The timple is the instrument of música folclórica canaria, with five strings, a clear and rhythmic sound, present in guachinches, romerías and village festivals throughout the island. Similar to the ukulele in size, it distinguishes itself by an extra string and a curved back that gives it a rounder resonance.
Unlike a classical guitar, the timple is smaller, with a curved back (hence its affectionate nickname of camellito, little camel). It is often played by strumming or plucking, and its particular tuning (G-C-E-A-D) gives this typical brilliance that gets everyone dancing. A strong symbol of Canarian identity, it represents both Spanish heritage and island adaptation. Many families have a timple at home, and local craftsmen continue to make them from woods such as pine or ebony.
The standard timple has five strings (sometimes four in north Tenerife), tuned G-C-E-A-D. Its 60-65 cm makes it more compact than a guitar and easy to transport in a cabin bag. The top is spruce or pine, the curved back is dense wood. It plays all genres of Canarian folk music, isa, folía, malagueña. Handmade production is historically concentrated in Lanzarote, but Tenerife has several good luthiers. Budget 80 to 150 € for an entry-level model, 250 to 450 € for a handcrafted instrument.
In the twentieth century, the instrument was considered a "peasant's tool" and risked disappearing. Totoyo Millán initiated the folk revival from the 1950s onwards. Benito Cabrera then brought the timple to European concert halls, playing with symphony orchestras and giving it academic legitimacy. Los Sabandeños, a Canarian music group, popularized the traditional repertoire to a much wider audience.