Venezuelan Cuatro, also called Ranger Cuatro, traditional Cuatro, criollo Cuatro or simply Cuatro is a plucked string instrument that has four keyed orders at the rate of: la1, re2, fa#2 y si1, the peculiar pitch -not fully upward - it is a very distinctive element other stringed instruments. It belongs to the family of ancient Spanish guitars and guitarrillas, it is of small size and is named after the number of strings it owns.It is a typical and emblematic of Venezuelan music instrument. It is used both in rural and urban areas. Its nylon strings produce a beautiful sound, melancholic but sober. It runs as an accompanying instrument or as a solo instrument. This latter embodiment has undergone considerable development in recent decades.In Venezuela it runs almost all the folk musical genres: the Zulia bagpipe, calypso El Callao, the carols, the Christmas bonuses and partying, the galerón, polo, Jack, Malaga, waltz, merengue the gunboat music, country music, the paso doble, the fulía, the tune, the polka, the orchid rhythm, emblematic joropo harp, four and maracas, among others.A quality VenezuelanCuatro made with pure Cedar and Pine. This Cuatro has 15 fretswith a traditional shape. Use to learn or to practice at home and carry everywhere with them! Simple, affordable and easy to play.
Aprox. size: 31in length, 10in width.
Cedar & Pine Cuatro characteristics:
Hand Made
15 frets
Cedar & Pine Wood
Light Weight
Includes Case
The Cuatro, it has its very earliest origins, some people say that already existed in the year 3000 A.C. because similar instruments found in Egypt, which in turn are derived from Chaldean-Assyrians instruments.In the sixteenth century, the guitar had four strings and strummed touched; the vihuela had six or seven strings and played dotted, and the Canary against had five strings.According to Adolfo Salazar, Spanish famous treatise on stringed instruments, the Cuatro arrived in Venezuela with the first Spanish conquerors and represents the authentic Renaissance guitar. This instrument is the closest to the guitar, which has evolved to produce other relatives instruments relative.
The Cuatro born as a modification of the fifth, always produced in very rustic way, using for it, pieces of native wood and strings of plant fiber, very hard, which thinned with mollusk shells later with animal guts, being dissected and warm in the sun, in order to emit sounds somewhat equal those issued by the Spanish instruments.In itself, the natives and slaves, sought in the instrument that accompanied with bodyguards, whistles, drums and maracas, leisure time and less incentive to carry heavy existence to which they were subjected by the conquerors.From there, the Cuatro stamped on persistence, both in times of sadness and loneliness, as of happiness and joy, in the Venezuelan criollismo.By the nineteenth century, some carpenters by profession, in their leisure time, built this instrument, just for love of music to liven up the revels, dances, etc. The first transactions were made with the Cuatro, are called exchanges by craftsmen, that is, that in exchange for this, carpenters received nougat, coconut rice, pies, jellies mango, and other typical snacks, among other things .
The Cuatro is an instrument whose production is manual and involves talent, dedication and a lifetime of experience. Since its traditional character, entire families in Venezuela have been dedicated for generations to the development of this instrument.The woods most used in their manufacture are cedar and pine, usually the fingerboard and the average cover are made with precious woods, so no scratching or rubbing wear with nails.It is an instrument to be executed as a soloist and as accompanist for both ritual music as diversional and is present in all regions of Venezuela.
Cuatro partsStubborn: o headstock. It is located at the end of the handle and carries the pins responsible for giving tension to the ropes.Fingerboard: It is known as the handle surface where the frets, and where the performer steps on the strings to produce one or the other chords.soundboard: Wood Hollow body which forms the main part of stringed instruments. They form a bottom, a side or sides, and a lid.Plug: Small piece of wood or metal used to tighten the strings of a musical instrument.Nut: Part of wood or bone in which the strings are just out of support pins. It serves to give the right strings vibrating length.Fret: It is as it is called to the subdivisions of the tuning fork left between rod and bar. Interestingly, the word origin designates fret bars only, regardless of the interspace (see fret)Bars: (originally frets) are perpendicular divisions are the strings on the fingerboard Cuatro, are usually metal and separate dishes. Metal parts are manufactured with an alloy of chromium, nickel and steel, or wood or gut. They are embedded or placed on the fingerboard, transversely to the handle. Its function is that, pressing the strings with his left hand, these rest on the bars and vibrate from a well-defined point and clear sound. If there were no bars, it happens that the interpreter would have to be calculating the exact position of each finger on each string so that the chord sounded, besides the fingers, being soft, turn off the sound and take away shine tuned.Cover: Part closing at the top to Cuatro part.Boca: is the opening or hole Cuatro to reflect or enhance the sound.Strings: Yarn made of nylon, vibration, produces sounds in certain musical instruments.Bridge: tablet that keeps lifted Cuatro strings and other stringed instruments
