# Looks like a tiny guitar, sounds a little like a bouzouki? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 27, 2018, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looks-like-a-tiny-guitar-sounds-a-little-like-a-bouzouki/807557 "2018-01-27T00:06:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2018, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looks-like-a-tiny-guitar-sounds-a-little-like-a-bouzouki/807557/1 "2018-01-27T00:06:23Z")
There is a busker here in DC who plays at two of the Metro stops I frequent. He plays an instrument that looks like a tiny guitar. It sounds kind of bouzouki-like. It has that jangly tone (I do not know terms for the sounds of stringed instruments). He plucks the strings rather than strumming. He looks like he might be from Central or South America. I’ve never heard him speak. Any ideas what the instrument might be? I find it a very enjoyable sound. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2018, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looks-like-a-tiny-guitar-sounds-a-little-like-a-bouzouki/807557/2 "2018-01-27T00:17:21Z")
[Mandolin?](https://www.google.com/search?newwindow=1&biw=1067&bih=449&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=ucRrWt-GNYSYzwL414GYBQ&q=mandolin&oq=m&gs_l=psy-ab.1.0.0i67k1l3j0j0i67k1l2j0l4.6008.6008.0.7845.1.1.0.0.0.0.327.327.3-1.1.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.1.326....0.n56XLWbKI_w) CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2018, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looks-like-a-tiny-guitar-sounds-a-little-like-a-bouzouki/807557/3 "2018-01-27T00:43:02Z")
What’s the shape of the body and how many strings does it have? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2018, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looks-like-a-tiny-guitar-sounds-a-little-like-a-bouzouki/807557/4 "2018-01-27T00:55:09Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > What’s the shape of the body and how many strings does it have? It’s shaped like a guitar. I don’t know how many strings. It’s quite small. Guessing under two feet including the whole body and neck (though I’m not great at estimating that sort of thing). The man who plays it is quite small, so I might be misled by his size. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2018, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looks-like-a-tiny-guitar-sounds-a-little-like-a-bouzouki/807557/5 "2018-01-27T00:58:46Z")
Ukulele? Pictures [here](http://www.guitarcenter.com/Ukuleles.gc)(scroll down for all the sizes). The smallest are soprano and are pretty “jangly” in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2018, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looks-like-a-tiny-guitar-sounds-a-little-like-a-bouzouki/807557/6 "2018-01-27T01:02:29Z")
A Brazilian Charango: [Charango - Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charango) ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2018, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looks-like-a-tiny-guitar-sounds-a-little-like-a-bouzouki/807557/7 "2018-01-27T01:03:09Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > Ukulele? Pictures [here](http://www.guitarcenter.com/Ukuleles.gc)(scroll down for all the sizes). The smallest are soprano and are pretty “jangly” in my opinion. I think I picked the wrong word. It’s very… actually, I don’t know the right word. Bouzouki-like! ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2018, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looks-like-a-tiny-guitar-sounds-a-little-like-a-bouzouki/807557/8 "2018-01-27T01:07:45Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > A Brazilian Charango: [Charango - Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charango) That’s it! Because this is the guy! Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2018, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looks-like-a-tiny-guitar-sounds-a-little-like-a-bouzouki/807557/9 "2018-01-27T01:10:50Z")
My work here is done.