Lucida Vihuela LG-VH1 traditional Mexican string instrument

General

The Lucida Vihuela is a very unique instrument and has been used for playing rhythm parts in traditional Mexican mariachi groups for decades. The standard tuning of this string instrument is A-D-G-B-E, which are also the five highest strings of a guitar. On the Vihuela, however, the A, D and G string are tuned an octave higher. Because the strings are nylon, the sound is reminiscent of a classical guitar. As far as shape is concerned, though, the Vihuela has a rounded back instead of a flat back like on a classical acoustic, which gives this relatively small instrument a deeper, larger body and therefore a fuller sound. It has just four frets at the top of the neck, which enables you to play chords in the lower register. The Lucida Vihuela LG-VH1 comes complete with a carrying bag.

Mexican Vihuela

The name Vihuela can possibly cause some confusion, as it is also the name of a Spanish string instrument, but apart from what they're called, the two instruments have very little in common. The Mexican Vihuela can be played using either the fingers or a pick, and the top frets are used for playing open chords. The sound of this instrument is warm and exotic and because it's a smaller version of the guitarrón, which also hails from Mexico; the two sound excellent together. So, don your sombrero and combine the Vihuela LG-VH1 with the Guitarrón LG-GR1, both built by Lucida, for some gorgeous, traditional mariachi music!