Mexico:
- Mariachi music: A widely recognized genre featuring guitars, violins, trumpets, and rhythmic instruments, often associated with traditional Mexican festivities.
- Son Jarocho: Traditional folk music from the state of Veracruz, using instruments like requintos (small guitars), jaranas (traditional Mexican guitars), and zapateados (percussive footwork).
- Banda music: Originating in central and northern Mexico, bands featuring mainly brass instruments perform a mix of popular rhythms.
United States:
- Native American music: Diverse music traditions rooted in the indigenous cultures of various tribes residing in the cordillera region.
- Western music: A style inspired by cowboy culture and life in the American West, featuring elements of folk, country, and blues. Bluegrass music, characterized by the use of banjo, fiddle, and guitar, is one sub-genre of Western music.
South America:
- Andean music: Encompassing various traditional music styles prevalent in the Andean region, with indigenous roots and the distinct use of panpipes and other melodic instruments such as the charango and the zampoña.
- Cumbia music: Colombian-rooted, cumbia integrates African, indigenous, and European influences to create a joyful dance music form popular across Latin America.
- Huaylas: Originating in Peru, characterized by its distinct rhythm, use of instruments like the charango and quena (side-blown flute), and traditional dance.
These are a few examples of musical forms associated with the cordillera region, but the cultural richness of this extensive geographic area means there are numerous other musical expressions to explore. The unique and vibrant diversity reflects the complex interplay of local customs, artistic expression, and historical evolution that gives the cordillera its cultural soul.