This is a list of folk music traditions, with styles, dances, instruments and other related topics. The term folk music

Folk music

Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....

can not be easily defined in a precise manner; it is used with widely-varying definitions depending on the author, intended audience and context within a work. Similarly, the term traditions in this context does not connote any strictly-defined criteria. Music scholars, journalists, audiences, record industry individuals, politicians, nationalists and demagogues may often have occasion to address which fields of folk music are distinct traditions based along racial, geographic, linguistic, religious, tribal or ethnic lines, and all such peoples will likely use different criteria to decide what constitutes a "folk music tradition". This list uses the same general categories used by mainstream, primarily English-language, scholarly sources, as determined by relevant statements of fact and the internal structure of works.

These traditions may coincide entirely, partially or not at all with geographic, political, linguistic or cultural boundaries. Very few, if any, music scholars would claim that there are any folk music traditions that can be considered specific to a distinct group of people and with characteristics undiluted by contact with the music of other peoples; thus, the folk music traditions described herein overlap in varying degrees with each other.

Oceania and Australia

Country	Elements	Dance	Instrumentation	Other topics
White Australian Australian folk music Australian folk music is a term which may be applied, relatively narrowly, to traditional folk music of Australia, also called "bush music" or more broadly to traditional music from the large variety of immigrant cultures and those of the original Australian inhabitants.Celtic, English, German and...	bush ballads Bush ballad Bush songs or bush ballads are a folk music and poetry tradition in Australia's outback. The rhyming songs, poems and tales often relate to the itinerant and rebellious spirit of Australia, a young country. The lyrical tradition of bush songs was born of settlers and influenced by Aboriginal...
Indigenous Australian Indigenous Australian music Australian indigenous music includes the music of Australian Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, who are collectively called Indigenous Australians; it incorporates a variety of distinctive traditional music styles practiced by Indigenous Australian peoples, as well as a range of contemporary...		Wangga dance Wangga Wangga is an indigenous Australian genre of traditional music and ceremony which originated in northern areas of the country from South Alligator River south east towards Ngukurr, south to the Katherine region of Northern Territory and west into the Kimberley of Western Australia...	didgeridoo Didgeridoo The didgeridoo is a wind instrument developed by Indigenous Australians of northern Australia around 1,500 years ago and still in widespread usage today both in Australia and around the world. It is sometimes described as a natural wooden trumpet or "drone pipe"...	songline
Cook Islander Music of the Cook Islands The music of the Cook Islands is diverse. Christian music is extremely popular. Imene tuki is a form of unaccompanied vocal music known for a uniquely Polynesian drop in pitch at the end of the phrases, as well as staccato rhythmic outbursts of nonsensical syllables...	imene metua Imene metua Imene metua: a Cook Islands / Rarotongan term; : they are formal traditional songs with tune and harmony, which are distinguished from the imene tuki style of the Cook Islands which are less formal, often grunted verses with nonsense syllables included for rhythmic effect....  - imene tuki Imene tuki An Imene tuki 'hymn of grunts' is a traditional hymn of the Cook islands. It is unaccompanied singing noted for a drop in pitch at the end of phrases, and rhythmic nonsensical syllables, comparable to Scat singing. Similar nonsense syllables and improvisations are found in Tahitian Himene tarava....		koauau Koauau A kōauau is a small flute, ductless and notchless, four to eight inches long, open at both ends and having from three to six fingerholes placed along the pipe....  - paatere - purerehua
Easter Islander Music of Easter Island Easter Island is located in the Pacific Ocean. Though its earliest inhabitants are ethnically Polynesian, the island is part of the South American state of Chile.-History:...			kauaha - upaupa
Fiji Music of Fiji Fiji is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean. Though geographically Melanesian, the music of Fiji is more Polynesian in character. Nevertheless, Fijian folk styles are distinct in their fusion of Polynesian and Melanesian traditions...		meke i wau - meke iri - meke wesi - seasea - vakamalolo	derua - slit drum Slit drum A slit drum is a hollow percussion instrument, usually a log drum of bamboo or wood, that is made with one or more slits in it. Most slit drums have three slits, cut into the shape of an "H". If, as is usual, the resultant tongues are different lengths or thicknesses, the drum will produce two...
