| The Spanish words for "sixth bass" are Bajo | | | | conjunto music genre. |
| Sextos. It is the name for a special type of | | | | Because the music is found in a relatively limited |
| musical instrument popular in a relatively small | | | | geographical area, there is not as much demand |
| geographical area. The twelve string guitar is a | | | | for this instrument as some of the other stringed |
| strong component of musical groups formed and | | | | instruments. The available inventory includes |
| prevalent in the area of northern Mexico and | | | | beautiful and carefully crafted instruments in |
| southern Texas. It comes in both acoustic and | | | | several different types of wood. The back of |
| electric forms. | | | | some of the quality designs include cedar, |
| The guitar-like instrument has twelve strings. | | | | mahogany or Indian rosewood. The tops are |
| They are arranged in six double courses. The | | | | constructed of cedar. The fingerboard and bridge |
| strings are tuned from the lowest string to the | | | | is made of rosewood. Other more exotic woods |
| highest string to the notes E, A, D, G, C and F | | | | are also used in some instruments. |
| respectively. | | | | Some instruments are thinner in order to provide |
| From the mid 1950s northern Mexican music has | | | | more comfort while playing, but all are beautifully |
| been listened to and enjoyed by Mexicans and | | | | finished. Decorative elements carry out the |
| Anglos alike. The music goes by several different | | | | Mexican motif. Many of these guitars are |
| names, musica mexicana-tejana and conjunto are | | | | handcrafted for the highest quality in sound and |
| the most common. The music genre is also | | | | finish. The best makers are recognized for their |
| known as Tex-Mex, but this is not totally | | | | completed instruments and to own one of their |
| accurate, since the nortena music predated | | | | products is to mark one as a serious devotee of |
| conjunto. | | | | the music genre. |
| The sound of the musical sixth instrument | | | | For the serious performer who wants to be part |
| provides the rhythm in the low tones in the | | | | of a quality group playing nortena music, the bajo |
| musical groups known as conjunto bands. The | | | | sextos is almost a must. It is needed to provide a |
| guitar sound combined with the bass also is able | | | | lower component to the melody and to move the |
| to project chord changes throughout the songs. | | | | chord changes along during the piece. The best |
| This instrument provides the rhythmic | | | | made instruments are attractive to look at |
| accompaniment line in other musical ensembles, | | | | without being flashy and provide a sound that is |
| but is perhaps not as well known outside the | | | | unparalleled. |