The Philippine harp bandurria is a 14-string bandurria used in many Philippine folkloric songs, with 16 frets and a shorter neck than the 12-string bandurria. This instrument most likely evolved in the Philippines during the Spanish period, from 1521 to 1898.
The bandurria is a stringed musical instrument belonging to the lute family, featuring a design influenced by both the cittern and guitar. Its modern form consists of a small, pear-shaped wooden body, a short neck, and a flat back. Typically, it has six paired courses of strings, although variations with five or seven are also seen. The strings are tuned to g♯–c♯′–f♯′–b′–e″–a″, starting from the G♯ below middle C, and are attached to a tension bridge similar to that of a guitar. This tuning in fourths allows for ease of fingering and uniformity, distinguishing it from instruments like the guitar. The instrument features a fingerboard with 12 fixed metal frets and is traditionally played with a short, hard plectrum.
The bandurria has a rich history and is utilized in various styles of folk and popular music. Originating in 16th-century Spain, it has also made its way to Latin America, particularly Peru, where it continues to be played. In the Balearic Islands of the Mediterranean Sea, it is known as the mandurria. Additionally, a descendant of the bandurria is the bandola, a teardrop-shaped lute commonly found in Central and South America.