POPULAR INSTRUMENTS.

In the entire archipelago there are a large variety of musical instruments that correspond to the sound amplitude heard in the traditional pieces widely distributed on each island.

The instrument named timple (tiple) and the first news of its appearance came from the islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, where the “carmelillo”, another name for this instrument, won a place on the rest of the islands.

Since the XIX century the guitar has been the most popular instrument in the Canary Islands, but in El Hierro and La Gomera it is less popular. The lute and the Spanish lute are other essential instruments of popular Canary music.

In Lanzarote there is a variant of the mandolin, very common in the quartet of the “rondallas”, while the accordion, also identified as “forito” and the violin, which was highly treasured in olden times, now are in very little use by folklore groups.

In El Hierro and La Gomera is where the largest variety of drums can be heard in the traditional repertoire that also makes use of the chácara, similar to Spanish castanets.