Vihuela facts for kids

20th century Mexican vihuela.

Vihuela is a name given to two different guitar-like string instruments: one from 16th century Spain, usually with 12 paired strings, and the other, the Mexican vihuela, from 20th century Mexico with five strings and typically played in Mariachi bands.

• Several photos of Spanish vihuelas can be found among the instrument photos at Wayne Cripps' lute pages.

Images for kids

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  Viola da mano, detail from an engraving by Marcantonio Raimondi, made before 1510. It depicts poet Giovanni Filoteo Achillini playing the instrument