Fado is a type of folk music which most likely originated in the 1820s in Portugal. It is characterized by mournful tunes and lyrics, often about the sea or the life of the poor. Whether it emerged from the singing of the Portuguese sailors or was derived from Brazilian music styles like Lundum and Mondinha is unknown.
The first great fado singer that is still known was Maria Severa, living in the first half of the 19th century. Her type of fado is today called Lisbon's fado.
In the 1920s. and 1930s, a series of fado de Coimbra (a highly stylized version born in Coimbra) recordings were very popular. The guitarists Carlos Paredes and his father Artur Paredes, were the masters and the great pioneers of fado de Coimbra.
In Coimbra, the Associação Académica de Coimbra promotes and develops many musical projects related with the "fado de Coimbra", through its own Fado department, inside the Academic Association. The fado of Coimbra is known as the traditional university students music.

The Fado de Coimbra is a type of fadooriginated in the university city of Coimbra, Portugal It was adopted as the music of the university students, by the student community of the city, but besides that, it is considered the characteristic music of Coimbra.
The Coimbra's fado is performed using the traditional "Guitarra de Coimbra" (Coimbra's Guitar), and sometimes have male voices singing.
The guitarists Carlos Paredes and his father Artur Paredes, were the masters and the great pioneers of fado de Coimbra.
In Coimbra, the Associação Académica de Coimbra promotes and develops many musical projects and events related with the "fado de Coimbra", through its own Fado department, inside the Academic Association
 

Lisbon's fado • Alexandra  • Amália Rodrigues. • Antonio Menano • Camané • Carlos do Carmo • Cristina Branco • Dulce Pontes • Fernanda Maria • Lucilia do Carmo  • Mariza. • Mísia

Coimbra's fado • Artur Paredes  • Carlos Paredes