

there.” The boy walked and walked till he reached a small shack. There he rested and

waited till the sun set. Deep in his slumbers, he saw butterflies in his dreams, he could hear

the sound of a strumming Charango, but could not make sense of its’ meaning. On the second day he came closer to the mountain top. At one point he met a condor. Its’

wings flapped wide, and the boy once again heard the strumming of the Charango. On the

third day of his journey he reached the mountain top. “What is this?” said the boy, “why

have I travelled so far only to find butterflies?” Tired and angry he rested. Suddenly, a butterfly came to him and said, “My boy, why don’t

you strum your Charango as I strum my wings.” Then the boy looked and spread his fingers

like the butterfly wings. Taking his Charango, he bent his index finger and used it to strum

the strings his thumb acting as the head of the butterfly. From that day on he called it Butterfly Strumming. With this Charango music was born, again. Tuning a Charango

The word Charango comes from the kichwa word of “chaj-wacu” which means

happiness and allegre in Latin or “Charangere” in Spanish meaning “bullangero”

for rowdy.

There are three variations of Charangos. The large size called Ronroco is

approximately 45cm in length, the medium size (common played Charango) is

approximately 35cm in length. And finally the small size called “Maulinchos” better known in

the Andes as “Chillon” meaning “out loud.” It is approximately 23cm in length.

The charango has five pairs (or courses) of strings, typically tuned GCEAE. This tuning, disregarding octaves, is similar to the typical C-tuning of the ukulele or the Venezuelan cuatro with the addition of a second E-course. Unlike most other stringed instruments, all ten strings are tuned inside one octave. The five courses are pitched as follows (from 5th to 1st course): G4 G4 - C5 C5 - E5 E4 - A4 A4 -E5 E5.

Some charanguistas use "octave" strings on other pairs in addition to the middle course. Note that the lowest pitch is the 1st "E" string in the middle course, followed by the "g" course, then the "a" course, then the "c" and finally the "e" strings. This tuning pattern is known as a re-entrant pattern because the pitches of the strings do not rise steadily from one string or course to the next.

The charango tuning is a very narrow tonal range in most chords, and so there is a tremendous wall of sound. Seventh and ninth chords shimmer more than on a guitar due to the close harmonies the instrumentalist can create a harp-like sound with close intervals. With intervals like minor 2nds and major 2nds fingered on different strings, the charango player can play sustained melodies at rapid speed with an alternating thumb/finger pattern.

Learn to play

Charango CHARANGO TUNNING

The TREBLE or G CLEF SIGN is the musical definition for the Charango instrument

First String Second String Third String Fourth String Fifth StringE A E Lower Octave C G

E Higher Octave

Free Stroke Method for Charango Solos

We will use the terminology of Free Stroke on the right hand to play musical notes on the Charango. The Free Stroke is commonly used to finger pick the strings to perform solos and chord prgression melodies. Please note that Free Stroke does not mean strumming of chords. Like a classical guitar or Spanish guitar the Free Stroke is a common technic for a Charango.

As shown on this illustration fingers have been numbered to follow the chord finger chart