Tiple is the Spanish word for
treble or
soprano, is often applied to specific instruments, generally to refer to a small
chordophone of the
guitar family.
Puerto Rican tiples
The tiple is the smallest of the three string instruments of
Puerto Rico that make up the
orquesta jibara (i.e., the
Cuatro, the Tiple and the
Bordonua). According to investigations made by
Jose Reyes Zamora, the tiple in Puerto Rico dates back to the 18th century. It is believed to have evolved from the Spanish guitarrillo. There was never a standard for the tiple and as a result there are many variations throughout the island of Puerto Rico. Most tiples have four or five strings and most tiple requintos have three strings. Some tiples have as many as 6 strings and as few as a single string, though these types are rare.
The main types of tiple in Puerto Rico are:
*Tiple requinto de la montaña - a tiny version of the Tiple doliente with only three strings. It is usually smaller than 12 inches.
Tiple requinto costanero - a smaller version of the tiplón with only three strings. It is usually about 15 inches in length.
Tiple doliente - this tiple has 5 single strings and is the most common used today. It is usually about 15 inches in length.
Tiplón or tiple con macho - a larger version of the tiple with a fifth string peg like an American banjo, located on its neck. It is usually about 21 inches in length.
Tiple grande de Ponce - the largest version (about 21 inches in length) with 5 strings. It is considered to be the link between Tiples and Bordonuas. It is sometimes also called "Bordonua Chiquita" (or small Bordonua).
The tiple that is now most often played in Puerto Rico is the Tiple Doliente. It has recently acquired a more or less fixed body shape narrowing at the top and having 5 strings (see the accompanying photo). It is usually made like the cuatro, so either constructed like a guitar, or from one piece of wood hollowed out. The bottom half of the body is rounded like a guitar, however the top half is square, or triangular. All other features (like neck and bridge) resemble the construction of a normal spanish guitar. The peghead has tuning machines either from the side or from the back.
The Tiple doliente is tuned with 5 metal strings: e a d' g' c''.
Colombian tiple
The
Colombian tiple is an instrument of the guitar family, similar in appearance although slightly smaller than an
acoustic guitar. Tiples usually have 12 strings grouped in four tripled
courses, although some tiples have only ten strings. The four courses of metal strings are tuned to the same pitches as the four upper strings of the guitar: DGBE. The middle string of each of the three lowest triple courses is tuned an octave lower than the other two strings in the course.
This tiple is associated with Colombia, and is considered the national instrument. Tiple virtuoso David Pelham has this to say about the Colombian Tiple: "The tiple is a Colombian adaptation of the Renaissance Spanish vihuela brought to the New World in the 16th century by the Spanish conquistadors. At the end of the 19th century, it evolved to its present shape. Its twelve strings are arranged in four groups of three: the first group consists of three steel strings tuned to E, the second, third and fourth groups have a copper string in the middle of two steel strings. The central ones are tuned one octave lower than the surrounding strings of the group. This arrangement produces the set of harmonics that gives the instrument its unique voice."
Spanish tiple
In
Spain the tiple has fewer strings than the guitarra, and is strummed. This tiny guitar has four strings and is found in
Minorca. Other types of small guitars in Spain are the
guitarra,
guitarrico,
requinto,
braguinha, and
rajâo. Actually the requinto (a 3/4 sized guitar) was developed in Latin America.
Portuguese tiple
Related Portuguese instruments are the
cavaquinho or
braguinha and the
rajâo. The
braguinha and the
rajâo taken to Hawai'i by Portuguese immigrants from Madeira are the forerunners of the
ukelele.
Canary Island tiple
Migrating from North Africa in the 16th century to the
Canary Islands and then on to
Murcia, the
timple has become the traditional instrument of the Canaries. In
Palma and in the north of the island of
Tenerife some players omit the fifth string, tuning the timple like a
ukulele, though nowadays this is often seen as non-standard by players in other regions where five strings are preferred. The popular timple tuning is GCEAD.
The Tiple Cubano
The
cubano is the tiple of
Cuba. There were two versions one with 5 single strings and one with 5 double strings for ten strings in all. The famous Cuban author Miguel Teurbe Tolón y de la Guardia published a book about it in the United States entitled
El Tiple Cubano y El Tiple Libre.
Tiple Dominicano
Dominican Republic Dominicano tiples have five double strings. The soundbox looks like a
bandurria. It is sometimes referred to as The Tiple de Santo Domingo (Capital of the Dominican Republic).
Tiple Argentino
The six string Argentino tiple is found in the land of
Argentina. It resembles a small guitar.
