10 TYPICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OF VENEZUELA - ART - 2026

The musical instruments Venezuelans go back to the days when Indians in a search for ways to please their gods, experimenting with bones and other elements to create new sounds.

These sounds came to form what was considered "sacred music" which in turn was an integral part of the rites that requested protection for the crops, healing rites of the shamans, among other expressions.

Upon the arrival of the Spanish conquerors, a musical exchange took place that inspired the creation of stringed instruments similar to the guitar and the violin, for example, and which have become icons of Venezuelan folklore and culture.

On the other hand, the African drums brought by the slaves gave rise to the invention of various instruments of their own that today are part of important cultural traditions.

The typical instruments of Venezuela

1- the four

It is one of the elements that define Venezuelan music. It has its origin in the Spanish guitar and like all chordophone instruments it is made up of a resonance box to amplify the sound of the strings made of materials such as silk, vegetable fibers, guts, etc.

It receives its name from the number of strings it has and there are variants according to this factor in addition to its tuning, such as four and a half, five, five and a half, six and eighth.

2- The Creole harp

It comes from the Celtic harp and consists of three parts: a resonance box, a column and a console, while the number of strings is variable (between 30 and 37) as well as the size of the box and the material used to make the strings. strings.

The classification according to the region of the country in tuyera harp, central harp and llanera harp stands out.

3- The bandit

It is a stringed instrument whose soundboard is pear-shaped and has its origin in the lute. There are five types of bandola: llanera, central, oriental, guayanesa and andean, which are most frequently performed with a plectrum or pick.

The oriental bandola is also called bandolin or mandolin and is one of the most popular types throughout the national territory.

Regarding the number of strings, it can vary according to the type between 4 and 16, distributed in some cases in double and triple strings.

4- The tiple

It is similar to the guitar in its shape and size. It has the same strings as the guitar except for those corresponding to the notes E and A.

Although it has several characteristics in common, there are several theories about the instrument from which it comes. It is said that instead of the guitar, it descends from the Canarian timple, among other opinions. In Venezuela, its use is very common in Lara and Los Andes states.

5- Venezuelan drums

They come from the African culture and most of the Venezuelan drums are used in traditions of a ritual nature such as the festivities in honor of San Juan Bautista, San Benito, San Antonio or in the May Cross Wakes.

In the windward area they are very popular and, in general, in most coastal areas of the country, being able to be seen at almost any time of the year in squares and boardwalks, for the amusement of visitors.

There are several types that are: calypso drums (part of the elements that make up the carnival of the callus), the mina and the curbata, tambourines, chimbángueles, pipes, drum sets, etc.

6- The reeds

They are one of the various types of wind instruments or aerophones, almost all of indigenous origin.

They belong to the group of pan flutes, made up of more than two reed tubes of different sizes, joined together like a raft.

Another name they receive is that of caramillos and they are used in Christmas parties and as an accompaniment to indigenous dances.

7- The ture

Its construction is made from reeds are also species of flutes. There are several types: the large male / female ture and the small male / female ture; they have several holes that can vary between two and four. They are used in the festival of Las Turas, a typical tradition of the Falcón and Lara states

8- The guarura

It is an instrument of the Yekwana tribe of the Amazon. It is also a blowing instrument that produces a strong and penetrating sound, made with a marine snail shell that has an opening or mouthpiece for its execution. It is used in traditional festivals such as the monkey dance in the Monagas state.

9- Maracas

These are rattles made from the fruit of the dried taparo, an ornamental tree. This is spherical in shape and once clean, seeds of various kinds are introduced into it (capacho, corn, small stones). They have a wooden handle that allows them to be shaken and produce the typical sound.

They are used in pairs and together with the harp and the cuatro, it is one of the most popular instruments in Venezuela, used in bagpipe ensembles, parrandas and even part of the attire of some important dance troupes in the country.

10- Furruco

This instrument consists of two parts. One is a drum-like base and the other is a reed stick that is usually coated with beeswax.

The sound produced by pressing the rod on the leather of the base with both hands is more precisely a vibration that resembles the effect of a bass. It is very common in Venezuelan bagpipes and parrandas.

References

1. Jivi / Hiwi Instruments. Recovered from: acnilo.org.
2. Typical Instruments of Venezuela. Recovered from: pac.com.ve.
3. Yekuana / Ye´kwana / Makiritare instruments. Recovered from: acnilo.org.
4. Lopez. A. (2005). Atlas of Venezuelan Traditions. Caracas, Bigott Foundation
5. Puchowski, D. (2008). The Concise Garland Encyclopedia of World Music. New York, Routledge.
6. Theories about the origin of the Tiple. Recovered from: banrepcultural.org.