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Romanian folk music is characterized by diversity. The country has six large culture areas which correspond to important historical provinces, each one characterized by relatively different songs and interpretations, although the basis of their music is unified in character, with regional styles based on a few shared structural elements. One of these elements is the eight-unit meter pattern for songs and instrumental melodies. A second shared element is evident in the type of songs performed (the lyric song, the "long song" or doina, children's songs, the lullaby, and the epic song) and also the genres of their ritual music (carols and ceremonial music for Christmas and New Year, songs for fire purification, weddings and funerals, agricultural and pastoral songs). A third shared characteristic is in the musical instruments used, including simple and double pipes, the ocarina, law harp, tree leaf, alpenhorn, fish scale and others. The earliest music was performed on various pipes with rhythmical accompaniment later added by a cobza. This style can still be found in Moldavian - Carpathian regions of Vrancea and Bucovina and with the Hungarian Csango minority. The bagpipe was popular instrument from medieval times, but became rare in recent times before a 20th century revival. Since its introduction the violin has influenced the music in all regions by becoming the principal melody instrument. Each region has its own combination of instruments, old and new, and its own unique sound. This continues to progress to the present with the most recent additions being electric keyboards and drum sets.
 In the villages, it was almost exclusively gypsies who provided ritual and celebratory music for village life. In modern day Romania, one can hear gypsy musicians playing in high-class folklore presentations in concert, in social dance bands in outdoor summer pavilions. These bands have a huge repertoire, often being engaged to play every evening for months or even seasons at a time, and pride themselves on the range of their selections. Gypsy musicianship is creative, eclectic, intense, and yet elusive, embodying the best of the natural entertainer.
The touchstone of Rumanian folk music is the cry of the gypsy on his violin, the lament of the gypsy singer and the dazzling virtuosity of the tambal (the chromatic, multi-stringed hammered dulcimer) improvising vivid reverie which never fails to touch the heart of any Romanian.
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