How to Tune a Bajo Quinto
Updated Nov 12, 2026 · By 
Jonah Mercer · Editorial policy
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Tune a bajo quinto to A, D, G, C, F, from the low course to the high course, with each course tuned in pairs. Clip a chromatic tuner to the headstock and tune each course until the tuner reads the right note. Check each course again after the round, since a string can shift as you tune the rest.
Know the bajo quinto notes
A bajo quinto is tuned A, D, G, C, F from low to high. The strings sit in pairs, and each pair plays the same note, so tune both strings in a course to the same note. Learn that order before you turn a peg, so you know the target note for each course.
Set the tuner to chromatic mode
A chromatic tuner reads any note, so it can show A, D, G, C and F as you tune. Set the tuner to chromatic mode and clip it to the headstock where it can read string vibration. If the tuner has a calibration setting, leave it at A440 unless you have a reason to change it.
Tune each course in pairs
Work through the courses in order, starting with the low A course. Pluck one string in the course, watch the tuner and turn the peg until it reads the note, then tune the other string in the pair to the same note. Move to the next course only when both strings in the pair read the same note.
Tune up to the note
If a string reads sharp, loosen it below the target note, then tighten it back up to the note. Tuning up to the note keeps the string at pitch. Check the string again after you move to the next course.
Check every course again after tuning
Tuning one course changes the pull on the neck, so a course tuned early in the round can drift as you tune the rest. Go through the courses again and adjust any note that has moved. When each course reads its note on the tuner, the bajo quinto is in tune.
What you need
KLIQ UberTuner-MAX USB Rechargeable Clip On Guitar
A USB rechargeable clip-on tuner with a chromatic mode, an octave display and vibration-based pitch detection, so it reads pitch in a noisy room.
- Chromatic mode
- Rechargeable
- Tuner type: Clip On
Snark SIL-RED Silver Snark Chromatic Tuner Red
A chromatic clip-on tuner with a high resolution display that rotates 360 degrees, so the readout stays visible from any angle.
- Chromatic mode
Snark ST-8HPT High Precision Rechargeable Clip-On Tuner
A rechargeable clip-on tuner with a bright screen, pitch calibration and an anechoic sound shield that keeps room noise out.
- Rechargeable
- Tuner type: Clip-On
These come from our ranked list Best Tuners, which compares them spec by spec.
Frequently asked questions
What notes do you tune a bajo quinto to?
A, D, G, C, F, from the low course to the high course. Each pair in a course plays the same note, so tune both strings in the pair to that note.
Do I need a chromatic tuner for a bajo quinto?
A chromatic tuner reads any note, so it shows A, D, G, C and F as you tune each course. The KLIQ and the Snark SIL-RED list chromatic mode.
Can I tune a bajo quinto without a tuner?
You can tune by ear, but a clip-on tuner is more direct: it reads the pitch of each course as you turn the pegs. The KLIQ reads pitch from vibration, so background noise does not affect it.
What if a course reads sharp?
Loosen the strings in the course until the tuner reads below the target note, then tighten them back up to the note. Tuning up to the note keeps the course at pitch.
Ranked guitar tuners lists
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