{{Short description|String instrument}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox Instrument |name= Rajão |names= |image=Rajao in Porto.jpg |image_capt=5-string rajão |background=string |classification=String instrument |hornbostel_sachs= |hornbostel_sachs_desc=Composite chordophone |developed= Madeira, Portugal |range= |related=Ukulele, cavaquinho, timple |articles= }}
The '''rajão ''' ({{langx|pt|machete de rajão}}) is a 5-stringed instrument from Madeira, Portugal. The instrument traces back to the country's regional folk music, where it is used in folklore dances of Portugal in addition to other stringed instruments from the same region.
== History == There is little information of the origins of the rajão, but it is often associated with traditional folklore dance of Madeira and the origins of the ukulele of Hawaii. As early as 1879, Portuguese immigrants (who also owned business in musical instruments) brought the rajão (as well as a viola and braga) to Hawaii, where it was later given the nickname of the "taro-patch fiddle."<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Musical Instruments of Ancient Hawaii|jstor=738862|journal=The Musical Quarterly|volume=25|issue=4|pages=498–506|last1=Johnson|first1=Orme|year=1939|doi=10.1093/mq/XXV.4.498}}</ref> The rajão can be known as the "mother of the ukulele."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.coolhanduke.com/history.html|title=History of the Ukulele|website=Coolhanduke.com|access-date=2016-09-27|archive-date=15 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315230048/http://coolhanduke.com/history.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Construction and tuning == The instrument is about 70 centimeters (about 2 feet and 3 inches) in length and can be compared to a guitar with regard to structure and playing technique.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://portoguitarra.com/en/produtos/rajao/|title=Rajão |website=Portoguitarra.com|date=2014-01-21|language=en-US|access-date=2016-09-27}}</ref> On a modern rajão the strings are made of metal.<ref name="api">{{Cite web|url=http://atlasofpluckedinstruments.com/europe.htm#madeira|title=ATLAS of Plucked Instruments - Europe West|website=Atlasofpluckedinstruments.com|access-date=2016-09-27}}</ref> The rajão is tuned to D<sub>4</sub>-G<sub>4</sub>-C<sub>4</sub>-E<sub>4</sub>-A<sub>4</sub>, a reentrant tuning with the third string the lowest pitch.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Ukulele: A History|last=Tranquada|first=Jim|last2=King|first2=John|publisher=University of Hawaii, Honolulu|year=2012|isbn=9780824835446|location=Hawaii|pages=41|via=Fusion}}</ref> When it has 6 strings, the tuning becomes D<sub>4</sub>-G<sub>4</sub>-C<sub>4</sub>-E<sub>4</sub>-A<sub>4</sub>-A<sub>4</sub>.<ref name="api" /> The rajão also comes with all five courses doubled, though these are less common. {{Citation needed|date=September 2016}}
== Related instruments == * Ukulele * Cavaquinho * Machete * Braguinha [[File:Rajao.png|right|thumb|Re-entrant tuning used by the rajão]]
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Guitars}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rajao}} Category:Portuguese musical instruments Category:Guitar family instruments Category:Culture of Madeira
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