The viola caipira is a Portuguese folk intrument with ten strings in five courses, popular in Brazil. It appears to be a small guitar with ten light steel strings and is played with the fingers rather than with a plectrum.

The viola amarantina and viola braguesa are smaller versions of the same instrument.

Traditionally, many tunings are used.

Portuguese tunings of the viola caipira:

• A-E-F#-B-E
• G-D-E-A-D (ie one tone lower)

Viola Amarantina and Viola Braguesa standard (Portunguese) tunings are one fourth higher than the viola caipira:

• D-A-B-E-A
• C-G-A-D-G

Brazilian tunings

Boiadeira tuning

• G-D-F#-A-D

Rio-abaixo tuning:

• G-D-G-B-D

Many other open tunings are also used.

External links

• http://jazz-guitar-talk.blogspot.com/2009/02/tuning.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viola_caipira
• http://mandolinplayer.com/product.asp?pn=MAN055&Portuguese+Violao+Braguesa=&bhcd2=1237585720