Need to know what instrument they're using

[Sarah.Harris0991]

Hey, does anyone know what instrument is playing at 2:38? I really like it but I can't tell what it is:

[Simon1234]

I think it's a Puerto Rican cuatro.

[Jim Soloway]

I think it's a Puerto Rican cuatro.

I think you're right. Now can someone explain to me why a "cuatro" appears to have five double courses of strings? Wouldn't that make it a "cinco".

[jazzshrink]

I think you're right. Now can someone explain to me why a "cuatro" appears to have five double courses of strings? Wouldn't that make it a "cinco".

From the Cuatro Project: "The "early" cuatro or cuatro antiguo once had a peculiar, keyhole-shaped soundbox and was strung with four single strings made from animal guts--hence it's name cuatro-- or "four.""

[Jim Soloway]

From the Cuatro Project: "The "early" cuatro or cuatro antiguo once had a peculiar, keyhole-shaped soundbox and was strung with four single strings made from animal guts--hence it's name cuatro-- or "four.""

Cool, so they just kept the name while it evolved into an instrument with 10 strings.