What do German immigrants, an Austrian emperor, a Czechoslovakian Polka and a French invasion have in common? ..... They all led to the story that I’m about to tell you.

If you’ve heard any Mexican music at all that comes from the Northern parts of Mexico, or even the Southern parts of the United States, then you’ve probably heard the Bajo Quinto. This instrument is synonymous with Norteño music, like Los Tigres Del Norte, Intocable, Los Tucanes De Tijuana or T3R Elemento who are huge and you’ve very likely heard them before, perhaps even without realizing it.

Being somewhere between a guitar and a bass, the Bajo Quinto, and its sidekick the Bajo Sexto, occupies a unique position in the world of guitar-like stringed instruments. In this episode we’re going to dive into the history and cultural and political context of how this instrument came to be so popular. It is a story many don’t know but be prepared for a fascinating look at a massive genre through the story of one instrument, the Bajo Quinto.

00:00 Opening.
00:40 Introduction To Norteño Music?
01:52 What Is Norteño Music?
02:18 What Is Banda?
03:04 Genre Hoppers.
03:50 Bajo Sexto.
04:20 Explaining The Bajo Quinto.
06:35 Physical Makeup Of The Bajo Quinto.
07:03 Bajo Chords.
07:55 My Bajo Quinto.
08:18 Dolores Huerta.
08:43 Cultural And Historical Context Of The Bajo Quinto.
09:03 Origins Of The Bajo Quinto.
10:04 Differences Between Bajo Mixteco and Bajo Norteño.
10:19 The History Of The Development Of The Bajo Quinto.
11:46 Mexico’s Historical Political Hand In The Bajo Quinto.
13:35 German Oompah, Czechoslovakian Polka, Polish Muzurka and German Waltz.
14:15 Boere Musiek.
14:40 The Accordion.
14:52 The Instrument Of The Virtuoso.
15:10 Marching Band Music In Mexico As Patriotism.
15:45 Corridos.
16:29 Narco Corridos.
17:48 Osmosis? The Italian Chitarra Battente.
18:42 Baroque Guitar.
19:14 Matteo Salas Guitar.
19:23 Sabionari Guitar - Antonio Stradivari.
19:42 Renaissance Lute.
20:03 Oud.
20:12 Spanish Vihuela.
21:12 Mexican Vihuela.
21:22 What Came From What?
21:43 What Else Can You Play With This Instrument?
22:24 Wrap Up.
23:00 Who Else To Check Out?
23:25 Mexican Music Is Like An Onion.
23:42 Play Out.