{"id":1335,"date":"2023-01-02T12:31:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-02T12:31:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.handmadesound.com\/chitarra-battente-storia-e-caratteristiche\/"},"modified":"2025-12-09T09:56:37","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T09:56:37","slug":"chitarra-battente-history-and-characteristics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.handmadesound.com\/en\/chitarra-battente-history-and-characteristics\/","title":{"rendered":"Chitarra Battente: History and Characteristics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The battente guitar (in italian chitarra battente)<\/strong> emerged during the 17th century,<\/strong> a period when the city of Rome became the epicenter for the production of metal strings, which would come to define the instrument\u2019s sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Subsequently, numerous production centers sprang up, mainly located in southern Italy. Originally, the Italian guitar<\/a><\/strong> was played by cultured individuals performing at court. Over the centuries, however, it became a predominantly popular instrument. Starting from the 19th century, there was a trend reversal: from an elitist instrument, it evolved into a folk<\/em> instrument<\/strong>, leading to an increase in production, though often characterized by poor craftsmanship. During this time, workshops emerged where artisans improvised the manufacturing process, frequently using low-quality wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paradoxically, at the height of its use, particularly in popular contexts<\/strong>, the battente guitar began to be dismissed by court circles due to its inferior quality. Nevertheless, southern populations continued to play the instrument, and by the 20th century<\/strong>, it had become a true symbol of national pride. This was largely thanks to the continuous efforts of some luthiers and internationally renowned artists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, in the 1920s<\/strong>, during the era of migration, individuals emigrating from southern Italy brought battente guitars with them to North and South America, contributing significantly to the instrument\u2019s spread to distant lands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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FIND A BATTENTE GUITAR<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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How the Battente Guitar Is Made<\/h2>\n\n\n\n


It has a distinctive design<\/em><\/strong>, especially when compared to modern classical guitars. It features an elongated figure-eight shape with gentle curves, making it comfortable to use. This aspect makes it very easy to play. The instrument also has fairly deep sides, while the body<\/em> is very small. The soundboard features a decorated rosette, and the headstock has ten tuners around which strings of the same gauge are wound. The rosette can be made of parchment or wood and is designed to obscure the often-rough internal structure of the instrument. Naturally, both the nut and the tuners can vary in terms of materials and decorative elements. Depending on the model, the guitar\u2019s surface is made from different types of wood, though most examples use cherry wood and spruce. The wooden bridge is quite low (reminiscent of a mandolin), is movable, and is connected to a tailpiece anchored to the lower part of the guitar body. Both the headstock (which is long and angled at 15\u00b0 relative to the neck) and the rest of the body often feature intricate decorations, making this instrument a true gem of Italian lutherie. The fretboard of the battente guitar, compared to a modern guitar, has fewer frets (ranging from 8 to 12), which are quite low and adorned with embellishments that enhance its unique design<\/em>. The number of strings varies depending on the instrument\u2019s construction: there are four-string, six-string, and twelve-string models. However, the gauge of the strings remains consistent, contributing to the creation of a very particular sound<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To better understand the structural characteristics of the instrument, you may find the following video by Marcello De Carolis helpful, as it also highlights the differences between the battente guitar and the classical guitar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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