Either a three string guitar from Spain or (as shown) a modern lute of Colombia and Venezuela with a teardrop shape and a flat or concave back, related to the bandurria and mandolin.

There are several varieties of the latter:

The bandola llanera traditionally has only 7 frets and 4 nylon or gut strings, although larger versions can be found in Venezuela with 10 and 14 frets.

The bandola andina colombiana has 6 courses of strings in several different arrangements: 12 strings in doubled courses, 14 strings with the first two courses tripled and the rest doubled, 16 strings with the first four courses tripled and the last two doubled, or 18 strings in triple courses.

The bandola oriental is like the bandola llanera but with a deeper body and 4 double courses with 8 strings in all, with both nylon and metal strings.

A bass bandola (bandola bajo) can also be found with 12 strings in 6 courses and a fanned fretboard.