Guitarra

History

This instrument is related to the English Guitar or Gittar (10 strings usually) and also to the German Waldzither which has 9 strings and key tuners, inline and not as fanned out as the English and Portuguese designs.

Choosing

Lisboa 445mm scale, tuned DABEAB
Coimbra 470mm scalem tuned a tone lower than Lisbon.
Intruments are also made in Funchal, the capital of Madeira

Musical Styles

Commonly called a Fado guitar because it is used to accompany mournful songs of the sea in the Fado tradition of Portugal.