Harp, Veracruz
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This type of Harp has been popular in Latin America since the 1500s, when it arrived there from Spain. The Veracruz harp has a large soundbox and a straight pillar. The strings are attached to tuning pins fixed in the neck. Veracruz harps can be heard in ensembles, often playing a tune to the accompaniment of guitars or, in parts of Mexico, with violins or accordions.
| Family |
| Strings |
| Pitch range |
| Seven octaves. |
| Material |
| Wood, with gut strings. |
| Size |
| 5 ft (1.50 m) high and 30 in (76 cm) wide. |
| Origins |
| Harps arrived in Latin America with the conquistadors (the Spanish conquerors of Central and South America) in the 16th century. The Veracruz harp is a later development that evolved in Mexico. |
| Classification |
| Chordophone: an instrument that produces its sound by the vibration of strings. |
| And also... |
| Latin American harps are traditionally plucked using the player's fingernails to produce a distinctively bright and clear sound. |
