A “son” (Spanish for “sound”) is a fast-paced, lively song style that often uses complex rhythms. Son jarocho is a regional folk style from Veracruz and son jalisciense originated in Jalisco and is the foundation of modern Mariachi music. “El Rayo” is a son of Jalisciense. The rhythms of “El Rayo” alternate from the traditional back-and-forth 3/4 to a 6/8 feel, and it also incorporates the contratiempo technique. In English, contratiempo means "counter time." This strumming technique inv...