Bajo Quintos and Bajo Sextos

Bajo sexto (Spanish: "sixth bass") is a Mexican string instrument from the guitar family with 12 strings in six double courses. In playing, the left hand holds the strings against frets on a fingerboard, while the right hand plucks or strums the strings. When played in older styles of music where the instrument assumes the role of a bass, the strings are usually plucked with the fingers. In modern chordal and melodic styles, a pick is frequently used.

A close relative to the bajo sexto, the bajo quinto is a bassy Mexican folk instrument that has its roots in the 17th century. Literally translated to “fifth bass” or “low five,” the bajo quinto is a Mexican folk instrument. It looks like a large guitar, but instead of featuring six strings, it has five doubled courses of strings or a total of ten strings. It is likely derived from the Italian chitarra battente, a baroque-era guitar.