Peruvian Music and Instruments

The music of Peru is based on sounds from the musical roots of this ancient Andean country combined with the influences of Spanish colonial period music. There are many varieties of Peruvian music including coastal Peruvian music, traditional music from the highlands, and Peru Negro which is a fusion of traditional and afro-Caribbean themes. There is another type of popular Peruvian music that is called Huayano and is very much like Pre-Columbian music. Coastal Peruvian music has a fusion style while Andean Peruvian music is native to Peru.

Established in 1969, Peru Negro is an Afro-Peruvian style of music designed to celebrate and conserve the black culture and heritage of the Peruvian coast. It gained a reputation as it rescued conventional dance and music and became internationally recognized with the release of the album, “The Soul of Black Peru”, with songs from popular Peru Negro singers. In 2001, Time Square records released the first international recording of the song “Sangre de un Don”. At the time Peru Negro had only twelve members but has since grown to thirty, all of whom are very talented.

The charango is the national instrument of Peru and forms a major part in much Peruvian music. It has five strings and is similar to a mandolin or ukulele. It can have a harp-like quality if it is played as a plucked instrument but can have a stronger and more rhythmic sound if played as a strumming instrument.

Other instruments used in Peruvian music are lutes, guitars, bandurrias, vihuelas, pan pipes, and rattles made from llama toenails! A very simple instrument, very popular along the coast is the “Cajon” which means “box”. It is a rectangular wooden box which has a whole in to emit sound and is simply drummed with the hands while the player sits on it!
The pan pipe is an instrument made up of five or more pipes that increase gradually in size and length, based on the principle of the closed tube, which is a tube that is closed at one end and plays a single frequency. It has long been considered a popular folk instrument and has been determined to be the first mouth organ, predecessor to the pipe organ and harmonica. Materials that make up the pipes of the pipe organ are typically bamboo or giant cane but can also be wood, plastic and metal.

The bandurria is a type of chordophone which is an instrument that makes its sounds by means of vibrating strings between two points. It was used primarily in Spanish folk music and is similar to the mandolin. The modern bandurria has twelve strings which are tuned in pairs and is classified as part of the Hornbostel Sachs set of musical instruments.

The vihuela is a type of guitar or lute derived from fifteenth and sixteenth century Spain, where its “Christian” shape made it gain popularity over the lute derived from Arabia. It typically has six strings and is very comfortable to hold. Some vihuelas do not have octave stringing in the bass but many do and each design works equally as well for its sound which is very resonant and sweet and bright. Known as “chapchas”, the llama toenail rattles are a type of percussion instrument. They are worn on the wrists while playing the drums.

When in Peru you are sure to hear the sounds of pan pipes whilst in the Andes and of course the Amazon has its own styles. In addition to traditional music you will of course hear plenty of salsa, merengue and Latin pop should you choose to sample the nightlife.

All About String Musical Instruments – Things You Should Know as a Pianist

Since stringed musical instruments like viola, bass, cello and violin create music with strings vibrating to a certain pitch; they are known as the cousins of piano. What makes them distinct from each other is that the violinist or other string players pluck the strings with their fingers (which is instructed as pizzicato in music) while the strings of the piano are hit by the hammers to produce sound. Bass, viola cello and violin are not entirely instruments in the orchestra. Country, jazz, bluegrass and other types of music can also be created with the use of these wonderful and flexible instruments.

Piano in a way can be compared similarly to that of hammered dulcimer since the strings of the piano are being hit with the hammers for the tones to be created. Every single string of the hammered dulcimer is easily accessed by the musicians since they are exposed not like the piano. In creating chords, around four strings can be struck all at the same instance. Playing the strings in combination to create chords and melodies, the player makes use of two and at times four shaped hammers made of wood. Popular for its distinct sound, a hammered dulcimer is found widely in folk music.

The harpsichord, having the keyboard and notes produced by plucking (hitting) the strings is even more alike to the piano. Although the sound as well as the style is entirely dissimilar for both instruments, a good deal of music written for the piano can be played on the harpsichord and vice versa.

