A Charango Story and the Butterfly Strumming

Legend tells of a little boy from a far, far away village who would listen to the Elders play theirCharango. The boy too, wanted to play it different from all the rest.

One day while in search of a Charango master he encountered a Llama. The boy said “I am looking for a Charango master.” The Llama responded by saying “Walk up the mountain top and you will meet one there.” The boy walked and walked till he reached a small shack. There he rested and waited till the sun set. Deep in his slumbers, he saw butterflies in his dreams, he could hear the sound of a strumming Charango, but could not make sense of its’ meaning.

On the second day he came closer to the moutain top. At one point he met a condor. Its’ wings flapped wide, and the boy once again heard the strumming of the Charnago. On the third day of his journey he reached the moutain top. “What is this?” said the boy, “why have I travelled so far only to find butterflies?”

Tired and angry he rested. Suddenly, a butterfly came to him and said, “My boy, why don’t you strum your Charango as I strum my wings.” Then the boy looked and spread his fingers like the butteryfly wings. Taking his Charango, he bent his index finger and used it to strum the srtings,his thumb acting as the head of the butterfly.

From that day on he called it Butterfly Strumming. With this Charango music was born, again.

Origins of a Charango

Will known Charango enthusiats agree that this musical instrument was invinted in early sixteeth century during the Spanish invasion of the Andes.

During this period the Spanish brought with them the guitar, violin and mandolininstruments. Indigenous peoples where prohibited from playing these instruments.

But with time and influence of these instruments in the altiplano region, the Aymara and Kichwa people created the charango.

The word Charango comes from the kichwa word of “chaj-wacu” which means happiness and allegre in Latin or “Charangere” in Spanish meaning “bullangero” for rowdy. In the past Charango’s where made out of Armadillo shell called “Quiriquinchu”; which are now prohibited to manufacture.

There are three variations of Charangos. The large size called Ronroco is approximately 45cm in length and tuned in Si,Mi,Sol and Re. The medium size (common played Charango) is approximately 35cm in length. Tuned in Mi, La, Do, and Sol. And finally the small size called “Maulinchos” better known in the Andes as “Chillon” meaning “out loud.” It is approximately 23cm in length and tuned in Si,Mi, Sol, and Re.

Learn to play

Charango CHARANGO TUNNING

The TREBLE or G CLEF SIGN is the musical definition for the Charango instrument

First String Second String Third String Fourth String Fifth StringE A E Lower Octave C G

E Higher Octave

Free Stroke Method for Charango Solos

We will use the terminology of Free Stroke on the right hand to play musical notes on the Charango. The Free Stroke is commonly used to finger pick the strings to perform solos and chord prgression melodies. Please note that Free Stroke does not mean strumming of chords. Like a classical guitar or Spanish guitar the Free Stroke is a common technic for a Charango.

As shown on this illustration fingers have been numbered to follow the chord finger chart