Guitarrón
Encyclopedia
See also: Guitarrón Chileno
The guitarrón mexicano (literally "Mexican large guitar" in Spanish
, the suffix "-ón" denoting "large") or Mexican guitarron, is a very large, deep-bodied Mexican 6-string acoustic bass played in mariachi
groups. Although obviously similar to the guitar, it is not a derivative of that instrument, but was independently developed from the sixteenth-century Spanish bajo de uña. It achieves audibility by its great size, and does not require electric amplification for performances in small venues. The guitarrón is fretless with heavy gauge strings, most commonly nylon for the high three and metal for the low three. The guitarrón is usually played by doubling notes at the octave, which is facilitated by the unusual tuning of A D G C E A. Sometimes the high A is lowered an octave putting it just one octave above the low A.
The guitarrón was the inspiration behind Ernie Ball
's development of the first modern acoustic bass guitar
, released on the market in 1972.
(a high-pitched, five-string guitar-type instrument), in addition to the guitarrón. A strap is usually used to keep the instrument up and playable. The guitarrón is used in the Mariachi
group to keep the other instruments on beat and together. Guitarrón players need to have good left-hand strength to stop the heavy gauge nylon strings of the instrument.
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, the suffix "-ón" denoting "large") or Mexican guitarron, is a very large, deep-bodied Mexican 6-string acoustic bass played in mariachi
Mariachi
Mariachi is a genre of music that originated in the State of Jalisco, in Mexico. It is an integration of stringed instruments highly influenced by the cultural impacts of the historical development of Western Mexico. Throughout the history of mariachi, musicians have experimented with brass, wind,...
groups. Although obviously similar to the guitar, it is not a derivative of that instrument, but was independently developed from the sixteenth-century Spanish bajo de uña. It achieves audibility by its great size, and does not require electric amplification for performances in small venues. The guitarrón is fretless with heavy gauge strings, most commonly nylon for the high three and metal for the low three. The guitarrón is usually played by doubling notes at the octave, which is facilitated by the unusual tuning of A D G C E A. Sometimes the high A is lowered an octave putting it just one octave above the low A.
The guitarrón was the inspiration behind Ernie Ball
Ernie Ball
Ernie Ball was an American entrepreneur, musician, and innovator, widely acclaimed as a revolutionary in the development of guitar-related products. He began as a club and local television musician and small business entrepreneur, building an international business in guitars and accessories that...
's development of the first modern acoustic bass guitar
Acoustic bass guitar
The acoustic bass guitar is a bass instrument with a hollow wooden body similar to, though usually somewhat larger than a steel-string acoustic guitar...
, released on the market in 1972.
Usage
The guitarrón is used in Mexican Mariachi groups, which usually consist of at least two violins, two trumpets, one Spanish guitar, and a vihuelaVihuela
Vihuela is a name given to two different guitar-like string instruments: one from 15th and 16th century Spain, usually with 12 paired strings, and the other, the Mexican vihuela, from 19th century Mexico with five strings and typically played in Mariachi bands.-History:The vihuela, as it was known...
(a high-pitched, five-string guitar-type instrument), in addition to the guitarrón. A strap is usually used to keep the instrument up and playable. The guitarrón is used in the Mariachi
Mariachi
Mariachi is a genre of music that originated in the State of Jalisco, in Mexico. It is an integration of stringed instruments highly influenced by the cultural impacts of the historical development of Western Mexico. Throughout the history of mariachi, musicians have experimented with brass, wind,...
group to keep the other instruments on beat and together. Guitarrón players need to have good left-hand strength to stop the heavy gauge nylon strings of the instrument.
Design
- The back of the guitarrón is made out of two pieces of wood that are set at an angle making the back shaped like a V. This design feature further increases the width and overall size of the instrument.
Non-traditional uses
- The guitarrón is played by Roy EstradaRoy EstradaRoy Estrada is an American musician and backing vocalist, best known for his bass guitar work with Frank Zappa and for co-founding Little Feat.-Biography:With drummer Jimmy Carl Black and Ray Collins, Estrada was an original member of Frank Zappa's...
on the 1966 Mothers of Invention album Freak Out!Freak Out!Freak Out! is the debut album by American band The Mothers of Invention, released June 27, 1966 on Verve Records. Often cited as one of rock music's first concept albums, the album is a satirical expression of frontman Frank Zappa's perception of American pop culture...
. - Randy MeisnerRandy MeisnerRandy Herman Meisner is an American musician and songwriter, best known as a founding member of Poco and the Eagles...
of the Eagles also plays the guitarrón on the track "New Kid In Town" from the album Hotel CaliforniaHotel CaliforniaHotel California is the fifth studio album released by the American rock band the Eagles, in late 1976. It is the first Eagles album without founding member Bernie Leadon and the first album with Joe Walsh. It is also the last album featuring original bass player and singer Randy Meisner...
(1976), although in the credits the instrument is referred to as “guitarone”. - One American player using the guitarrón in a non-traditional context is Aaron Goldsmith, formerly of the New York-based multicultural acoustic ensemble Luminescent Orchestrii; he uses a modified guitarrón with an elongated neck that allows him to play melodically.
- Another American innovator, Jason Krivo Flores, uses the traditionally tuned Mexican guitarrón in the groups Vagabond Opera (www.vagabondopera.com) and Saloon Ensemble.He can also be heard on Hunter Payes' recording "Dualities Dillemma" where he played guitarrón on the title track. He has also performed with the 1920's Jazz group Trashcan Joe.
- The guitarrón was a defining element of the 1980s Scottish folk-pop band Fairground AttractionFairground AttractionFairground Attraction were a British acoustic pop band. They are best known for their hit single "Perfect", and for helping to launch the career of lead vocalist Eddi Reader.-Career:...
, played by member Simon Edwards.
External links
- Music sheets for guitarrón and other mariachi instruments http://musicaldots.com/