North America

In Canada and USA (including Hawaii) we find mainly the instruments already mentioned in the general historical chapters : (acoustic and electric) guitars, mandolins, banjos, dulcimers, etc.
Also included on this page is Oceania, with Hawaii and Tahiti.

Mexico is the ultimate source for plucked stringed instruments : a very wide variety of different models and sizes; and in most of them you can still recognize the original smaller size European guitars of the 17th century, with 5 strings or double courses.

More plucked instruments of America you can find in : Central America/Caribbean (Cuba, Puerto Rico, Panama) South America (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Chili)

In the United States plucked stringed instruments are quite popular and are used in typical American style music :

bluegrass :
steel string guitar, 5 string banjo, mandolin, dobro, (plus standing bass and fiddle)

country :
electric (solid body) guitar, (pedal) steelguitar, electric bass guitar, (drums)

folk :
autoharp, appalachian dulcimer

See for all those instruments the general instrument pages.

ukulele

The ukulele is the small guitar of Hawaii. It originated from the rajão (the tuning) and braguinha (the size) of Madeira (see page EuropeWest), which both arrived on the islands in 1879. The ukulele (also spelled ukelele) was soon very popular. After the Hawaiian music reached the USA during the 1920's (together with the Hawaiian guitar) a few million of these instruments were made.

The instrument is made like a small guitar, and the better (more expensive) ones are made from koa wood. But even the cheap plastic ones are said to produce an acceptable sound.

The tuninghead usually is flat, with friction pegs or machine tuners, and some instruments have a guitar-like head. The body shape can look like a spanish guitar, a mandolin, a pineapple, a sigarbox, etc. The fingerboard is slightly raised above the soundboard. The bridge is guitar-like and fixed to the front.

The ukulele comes in different sizes : the normal soprano (scale 34cm), the concert (39cm), the tenor (44cm), the baritone (49cm).
All have the same guitar-like tuning : g' c' e' a', except the baritone : d g b' e'. Notice that (except for the baritone) the 4th string is higher than the 2nd (re-entrant tuning). Some people tune the soprano and tenor up to b'.
Some instruments have 6 strings (often the first and third course doubled), or 8 strings (all courses doubled) - called the taropatch, see under.
A ukulele always has nylon (or gut) strings, never steel.

Playing is strumming with the fingers or with a pick, to accompany singing or Hawaiian dance music. For more information see Ukuguides. left : the relative sizes of : soprano, concert and tenor ukulele

taropatch

The taropatch (or taro patch) is a ukulele with double strings, so 8 strings in 4 courses. The name comes from Madeira, where the rajão was often taken to the ricefields (the "taro-patch") and therefore nicknamed : "taro-patch fiddle". When after the arrival on Hawaii the rajão fell in disuse, the name was used for the double string ukulele.

The size in the 1920 was usually like the concert ukulele, but recent models seem to favour the larger tenor ukulele. Similarly the original flat peghead with friction pegs has nowadays been replaced by a guitar-like tuning head.

The taropatch with 8 nylon strings has the two top strings in unison and the two bottom strings in octaves. The tuning is like the ukulele : gg' cc' e'e' a'a'.

A similar 6-string ukulele exists, which has only two strings double (first and third course) - see under ukulele above.

Note that there is nowadays also a small guitar with the size of a tenor ukulele, with 6 single strings, called guitalele, which is tuned like a 6 string guitar, but of course much higher : in a' (see page miscellaneous).

a older taropatch (picture from eBay)

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In case you expected to find Hawaiian guitars here : see page steelguitars. Apparently it is nowadays difficult to find the original Hawaiian guitars on Hawaii - the slack key guitar is now the most popular national instrument. This is a normal (usually steel string flat top) guitar, with an open tuning, on which traditional Hawaiian tunes are played.

In the wake of the popularity of the ukulele, the Martin guitar factory made in the 1930's (until 1960's) a small guitar (the size of a tenor ukulele), with steel strings - which was influenced by a South American folk guitar, the tiple [pronounced "tea-play"].

The original tiple (see under Colombia and Chile in South America), has 4 courses of 3 thin metal strings each. The Martin tiple (but also made by other factories) however has just 10 strings : 1st and 4th course are double, 2nd and 3th triple.

The tiple is made like a small guitar. The tuning head could be flat (with machines from behind), or slotted (like a classical guitar). The bridge is often a bit larger (rounded on the lower side), probably to have a larger glue surface area for the higher pulling force of 10 steel strings.

