The guiro is a percussion instrument that is played by running a wooden stick or scrapper along the notches and groves to produce a sound similar to that of a ratchet. It is a hollow, open-ended gourd with notches and groves cut into the side. The guiro is commonly found in Latin-American music and Cuban music will often use a guiro to obtain the Cuban style sound.

The guiro was adapted from a pre-Colombian instrument that originated from the Taino people. Instruments similar to the guiro were also used in other parts of South and Central America and brought to Puerto Rico by the Arawak Indians.

A guiro is played by holding the guiro in your left hand, with your thumb in the back sound hole. This helps keep the guiro in place. Your right hand holds the scraper and runs the scraper along the instrument. The correct name for the scrapper tool is a “pua”. When the guiro is played, both short and long strokes are used to create short and long sounds. This is normally done by the singer.

One of the first references of the guiro is by Fray Iñigo Abbad y Lasierra in 1788. The guiro was said to be one of the instrument used to accompany dancers.