Paraguayan harp
Encyclopedia
The Paraguayan harp is the national instrument
of Paraguay
, and similar instruments are used elsewhere in South America, particularly Venezuela.
It is a diatonic harp
with 32, 36, 38 or 40 strings, made from tropical wood, with an exaggerated neck-arch, played with the fingernail. It accompanies songs in the Guarani language
.
National instrument
The term national instrument can refer to:*National Instruments, an American corporation*The national instrument of a nation, referring to a musical instrument of particular cultural and social importance...
of Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
, and similar instruments are used elsewhere in South America, particularly Venezuela.
It is a diatonic harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
with 32, 36, 38 or 40 strings, made from tropical wood, with an exaggerated neck-arch, played with the fingernail. It accompanies songs in the Guarani language
Guaraní language
Guaraní, specifically the primary variety known as Paraguayan Guaraní , is an indigenous language of South America that belongs to the Tupí–Guaraní subfamily of the Tupian languages. It is one of the official languages of Paraguay , where it is spoken by the majority of the population, and half of...
.