Hawaiian	hula Hula Hula is a dance form accompanied by chant or song . It was developed in the Hawaiian Islands by the Polynesians who originally settled there. The hula dramatizes or portrays the words of the oli or mele in a visual dance form....  - kepakepa - mele - oli	hula Hula Hula is a dance form accompanied by chant or song . It was developed in the Hawaiian Islands by the Polynesians who originally settled there. The hula dramatizes or portrays the words of the oli or mele in a visual dance form....	ipu Ipu Ipu is a percussion instrument made from gourds that is often used to provide a beat for hula dancing.There are two types of ipu, the ipu heke and the ipu heke ole . Both are made from gourds that have been cut off at the neck and hollowed. The ipu heke is two such gourds joined together with a...  - pahu Pahu The pahu or pa'u is a traditional musical instrument found in Polynesia: Hawaii, Tahiti, Cook Islands, Samoa, and Tokelau. Carved from a single log and covered on the playing end with a stretched sharkskin, the pahu is played with the palms and fingers of the hand...  - puniu - rattle Rattle (percussion) A rattle is a percussion instrument. It consists of a hollow body filled with small uniform solid objects, like sand or nuts. Rhythmical shaking of this instrument produces repetitive, rather dry timbre noises. In some kinds of music, a rattle assumes the role of the metronome, as an alternative to...
Maori Maori music Te Pūoro Māori or Māori Music is music composed or performed by Māori, the native people of New Zealand, and includes a wide variety of folk music styles, often integrated with poetry and dance, as well as modern rock and roll, soul, reggae and hip hop....		haka Haka Haka is a traditional ancestral war cry, dance or challenge from the Māori people of New Zealand. It is a posture dance performed by a group, with vigorous movements and stamping of the feet with rhythmically shouted accompaniment...  - poi Poi (juggling) Poi refers to both a style of performance art and the equipment used for engaging in poi performance. As a performance art, poi involves swinging tethered weights through a variety of rhythmical and geometric patterns. Poi artists may also sing or dance while swinging their poi...
Marquesas Islander		haka puaka
Marshall Islander Music of the Marshall Islands The music of the Marshall Islands has a long history. The Marshall Islands are an independent island chain, geographically and culturally part of the Micronesian area...		Jebua
Papua New Guinea Music of Papua New Guinea The music of Papua New Guinea has a long history.-Traditional music:Christian missionaries disapproved of Papuan folk music throughout the colonial period of the country's history. Even after independence, the outside world knew little of the diverse peoples' traditional music genres...	string band		garamut - kundu - rattle Rattle (percussion) A rattle is a percussion instrument. It consists of a hollow body filled with small uniform solid objects, like sand or nuts. Rhythmical shaking of this instrument produces repetitive, rather dry timbre noises. In some kinds of music, a rattle assumes the role of the metronome, as an alternative to...  - susap	haus tambaran Haus Tambaran Haus Tambaran is a Tok Pisin phrase which describes a type of traditional ancestral worship house in the East Sepik region of Papua New Guinea...  - sing-sing Sing-sing Sing-sing is a gathering of a few tribes or villages in Papua New Guinea. People arrive to show their distinct culture, dance and music. The aim of these gatherings is to peacefully share traditions. Villagers paint and decorate themselves for sing-sings....
Samoan Music of Samoa The music of Samoa is integral to life in the country. The most important and essential avenue has always been the voice. Singers mourn, rejoice, and reflect every emotion. The past, present, and sometimes the near future are put to song...	hiva usu	fa'ataupati Fa'ataupati The Fa'ataupati is a dance indigenous to the Samoans. In English it is simply the "Samoan Slap Dance". It was developed in Samoa in the 19th century and is only performed by males.- History :...  - ma'ulu'ulu Ma'ulu'ulu thumb|576px|right|Teachers training college students ready to perform their māuluulu examinationThe māuluulu is a traditional Tongan dance, performed by a group of seated men and women; stylistically, the dance form is a direct successor of the ancient Tongan otuhaka having been synthesized with...  - sasa Sasa Sasa may refer to: menina linda com pernas jeitosas ;)* Samoan Sasa* Saša, a given name* Sasa - a genus of bamboo* Sasa, Israel - a kibbutz in Galilee, Israel* Sa'sa' - a Palestinian village, depopulated during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.... - siva Samoa Siva Samoa Siva Samoa is the Samoan term for a Samoan dance.Traditional Samoan dancing is one area of the culture that has been the least affected bywestern civilisation...	