Gambiarra is a popular Brazilian expression that describes an improvised and informal way of solving an everyday problem when needed tools or resources are not available. Since the turn of the 21st century, the term gambiarra has been a part of Brazilian art discourse. This article first analyzes the genealogy of the word gambiarra , including its global and local contexts, and then looks at the use of gambiarra in the production of music and sound art instruments, or gambioluthiery .