Generally found in Spain and areas of Latin America, the bandurria is a kind of plucked lute with a relatively small soundbox or resonator, a short fretted fingerboard, and wire or gut strings.

Dating from at least the 14th century, its history and transmission reflects the movement of people and culture across the Iberian peninsula. Prior to the 18th century, the bandurria had a round back, similar to the mandore, but later became a flat-backed instrument. The original bandurrias of the Medieval period had 3 strings. During the Renaissance they gained a 4th string. During the Baroque period the bandurria had 10 strings (5 pairs). The modern bandurria has 12 strings (6 pairs). The strings are tuned in unison pairs, going up in fourths from the low G#. The lowest 4 strings are a major-third above those of a standard guitar and the highest two strings are a fourth above a standard guitar.

The Philippine harp bandurria is a 14-string instrument used in many Philippine folkloric songs, with 16 frets and a shorter neck than the Spanish type.

There are also many different varieties of bandurria in South America, especially Peru and Bolivia. They have 4 courses, which may be double, triple or quadruple, and the tuning is guitar-like, rather than the fourths tuning used on the Spanish type.