Quena

Sound and Character

The sound of the quena is airy, breathy, melancholic, with a beautiful soft air hiss on the attack. In the upper register, it sounds piercing and crying.

Design and Features

A tube (traditionally made of reed or wood) with an open upper end into which a deep U-shaped notch (mouthpiece) is cut. It features 6 holes on the front and one on the back for the thumb.

Genres Used In

• Traditional Andean music (música andina)
• Ethnic world music and ambient