The tuning could be like a guitar : aa' d'dd' f#'f#f#' b'b'.

a Martin tiple (picture from eBay)

Tahitian ukulele

There is also a Tahitian version of the ukulele, which is quite different from the traditional model. It has been developed since the 1990's.

The body (and usually also the neck and head) of the Tahitian ukulele is carved from a single piece of wood (or some pieces glued together) in a fluid rounded shape (like a solid body electric guitar), often flattish at the bottom.
A round conical hole is carved right through the middle of the instrument, narrow at the back and wide at the front. The front side is covered with a thin piece of wood, on which a loose bridge rests. The body and head is sometimes decorated with woodcarvings, or it is made of different coloured woods, glued together.

The flat tuning head is usually wider on the top, with tuning machines from behind, 4 on each side. The frets are metal, inlayed in the neck. The fingerboard is flush with the front.

The Tahitian ukulele has usually 4 courses of thin nylon strings (often bright yellow fishlines of the same thickness), and is tuned like the normal ukulele :
g'g' c"c" e"e" a'a'.

The sound of the Tahitian ukulele is sharp, and a bit like an old banjo. So sometimes it is referred to as the Tahitian banjo.

the back with the soundhole

Mexico has a very wide variety of guitar-like instruments. The most well known ones are used in the Mariachi music style, which includes also trumpets, violins, guitarron (bass guitar), etc.

The vihuela is a guitar-like instrument, but slightly smaller (3/4). The back of the body is made in a rather high (almost triangular) vault. Around the edges of front and back are thick strips of rounded purfling.

The fingerboard is flush with the front, and it has usually only 4 tied-on nylon frets. The peghead is flat, and nowadays always has guitar-style tuningmachines.

The bridge is quite narrow compared with the wide and flat guitar-bridge.
The colourful items seen on the bridge are pipe-cleaners, wound around the sharp end of the nylon strings to avoid painful interaction....

It has 5 nylon strings in a re-entrant tuning : a d' g' b e' .

Playing is in a typical strumming style with a combination of threes and two's.

The high back of the vihuela, with the round edge purfling.

The guitarrón is the (acoustic) bass guitar of the Mariachi orchestra. It is sometimes also called guitarrón de Toloche.

The instrument is made like a huge vihuela, so with a high vaulted back and thick round strips around the edges. It has no frets.

The 6 thick nylon strings are always plucked two strings (octaves) at the same time. The tuning is A' D G c e A - (notice the top A is lower than the third string).

Picture from a travel brochure, showing the relative size of the vihuela and the guitarrón.

In Argentina exists an instrument which is also called guitarrón, but that is a slightly larger size normal Spanish guitar tuned with the (second string) b as top string, and an extra low 6th B' (so the entire tuning is 5 pitches lower than a normal guitar).

In Chile you can also find a guitarrón, but that is a completely different instrument, with not less than 25 strings ! (see page South America).

The guitarra de golpe is the rhythm guitar of the Mariachi Tradicional, or the Sones de Tierra Calliente. Although for a while replaced by the normal (spanish) guitar, nowadays it becomes popular again to use the traditional guitarra de golpe. It seems to have many different names, so you can sometimes find it called a mariachera, or a guitarra colorada, or a quinta colorada or a guitarra quinta or a quinta, or even a jarana. It is a bit smaller size guitar, but larger than a vihuela. It lacks the high vaulted back, as it is made like a normal guitar, with a flat back. Often it is deeper than a normal guitar. The fretboard is slightly raised with the front and has metal frets, although some have wooden frets for the first 3 frets. The peghead usually has a very typical carving with a double curve, (supposed to be a stylised owl) although nowadays a normal guitar-style tuning head with machines may be found. The strings run to a narrow (vihuela-like) bridge, glued to the front.

picture from book by Bruno Montanaro

The 5 nylon strings could be tuned like : d g c' e a (note the hight 3rd).

The guitarra doble was the Mexican 12-string guitar, with all strings double - and in unison (so not like our 12-string guitar, with some strings in octaves).
The guitarra doble seems not much in use anymore.

Nowadays the name "guitarra doble" is used for a guitar with a double neck.

The normal 12-string guitars (any type) are now called docerola.
A tercerola is a slightly smaller spanish guitar ("for ladies and children").

See under for a more popular Mexican 12-string guitar : the bajo sexto.

