What musical instrument does Miguel play?

Miguel plays the guitar in Pixar’s Coco.

The 12-year-old Rivera boy teaches himself to play by watching videos of his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. Music is forbidden in Miguel’s family because his great-great-grandfather, Héctor, supposedly abandoned his wife and daughter to pursue a musical career.

Miguel’s guitar becomes central to the plot when he takes Ernesto’s distinctive instrument from the musician’s mausoleum. Playing it transports Miguel to the Land of the Dead, where he uncovers the truth about his family history. The guitar is therefore more than a prop: it represents Miguel’s talent, independence, and connection to Héctor.

A common mix-up is to identify Miguel as a singer only. He does sing—most notably “Remember Me”—but the instrument he plays is the guitar, including the handmade guitar he keeps in his secret workshop.