The guayo or ralladera is a metal scraper used as a percussion instrument in traditional styles of Cuban music such as changüÃÂ, predecessor of son cubano. Largely replaced by the güiro (gourd scraper) during the 20th century, the guayo is now rare. In the Dominican Republic, the güira, a similar metal scraper used in merengue, is sometimes called guayo. In contrast to Cuba, güiras replaced güiros in the early 20th century.
The guayo survives in Cuba almost exclusively as part of changüàperformances in the eastern regions of the country (formerly known as the Oriente Province). It is one of the five instruments played in the genre together with the maracas, botija or marÃÂmbula, bongo, and tres. Guayos consist of a cylindrical metal sheet with a cheese grater surface which is scraped with a metal rod or bone.
Notable guayo players include Santiago Reyes "Chago Guayo", Carlos Borromeo Planche "Cambrón" and José Andrés RodrÃÂguez RamÃÂrez, all of which were also singers and members of Grupo Changüàde Guantánamo.