Unlike the various languages, different ethnic groups and multiple religions the music of Nepal is similarly varied, with pop, religious, classical and folk music being popular. Musical genres from Tibet and Hindustan have greatly influenced Nepalese music. Generally, women, even of the musician castes, do not play music except for specific situations, such as at the traditional all-female wedding parties.

Nepal has several castes of musicians. These include the damai, who are both musicians and tailors, and the gaine, who were originally fisherman but are now travelling minstrels. The gaine perform for various patrons in exchange for food or other necessaries. They typically play the sarangi, a four-stringed, hand-carved instrument. Damai are perhaps best-known for their participation in panchai baja, a form of wedding band consisting of drums, horns, cymbals, and shawms. The highly-ritualized wedding ceremony includes a specific tune for the panchai baja to play in each section. In Kathmandu Valley, the panchai baja has been supplanted by brass bands.

The ancient Newar people are well-known for masked dances which tell stories of the gods and heroes. The music is percussion-based, sometimes with flutes or shawm accompanying the intense, nasal vocals.

Pop Music

Pop music has become heart of Nepalese musical industry. Light music, a blend of regional folk styles with the very-popular among Nepalese new generation, began its development with the 1952 foundation of Radio Nepal. Light music is pleasant and soft, generally featuring lovelorn lyrics in Nepalese. The first big Nepalese star who sang folk songs accompanied by film music scores was Dharma Raj Thapa.

Nepali Rock Music

The rock music scene of Nepal originated with the arrival of Hippies in the Kathmandu valley. The prime scene of Rock as well as Rock and Roll during those days used to be Jhochhen aka Freak Street notorious for its marijuana and narcotics which attracted many a psychedelic rockers during the 70s. The first recorded Rock and Roll song of Nepal is "diunlaa" by Kumar Basnet. The pioneers of Nepalese Rock scene were Mukti Shakya, Dev Rana(drummer) and various other singers and bands who emerged in the Freak Street scene in the Hippie era. With the advent of time, the rock scene in Nepal changed from the early rock to Punk and Metal.