How do you tune a Peruvian 20 string Banduria

Question

My uncle is a professional muscian who toured in the USA and Japan about 10 years ago. He left at my house a banduria which has 4 sets of 5 strings, as in 4 sets to pluck together . The three lowest of the 4 sets contains a thicker string which is always the third of the set, all other strings seem idential in diameter but maybe are not tuned the same. The head of the banduria is just shy of being the size of the whole instrument. I think he once said it is tuned like the first 4 strings of a guitar but that doesnt seem right. I also would not know if it is the 4 lowest or highest.

This banduria is from Peru used to play andean music and huynos typicos.

Answer 1

Hi Ped

That is a rare instrument especially the 20 string because usually, they ar 16 strings.

The tuning is E-B-G-D" tuned from 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4rth string.

For your 20-string, you would do  E- B- G- D- A- E- F#- G#

Basically, the strings are tuned in 5th .  For your 20-string starting from the smallest string,you would tune it at the 5th fret. The tuning I gave above is correct.