Skylark Cuatro

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The Cuatro is the national instrument of Puerto Rico, and belongs to the lute family of string instruments.

The cuatro of Puerto Rico has ten strings in five courses, tuned from low to high B, E, A, D and G, with B and E in octives and A, D and G in unisons.

The 10-string cuatro "moderno" evolved from the baroque era 10-string Bandurria and Laud from Spain.

It has 5 pairs of steel strings and is the most common used today and is used to play jibaro music, salon genres, salsa, pop, rock, classical, jazz, and even American blue grass.

The aviolinado design resembles a violin and is the most common shape used today and most cuatros made today use this design.

8 string and 10 string Cuatros were made using this design starting in the 19th century.

This entry level model has a Linden top, back and sides, with maple fingerboard and bridge.

It has a lush tone similar to a 12 string guitar and lends itself to folk and eastern flavoured music.

Great for experimentation.

A really interesting instrument.