However, to truly appreciate the charango, one must look beyond its physical characteristics and into its cultural and historical significance. The charango is more than just an instrument; it’s a symbol of resilience, cultural identity, and the enduring spirit of the Andean people. Introduced to the region during the colonial period, it’s a testament to the synthesis of indigenous and Spanish influences that shaped the Andean culture. Where it was developed is also in dispute- either in Bolivia, or in the central Peruvian Andes. Regardless of its origins, it is a great instrument. The charango family extends far beyond the traditional instrument that many are familiar with. A wide range of variations have emerged over time, each with their unique characteristics, adding a rich diversity to the world of charango music. claire charberet. "Federico Tarazona - The Hatun charango". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015 . Retrieved 6 May 2015. Nowadays, electric charangos are available, either solid-body electric or hollow-body acoustic-electric. The instruments with solid bodies are created in a way similar to that of small electric guitars.

The charango is featured prominently in the Simon & Garfunkel hit "If I Could", which was created with new vocals layered on top of the Los Incas recording of " El Condor Pasa." Charanguista Ernesto Cavour disagrees, and tends to support the second origin, maintaining that the word “charango” comes from a mispronunciation of the Spanish word “charanga”, meaning "brass band" (a reasonable corollary to 'military music played on wind instruments'). [15] There are metal string, nylon/gut string, and mixed-string charangos. Some metal-stringed versions have all strings at the same gauge. There are also solid-body electric charangos. See my Tunings Megatable for further such nerdery: more numbers, intervallic relations, comparative methods, etc. And to any genuine vibratory scientists reading: please critique my DIY analysis! How much a new charango or ronroco costs depends on the quality of the craftsmanship and the luthier involved. The quality of different instrument models tend to be categorized into four distinct groupings:If your charango goes out of tune, read my guide to why fretted instruments go out of tune, and how to fix it. 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 problem also arises if you’ve just bought a new instrument which has, in all likelihood, never been played until you’ve taken it out of the box. In the hands of a skilled player, or charanguista, the charango tells stories of love, struggle, joy, and sorrow, painting a sonic picture of life in the Andes. It’s embedded in the fabric of Andean society, a constant companion in festivals and an integral part of their musical education. History of the Charango This wasn’t his only professional obstacle, however. “I was completely timid as a young person,” said Cavour. “I was scared to get up to the microphone and play… I found it impossible to play in public, and when I did manage to, I’d start to stutter. My voice, my fingers… nothing responded, to t ORIGEN DEL CHARANGO". charango.cl. Archived from the original on 2015-01-07 . Retrieved 2014-10-16.Bajo Charango: This is a larger bass instrument, leaning more towards a guitar than a traditional charango. This innovation was crafted by luthier Mauro Nunez in the Cochabamba region. Its large resonating body, typically constructed from plywood, and six strings arranged in five courses, give it a lower sound, two octaves beneath the charango. Travel to Cusco to hear the beautiful music of the Andes, and maybe you’ll even find your next lovely instrument. Traditionally, the charango’s bowl-shaped soundbox was made from the hard shells of armadillos. Today, most charangos are made of wood, which for many players has a better sound (this also conserves poor armadillos!). Another theory proposes that the creation of the charango was an act of defiance. It is suggested that the Spanish colonialists prohibited the indigenous people from practicing their ancestral music. In response, the locals created an instrument that could be easily concealed under a garment such as a poncho, thus allowing them to continue their musical traditions in secret. The final theory claims that when the Spaniards colonizers prohibited the natives from playing their ancestral music, the charango was an attempt to create a lute that could easily be hidden under the native’s garments. The Origin of the Term Charango