How the huiringua makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the huiringua belongs to the struck idiophones: the body is struck directly – bells, gongs, xylophones and cymbals.
More broadly it is one of the idiophones, where the solid body of the instrument itself vibrates, without strings or a stretched membrane.
Its timbre – the colour that lets you tell it apart from other instruments playing the same note – comes from the mix of overtones its body and resonator emphasise.
From Wikipedia
The huiringua, kuiringua, kiringua, quiringua, cuiringua is a percussion instrument of the group of slit drums. It consists of a hollow log with closed ends with a slit along the instrument.
The shell becomes the resonating chamber for the sound vibrations created when the slit is struck with a pair of wood mallets.
Other struck idiophones
More instruments from Mexico
Frequently asked questions
What does a huiringua sound like?
As one of the struck idiophones, its sound comes from the way the body is struck directly.
What type of instrument is the huiringua?
It is classified as struck idiophones (Hornbostel–Sachs 111.243).
Where does the huiringua come from?
The huiringua originates from Mexico.