Forró, Baião, Xote, Xaxado and Xamego

Forró, Baião, Xote, Xaxado and Xamego are five closely related music styles. "Forró" often works as an umbrella term for the five styles. The core of a classic Forró band is a trio consisting of zabumba, a triangle and an accordion. It's often difficult to distinguish one from the other as they are very similar and their boundaries are fluid.

Forró is eminently danceable, and became one of the foundations for the Lambada in the 1980s. Perhaps more than any other music, Forró has come to be associated with the Nordeste region (North Eastern Brazil) and its culture, people and history.

Also note that “Forró” may also have a much narrower meaning and refer to a comparatively modern, poppy version of the genre. In its broader sense, Forró today is the second most popular traditional music style and dance in Brazil.