guiro

musical instrument

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Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

The guiro is a percussion instrument originating from Latin America. It is typically made from a serrated gourd. To play the guiro, a stick is scraped along its surface, creating a distinctive sound. The word "guiro" was first used in 1898. An alternative spelling, "guero," also refers to the same instrument and was first used in 1959.12

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percussion instrument
The Americas
…gourd with natural handle, called guiro, is another African American instrument. Notched turtle carapaces are scraped in the Caribbean. The jawbone of a horse, mule, or donkey, with its teeth left in, is played throughout the Americas; its use among coastal Peruvians of African descent goes back to the 18th…
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…gourd with natural handle, called guiro, is another African American instrument. Notched turtle carapaces are scraped in the Caribbean. The jawbone of a horse, mule, or donkey, with its teeth left in, is played throughout the Americas; its use among coastal Peruvians of African descent goes back to the 18th…
Read More