The bandurria is an instrument with strings picked by a plectrum. It has a hybrid form mixing the guitar and the cittern families, found in Spain and in some parts of Latin America. In the 16th century it had a convex body and three strings, the most recent specimens have five or six strings tuned in intervals of fourths. The 1974 Delgado de Carvalho Instrumental Museum’s catalogue informs that this instrument was invented by João da Silva Braga, who built this hybrid chordophone using the features of the bandurra, the acoustic guitar and the electric guitar. João da Silva Braga, whose initials are engraved on the hand (cravelhame) of the instrument, was probably the owner of the instrument and the manufacturer, whose name is printed on the label, must have been João dos Santos Couceiro, a well-known luthier at the time.