| It is difficult to pinpoint what Asian music is because | | | | Although much of the East Asian music is similar in |
| this musical genre is so diverse in nature. The music of | | | | style, these four countries cannot be grouped together |
| the Asian continent is subdivided into regions and | | | | in the musical world. Chinese cultural music is divided |
| furthermore, into specific countries. Each region's | | | | into many regions to the point that it would be difficult |
| culture followed by the individual country's culture has | | | | to explain them all. Traditional Japanese music is calm |
| created a vast number of musical types within Asia. | | | | and follows no specific beat. The music of Korea |
| Asia is divided into five main regions: Central Asia, East | | | | follows both the folk and court styles and is typically |
| Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and West Asia. | | | | based on Buddhist beliefs. Taiwan is a melting pot of |
| Each one of these regions is home to several | | | | cultures and therefore is home to many different |
| countries which all feature distinct, unique musical | | | | types of music. All four of these countries have been |
| trends. Throughout the centuries, history has shaped | | | | greatly influenced by Western culture in recent years |
| the formation of music in each Asian country. Instead | | | | and are now known for pop and rock music as well |
| of referring to Asian music as a whole today, we now | | | | as the traditional cultural music. |
| refer more specifically to each country: i.e. Thai music, | | | | South Asian music is typically based on Hinduism, Islam, |
| Chinese Music, or Mongolian music. | | | | and Buddhism as these are the main religions in the |
| Central Asian countries include Afghanistan, | | | | countries of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. |
| Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Uzbekistan. Modern Afghan | | | | India has been influenced quite a bit by Western culture |
| music spreads from religious Muslim songs to classical | | | | and is also known for its pop and rock music. Overall, |
| tunes and lyrical music sung in Persian. The music of | | | | however, the music in South Asia is religious and very |
| Afghanistan tends to very similar to what one might | | | | traditional in beat and form. |
| find in other dominantly Muslim countries. Mongolia is | | | | Southeast Asian music spans over ten countries and |
| known for having music be a core-part of the country. | | | | is again quite diverse in nature. With such cultural |
| In fact, the Mongolians are known for their long songs | | | | diversity within this region, there are literally hundreds of |
| and horse-headed fiddles. Kazakhstan has been very | | | | different types of music. The same goes for the music |
| much influenced by the former Soviet Union and | | | | is Western Asia, although these musical types tend to |
| current Russia. Hence, the music of this country leans | | | | be much more Arabic and African in form. |
| heavily towards classical expertise. Finally, Uzbekistan | | | | Asian music is so culturally diverse that a |
| is a mix of classical and pop rock, folk songs and | | | | comprehensive study of the hundreds of types of |
| traditional music from the west of the country. | | | | music, beats used, instruments played, and composers |
| East Asia is home to China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. | | | | known would take a lifetime to complete. |