It's a great instrument.  I just wanted to share some info.  This is a great site and I am happy to be able to talk guitars with others.

Cheers.

I'm new to the site, but wanted to comment (that's if anyone is even reading this thread anymore!).

I actually have both styles of the Portuguese guitar.  One Coimbra model (Tuning CGADGA) and one Lisboa model (tuning DABEAB).  I love both models.  They are more difficult to play than a regular classical guitar mainly because the frets are much more compact, and having a double string per note means pressing down harder on the frets. 

That said, I love the way they sound and they are a joy to play.  They are indeed used for Fado, but several prominent musicians have really pushed this as a headlining instrument, chief among them was Carlos Paredes. 

Enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9cqXIk2B04

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujf6EVam … re=related

And one of the new generation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SN6kg11w … re=related

Lisbon (Lisboa) Tuning) 440mm scale

1st, 2nd and 8th strings-- .009"  wire string. Tuned to B
3rd, 4th and 10th strings--.010"  wire strings. Tuned to A  (This A  = 440 Hz)
5th, 6th strings-- .013"  wire strings. Tuned to E
7th string --.020"  wound. Tuned an octave below the 8th string (B)
9th string --.024"  wound. Tuned an octave below 10th string (A)
11th string -- .034"  wound. Tuned to D ( like the 4th string on the Acoustic Guitar)
12th string -- .018"  wound. Tuned an octave above the 11th string (D)

Coimbra Tuning 470mm scale

1st, 2nd and 8th strings-- .011"  wire string. Tuned to A  ( This A  = 440 Hz)
3rd, 4th and 10th strings--.012"  wire strings. Tuned to G
5th, 6th strings-- .015"  wire strings. Tuned to D
7th string --.022"  wound. Tuned an octave below the 8th string (A)
9th string --.024"  wound. Tuned an octave below 10th string (G)
11th string -- .036"  wound. Tuned to C (like the 5th string, 3rd fret on the acoustic guitar)
12th string -- .019"  wound. Tuned an octave above the 11th string (C )

The tuning is unusual and the playing method also. They are normally played with by alternate picking with the thumb and forefinger.

Roger

geoaguiar wrote:

Thanks Roger. I was hoping you'd chime in being from that area. Thanks for the link. Anyone else? Is it a like a 12 string mandolin. I've read it's associated with Fado style of music (which is interesting as well). I'd really like a lower end unit to play with to see if I like it. I can only find 1 source here in the states and the models are 600.00 and up. Kind of a lot to drop on a whim without having any experience or even knowing whether I'll like playing it (or whether I can!!!).

Hi, have just joined up here. Am wondering if this thread is still 'a live one' - as it's originally dated last year. I am in Portugal right now, and saw this instrument recently at the local park - a couple were playing Fado music, one guitar, and one Portuguese guitar as described, also a singer. Twas very lovely indeed. If you're still wondering about this instrument I would be happy to find out for you from the local epople. But of course, you have probably found out by now, and even bought one.

I have not yet bought one but was still contemplating it. Thanks for checking in. I was interested in the difference in playing chords between the guitarro and a guitar. I really don't want to learn from scratch but if the two were similar I'd consider purchasing as I think it's a cool sounding instrument.

  Most threads here are sort of active in that they are scanned for new posts regularly so if one would have questions or comments they will be seen, and responded to appropriately.

  If you are relatively new to the site, by all means browse around and you can find opinions and information (most of which is quite useful) from this global community of music-minded friends.

Once again Welcome and we will look forward to hearing from you from time to time, great friendships are forged from the first hello.....   HELLO!

Take Care;  Doug

Thanks Roger. I was hoping you'd chime in being from that area. Thanks for the link. Anyone else? Is it a like a 12 string mandolin. I've read it's associated with Fado style of music (which is interesting as well). I'd really like a lower end unit to play with to see if I like it. I can only find 1 source here in the states and the models are 600.00 and up. Kind of a lot to drop on a whim without having any experience or even knowing whether I'll like playing it (or whether I can!!!).

Hi, have just joined up here. Am wondering if this thread is still 'a live one' - as it's originally dated last year. I am in Portugal right now, and saw this instrument recently at the local park - a couple were playing Fado music, one guitar, and one Portuguese guitar as described, also a singer. Twas very lovely indeed. If you're still wondering about this instrument I would be happy to find out for you from the local epople. But of course, you have probably found out by now, and even bought one.

Roger

Wikipedia has a quite interesting article on the Portuguese guitar, which explains the tuning and the method of playing. The link is:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_guitar

Sadly I have never had my hands on one so I cannot help in a practical sense.

Roger