The quena (a spelling used in Spanish-speaking countries for the Quechua word qina, sometimes written as kena in English) is a traditional flute from the Andes region. It is usually made of cane or wood and has six finger holes and one thumb hole. The flute is open on both ends or has the bottom partially closed. To make sound, the player covers the top end with the skin between the chin and lower lip and blows air downward along the flute’s length over an oval-shaped cut at the end. The quena is typically in the key of G, with G4 as the lowest note. Its sound is described as textured and dark due to its length-to-bore ratio of about 16 to 20, which makes it harder to play high notes. This is different from the Western concert flute, which has a ratio of about 38 to 20.

The quenacho (also called kenacho in English) is a larger version of the quena and is made the same way. It is in the key of D, with D4 as the lowest note, which is a perfect fourth lower than the quena. Its sound is rich and brighter compared to the quena because of its length-to-bore ratio of about 25.

The quena is commonly used in traditional Andean music. In the 1960s and 1970s, it was played by some musicians in the nueva canción movement, though mostly for specific songs rather than as a standard instrument. Groups like Illapu and musician Facio Santillán used it regularly. In the 1980s and 1990s, some rock bands influenced by nueva canción, such as Soda Stereo in Cuando Pase el Temblor and Los Enanitos Verdes in Lamento Boliviano, included the quena in their music. The quena is also often found in world music.

Other Andean instruments similar to the quena

Other Andean flutes include the following:

• The pinkillu uses the same finger positions as the quena and looks and works like a recorder. However, it has an air channel called a fipple to direct the airflow;
• The tarka (or tharqa) works like a recorder but is shorter and has a more angular shape. It requires more air to play and produces a deeper, more intense sound;
• The moseño (originally called mohoseño) is a long bamboo flute with two tubes. The second tube helps guide the airflow, and the instrument has a deep, rich sound.