Mexican/Mariachi acoustic guitars?

[mikerolls]

Hi all, sorry not sure of the best place to ask this question..

I'm trying to record a song in a mexican/mariachi style for a game in a similar style to this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0xn...ature=youtu.be

and am really struggling to get anywhere near the guitar sounds being used here. So just wondering if anyone can advise??

I've tried both a Martin steel strung acoustic, and also a ukulele which I thought might be close. Both sound completely different to this guitar sound though - a totally different mid-range. I'm guessing they're using a viheula (which I believe has higher octave strings) and maybe something else, but I'm not really sure as this style is not really something I've spent much time listening to or analysing.

Thanks in advance for any assistance!

[Bax Burgess]

Capo a classical at the fifth fret? Just guessing.

[icuker]

I agree with Bax . the vihuela is tuned up a fifth.

[Brent Hahn]

They use a sawed-off 12 a lot, too.

[Bob from Brooklyn]

The first thought that came to me was nylon-string guitar.

[Barb1]

I believe you are hearing a Requinto.
Barb

[mikerolls]

Ok thanks all, well I may have to try and get hold of a classical guitar then - my steel strung acoustic just won't fit the bill.

Cheers!

[k_russell]

I hear a good bit of percussion in that guitar. You might try a flamenco guitar with a capo at 5.

[Italuke]

Having played mariachi and studied as an ethnomusicology student in Arizona, all I hear in that recording is the vihuela keeping the rhythm. They also do use standard nylon string guitars in mariachi, playing in unison with the vihuela, but not capoed. This recording is probably just the vihuela, although hard to tell. I don't hear requinto and no, flamenco is a completely different instrument (and culture).

[mikerolls]

Originally Posted by Italuke

Having played mariachi and studied as an ethnomusicology student in Arizona, all I hear in that recording is the vihuela keeping the rhythm. They also do use standard nylon string guitars in mariachi, playing in unison with the vihuela, but not capoed. This recording is probably just the vihuela, although hard to tell. I don't hear requinto and no, flamenco is a completely different instrument (and culture).

Many thanks for your reply - that's good to know. Is it just one vihuela do you think? The way it's recorded it sounds quite wide in the mix - so it makes me think it's two instruments, or recorded with a stereo mic or something.

[J Patrick]

...I started checking out some vihuela vids and they do get a huge amount of sound out of them...much of it due the style of play....check this fellow out...

[mikerolls]

Cheers to all for the replies. So in the end I got a cheap second hand 3/4 size spanish guitar, and the sound was close enough without splashing out 300 quid on an actual vihuela..

[bufflehead]

That's a Vihuela Mexicana. A five-string guitar tuned to tuned to ADGBE. Just like a six string but without the low E.

[Bob from Brooklyn]

Originally Posted by mikerolls

Cheers to all for the replies. So in the end I got a cheap second hand 3/4 size spanish guitar, and the sound was close enough without splashing out 300 quid on an actual vihuela..

Good job. I've got a little Yamaha nylon string that I keep around just for these situations.

[mikerolls]

Yeah I really love the sound of it actually, very different from a standard steel strung acoustic, and I'll definitely find uses for it again!