The charango’s frets are arranged in a 12 tone chromatic scale. The tablature and notation follow the same rules for the guitar. Although the most common configuration of the strings on a charango is 10 stringed or five double pairs G C E A E or Gg Cc Ee Aa Ee. The tunings in the table are only samples of the known tunings used in Bolivia, Peru, Chile and North Western Argentina. The chords for charango are very similar to the ukulele G C E A although the instruments are both members of the lute family. The charango & ukulele are separate instruments from each other. Each lute having their own history.
In the table the asterisk * represents the tuning is a standard tuning that is used in a region containing several different countries.
The first table as featured shows the established standard tunings of the charango family
| Charango Tuning by Typology | ||
| Instruments | Length cm (Nut to Bridge) | Tunings |
| Charangon / Ronrocco | C F A D A | |
| Charango | C G E A E | |
| Walaycho | D G B E B | |
The second table shows the regional tunings for the charango as played on the 10 string / 5 course configuration Gg Cc Ee Aa Ee.
| Charango Tunings | |||
| Name | Pitch | Tuning | Region |
| Standard | Am7 / E | G C E A E | * |
| Ronrocco | C F A D A | Bolivia, Peru | |
| D G B E B | Argentina | ||