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Musical instrument

Mexican twelve-string guitar

The Mexican twelve-string guitar is a musical instrument. It originates from Mexico. Learn how it makes its sound and explore related instruments.

From Wikipedia

The Mexican twelve-string guitar, also known as a requinto-style or Sierreño-style guitar, is a modified twelve-string guitar. It can approximate the sound of a bajo sexto or bajo quinto and play regional Mexican styles, such as norteño, Tejano (Tex-Mex), and conjunto (música mexicana-tejana). In a traditional 12-string setup, the lower four strings (E, A, D, and G) have octave pairs, while the top two (B and E) have unison pairs. However, for Regional Mexican styles, all strings are set up with identical unison pairs instead of the traditional octave courses. This configuration yields a resonant timbre reminiscent of the venerable bajo sexto, but adds significantly more tension on the bridge and neck. Furthermore, it usually requires the nut to be modified, the neck compensated, and the bridge to be reinforced.

More instruments from Mexico

Frequently asked questions

What does the Mexican twelve-string guitar sound like?

Where does the Mexican twelve-string guitar come from?

The Mexican twelve-string guitar originates from Mexico.

Sources & credits