Regional styles of Mexican music

Mexican music is rich and varied. Each state has its own special style. Some popular styles are Norteño, banda, duranguense, and Son mexicano. Together, these are often called regional Mexican music. This music is unique and exciting. It shows the different cultures and traditions of Mexico. People in many places enjoy this music on the radio format.

Baja California

Baja California has its own special style of music from a dance called calabaceado. This dance began in the 1940s when norteño music and cowboy culture mixed together. Other types of norteño music like Vals Norteño, Chotis, Mazurka, and mariachi are also popular there.

Chiapas

Chiapas is famous for its lively marimba music. Many marimba bands and artists are from this area, such as Marimbas de Chiapas. A special style called "son chiapaneco" is popular here, and it is usually played on the marimba. Mexican waltzes are also very popular in Chiapas.

Chihuahua

Chihuahua norteño is special because it uses a saxophone with the usual accordion. This gives it two main melody instruments. Norteño music from Zacatecas sounds a lot like the style from Chihuahua.

Durango

Durango is famous for its duranguense bands. These bands have many members because they play many different instruments. Duranguense music is like norteña music, but it uses brass and wind instruments instead of guitars and accordions. Duranguense bands often have names like "Banda ..." or "Los … de Durango."

Guerrero

Guerrero has its own special style of music called "Son Guerrerense." This music uses a violin as the main instrument, with guitar and percussion adding rhythm. In the area known as Tierra Caliente, the music sounds very similar. Another popular type of song in Guerrero is called "gustos," which are played more slowly than sones.

Many bands in Guerrero are inspired by the Norteño music from Michoacán, but they also use their own folk music traditions. Events called Jaripeo help shape the local banda music. These events bring together many people to enjoy music, with young bull riders and a brass band.

Some well-known bands from northern Guerrero are Autoridad de la Sierra, La Banda Dominguera, and Los Indomables.

In towns and cities across Guerrero, musicians from different backgrounds play for money. The music from this area mixes Spanish ballads with local styles. Musicians still come together for long nights of music called "bolas" and "corridos," which tell stories through songs. Small groups often perform these classic songs in streets and markets. The corrido is a popular type of song in America, especially in Mexico, and Guerrero is known for its unique versions.

Jalisco

The state of Jalisco has a special kind of folk music called jalisciense son. This music is very important in the mariachi tradition. One famous piece of music is El Son de la Negra. In the 1990s, groups like Banda Machos and Banda Maguey made a new style called techno-banda popular. This music was often played for a fun dance.

Mexico City

The music of Mexico City has many special styles. One is danzon, a beautiful kind of music that started in Cuba but became popular in Mexico City. Another style is cha-cha-cha, which was popular in old Mexican movies. Mambo came from Cuba and was made famous in Mexico City by a musician named Perez Prado. Bolero songs also began in Mexico City, with Agustín Lara being one of the best-known singers.

Michoacán

Michoacán has its own special kind of music called Pirekua. This music comes from the Purépecha people who live in Michoacán, Mexico. A Pirekua song might be sung by a man or a woman, alone or with others, and can also be played just with instruments. Singers of Pirekua help share feelings and tell stories for the Purépecha communities.

Nayarit

Nayarit is known for Huichol music. El Venado Azul is a famous group. These bands play traditional songs using special homemade violins and guitars.

Nuevo León

Nuevo León has its own special style of norteño music. This style sounds a bit like the norteño music from Texas because Nuevo León is close to the United States. The bands there keep some old traditions from Texan norteño music.

Oaxaca

Oaxaca has a special style of music called Son istmeño. This style comes from the son folk tradition found in many places, including Mexico, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. Some songs are even sung in the Zapotec language. One famous song is "La Llorona".

Oaxaca is also home to many traditional Brass Bands, known as Tambora Oaxaqueña. This music sounds a lot like Balkan Music. Famous composer Goran Bregovic has performed concerts in Mexico with bands from Oaxaca.

Sinaloa

Sinaloa is famous for banda, a type of big band music from Mexico. Bandas play many songs, like rancheras, boleros, and cumbias. They also play songs from duranguense and norteño music. Sinaloa has famous norteño artists, such as Calibre 50 and El Veloz de Sinaloa.

Tamaulipas

Tamaulipas has its own style of norteño music, which is similar to the music from Nuevo León. The region also enjoys Huapango music, also called Son Huasteco.

Veracruz

Veracruz has its own special kind of music called Son Jarocho. People play this music with guitar-like instruments named "Jaranas". The harp has also become important in Son Jarocho. A group called I Grupo Mono Blanco is famous for this style. In the capital city, Danzon is a dance people enjoy in the streets. In the north of Veracruz, Huapango (also called Son Huasteco) is popular. Boleros are also a big part of the music in Veracruz.

Yucatán

Yucatán has special musical traditions, one called "música/danza jarana." In this music, the jarana is the main instrument, but other guitars are also used. The music mixes Spanish and local sounds, with some Caribbean styles too. The voices help make the music special.

"Son Yucateco" is traditional music from this area, and it may have influenced the Cuban-born bolero. Yucatán’s music is closely linked with Cuban music. Boleros and "música trova," a Cuban style, are also important in Yucatán.

Zacatecas

Bandas in Zacatecas play a style called "Tamborazo Zacatecano." They use drums and wind instruments. One famous band is La Banda Jerez. Zacatecas norteño sounds like music from Chihuahua, with saxophone and accordion in their songs.

Durango

Durango, Mexico, is known for Duranguense Music. This is a fast and lively kind of music that uses many brass instruments. It began from Durango’s own musical traditions and became popular in the 2000s. Many people in Chicago and other cities enjoyed this music. It mixes older styles like polka and corrido with modern electronic sounds. People loved to dance to it, especially the "Pasito Duranguense" dance, often wearing Western-style clothes.