| String instrument | |
|---|---|
| Classification | String instrument |
| Hornbostel–Sachs classification |
(Composite chordophone) |
| Developed | Braga, north-western Portugal |
| Related instruments | |
| Viola caipira, Viola beiroa, Viola campaniça, Viola da terra, Viola de arame, Viola sertaneja, Viola terceira, Viola toeira, Viola amarantina. | |
Viola braguesa is a stringed instrument from Braga, north-western Portugal. It has 10 strings in 5 courses. The strings are made of steel. It is tuned C4/C3–G4/G3–A4/A3–D4/D4–G4/G4. The scale length is about 500 mm (20 inches).
Many Portuguese violas, such as the Viola braguesa, have smaller requinto versions also, called 'requinta'. The viola braguesa requinta is tuned: A4/A3–C5/C4–F5/F4–C♯5/C♯5–E5/E5. This tuning is a fifth above the standard Viola braguesa.