vihuela

/ biˈwela /

noun

1. an obsolete plucked stringed instrument of Spain, related to the guitar

Word History and Origins

Origin of vihuela¹

from Spanish

Example Sentences

Resembling a smaller version of the guitarrón, the vihuela allows the mariachi’s string section to achieve a higher range.

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Growing up around mariachi music, singer-songwriter and Las Chorizeras member Nancy Sanchez says she fell in love with the vihuela’s strumming pattern, which is called “los manicos.”

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Drawing from her roots in traditional mariachi music, she uses the vihuela as a way to put a new spin on her sound.

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“I use the vihuela artistically and approach it as a songwriter first,” said Sanchez.

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Moving from the guitar to the vihuela and finally landing on the guitarrón, the San Fernando Valley musician stuck by the bass as an act of female empowerment — it tends to be played by men.

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