Apple Using the GarageBand Jam Pack: World Music Instruments - Manual (Page 3)

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Mexican Guitarron
The guitarron (also called “chitarrone”) is used as the bass instrument in mariachi bands
in Mexico and throughout Central and South America. It is a large, fretless bass guitar
with very deep sides which create a large resonant chamber to amplify the sound. In
addition to its traditional role, the guitarron has been used by pop and rock groups.
The open strings are usually tuned to the notes A-D-G-C-E-A, with the high A string
tuned below the C string. This allows the bass line to be played in octaves, with the
player’s thumb picking the lower note and the index and middle fingers alternately
plucking the higher note. The three lowest strings are steel, while the higher strings are
nylon. The action is quite high, requiring great strength to play the instrument.