ArtiMusica Terceira VA00S Viola da Terra guitar

It only appears on Terceira Island, probably in the second half of the 19th century, an instrument similar to the Azorean violas, showing however some fundamental differences: an order of three strings that tune in E is added to its five parts, the resonance box is increased, as well as the neck, simultaneously increasing the number of points, giving it more potential to perform demanding traditional music themes from Terceira.

The way of playing changes from pure and simple “tear”, almost always with the thumb, to strumming from the bottom up, using the index finger, reserving the thumb for occasional accompaniments on the low strings. The Viola Terceirense strings, from high to low, E B G D A E, where in this case, the three highest orders are double and are tuned in unison, the three lowest orders are triple and are tuned in octave.