Cuatro puertorriqueño
The national string instrument, with ten strings in five double courses and a body shaped like a violin. It is the sound of mountain jíbaro music and of Christmas aguinaldos. Despite the name it does not have four strings today: it did originally, and the name stuck.
Example
In a Christmas trulla the cuatro carries the melody while the güiro and the frame drums keep time.
Best tours and tickets
Curated from Viator. We may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
ATV Single Rider Adventure Near San Juan - Hacienda Campo Rico
★★★★★ 4.8 · 2,668 reviews
From $149View tour
San Juan Guided Turtle Snorkel Tour and Complimentary Videos
★★★★★ 4.9 · 18,453 reviews
From $39View tour
Top Rated El Yunque Rainforest & Waterslide - SmallGroup Tour
★★★★★ 4.9 · 16,427 reviews
From $45View tour
Related terms
Culture
Jíbaro
A mountain farmer of Puerto Rico and, by extension, the symbol of the island's rural identity. The classic image...
Culture
Aguinaldo (canción navideña)
A Puerto Rican Christmas song, played on cuatro, güiro and frame drums, sung house to house during parrandas. It is...
Culture
Güiro
A percussion instrument made from the dried hollowed fruit of the higüera gourd, with grooves scraped by a metal...
Culture
Décima
A sung ten line stanza that trovadores improvise over jíbaro music, often as a verbal duel between two singers. The...
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called cuatro with ten strings?
Because its older form had four strings. It evolved to five double courses and kept the original name.
Can I buy a handmade one?
Yes, from luthiers in the mountains and at craft fairs. A handmade instrument is priced as an instrument, not as a souvenir.
