How the quinto makes its sound
In the Hornbostel–Sachs system, which classifies instruments by how they produce sound, the quinto belongs to the struck drums: a stretched membrane (drumhead) is struck with hands or beaters.
More broadly it is one of the membranophones (drums), where sound comes from a vibrating stretched membrane.
Players shape its sound through technique and materials; the resonating body filters the raw vibration, boosting some harmonics and damping others.
From Wikipedia
The quinto is the smallest and highest pitched type of conga drum. It is used as the lead drum in Cuban rumba styles such as guaguancó, yambú, columbia and guarapachangueo, and it is also present in congas de comparsa. Quinto phrases are played in both triple-pulse (12/8, 6/8) and duple-pulse (4/4, 2/2) structures. In columbia, triple pulse is the primary structure and duple pulse is secondary. In yambú and guaguancó duple-pulse is primary and triple-pulse is secondary.
Other struck drums
Frequently asked questions
What does a quinto sound like?
As one of the struck drums, its sound comes from the way a stretched membrane (drumhead) is struck with hands or beaters.
What type of instrument is the quinto?
It is classified as struck drums (Hornbostel–Sachs 211.221.1).
Sources & credits
- Wikidata Q7379154 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Quinto (drum) – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by Dr clave – CC BY-SA 3.0