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How does the Andean charango differ when played by Indigenous musicians and mestizo musicians?
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Latin American music
Flute, slip-painted ceramic, Nopiloa, southern Veracruz, Mexico, 300–500 ce; in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. 35.56 × 17.15 × 10.80 cm.
In the context of Latin American music, the charango—a small, lutelike or guitarlike instrument often featuring a body made from an armadillo shell—is played differently by Indigenous and mestizo musicians, primarily through the choice of string material.
Indigenous musicians typically use thin metal strings on the instrument, whereas mestizo musicians generally use nylon strings. These differing materials contribute to distinct aesthetic outlooks and sonic qualities in the performance of the instrument across these communities.1