The arpa jarocha is a harp from Veracruz, Mexico. It is a wooden harp with 32-36 strings tuned diatonically over five octaves. Usually, the performer plays a bass line on the low strings with one hand and with the other supplies arpeggiated melodies on the higher strings. The 'arpa introduces the melodic theme of the son and then continues by providing a largely improvised counterpoint to the vocal line.

David Whitmer, 2005, CD Traditional Music from Mexico: Son Jarocho de Tlacotalpan (ARCMusic EUCD1966)