The Chinlili, also known as the Chinlilo, is a

chordophone String instruments, stringed instruments, or chordophones are musical instruments that produce sound from vibrating strings when a performer plays or sounds the strings in some manner. Musicians play some string instruments by plucking the ...

from

Ayacucho Ayacucho (, qu, Ayak'uchu) is the capital city of Ayacucho Region and of Huamanga Province, Ayacucho Region, Peru. During the Inca Empire and Viceroyalty of Peru periods the city was known by the name of Huamanga (Quechua: Wamanga), and it c ...

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = National seal , national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...

. It is a variant of the Charango tuned to a lower tone. The frets are laid out diatonically, and it has 6 courses of 8 metal strings much like a

dulcimer The word dulcimer refers to two families of musical string instruments. Hammered dulcimers The word ''dulcimer'' originally referred to a trapezoidal zither similar to a psaltery whose many strings are struck by handheld "hammers". Variants of ...

. The doubled courses on the instrument are tuned to an octave. The traditional tuning, known as the "temple tuning" of the courses is E - B - G - D - B - G. The Chinlili was prevalent in Chimaycha songs which portrayed scenes about courtship, love or poverty using metaphors from nature. Historically, the performers were herders who would meet while herding and compose music together. Current indigenous music in cities focuses on social problems and partying. The music is still a forum for people to connect through common issues, but those issues have changed.http://stringedinstrumentdatabase.aornis.com/

References

El Chinlili
String instruments Peruvian musical instruments {{Lute-stub