Tiple Peruano
Peruano tiple is from
Peru. There are two versions one with 4 single strings and one with 4 double strings.
Banjo Tiple
As with the Peruano, the Banjo tiple is also from Peru. As its name says it is a tiny
Banjo with 4 pairs of double strings.
Tiple Uruguayo
The Uruguayo, also known as the Guitarra Requinto, is from
Uruguay. It has 6 single strings and looks like a small guitar.
Tiple Venezolano
This Tiple from
Venezuela, looks like a smaller version of the Colombian Tiple. It has 4 pairs of triple strings and is also known as the Guitarro, Guitarro Segundo, and the Segunda Guitarra. There is another tiple played in Venezuela but is a member of the Venezuelan Cuatro family of instruments, also called a Tiple and know as the
Cinco y Medio or Cinco. It is very much like the Cuatro but it has 5 strings instead of four.
Tiplito
The Tiplito (literally meaning 'small Tiple') is a Tiple with 7 strings in 4 courses of 3 double nylon strings and one single wound nylon string for the lowest pitch. It has a scale length of about 355mm (14 inches). Traditionally played throughout South America and the Caribbean, it is now also popular in Europe. The tuning is often mandolin-like (G dD aa ee), but sometimes guitar-like tunings are used (D gG bb ee)
Non-traditional tiples
Several instruments have been developed outside of the direct Latin tradition, which either bear the name
tiple, or are variants upon the Latin tiple.
Martin tiple
The tiple was redesigned in 1919 by the American guitar company
C.F. Martin & Co. for the William J. Smith Co. in New York. This tiple has ten steel strings in four courses, tuned similarly to a ukulele: GgcCceEeAA (or a note higher if using D tuning.) Many similar instruments were developed by other companies around the same time.
Tiple strings and tuning: A ukulele-style tuning can be used (this is the original) or the tiple can be tuned like a guitar. The ukulele string gauges are the Martin standard—the other strings are for the lower guitar tuning. (note: When a ukulele plays an 'F' chord, a guitar plays a 'C' chord).
| Ukulele tuning | Guitar tuning |
| top | mid | bot | note | note | top | mid | bot |
| 010 | 010 | | A |
| 012 | 026 | 012 | E | E | 012 | 012 | |
| 015 | 034 | 015 | C | B | 015 | 032 | 015 |
| 010 | 022 | | G | G | 010 | 022 | 010 |
| | | | | D | 008 | 015 |
Electric Tiples
Electric Tiples that have been designed usually follow the Colombian or Martin tuning and string arrangement.
Trembulo
The
trembulo and its modern cousin the trembulo fusao are similar to the tiple and may well have evolved from a common ancestor.
Strumbola
The
Strumbola is a tiple variant invented in 2003 by American jazz musician
Jack Schaeffer, in an effort to create a string instrument on which jazz chordal forms are intuitive and accessible. The instrument is intended to serve in the rhythm section of a jazz ensemble.
Marxochime "Hawaiian" tiple
The Marxochime Hawaiian tiple bears no resemblance to the traditional tiples, instead resembling a
zither. it is player with a combination of plucking, strumming, and playing with a slide similar to a
lap steel guitar. The instrument is one of many
zither variants marketed within the United States during the early 20th century, of which only the
autoharp ever achieved lasting popularity. The instrument carries the "Hawaiian tiple" name solely for marketing purposes, as interest in Hawaiian music and culture was high in mainland America during the period when the instrument was marketed.
Resources and Sources
Colombian tiple:
Puerta's tremendous tiple touch
Colombian luthier Alberto Paredes
Paredes, A., Mottola, R.M. “Construction of the Colombian Tiple”, American Lutherie #90, 2007, p. 40.
Guild of American Luthiers plan #51 - Colombian Tiple by Alberto Paredes
Puerto Rican tiple:
The Puerto Rican Tiple
The Tiples of Puerto Rico
ATLAS of Plucked Instruments
El Tiple Puertorriqueño (In Spanish)
Spanish tiple:
(In Spanish)
(In Spanish)
Timple Canario:
El Timple (In Spanish)
Learn TIMPLE (spanish)
Tiple Cubano:
Miguel Teurbe Tolón y de la Guardia. (Matanzas, 1820-1857)
Tiple Dominicano, Tiple Argentino, Banjo Tiple, Tiple Uruguayo, and the Tiple Venezolano:
TIPLES EN OTROS PAISES (In Spanish)
Ficha del Tiple (In Spanish)
Marxochime Hawaiian Tiple:
Marxochime Hawaiian Tiple
References
Category:Guitar family instruments
