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Resembling a smaller version of the guitarrón, the vihuela allows the mariachi’s string section to achieve a higher range.

Growing up around mariachi music, singer-songwriter and Las Chorizeras member Nancy Sanchez says she fell in love with the vihuela’s strumming pattern, which is called “los manicos.”

Drawing from her roots in traditional mariachi music, she uses the vihuela as a way to put a new spin on her sound.

“I use the vihuela artistically and approach it as a songwriter first,” said Sanchez.

Moving from the guitar to the vihuela and finally landing on the guitarrón, the San Fernando Valley musician stuck by the bass as an act of female empowerment — it tends to be played by men.