The Best Mexican Folk Music Instruments
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Mexico is home to a wide variety of traditional folk music. The country’s vibrant culture and rich history have produced some of the most iconic folk music instruments in the world. From the maracas to the vihuela, here are the best Mexican folk music instruments.
The Best Mexican Folk Music Instruments
The guitar
The guitar is one of the most popular Mexican folk music instruments. It is used in a variety of genres, including ranchera, mariachi, and banda. The guitar can be played solo or in a group. It is often accompanied by other instruments, such as the violín (fiddle), vihuela, and jarana.
The vihuela
The vihuela is a five-stringed member of the guitar family that was popular in Spain and Mexico from the 16th to 18th centuries. It has a round back and a pear-shaped body, and is held upright like a classical guitar. The vihuela is tuned in fourths, similar to the modern guitar, but has a larger range of notes due to its extra string. Many of the tunes associated with mariachi music are originally vihuela pieces.
The jarana
The jarana is a stringed instrument from Mexico that is most commonly used in the regional music of Veracruz. It is a member of the guitar family, and typically has 10 to 13 strings. The jarana come in a variety of sizes, with the largest being the jarana de son, and the smallest being the jarana requinto. The jarana has a long neck and a round body, and is traditionally played with the thumb and first two fingers of the right hand.
The requinto
The requinto is a small, five-string guitar that is commonly used in Mexican folk music. It is similar to the standard guitar, but has a smaller body and neck. The requinto is typically played with the fingers, rather than with a pick.
The requinto has a bright, sharp sound that can add a lot of energy to a folk music performance. It is often used as a lead instrument, playing the melody while other instruments provide accompaniment. The requinto can also be used for solo performances, or for accompaniment in a large group.
How to play Mexican folk music instruments
maracas, vihuelas, guitars, and harps are some of the most common Mexican folk music instruments. Maracas are percussion instruments that are often used in pairs. Vihuelas are guitars that have five strings. guitars usually have six strings. Harps are string instruments that have a triangular frame.
The guitar
Guitars are perhaps the most popular instruments in Mexican folk music. They are used in a variety of styles, from the fast-paced strumming of ranchera to the more intricate finger-picking of Mexican classical guitar.
There are a few different types of guitars used in Mexican folk music. The most common is the jarana, a small, eight-stringed instrument played with the fingers or a pick. It is used in a variety of musical genres, including son jarocho and son huasteco.
Another popular type of guitar is the requinto, which is similar to the jarana but has only six strings. It is commonly used in mariachi music.
Both the jarana and requinto can be played solo or in an ensemble. In an ensemble, they often play together with other stringed instruments, such as the vihuela or bajo sexto, and with percussion instruments such as maracas or claves.
The vihuela
The vihuela is a five-stringed acoustic guitar-like instrument from Mexico. It is smaller than a guitar and has a round back. The body of the vihuela is often made from wood, although some cheaper models may be made from plastic. The strings of the vihuela are usually nylon, although some older models may have gut strings.
The vihuela is most commonly used in Mexican folk music, although it has also been used in Mariachi music. The instrument is held horizontally and played with the fingers, rather than with a pick. The characteristic sound of the vihuela is created by plucking the strings with the right hand and then strumming them with the left hand.
If you want to learn how to play Mexican folk music on the vihuela, there are a few things you need to know. First, you need to tune the instrument. This can be done by ear, but it is often easier to use a chromatic tuner. Once the vihuela is tuned, you can begin to learn some of the basic techniques required to play the instrument.
One of the most important techniques for playing the vihuela is called “raking”. This involves moving your pick across all of the strings at once in an up-and-down motion. This creates a “raspy” sound that is characteristic of Mexican folk music. Another common technique is called “strumming”. This involves moving your pick back and forth across the strings in a rhythmic pattern.
Once you have mastered some of these basic techniques, you can begin to learn some of the more complex rhythms used in Mexican folk music. These rhythms are often quite fast and difficult to play at first, but with practice you will be able to master them.
One of the best ways to learn how to play Mexican folk music on the vihuela is to find a teacher who can show you how to do it properly. There are many books and online resources that can also help you learn this type of music.
The jarana
The jarana is a string instrument that is commonly used in Mexican folk music. It is similar to a guitar, but it has a much narrower neck and is played with the fingers rather than with a pick. The jarana has eight strings, which are tuned in pairs, and it is played by plucking the strings with the right hand while strumming with the left.
The jarana is used in a style of Mexican music known as son Jarocho, which originated in the state of Veracruz. Son Jarocho music is characterized by its use of traditional Mexican instruments, such as the jarana, along with African and European influences. This type of music often includes singing and dancing, and it is often played at fiestas and other festive occasions.
The requinto
The requinto is a type of guitar that is typically used in Mexican folk music. It is smaller than a standard guitar and has a higher pitch, making it perfect for playing fast-paced and upbeat songs. The requinto can be used as both a solo instrument and as part of a band. If you want to learn how to play Mexican folk music, the requinto is a great place to start.
