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The Paraguayan harp is a result of the fusion of two cultures, the Spanish and the Guarani, the native people of Paraguay. The instrument was introduced into Paraguay by Jesuit missionaries in the 16th century and was quickly adopted by the indigenous population who perfected it with their own style. They began constructing harps from American woods and developed a style that and a repertoire that was unique to Paraguay. The harp and its unique style contributed greatly to the art of music and it can be said that the harp is representative of the union of two races to give birth to the mestizo, who stopped being Indian and Spanish, to be Paraguayan.

The evolution of the classical harp mainly did not affect the Paraguayan, which took another courses in its progressive improvement. For example the Paraguayan harp did not adapt to utilize pedals and mechanical pegboxes that allow the classic harp to easily change keys. To overcome the limitations of not having the chromatic scale, Paraguayan harpists developed sophisticated techniques of playing the instrument and challenged themselves by creating embellished melodies with complexity and liveliness. Paraguayan harpists use their fingernails to pluck the string to generate a crisp and clear sound. The Paraguayan harp has remained a diatonic instrument until only recently when modern harpists have added levers which allow the harpist to change keys while playing.

Today, the Paraguayan harp is one of the favorite harps around the world. The Paraguayan harp is distinguished from other folk harps by the quality of its gentle yet vibrant sound, which can be relaxing or festive.