Jarana

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A Jarana is a small guitar-shaped fretted stringed instrument, from the Veracruz region of Mexico. Typically strung with 8 strings in 5 courses, so that only some of the courses have doubled strings (nylon or gut). The body is narrower in proportion to width than on a guitar; in this sense it resembles a renaissance guitar. For comparison, the overall size is in between a standard (also known as "soprano") ukulele and a "concert" size ukulele.

The sound is distinctive--it does not sound like either a ukulele or a guitar. It does not have the strong "resonance" nor the "sustain" of a guitar.

When strummed rapidly, it creates a shimmering harmony in the mid-higher registers. It is used to great effect in combination with other instruments as well as a lead instrument in vocal music.