Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Which string instruments arrived in Latin America with European colonists?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
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.
European colonists introduced a rich tradition of stringed instruments to Latin America, which spread rapidly across the region. These instruments include:1
- Guitar and guitarlike instruments: The Spanish classical guitar became a characteristic folk instrument of Hispanic America, while the Portuguese viola holds a similar status in Brazil. Other related instruments include the vihuela and various small five-course guitars.123
- Lute: A plucked string instrument that was part of the Iberian tradition brought by colonists.1
- Mandolin: Another European stringed instrument that became part of the musical landscape.1
- Harp: Introduced during the colonial period as part of the European string tradition.1
- Violin: Brought to the region by colonists and integrated into various musical traditions.1
While these instruments arrived with colonists, they were often adapted over time to suit local aesthetic outlooks, sometimes evolving into distinct regional forms like the Andean charango.1