Puerto Rican cuatro tuned in 5ths?

**Joel Glassman** · Jan-03-2004, 8:14pm

Has anyone tried to do this?
I just jammed with someone who tuned a cuatro to ddgad
(or something like that) The sound was wonderful.
He said the instrument cost him $200! Hmmm....
Also interested in instrumental cuatro recordings-especially
music which is creative and melodic but not "a display of
virtuosity" :^) It would be great to connect with someone
who is familiar with recorded cuatro music.
I'm playing with a Puerto Rican singer for dances.
Here's an interesting page: http://www.cuatro-pr.org/
thanks--Joel Glassman

**Richard H** · Jan-03-2004, 10:32pm

Am really not familiar with the PR cuatro but heard one doing a solo on a Ricky Martin video and it sounded great.

From what I've read they use metal strings tuned in 4ths (?) BBEEAADDGG from bass to treble with the Bs and Es in octaves.

Assuming the 1st string Gs were equivalent to G, 3rd fret 1st string on a guitar, for tuning in 5ths the others would be Cs (2nd), Fs, Bbs, and Ebs. Whether the instrument would handle this range, I don't have a clue.

I am more familiar with the Venezuelan cuatro, nylon strings tuned like the first four string of a guitar at the seventh fret. I used to play lead in a group using one of these with other cuatros, guitars etc. but switched to mandolin because of feedback problems with the cuatro.

This is a virtuoso instrument in inself and great for accompaniment. Mine cost $25.

Puerto Rican cuatros made in Mexico are advertised around $230.

**Sellars** · Jan-04-2004, 5:29am

Hi,

On German Ebaysuch an instrument is offered. The reccomended tuning is BBEEAADDGG, but it is also offered as a mandola, so CCGGDDAA probably is also an option.

Hope this helps,
Roel

**PapoAnaya** · Feb-18-2004, 10:27pm

Originally Posted by (Richard H @ Jan. 03 2004, 23:32)

From what I've read they use metal strings tuned in 4ths (?) BBEEAADDGG from bass to treble with the Bs and Es in octaves.

Assuming the 1st string Gs were equivalent to G, 3rd fret 1st string on a guitar, for tuning in 5ths the others would be Cs (2nd), Fs, Bbs, and Ebs. Whether the instrument would handle this range, I don't have a clue.

This is a virtuoso instrument in inself and great for accompaniment. Mine cost $25.

Puerto Rican cuatros made in Mexico are advertised around $230.

Greetings:

I played Puerto Rican cuatro with the Cayey folk orchestra and went to gig's with my buddies back in the island. So I know a bit of it.

. Now that I moved to New Jersey I still have one at home. I also kept one on my mom's home that I play when I'm there on vacation. Regretfully, Cuatros made in PR do not handle well the moderate climates up north, so I only use it during spring to fall. That's the reason why I'm thinking into getting a mandolin so I can play all year long.

You are right, it is tuned BbEeAADDGG in 4th's. The 1's G is in fact the G on the 3rd fret of the guitar.

I'm not sure how good/bad is Puerto Rican cuatro made in Mexico. I have not tried it myself, so I cannot comment. The front board of the cuatro is usually made out of "yagrumo", a soft tropical wood. The problem with this wood is that it does not handle well when it is not in the tropics. I've though about getting a Mexican cuatro as well. We'll see.

Cumpiando guitars make cuatros as well, but they are not cheap, $650 a pop, $1200 for his slimline version of it. For more information go to www.cumpiano.com. I paid $500.00 for my concert cuatro in Puerto Rico, so $650 is a fair price for a quality cuatro.

Regards,

Luis

**PapoAnaya** · Feb-18-2004, 10:30pm

Originally Posted by (Joel Glassman @ Jan. 03 2004, 21:14)

It would be great to connect with someone
who is familiar with recorded cuatro music.

Hello:

Well, what do you want to know??

Luis

**Keith Miller** · Feb-21-2004, 4:08am

sellars, I saw that on ebay as well, ayone know what they are like ? wall hangers or players ?
Keith

**Keith Miller** · Apr-29-2004, 9:32am

have just had a shot of one of the german ebay cuatros. tuned CGDAE. nice sound and well made for a chinese made instrument.

**Mandobar** · Apr-29-2004, 10:24am

i have one of these. and a bajo quinto. they are nice for the money. i paid $130 for the cuatro and $170 for the quinto.

**Keith Miller** · Apr-29-2004, 10:30am

mandobar, the cuatro is selling for £69 here, I'm very tempted, but having just bought 2 saxophones it might be pushing my luck a wee bit at the moment