|
|
 The Bajo Sexto The history of the Bajo Sexto is not exactly clear, but by some historian's account, the instrument was first brought to Mexico by the Spaniards. Others say it evolved from the 12-string guitar, emerging sometime late in the 19th century as native to the bajio region of Jalisco, Mexico.
Reyes - Macias - Jimenez In the early development of conjunto music, the Bajo was used mainly as a bass instrument in conjunction with the bass chord elements of the accordion. But later, with the addition of bass and drums in modern conjunto groups, the Bajo players were free to expand on its primary use as a rhythm instrument and played as a solo, melody-line instrument. The first to do so was Santiago Almeida who played with the pioneer accordionist Narcisco Martinez in the early 1900s.
The Steel -stringed Bajo is tuned an octave below a standard guitar, and the last two strings are tuned up a half-step: E, A, D, G, C, F, low to high, with each course tuned in octaves. This gives it a rich tone and a loud, resonant quality. There are a handful of bajo sexto makers in the U.S. and Mexico. In the U.S. you will find Macias, Jimenez, Candela, Acosta, Magallon, and Pena. In Mexico Hernandez and Guerrero. Click on the links below for more information on custom bajo sextos.
|
