[1] Unlike other Mexican harps, the arpa jarocha has its sound holes located on the back of the soundboard instead of on the front.
As previously stated, the arpa jarocha was once commonly played while seated, similarly to its ancestor the Spanish harp from the 16th century.
In modern times, since approximately the 1940s, the arpa jarocha has been built in a larger scale, following the general pattern of the Western Mexican harps from Jalisco and Michoacán.
[2] The arpa is one of the main instruments used in the conjunto jarocho; a type of Mexican folk ensemble.
[3] The musical style in which arpa jarocha is also heard is "sones jarochos," which blends Spanish and African-influenced rhythms.