The
Son Jarocho of southern,Veracruz is one of the most dynamic variations of the musical/dance genre known as the Son Mexicano. The "folk music" of Mexico, the Son Mexicano emerged during the colonial period as a mix in between Spanish, Indigenous, and African, music and dance. As early as the 16th century, the Spanish introduced the native indigenous population to stringed instruments such as the violin, harp, and various guitar-types. These three instruments thus became an "instrumental core" and for the next 300 years natives and Mestizos developed their own regional stringed instruments on the European models. Some of these instruments are the vihuela of the west coast, the jarana huasteca of the eastern-central regions, and the jarana jarocha of Southern Veracruz. As a distinct regional instrumentation developed so did a distinct regional music/dance tradition. Just as the Son Huasteco from east-central Mexico and the west coast Son de Mariachi have their own characteristics the Son Jarocho can be distinguished by its percussive rhythms, syncopation, vocal style, and improvisation in its harmonic and rhythmic framework and verse.
JARANAThe most fundamental and common jarocho instrument is the jarana. Most likely derived from the XVI century Spanish Baroque guitar, the jarana has eight to twelve strings grouped in five courses. It is strummed in a chordial manner called a rasgueo and furnishes the rhythmic and harmonic framework of the son jarocho.
With these chords we'll be able to play several sones jarochos, remember that this music is mostly about rhythm than harmonies. PRACTICE switching from C to G, G to F, etc... try all the possibilities and get clear tone on each!
El Colás: C-G7
