If you’ve ever learned to tune a ukulele, you might know the classic mnemonic:
“My dog has fleas.” 🐶
In Venezuela, we have our own version for the Venezuelan Cuatro—a fun phrase that’s just as memorable: “Cambur Pintón.”
📝 Cambur means “banana” in Venezuelan Spanish, and pintón refers to one that’s perfectly ripe.
Both mnemonics are designed to help you remember the open string notes, but they match different instruments and tunings.
The mnemonic goes along with the order of the strings in the Cuatro, like below:
Cam = A
Bur = D
Pin = F# (highest note)
Ton = B (an octave lower)
Notice that this tuning is re-entrant, meaning the strings are not arranged from lowest to highest pitch. This is one of the Cuatro’s charming quirks, similar to the ukulele’s tuning style.
“My Dog Has Fleas” vs “Cambur Pintón”
- Ukulele Tuning (G-C-E-A) → My Dog Has Fleas
- Cuatro Tuning (A-D-F#-B) → Cambur Pintón
While the concept is the same, the Cuatro mnemonic is specific to its unique tuning. If you’re switching between instruments, remembering which phrase belongs to which tuning will save you from a lot of sour notes.
Why Mnemonics Work for Tuning
Mnemonics are more than just cute phrases—they’re a proven memory tool. They help beginners quickly associate string positions with note names, and even experienced players use them for a quick tune-up before a performance.
Using a mnemonic like “Cambur pintón” can be a helpful tool for musicians who are learning to play the Cuatro, as it provides a simple and easy-to-remember way to remember each pitches string. It can also be helpful for experienced musicians who are trying to tune their instrument before a performance quickly or who need to check that their Cuatro is in tune before playing.
Practice Tuning Your Cuatro
Here’s how to get your Cuatro perfectly in tune:
- Use a tuner – Match each string to its correct pitch (A, D, F#, B).
- Say the phrase – “Cam-bur-pin-ton” as you pluck each string.
- Train your ear – Over time, you’ll recognize if a string is sharp or flat without needing the tuner.
Here is an online free tunning tool that can help you hear how the Cuatro strings should sound when they are in tune. By listening to the reference pitches provided by the tuner, you can learn to match the pitches of your Cuatro strings to the desired tones.
Using a tuner, you can develop a better ear for pitch and learn to tune your Cuatro with greater precision and accuracy. In the following lessons, we will review each of the Cuatro’s strings in detail and provide more information about the specific pitches and techniques you can use to tune each one.
