The Venezuelan harp, the “arpa llanera,” is common in the African/European-inspired waltz-like dance genre Joropo, but more specifically in llanero music, which is the music of Venezuelan cowboys who ride and ranch on the plains.
COUNTRY: Venezuela
KEY GENRES: Joropo, Llanero
The cuatro is a small Caribbean and South American stringed instrument that descended from the Portuguese cavaquinho. “Cuatro” means “four” and most cuatros have four strings, though the instrument is adapting to its frequent use in several genres of music, from bawdy Puerto Rican guaracha to lively Trinidadian parang.
COUNTRY: Puerto Rico (U.S.), Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela
KEY GENRES: Guaracha, Joropo, Llanero, Parang, Plena
