The basic 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 charango players use “octave” strings on other pairs in addition to the middle course.

Note that the lowest pitch is the “E” string in the middle (3rd) course, preceded by the higher pitched “g” (5th) course and “c” (4th) course, and followed by still higher pitched “a” (2nd) course and “e” (1st) courses. 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, but progress from high to low and then back to high pitch again.

Charangos, which are about the size of a ukulele, were traditionally made out of armadillo shells, though today it’s more common to find them made out of wood. And what it lacks in size, the charango more than makes up for in sound, with a powerful projection that’s similar in tone to a classic guitar or mandolin.

Because of our values on the conservation of endangered wildlife we only sell wooden Charango’s.

Artists who play the Charango – Blanco White

Blanco White is the guise of guitarist, singer and songwriter Josh Edwards (born July 21, 1991), a Brit whose heart belongs in southern Spain and the Andean mountains.

At university Josh threw himself into studying Spanish, and originally from London, Edwards travelled to Cadiz (Spain) to study flamenco guitar under the guidance of Nono Garcìa, before going to Sucre (Bolivia) where he was introduced to traditional Andean musicà folklòrica (folk music) and learnt to play the charango, an Andean instrument.

Both instruments along with the places are pivotal to Blanco White’s hauntingly beautiful songwriting and otherworldly tunes, and architecture is a prominent feature in the visual art for the project.