This is the 12-string bass guitar used in the Mexican country music, a kind of TexMex. It differs from the guitarro doble by having octave strings in the 3 lower courses, and is tuned a whole octave lower. There is also a bajo quinto, which has 5 double strings - the low 6th course is taken away, as apparently it is hardly ever used on a bajo sexto anyway.

The bajo sexto guitar is made like a normal guitar, with a flat back. Usually it has a cut-out, and decorative extensions to the bridge. Often there is extra decoration around the soundhole and around the edge of the body. The fingerboard is raised above the front. It has normal guitar frets.

The tuning is a like a 12-string guitar, but one octave deeper (!), so the lowest stings are really like a bass guitar. The left string of the course is the high octave: EE' AA' dD GG cc ff.

Playing is with a combination of bass notes and strumming to give the rhythm basis for the music.

Note that on YouTube this music seems mainly played by kids, using also an harmonica.

This is the smaller Spanish guitar, used in the bambuco music style (also called romantico), in a trio including also a Spanish guitar and a standing bass.

The requinto is made like a small size (85%) Spanish guitar, tuned 5 pitches higher (topstring in a') than a normal guitar.
The body often has a cut-out to reach the higher frets more easily, and the depth is often slightly deeper than the normal guitar.

It is used to play the solos, often using a plectrum.

Around the town of Vera Cruz (in East Mexico) some different styles of music are in use. One of them is the son huasteco music. This is played with three instruments : the violin, the (big) huapanguera guitar and the small jarana huasteca guitar.

The huapanguera is a normal size guitar, but with a large body and a short neck. It is also called guitarra quinta (which is not a quinta guitarra - that is the guitarra de golpe !).

The huapanguera is made like a guitar (with a body shaped somewhat between a spanish guitar and a jumbo guitar) with a flat back, and quite deep. The round open soundhole has often inlayed mother-of-pearl decoration

The fingerboard is almost flush with the front, and has 8 to 10 metal (guitar-) frets; it usually stops at the body/neck join.
The bridge (glued to the front) has often some kind of special extensions, like cow horns.

It has usually 8 nylon strings in 5 courses, the 1st and 5th being single, the rest double. A tuning could be : G dd' gg bb e (note the low first string and the G at the 5th !).

The huapanguera is strummed and provides the bass for the music.

Here the relative size of the two huasteco instruments : the big huapanguera and the small jarana huasteca.

In the son huasteco music style from around Vera Cruz a musical trio plays besides the violin and the huapanguera guitar, this small size guitar : the jarana huasteca.

The jarana huasteca is made like a small guitar (about the size of a tenor ukulele), with a flat back, and quite deep. The bridge (glued to the front) has usually some extension in the shape of cowhorns (like the huapanguera). The round open soundhole has often inlayed mother-of-pearl decoration.

The fretboard is almost flush with the front, and has metal frets. It usually stops at the body/neck join. The flat tuning head may have friction pegs from behind, or normal guitar-like machine tuners.

This jarana has 5 nylon strings in the unusual tuning : g b d' f#' a' .

It is played with a special golpe effect.

jarana jarocha

Around Vera Cruz different styles of music can be found. Besides the huasteca, the son jarocho music is popular. This is played by a small group, with a harp and two different guitars : the requinto jarocho (which plays the bass lines - see under) and the jarana jarocha (which plays the chords). The jarana jarocha (also called jarana veracruzana) is carved from one piece of wood - so body, neck and tuning head. The body is hollowed out and a thin front glued to it. The fingerboard is a thin layer of dark wood, slightly raised above the front, and there is some veneer on the front of the tuning head. The 12 frets are metal (like on a guitar), and often go no higher than the body/neck join. The body shape is often quite slender and it is less deep than a normal guitar. Nowadays you may also find jaranas build like a guitar (from separate pieces, not carved). The jarana jarocha has 8 nylon strings in 5 courses, of which the 1st and 5th are single. The tuning is usually : a d'd' g'g bb e', or : g c'c' e'e aa g (the 1st is a drone string). There are several sizes of jarana : the smallest is called chaquiste (50cm), then the mosquito or chillador (60cm), then the jarana primera. The next one is the jarana segunda or requinto de jarana or tres cuartos (75cm), and the usual size : jarana tercera or jarana jarocha (85cm). The largest is the tercerola (100cm).

jarana mosquito example : bought via MercadoLibre Mexico, 2010 L=550 B=130 H=50mm scale 325mm

They usually all have 8 strings in 5 courses, but the small ones may have 6 (only 3th double), 5 (all single) or 4 (5th left out). Sometimes the mosquito has 4 doubles. For more information about the "son jarocho" see : sonjarocho.com.   left : the example jarana jarocha (= tercera) and the mosquito (= primera)

In the son jarocho music style from around Vera Cruz they use (besides the harp and the jarana jarocha) this smaller size guitar : the guitarra de son, which is also called requinto jarocho.

