Peruvian & South American Guitar Tunings

This page is basically an over-glorified reference chart for Peruvian guitar tunings and some basic theory behind these tunings. These guitar tunings are played through out Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Northern Argentina, Northern Chile and Paraguay as well as in other areas of South America including Brazil. Respectively these guitar tunings are associated with the genres of music to which they are played in, for example, Vaulin, Takiyari, Galopos, Amazonas, Wailija, Diablo and so on. The use of alternate guitar tunings in the Andean regions in South America has a very rich history.

The playing technique also varies from tuning to tuning, melody to melody, region to region from performer to performer. Some of the tunings emphasize the thumb picking on the bass E-string or "bourdon". Many of the tunings are chordal in which the strength of the notes are in these chords. Many open and re-entrant tunings are also found in Peruvian guitar, which which the rest of the world may know as Open D or Open G (Tarro patch in Hawaiian Slack Key). Other alternate guitar tunings are found through out the rest of the world like Drop-D or Open-G are also found in Peruvian guitar music. Often Carinval music is played in open tunings such as Open D usually for the melody being note for note on bottom E string this depends though on where the melody / tuning originates.

There are some rare tunings for example my teacher Rene calls a "half-way capo tuning" is done through adding the capo half way hence the name on the E-A-D strings on the second fret. I am not certain as to the origins of this tuning or where it is currently used I will ask soon for information on this. However I do know it’s present and known to some guitarists in Peru. This tuning in although it’s limited with C-major chord it does create a very haunting minor chord and is wonderful for playing in since notes.

Peruvian & South American Guitar Tunings
Name of or Genre	Location	Pitch	Tuning
Galopos	Paraguay		E-A-D-F#-B-E
Setime Dulce	Peru		E-A-D-G-B-D
	Cajamarca. Peru		E-A-D-A-C#-E
	Cajamarca, Peru		E-A-D-G-B-G
	Cajamarca, Peru	Open C7th	C-G-C-G-B-E
Wailija	Peru		E-A-Db-G-B-E
		Open G6	E-G-D-G-B-E
	Araquipa, Peru		E-G-C-G-B-E
Cow Tuning			E-B-G-C#-A-E
Diablo	Cusco, Peru		E-A-C#-F#-B-Bb
Vaulin	Cusco, Peru		F-A-D-G-B-E
Drop D	Iquitos, Peru		D-A-D-G-B-E
	Iquitos, Peru		D-A-D-F#-B-E
Yaravi			D-A-D-G#-B-E
Carnival		Open D	D-A-D-F#-A-D
		Open G	D-G-D-G-B-D
Yaravi	Peru		E-B-G-D-B-D
Vaulin	Peru		E-B-F#-D-Bb-D
"Couple" F	Peru		E-B-G-D-A-F
Huayños	Peru		E-B-G-D-B-F
Afinacion Comuncha	Peru		E-B-G-G-Bb-G
Diablo	Peru		E-C-D-G-Bb-G
"Couple" G	Peru		E-B-G-D-G-D
Diablo	Peru		F#-A-C#-F-#-B-F#
	Pasco / Huamaco, Peru	G Major	F-Bb-D-G-C-E
	Ecuador	F# Minor	F#-A-C#-G-B-E

Ayacuchano Tunings: These tunings in use for the guitar do come from the Ayacuchano region of Peru.

Drop D: Many of you would know this tuning in rock' music and other other contemporary musics. North American folk musicians also use this tuning quite a bit and do some blues musicians as well. Also in South America in the Amazon of Peru around the area of Iquitos this tuning is used.

Half-Way Capo Tuning: This tuning is very unique and rare I learnt this tuning from my teacher Rene H. Sanchez. In which one drops the E-string to D as you would tuning the guitar into DADGBE (Drop D). The major difference between the two tunings is that "on the top three strings D-A-D upon the second fret a capo is placed the end result thus becomes "EBEGBE" an open E chord. Mostly open notes are used on the bottom string although some chords are played to add texture.

The Diablo Tunings: The diablo tunings are a series of open tunings in who are referenced to the "devil" hence the name "Diablo" in Spanish. Although one theory suggests that its believed a drunken musician could not tune his instrument at the time, in doing so he discovered his own tunings later named diablo [citation needed].

Yaravi Tuning: This particular yaravi tuning is related to the "Drop D" tuning, although the G-string is tuned to a G# (sharp). This guitar tuning was confusing when I gave it a try although rich sounding chords at first this tuning can throw one off when figuring out things for the first time:-)

"The Cow Tunings": There are a number of infinate repertoires from around the world. In whose' melodies sung, told and written in admiration of many species of animals. As to the tunings I only know of this one which is related to the repertoire, I will ask my teacher in detail concerning these types of tunings.

The Wailija Tunings: In the case of the tuning presented on my chart, its quite reminecent of the "lute tuning although you could look at it [in reverse]". The tuning "E-A-Db-G-B-E" is similar to the E-A-D-F#-B-E guitar tuning or who is also known commonly as the "lute" tuning or sometimes called "Galopos" tuning.

The Galopos Tuning: This tuning E-A-D-G#-B-E is often refered to as the lute tuning, or occassionally songs are arranged in this tuning when playing Galopos music on guitar. Galopos is popular in the farming communities of rural Argentina and in Paraguay.

Citations: Rene Hugo Sanchez > Guitarachilena.cl (Articles on Huayno, Tonada and Cueca >