Latin
Clave, accordion and bandoneón: Latin America's dance halls and streets.
Salsa is fiery, tango dramatic, cumbia easygoing, samba carnival, Brazilian funk a hillside street party, bachata romantic, reggaeton the modern street, and regional Mexican brings accordion and brass. All are dance music; the difference lies in rhythm patterns and instruments. Sertanejo is the country pop most played on Brazilian radio; corridos tumbados pair traditional guitars with a young trap attitude.
What they share
- Syncopated rhythms
- Spanish or Portuguese
- Rich percussion
How to choose
- Fiery horn-driven dance hallSalsa
- Dangerous tangoTango
- Easygoing village danceCumbia
- CarnivalSamba
- Close romanceBachata
- Modern streetReggaeton
- Mexico of accordion and brassRegional Mexican
- Hillside street partyBrazilian Funk (Funk Carioca)
- Brazilian accordion and two-part love songsSertanejo
- Acoustic guitars with trap attitude, from MexicoCorridos Tumbados
Starter prompt
Latin dance, 100 BPM, syncopated percussion with congas and clave, piano montuno, punchy horns, groovy bass, passionate Spanish vocals, festive nightA general starting point for this family; swap in a specific style’s keywords for sharper results.
Side by side
| Style | Era | BPM | Mood | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salsa | 1970s–present | 160–220 | Groove & energyBright & sweetWarm & intimateRomanticHype & thrill | Party & dance floor · Romance |
| Tango | Late 19th century–present | 110–130 | Tense & suspenseMelancholy & lonelyCity nightRomantic | Romance · Stage & idols |
| Cumbia | 20th century–present | 85–110 | Bright & sweetGroove & energyWarm & intimate | Party & dance floor · Everyday & school |
| Samba | 20th century–present | 90–140 | Bright & sweetGroove & energyWarm & intimateHype & thrill | Party & dance floor · Stage & idols |
| Brazilian Funk (Funk Carioca) | Late 1980s–present | 125–150 | Groove & energyBright & sweetCity nightHype & thrill | Party & dance floor · Short video & beat sync |
| Sertanejo | 1920s onward; universitário in the 2000s | 90–130 | RomanticMelancholy & lonelyWarm & intimate | Romance · Travel & road trips |
| Bachata | 1960s–present | 120–140 | Warm & intimateMelancholy & lonelyCity nightRomantic | Romance · Party & dance floor |
| Reggaeton | 1990s | 88–100 | Groove & energyBright & sweetCity nightRomantic | Party & dance floor · Romance |
| Regional Mexican | Early 20th century–present | 90–180 | Bright & sweetWarm & intimateEpic & vast | Party & dance floor · Travel & road trips |
| Corridos Tumbados | Late 2010s onward | 90–140 | Rebellious & boldMelancholy & lonelyGroove & energy | Night drives & city walks · Travel & road trips |
All styles
- Salsa
Horns, piano montuno and clave rhythm set the whole dance floor spinning.
- Tango
The bandoneón's sighs and staccato writing a dangerous love story in a dim dance hall.
- Cumbia
Accordion and guacharaca's two-step shuffle, the riverside town dance that's slow yet impossible to stop.
- Samba
The rolling rhythm of a full percussion corps, the heartbeat of the carnival parade.
Brazilian Funk (Funk Carioca)Street parties in Rio's hillside communities: bouncing drum-machine beats, a wall of speakers and an MC's chants.
SertanejoGuitar, accordion and two-part harmony singing about heartbreak: Brazil's most-played national pop music.
BachataBright, trembling guitars and romantic voices, the Dominican love song danced close.
ReggaetonOne dembow rhythm, and the whole city sways together.
Regional MexicanAccordion, brass and twelve-string guitar: from norteño and banda to today's corridos tumbados, Mexico's most local sound.
Corridos TumbadosTraditional corrido guitars with trap attitude and a young voice: new Mexican music sweeping Latin America and the US.