The term requinto is used in Spanish and Portuguese languages to describe a smaller and higher-pitched version of another instrument. This means that there are requinto versions of guitars, drums, and many wind instruments.
Wind instruments
The word "Requinto," when used with a clarinet, refers to the E-flat clarinet, which is also called "requint" in the Valencian language. The term "Requinto" can also describe a small, high-pitched flute similar to a piccolo or the person who plays it. In Galicia, the word may describe a wooden instrument that looks like a fife and is held sideways.
Small guitar
The requinto guitar has six nylon strings and a scale length of 530 to 540 millimetres (20.9 to 21.3 inches). This is about 18% shorter than the scale length of a standard guitar. Requintos are tuned to A2-D3-G3-C4-E4, which is one fourth higher than the tuning of a standard classical guitar.
The requinto became popular during the 1940s because of Mexican guitarist and singer Alfredo Gil, who was part of the romantic music group "Los Panchos." These guitars are also used in many places across Latin America.
Requintos made in Mexico have a body that is 110 millimetres (4.3 inches) tall, which is taller than the 105 millimetres (4.1 inches) height of a standard classical guitar. Requintos made in Spain usually have the same body height as a standard classical guitar.
Other stringed instruments
Many Portuguese violas, like the Viola braguesa, have smaller versions called "requinta." The Viola Braguesa Requinta is tuned to A4, A3, C5, C4, F5, F4, C#5, C#5, E5, E5. This tuning is one fifth higher than the standard Viola braguesa.
In Puerto Rico, there are small instruments called Tiple Requinto. These usually have 3 or 4 strings. See Tiple (Puerto Rico) for more information.
The Colombian Requinto Tiple (or Tiple Colombiano Requinto) is smaller than a standard Tiple Colombiano. It is sometimes shaped like a violin, a Puerto Rican cuatro, or a small guitar (smaller than the standard Tiple). It has 12 strings and is triple-strung, with all strings in each group tuned to the same note. It is tuned to D4, D4, D4, G4, G4, G4, B4, B4, B4, E4, E4, E4.
The Guitarro aragonés, from Aragón, Spain, looks like a small guitar. It has 4 or 5 strings and is usually tuned to A, D, G, C, E, A. The 4-string version is often tuned to E, C#, A, D.
The requinto jarocho or guitarra de son is a plucked string instrument, usually played with a special pick. It has 4 or 5 strings and originated from Veracruz, Mexico.
The requinto is used in conjunto jarocho ensembles. When the arpa is not present, the requinto typically plays the main melody of the son and then adds an improvised melody that complements the vocal line. See Requinto jarocho for more details.
Small drum
The requinto drum is used in the Puerto Rican folk music genre called plena. It is a small, cone-shaped hand drum that plays freely over the rhythms of other drums.