Portuguese Guitar (Fado)

Fado is a traditional Portuguese musical genre, recognized by UNESCO as Cultural and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. It is deeply cherished not only by the Portuguese but also by tourists who visit the country.

A fundamental element of this genre is the Portuguese Guitar, a 12-string instrument essential for accompanying fado singers. It originates from the European Renaissance cittern, which dates back to the Middle Ages and became widespread in Portugal. With its unmistakable timbre, a Portuguese can recognize its sound from the very first chords.

The guitar is crafted using imported wood: the back and sides are typically made of rosewood, maple, or mahogany, while the top is constructed from spruce or Flanders pine.

There are three main types of Portuguese Guitar, each with distinct manufacturing traditions:

The version recreated here is the Lisbon model, distinguishable by its snail-shaped headstock, unlike the Coimbra guitar, which features an inlaid teardrop.

The Portuguese Guitar in this project consists of two main elements: the tripod and the instrument itself.

In designing this model, my primary goal was to faithfully recreate a musical symbol and a treasured piece of Portuguese culture, an instrument masterfully played by only the greatest musicians.

This project is composed of nearly 2000 pieces, including some elements in new colors.

At the top, you can see the guitar’s tuning mechanism.

The strings are anchored at the stubs on the headstock and the bottom of the body. However, actual wires can be used and secured in the tuning mechanism, just like on a real Portuguese Guitar.

The tripod allows the guitar to be displayed vertically...

or can be folded for easy storage.

Length: 53.1cm (20.9in)

Height: 9.1cm (3.6in)

Width: 25.7cm (10.1in)