This instrument is made like the jarana jarocha, so the body, neck and tuning head is carved from one piece of wood, and the body is rather shallow. The front is a thin piece of wood; it has a slightly raised fingerboard and veneer on the front of the tuning head. It has 12 or more guitar-like frets (often not higher than the body/neck join). Usually the front is quite plain : no rosette or purfling.

The guitarra de son has 4 (or 5) thick nylon strings.
Tuning is : G A d g, or C D G c, or (E) A d g c.

It is played with a plectrum made of horn, usually melody and bass lines in a kind of staccato syncopated style - which must be quite difficult to do as the player often is also the leadsinger of the group.

The guitarra de son comes in different sizes : the smallest is the primera, then the punteador, the medio requinto, the requinto (the normal size), the cuarta, the leona and the largest : the león. From Loscenzontles.com

leona example : bought via Mercado Libre from Jarana de Playa, Mexico 2013 L=1020 B=340 H=140mm scale 680mm

The guitarra chamula is quite a large guitar, used mainly in the area of San Juan Chamula in Chiapas (South Mexico), during festivals.

The guitarra chamula is made like a large guitar, with the top half of the body about the same width as the lower half. The front and the back are overhanging the sides. It has a round soundhole, often with a star-like decoration around it.

The neck is rather short, with a thin fretboard (in light colour wood) slightly higher than the front. It has only a few (5-7) thin high wooden frets. The flat tuninghead ends in a hollow half circle. Some have 10 or 12 friction pegs from behind, some have a double slotted peghead with 6 guitar-like tuning machines on each side.
right : picture from YouYube

The (10 or 12) thin metal strings (all of the same thickness) run to a bridge glued to the front, with often some extra decoration. At the bridge all strings have the same distance between them.
The guitarra chamula has 4 courses of triple strings. With 10 strings the first and second are double and the third and fourth triple.
Tuning could be : aaa d'd'd' bbb e'e'e', or maybe like a guitar.

A leather strap is nailed to the bottom of the body and halfway the neck.

The guitarra chamula is mainly used by strumming chords in a small group, to accompany singing and dancing. This group usually also includes a Mexican harp and a harmonica. During festivals more guitarra chamulas are used, all strumming together.

The cartonal (or cardonal) is probably the smallest guitar in the world. It is used in the Huesteca Potsini region within the ritual life of indigenous communities.

There are two different kinds : one with three strings and one with four strings.

The cartonal with three strings is the smallest, and used by the Nahuas, for the Ayacachtinij dance.
The cartonal with four strings is used by the Teenek, for the Tzacam dance.

There is not much information available about these instruments. They seem to be made like a guitar, but with the front and back over the sides. The front of the neck is flush with the soundboard. It has no (or only a few) frets. The tuninghead is flat with 3 or 4 friction pegs from behind. The (nylon ?) strings run to a rather large bridge, glued to the front. Tuning is unknown. It is often played in combination with a local harp and a rabel (small local violin).

right : picture from YouYube

The "Concheros" is the name used for the colourfull dancers and musicians that perform "La Danza de los Concheros". This name comes from the use of a shell (of an armadillio) for the back of the guitars and mandolins that are used. The dance is performed on a Sunday in September in Mexico City and Queretaro, with the performers dressed in colourfull Aztec-style clothes.
The instruments are divided in : mandolina conchera vihuela conchera guitarra conchera	4 double strings 5 double strings 6 double strings

The neck is guitar-like : raised above the front and with metal frets. The tuning head can be open (with guitar-style tuners), or flat, with traditional friction pegs (from behind).
The steel strings can be tuned like a mandolin or like the top 4/5/6 strings of a guitar. Usually there are double strings; the example has the 1st and 5th course three-double, with both a bass-string: aaA d'd' g'g' bb e'e'e.

It is usually played (by strumming chords) by the dancer himself, who has to perform the steps of the dance while playing. It has a loud and singing sound.

For more information about the instruments and the music, see Blogspot.