Regional styles of Mexican music

Mexican music is rich and varied, with each state having its own special style. These styles include Norteño, banda, duranguense, and Son mexicano, which together are often called regional Mexican music. This variety makes the music of Mexico unique and exciting, showing the different cultures and traditions found across the country. These musical forms are popular not just in Mexico but also among listeners who enjoy the radio format around the world.

Baja California

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

Chiapas

Chiapas is known for its lively marimba music. Many marimba bands and artists come from this region, like Marimbas de Chiapas. A special style of music called "son chiapaneco" is popular here, usually played on the marimba. Mexican waltzes are also very liked in Chiapas.

Chihuahua

Chihuahua norteño stands out because it includes a saxophone along with the usual accordion, giving it two main melody instruments. Norteño music from Zacatecas shares many similarities with the style from Chihuahua.

Durango

Durango is well-known for its many duranguense bands. These bands usually have many members because they need different instruments to create their music. Duranguense music is similar to norteña music, but it uses brass and wind instruments instead of guitars and accordions. Duranguense bands are often named things like "Banda ..." or "Los … de Durango."

Guerrero

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

Many bands in Guerrero are influenced by the Norteño music from Michoacán, but they also use their own rich folk music traditions. Events called Jaripeo have a big impact on the local banda music. These events include young bull riders, a brass band, and many people coming together to enjoy the music. 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. Even today, musicians get together for long nights of music called "bolas" and "corridos," which tell stories through songs. Small groups of musicians often perform these classic songs in streets and markets. The corrido is a very popular type of song in America, especially in Mexico, and Guerrero is known for creating unique versions of these songs.

Jalisco

The state of Jalisco has a special kind of folk music called jalisciense son, which 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 called quebradita.

Mexico City

The music of Mexico City has many special styles. One is danzon, a beautiful and fancy kind of music that started in Cuba but grew popular in Mexico City and Veracruz, much like tango. Another style is cha-cha-cha, which was very 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, called pirériechas, help share feelings and tell important stories for the Purépecha communities.

Nayarit

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

Nuevo León

Nuevo León has a special style of norteño music. This style is a bit more like the norteño music from Texas because Nuevo León is close to that part of the United States. The bands in Nuevo León keep some of the 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, but the rhythms and melodies are based on Spanish music. 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, and some believe they share the same origins. Famous composer Goran Bregovic has performed concerts in Mexico with bands from Oaxaca.

Sinaloa

Sinaloa is well-known for banda, a type of Mexican big band music that started there. Bandas play many kinds of songs, such as rancheras, boleros, and cumbias. They also often change songs from duranguense and norteño bands. Sinaloa has produced famous norteño artists like Calibre 50 and El Veloz de Sinaloa.

Tamaulipas

Tamaulipas has its own style of norteño music, which is similar to the norteño 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 using guitar-like instruments named "Jaranas". Recently, the harp has become an important part of Son Jarocho. A group called I Grupo Mono Blanco is very well-known for this style. In the capital city, Danzon is a popular dance that people enjoy in the streets. In the northern part of Veracruz, Huapango (also called Son Huasteco) is more 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 strong Spanish and local influences, with some Caribbean sounds too. The voices in the music help make the special sound of Yucatán.

"Son Yucateco" is traditional music from this area, and it may have influenced the Cuban-born bolero. There is a close link between Yucatán’s music and the music of Cuba. Boleros and "música trova," a Cuban musical style, are also important in Yucatán’s music.

Zacatecas

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

Durango

Durango, Mexico, is famous for Duranguense Music. This is a fast, lively style of music with lots of brass instruments. It started from Durango’s own musical traditions and became very popular in the 2000s. Many people in Chicago and other places enjoyed this music. It mixes old 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.