Andean music needn’t be explained, more so in the countries where it originates from. It has a lot of Incan influence, and received a few changes with the arrival of the Spaniards who brought their own influence in the traditional styles of music. The Andean countries, more so Peru and Bolivia, did invent a couple of traditional instruments to help in rhythm creation, and some of them are still in use today.
Perhaps the most famous of them all is the charango, which besides being the national instrument in Peruvian music, is the first instrument of choice when the Huayno is being played. It’s a dance music style, and the charango is perfect for the job. From a far it looks like your average guitar. But the difference is in its size, which is smaller, and the number of strings which stand at ten. Back in the days, the instrument was made with an armadillo shell. But right now, with development and superior wood forging skills, it can be made with wood entirely- besides the strings of course. The guitar is also used in the creation of Huayno. Similar to the Spanish guitar, this specific one has a more unique shape and may have a different number of strings and may play a different tune. It’s the perfect accompaniment to afro-Peruvian tunes.
The Spaniards brought with them among other instruments the violin (and the aforementioned guitar or play banjo), which both found their way into Andean music completely. The zampona is also an important instrument in Andean music. It is made from lake reeds, which are locally available in Peru trips and a Bolivia travel. The number of canes used in the construction and their length may differ depending on the region it is being played in, but the most common design has 13 of these. A quena, which is more common in Peru, is made using the same canes. It is a flute, with a notched end, and its usually played in the favorable season of the month when humidity, heat and cold are balanced. In the other times, the quena played is made from different materials which are more tolerant to the three.