Güiro

As Printed on a Score

Names a percussion staff or a line in a shared percussion part (Güiro, often Guiro without the diaeresis), usually written on a one-line staff with the rhythm of the scrapes; there is no transposition.

Also spelled: Guiro

How Composers Use It

Scraping the ridges with a stick gives a dry, rasping sound; long strokes and short strokes give different lengths of sound, so notate durations carefully and, if you want a particular stroke direction, mark it with arrows and a footnote. It brings a strong Latin American association, which suits dance styles; in orchestral writing it adds a dry rhythmic texture.