Jarana

The "jarana" is a guitar-shaped fretted stringed instrument, from the southern region of the state of Veracruz, Mexico. Typically strung with 8 strings in 5 courses, usually arranged in two single outer strings with three courses between. The strings are usually nylon, although they were gut in the past. The body is somewhat narrower in proportion to a guitar; this is due to its direct lineage from the Spanish baroque guitar of the sixteenth century. Sometimes mistaken for a ukulele, the jarana jarocha comes in at least four sizes, the smallest being the 'mosquito', about the size of a soprano ukulele; the 'primera', about the size of a concert ukulele; the 'segunda', in length between a tenor and a baritone ukulele; and the 'tercera', which is somewhat longer than the baritone ukulele.

The jarana traditionally features a very singular type of construction; the body is carved to shape from a solid piece of wood (traditionally Spanish cedar) and it is then hollowed out, with a separate soundboard and fingerboard applied. Other Mexican and South American folk guitars derivative of Spanish instruments are also made this way, notably the charango of Bolivia.

The sound is distinctive--it does not sound like either a ukulele or a guitar. It is almost a percussion instrument in the way it is played, with an accented down and double upstroke pattern which almost mimics the 'zapateado' steps of the dancers. The sound depends on the wood used and the size of the instrument. Jaranas by different makers tend to have different voices even when made of the same woods, due to method of manufacture, etc.

The jarana primera tends to have a high and sharp voice, while the segunda has a more tenor, shimmering voice. The tercera has a deep and sonorous voice, and the tiny mosquito has an often shrill voice.

The jarana is used to great effect in combination with other instruments such as the 'arpa jarocha' or Veracruz folk harp, the 'guitarra de son' which is almost identical to the jarana but for the fact that it has four strings which are plucked with a long plectrum usually made of cowhorn (thus making it a melodic rather than rhythm instrument) as well as being used as a lead instrument in vocal music.