Caipira viola


The Caipira viola or Caipira guitar, is a Brazilian ten-string guitar with five courses of strings arranged in pairs. It is a variation of the Portuguese viola, serving as a basis for Caipira music, especially for subgenres of Caipira folklore, such as moda de viola, caipira pagode, catira, etc.

Origins

It has its origins in Portuguese violas. Violas are direct descendants of the Latin guitar, which, in turn, has an Arabic-Persian origin derived from instruments such as the lute. The Portuguese violas arrived in Brazil and along with other instruments began to be used by the Jesuits in the catechism of the indigenous people, and naturally, for Portuguese-Brazilian settlers and ranchers entertainment and company. Later, guitars began to be built with noble wood from the land, which has always been available in large quantities in Brazil. It is likely a descendant of one of the many folk guitars that have traditionally been
played in Portugal. The viola braguesa and viola amarantina, for instance, are two types of ten-string guitars from the north of Portugal, which are closely related to the Caipira viola.
Some have described the Caipira viola as Brazil's national instrument, but others argue that the tambourine-like pandeiro has a stronger claim. The Brazilian Embassy in Washington lists a national flower among the official symbols of Brazil, but no national musical instrument.

Tuning and playing technique

A large number of tunings are used; open tunings are common. Unlike most steel-string guitars, its strings are plucked with the fingers of the right hand similarly to the technique used for classical and flamenco guitars, rather than by the use of a plectrum.

Popularity

Violas are present in nearly all Brazilian music forms, anywhere in the country. It most often associated with Caipira music, with some forms of North-Eastern music and with folkloric music. It was once used to play urban music, like choro, samba and Maxixe, but has been replaced by the acoustic guitar.
Well-known players of Brazilian viola include Zé Côco do Riachão, Toninho Ramos and Almir Sater.
A National Association of Viola Players has been founded in 2004 and the Ministry of Culture has declared the preservation of the Viola tradition as of national interest.

Notable performers