Charango - Variants

Variants

• The walaycho (also hualaycho, or maulincho) is a smaller relative, usually tuned a fourth higher (sometimes a fifth higher) than the charango
• The charangón is a larger relative:
  • Some are a 4th down, others a 5th, yet others are an octave down
  • Bolivia: tuned in between a ronroco and a charango
  • Argentina: one octave below the walaycho (maulincho); presumably a fifth down
• The ronroco is a larger relative of the charango
  • Usually tuned one octave lower.
  • Bolivia: tuned one octave lower than the charango
  • Argentina: tuned a fourth lower than the charango
• The chillador: tuned the same, but with a flat back; usually steel-strung
• The Hatun charango or Grand Charango is an extended-range charango developed in Peru.

The number of strings may vary, and includes:

• 4-string
• 5 courses of 3 strings

There are both steel string and nylon string charangos. Some steel-stringed versions have all ten strings at the same gauge. There are also solid-body electric charangos.