The charango was invented in the Andes during the colonial period, when Andean musicians heard the Spanish lute and decided to make their own version using local materials. They made the body from the bony shell of the quirquincho (a small armadillo). This clever adaptation blended two worlds of music together. Today, to protect armadillos, charangos are made from carefully shaped wood.
The charango has a very distinctive, jingly sound — all ten strings vibrate together, which makes it brighter and fuller than a regular guitar or ukulele. It is often played at festivals and family celebrations, and musicians can play extremely fast, intricate patterns on it. Watching a skilled charango player is mesmerising.
Different regions of Bolivia have slightly different charango styles and tunings. In some areas the instrument is larger; in others it has a different shape. Learning the charango is a point of great pride in Andean communities, and children often start learning when they are quite young.
The charango is closely linked to Andean music and often plays alongside panpipes (zampoñas), flutes (quenas) and drums. Together these instruments create the distinctive sound of Bolivian folk music. You can hear the charango in traditional festivals, modern songs, and even in international concert halls.