A requinto guitar is a smaller version of a

classical guitar The classical guitar, also known as Spanish guitar, is a member of the guitar family used in classical music and other styles. An acoustic wooden string (music), string instrument with strings made of catgut, gut or nylon, it is a precursor of the ...

, with a scale length between 52-54cm. It is tuned a fourth higher than a standard classical guitar, to A2-D3-G3-C4-E4-A4. They often, but not always, have a cutout to reach the higher frets.

Classical use

The requinto guitar is traditionally used in guitar orchestras, along with other sized guitars. The Requinto is also used in Mexican and Ecuadorian culture, and their national songs like pasillos and boleros, where the requinto plays a very big role in improvisation. The playing style of the requinto is very similar, in all the songs, and it is rarely played differently.

Modern use

The requinto guitar is now especially popular in

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

and elsewhere in Latin America. In Mexico it is used in trío romántico groups. ''Requintos'' made in

have a deeper body than a standard classical guitar ( as opposed to ). ''Requintos'' made in

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

tend to be of the same depth as the standard classical.

Classical use

Modern use

See also