 Tiple, classic 12-string musical instrument | |
| String instrument | |
|---|---|
| Classification | String instrument (plucked) |
| Hornbostel–Sachs classification | 321.322 (Composite chordophone) |
| Playing range | |
| C3 - A5 | |
| Related instruments | |
| Colombian tiple, Timple | |
A tiple (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈtiple], literally treble or soprano), is a plucked typically 12-string chordophone of the guitar family. A tiple player is called a tiplista. The first mention of the tiple comes from musicologist Pablo Minguet e Irol in 1752. Although many variations of the instrument exist, the tiple is mostly associated with Colombia, and is considered the national instrument. The Puerto Rican version characteristically has fewer strings, as do variants from Cuba, Mallorca, and elsewhere among countries of Hispanic origin.