it a melodic rather than rhythm instrument) and because it is used as a lead instrument in vocal music. Although the jarana usually has eight strings arranged in five courses (a single course, followed by three doubles, then another single), many jaranas are now being produced with 4 double courses, often tuned GG CC EE AA. Leonardo Zendejas of the group Son de Barro has commented that the absence of the bottom G string makes chord shapes and climbing the finger board on these instruments much easier than on more traditional 5-course jaranas. Gilberto Gutierrez Silva, luthier and founder of the group Mono Blanco, has created his own variation—a jarana with three courses of triple-strings, tuned GGG CCC EEE (the same tuning as the Cuban tres). He has named this variation the "tresera". References Sources David Whitmer, 2005, CD, Traditional Music from Mexico: Son Jarocho de Tlacotalpan (ARCMusic EUCD1966) Mexican musical instruments Guitar family instruments Jarocho