In folk, bau is often used in solo, ensemble or as rap accompaniment for dances and ballads. Although the sound range of Bawu is narrow and the volume is low, it has a unique national style and is full of national colors. People love it. Everyone of the Hani people carry it with them, and both old and young people like to use Bau to express affection or recall past events. The Yi people like to play in unison or duet with two Bau in tune.

Bawu's solos include: "Fisherman's Song", "Spring to the Grassland", "Bianzhai Happy Song", "Spring on the Lake", "The Dai Girl is Busy with Seed Selection", "Beautiful Frontier" and "Song and Dance in the Red River". "Fisherman's Song" composed by Yan Tieming, the basic tune is taken from the folk music of Hani and Yi peoples in Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan.

The well-known traditional music includes Yi's "Yao Tiao", Hani's "Crossing Fields", "The Sound of Evening", Miao's "Emotion" and "Date", Dai's "Lie Shao Tiao", "Zan Ha Tiao", "Mangshi Bazi Tune" and so on.