String instrument | |
---|---|
Other names | Venezuelan Cuatro |
Classification | String instrument |
Hornbostel–Sachs classification | (Composite chordophone) |
Developed | Venezuela |
Related instruments | |
Ukulele, Cavaquinho, Guitar, Bandola (Llanera). |
The cuatro of Venezuela has four single nylon strings, tuned (ad'f#'b). It is similar in shape and tuning to the ukulele, but their character and playing technique are vastly different. It is tuned in a similar fashion to the traditional D tuning of the ukulele, but the A and B are an octave lower. Consequently, the same fingering can be used to shape the chords, but it produces a different inversion of each chord.[1] A cuatro player is called a cuatrista.