“El Mariachi” translates to the word “musician.” It originally came from the movie “El Mariachi” which was about a guy who sang romance but nobody liked that about him–but he never cared and continued to sing romance wherever he went and whenever he sang.

"Mariachi" means a certain repertoire of music, a special grouping of instruments, and a distinctive style of singing that create an unmistakable sound unique in the world. It has special meaning for many Mexican Americans as an emblem of their cultural heritage and a source of pride and community connections.

The Vihuela Mexicana provides and maintains the tonality for the ensemble, which is the pitch preference. The Guitarrón, Vihuela Mexicana and Guitar together are commonly referred to as the rhythm section or las armonías). The Vihuela Mexicana was the instrument preferred by the mariachi musicians in central Jalisco.