Mariachi is a type of musical group, originally from Mexico. Usually a mariachi consists of at least two violins, two trumpets, one Spanish guitar, one vihuela (a high-pitched, five-string guitar) and one guitarrĂ³n (a small-scaled acoustic bass). They dress in silver studded charro outfits with wide-brimmed hats. The original Mariachi were Mexican street musicians or buskers. Because of their great popularity many Mariachi are professional entertainers doing paid gigs in the mainstream entertainment industry. One of the most known mariachi singers was Jorge Negrete.
Although mariachis are hired to play at events such as weddings and other formal eating occasions, they are very often used to serenade women because a lot of the songs in a typical repertoire have as a theme the desire touch the opposite sex's heart. Some of the songs are 'sad songs,' others are about how much that special someone appreciates your company. Trios of mariachis can be found for hire in different places at night (the best known venues are Plaza de los Mariachis in Guadalajara and Plaza Garibaldi in Mexico City) for the purposes of serenading. Mother's days are also another popular occasion for mariachis.
Tourists frequently confuse mariachis with all types of buskers seen in Mexico, such as jarochos. Mariachi refers to musicians who dress and play in a style typical of the Mexican state of Jalisco, although the style and music played has spread far beyond the limits of Jalisco and jalisciense music itself. Generally a guitarrĂ³n and a vihuela must be included for a group to be considered a mariachi.