Tango is a genre of music that emerged in the late 19th century in the Río de la Plata region, particularly in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Montevideo, Uruguay. Influenced by African rhythms, European classical music, and the folk traditions of local immigrants, Tango developed as a distinctive urban style. Its characteristic features include a steady, often marcato bass line, syncopated rhythms, and expressive melodic lines, frequently led by the bandoneón — an instrument that became central to the genre in the early 20th century.