The güiro is a Latin-American percussion instrument that's popular in Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and other Latin American countries.
A Cuban Percussion Instrument
The güiro is commonly used in salsa, merengue and other Latin-American styles where it forms an essential part of the rhythm section. Known for its characteristically rasping sound, the güiro is often played alongside other percussion instruments such as bongos, congas and timbales to create swinging, danceable rhythms.
Play It With a Stick
The güiro is played by running a stick or tines across its ribbed playing surface, which creates a rasping, ratchet-like sound. One popular 'spin-off' comes in the form of a wooden frog - a fun effect for wee music-makers.
Picking Out Your Guiro
While originally made from hollowed-out gourds, today's güiros are usually made of fibreglass, wood or plastic. There's also the güira: a metal version that's played with a fork-like scraper.
Frequently Asked Questions About Guiros
What does the guiro sound like?
The güiro shapes a rasping sound that's the result of running a stick across the grooves of its body. The sound can be varied by changing the speed and force applied, but also depends on the material the instrument is made of.
