Norteño (music)

Norteño or norteña (Spanish pronunciation: [noɾˈteɲo], northern), also música norteña, is a subgenre of regional Mexican music. The music is most often based on duple and triple metre and its lyrics often deal with socially relevant topics, although there are also many norteño love songs. The accordion and the bajo sexto are traditional norteño's most characteristic instruments. The genre is popular in both Mexico and the United States, especially among the Mexican and Mexican-American community, and it has become popular in other Spanish-speaking countries as far away as Chile. Though originating from rural areas, norteño is popular in both rural and urban areas. A conjunto norteño is a type of Mexican folk ensemble. It mostly includes button accordion, bajo sexto, electric bass or double bass, drums, and depending on the region, alto saxophone.