Guide

How to tune a charango

The charango's five courses do not go from low to high: the middle course is the highest. Once you know that, tuning it is quick. Here is the routine.

Featured tool · Free online charango tuner

The reentrant pattern: G4, C5, E5, A4, E5

From the bass side, temple natural puts the courses on G4, C5, E5, A4, E5. Pitch rises to the middle E and comes back down. The Jam Jam preset follows exactly that order, so the tuner never tells you to go the wrong way. Temple bajo is the same pattern a tone lower (F4, B flat 4, D5, G4, D5), a separate preset.

One string per course, then the twin by ear

Pluck one string of a course, bring the needle into the green band (±5 cents), then pluck the twin and turn its peg until the beating disappears. Move to the next course. Go round a second time: the small body of a charango shifts a little with every change of tension.

Check the open strum

Strum all five courses open. In temple natural you should hear a clean A minor seventh colour, with no wobble between paired strings. If one course sounds thick, its twin is off: isolate it again and match it.

Tune it now with the free online tuner: