How the ronroco makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the ronroco belongs to the lutes: strings run parallel to a soundboard and along a neck – the family of the guitar, violin, sitar and oud.
More broadly it is one of the chordophones (string instruments), where sound comes from vibrating strings, amplified by a resonating body.
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 ronroco (also spelt ronrroco) is a bass or baritone member of the charango family, with a 44–50-centimetre scale length. It was invented in 1968 by brothers Gonzalo and Wilson Hermosa, of the group Los Kjarkas from Cochabamba, Bolivia, and spread to common usage during the 1980s. In the 1990s and 2000s, it was further popularised by Argentinian musician and composer Gustavo Santaolalla.
Ronrocos have 10 strings in five courses. They are built from carved wood or bent sides (like modern charangos), and not from an armadillo shell (in the manner of older charangos).
Other lutes
Frequently asked questions
What does a ronroco sound like?
As one of the lutes, its sound comes from the way strings run parallel to a soundboard and along a neck.
What type of instrument is the ronroco?
It is classified as lutes (Hornbostel–Sachs 321.321-5).
Where does the ronroco come from?
The ronroco originates from Bolivia.