The cuatro (from the Spanish cuatro — “four”) is a small plucked string instrument resembling a little guitar, whose name comes from its number of strings. It is widespread in many countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, and is especially closely tied to the folk music of Venezuela, where it is a true national symbol.
The Venezuelan cuatro is usually used not for a solo melody but for rhythmic-harmonic accompaniment: the musician strums energetically across all the strings, using various muting techniques that give the music its characteristic springy “drive.” The cuatro is the indispensable foundation of genres such as the joropo. Despite its modest size, this instrument sets the whole rhythmic pulse of the ensemble and embodies the festive, cheerful spirit of the Latin American folk tradition.
