For many persons, the bright, rapidly strummed sound of a Charango, along with the sound of  Panpipe flutes, typifies the sound of the music of the Andean region of South America (Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and parts of Chile, Argentina and Colombia.)  The charango is a small lute-like instrument resembling a mandolin, with ten nylon strings. It can be strummed, fingerpicked or played with a pick, and can lend itself to a variety of musical styles. The origins of the charango can be traced to medieval stringed instruments brought to the Andes by Spanish and Portuguese sailors and adventurers.  Local indigenous people quickly imitated these instruments using available materials, and the charango was born.  The birthplace of the charango is said to be the town of Aiquile, Bolivia, and while this can be disputed,  it is clear that primitive charango-like instruments had diffused throughout Bolivia and neighboring regions  in Peru, Chile and Argentina by the 1700's. The earliest example of a charango I have seen was a specimen dating to the 1680's in the anthropological museum at the University of  Vancouver, British Columbia.  It is crudely made from wood from an old crate and has four strings.  It is interesting to note that this specimen resembles a ukulele, and indeed the charango and ukulele share a common ancestry in the medieval lute-like instruments that were brought by ship to both the Polynesian islands and to the Andes by Europeans.

The charango was typically fashioned by the indigenous people of the Andes out of the shells of armadillos--in fact, the Quechua Indian word for charango, kirkinchu, also means "armadillo."  Nowadays professionally made charangos are made of a variety of hardwoods, and while charangos are still being made of armadillo shells, they cannot match the beauty, tonal quality or durability of charangos made of wood. The charango can be tuned to a variety of tunings, but one tuning found thoughout the Andean region is EE, AA, Ee, CC, GG.  The charango continues to be a popular instrument in the Andean region, and music featuring the charango is an important part of the daily spiritual and recreational life of the Quechua (Quichua) and Aymara Indians of the Andes.

BUYING A CHARANGO

In buying a charango, one should consider one's purpose in buying a charango. Is it meant to be a wall-hanger, a decorative piece that will never be played? In that case, an inexpensive instrument will do. As with  all musical instruments, there are different grades of workmanship (student, medium grade, professional.)  A professional quality instrument will cost more but will satisfy the tonal demands of  a discerning musician.  The finest quality instruments are made in Bolivia, and while good instruments are made elsewhere (Ecuador, Peru, Chile) it is Bolivia that has the longest tradition of making quality instruments, with entire guilds, neighborhoods and families in Bolivia employed in the construction of charangos.  Charangos sold on Ebay range widely in quality and price-- study the pictures and descriptions carefully and look for instruments made of quality materials and solid, careful workmanship.  Soundholes and purflings should be inlaid, not painted on, and a good instrument has tuning machines, not wooden pegs for tuners.  Charangos made of armadillo shells are generally tonally inferior to ones made of wood,  although they make fine conversation pieces. Charangos come in a variety of sizes; small charangos are called walaychos, and large ones are called ronroccos.

A variety of  recorded music exists for the charango.  Well-known charango players include the Bolivians Eddy Navia, Bonny Alberto Teran, Ernesto Cavour, among many others.  Other great players include Horacio Duran from Chile, and Jaime Torres from Argentina.  The Oscar-winning composer Gustavo Santoallalla from Argentina features the charango and ronrocco prominently in his music. Other examples of music featuring the charango are CD's from Los Kjarkas, Bolivia Manta and Luzmila Carpio, and the Italian group Trencito de Los Andes.