At least some of the instruments used in traditional Puerto Rican music are believed to have originated with the Taíno people. Most noteworthy is the güiro, a notched hollowed-out gourd, which was adapted from a pre-Colombian instrument. The güiro is made by carving the shell of the gourd and carving parallel fluting on its surface. It is played by holding the güiro in the left hand with the thumb inserted into the back sound hole to keep the instrument in place. The right hand usually holds the scraper and plays the instrument. The scraper is more properly called a pua. Playing the güiro usually requires both long and short sounds, which are made by scraping both up and down in long or short strokes. The instrument’s rasping sound adds counterpoint to folk music but is less often used in salsa bands. The güiro is known as Calabazo, Guayo, Ralladera, Rascador, and is considered a percussion instrument.