lali - logo Logo A logo is a graphic mark or emblem commonly used by commercial enterprises, organizations and even individuals to aid and promote instant public recognition...  - nafa NAFA -Organizations:* N.A.F.A. National Association Foreign Attorneys USA* Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts * National Association of Fleet Administrators* North American Falconers Association* North American Fur Auctions... - pandanus Pandanus Pandanus is a genus of monocots with about 600 known species. They are numerous palmlike dioecious trees and shrubs native of the Old World tropics and subtropics. They are classified in the order Pandanales, family Pandanaceae.-Overview:...  - pate Pate (musical instrument) A pātē is a Polynesian percussion instrument. It is of the slit drum family, and therefore is also of the idiophone percussion family. It is made from a hollowed-out log, and produces a distinctive and loud sound...	ali'i Ali'i Alii is a word in the Polynesian language denoting chiefly status in ancient Hawaii and the Samoa Islands. A similar word with the same concept is found in other Polynesian societies. In the Cook Islands, an ariki is a high chief and the House of Ariki is a parliamentary house...  - fiafia Fiafia The word "fiafia" is used in the Pacific islands, such as Samoa and Tonga. It has many meanings such as "celebration," "Get-together," or "happy"....  - tulafale
Solomon Islander Music of the Solomon Islands The music of the Solomon Islands has received international attention since before the country became independent from the United Kingdom in 1978.-Folk music:...			panpipe
Tahiti Music of Tahiti Prior to the arrival of Europeans, the music of Tahiti was dominated by festivals called heiva. Dancing was a vital part of Tahitian life then, and dances were used to celebrate, pray and mark almost every occasion of life...	himene tarava Himene tarava Himene tarava is a style of traditional Tahitian music, sung a cappella in a highly rhythmic style by polyphonic choirs. The word tarava means to be spread out, to be gathered...	'aparima 'aparima The aparima or Kaparima is a dance from Tahiti and the Cook Islands where the mimicks with the hands are central, and as such it is close to the hula or Tongan tauolunga...  - 'ote'a 'ote'a The ōtea is a traditional dance from Tahiti characterized by a rapid hip-shaking motion to percussion accompaniment. The dancers, standing in several rows, may be further choreographed to execute different figures while maintaining the hip-shaking...	slit drum Slit drum A slit drum is a hollow percussion instrument, usually a log drum of bamboo or wood, that is made with one or more slits in it. Most slit drums have three slits, cut into the shape of an "H". If, as is usual, the resultant tongues are different lengths or thicknesses, the drum will produce two...
Tongan Music of Tonga - History :Tonga was discovered by European explorers in 1616. Early visitors, such as Captain Cook in the 1770s, and William Mariner in the 19th century, describe traditional dance performances featuring singing and drumming....	action-song - hiva kakala - kava papalangi	lakalaka Lakalaka The lakalaka is a Tongan group dance where the performers are largely standing still and make gestures with their arms only. It is considered as the national dance of Tonga and part of the intangible human heritage...  - me'etu'upaki Me'etu'upaki The meetuupaki is an ancient Tongan group dance, already reported by early European navigators like captain Cook. This dance has been traditionally designed for men although women may take part if there are not enough men...  - 'otuhaka 'otuhaka right|300pxThe otuhaka is a traditional Tongan group dance with prominent Sāmoan influence wherein the performers are seated and make gestures with their arms only, with some accentuation from head and body....  - ula Ula (dance) The ula is an ancient Tongan group dance, already reported by early European navigators like captain Cook. It is also known as fahai-ula , which may be degenerated to fahaiula...	conch Conch A conch is a common name which is applied to a number of different species of medium-sized to large sea snails or their shells, generally those which are large and have a high spire and a siphonal canal....  - lali - nose-flute - nafa NAFA -Organizations:* N.A.F.A. National Association Foreign Attorneys USA* Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts * National Association of Fleet Administrators* North American Falconers Association* North American Fur Auctions...	faikava - fiafia Fiafia The word "fiafia" is used in the Pacific islands, such as Samoa and Tonga. It has many meanings such as "celebration," "Get-together," or "happy"....  - hulohula
Tuvalu Music of Tuvalu The traditional music of Tuvalu consists of a number of dances, most popularly including fatele, fakanau and fakaseasea, and were used to celebrate leaders and other prominent individuals...		fatele