Harp, ukulele, banjo, mandolin and guitar are also classified as stringed instruments. In similar way and the same key, all of these instruments are tuned just like the piano. Unlike other instruments like the saxophone and trumpet, the pianist needs no transposition at all when using these instruments. Since the range of the piano is over eight octaves, all the notes created by these instruments can be found on it. Just like the guitar, since it only has four and a half octaves, the notes it makes can still be found on the piano’s range.

Loosening or tightening the tension of the particular string is the method of tuning all stringed instruments and piano is included in the group. The string vibrates faster and at a higher frequency as it is tightened and made shorter. The pitch will be higher as the string gets thinner. The brass, bronze and other metals wrapped tightly around the piano core are the components of the lower sounding strings whereas piano wire alone is the component of higher pitched strings. The strings of piano cannot be used as guitar strings and guitar strings cannot also be used on banjo, ukulele and mandolin even though they are created of similar materials.

The strings themselves are not the only ones creating the sound of the stringed instruments, but they also are responsible for making vibrations on other parts of the instrument. A good example is the guitar. More than its back and sides, the guitar’s top makes a lot of contribution to the entire sound. This also proves to be true to mandolin and other stringed instruments. Creating the beautiful melody of the piano is made possible by the important parts which are the soundboard, harp and its basic framework. The tone of the instrument will be of good quality if the components are also great. The biggest contributor to the quality of sound of the instruments is the age and type of wood being used.

Kamaka Baritone Ukuleles and Other Instruments

The Kamaka company’s lines of ukuleles are traditional instruments which are designed for serious players. These instruments are made of koa wood, the traditional material from which ukuleles are luthiered. The instruments are also built to show off their beauty, with the wood being lacquered in a way that brings out its natural patters and which protects it. This manufacturer is also famous for its Pineapple Ukulele. As the name suggests, this ukulele does resemble that fruit, with an oval-shaped body design. This company has a long history, beginning at the turn of the last Century.

Kamaka baritone ukulele makes an excellent transition instrument for those who are moving from the guitar to the ukulele. This instrument is tuned D-G-B-E, a tuning which most guitar players will recognize as being identical to the top four strings on the guitar. This makes it very easy to pick up one of these instruments and start paying. The instrument’s heavier strings also give it more of a guitar-like feel, and the scale of the neck is larger, giving guitarists a chance to adapt to the smaller frets. Those who are accustomed to electric guitars will appreciate the 19-fret span of the neck on this instrument.

Kamaka baritone ukuleles get their sound from the use of koa wood. This wood has long been established as the standard for ukuleles, all the way back to the instrument’s Portuguese inventors. This instrument also has its modern aspects, however, as do all ukuleles made by this manufacturer. This company is famous for making innovative, creative instruments that allow players to expand their capabilities. There are ukuleles with 6 and 8 strings and ukuleles of various body shapes. All of these offer their own flavor to this instrument, no conversation about Kamaka would be complete, however, without discussing the Pineapple ukulele.

Like the Kamaka baritone ukulele, the Pineapple Ukulele showcases several traditional features. Its body is koa and its neck is the traditional scale. It is roughly the size of a traditional ukulele, but has a much different sound. The tonal characteristics lent to the instrument by this body style include a softer, woodier sound that is a bit fuller than that of the traditional body shape. Any one of the 8 models of ukulele from this manufacturer are priced at professional instrument levels, and are manufactured to the corresponding standards of quality.

Tyler Mountain Electric Transducer Pickup for Acoustic Stringed Instruments

• Easy Installation
• Uses Standard 1/4″ Jack
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Product Description
This transducer is perfect for anyone looking for a simple way to amplify their instrument. Mounts on the soundboard of any stringed instrument to provide an excellent, natural reproduction of sound…. More >>

Tyler Mountain Electric Transducer Pickup for Acoustic Stringed Instruments