The
quinto (literally
fifth in
Spanish) is the smallest and highest pitched type of
conga drum. It is used as the lead drum in
Cuban rumba styles such as
guaguancó,
yambú,
columbia and
guarapachangueo, and it is also present in
congas de comparsa. Quinto phrases are played in both triple-pulse (12/8, 6/8) and duple-pulse (4/4, 2/2) structures. In columbia, triple pulse is the primary structure and duple pulse is secondary. In yambú and guaguancó duple-pulse is primary and triple-pulse is secondary.