Secular music in the Middle Ages has developed to a certain extent, but religious music is still the mainstream music culture. They have their own emphases in their development. We can distinguish them based on their characteristics:

1. In terms of performance venues, religious music is used in churches and religious activities; other music used is secular music.

2. In terms of vocal singing, religious music is polyphonic chants with Latin lyrics; while secular music is mostly monophonic music, sung in dialects, and mostly improvised.

3. In terms of the use of modes, religious music uses church modes; while secular music mostly uses Ionian and Ionian modes.

4. In terms of the use of musical instruments, religious music began as simple vocal music without accompaniment. After the 13th century, the organ became an accompaniment instrument in churches, but all other instruments were banned; secular music used all popular folk instruments. , including bowed string instruments, plucked instruments and wind instruments.