---
title: "Payuela"
slug: payuela-reed
definition: "Double reed that vibrates inside the Asturian gaita's punteru. It's the piece that produces the melodic sound and most determines timbre and tuning."
synonyms: ["palleta", "pajuela", "double reed", "punteru reed", "pita del punteru"]
publishedAt: 2026-06-17
---
The **payuela** is the double reed housed in the upper part of the
**Asturian gaita**'s punteru. As air passes from the bag, its two blades
of cane vibrate against each other and generate the sound over which the
gaitero builds the melody.

It's the most delicate piece of the instrument. Timbre, response and much
of the tuning depend on it: a hard payuela demands more pressure and
sounds bright; a soft one responds easily but runs short of air. It's
scraped, tied and adjusted by hand, and every gaitero ends up with their
own.

"Payuela" is the most widespread form across Asturies. In the **east**
it's called **pajuela**, and **palleta** is the term used in **western
Asturies** and Galicia. It shouldn't be confused with the roncón reed,
which is a single reed and sounds differently.

Its size isn't arbitrary: I explain why it measures what it measures,
with data, in [the payuela, the soul of the Asturian gaita](/en/blog/payuela-alma-de-la-gaita-asturiana).