Origins of Charangohoriz copy

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 reentrant 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 String
E
A
E Lower Octave
E Higher Octave
C
G
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