Bandurria

Bandurria [Gk. *pandoura], a flat-bodied plucked chordophone of med. and modern Spain, mentioned by Juan Ruiz in the early 14th c. (as mandurria) and described by Juan Bermudo in 1555 as having the shape of a rabel. In his day it usually had 3 strings (against 4 for the guitar and 6 for the vihuela, as he points out), which were tuned to fundamental, 4th, and oct., or to fundamental, 5th, and oct. Bermudo mentions other sizes, with 4 and even 5 strings, and says that they were usually played…