What Is Dance Electronic Music?
Contents
Everything you need to know about dance electronic music, from its history to its defining characteristics.
Introduction
Dance electronic music is a broad range of electronic music genres made largely for nightclubs, raves, and festivals. Dance music is generally produced for playback by DJs who create seamless selections of tracks, called a mix, by segueing from one recording to another.
Dance electronic music genres typically contain a 4/4 time signature, offline sequencer beats, and synthesized basslines. The tempo of most dance songs is around 130 beats per minute (bpm). They are often played in nightclubs, where the DJ creates a seamless flow of songs by carefully segueing from one recording to another.
The history of dance electronic music is complex and involves the development of several different genres over the past few decades. Early forms of EDM include house and techno, which emerged in the 1980s in Chicago and Detroit respectively. These genres are characterized by four-on-the-floor beats, offbeat hi-hat cymbals, and synthesized basslines. In the 1990s, trance and drum & bass emerged as popular dance genres. These genres are characterized by dreamy melodies, thumping basslines, and rapid beats. In the 2000s, dubstep became popular; it’s characterized by wobbly basslines and aggressive drums.
What is Dance Electronic Music?
Dance electronic music is a type of music that is specifically made for people to dance to. This type of music is often played in nightclubs, and is generally very fast-paced and upbeat. Dance electronic music often has a heavy beat, and often features synthesizers and other electronic instruments.
The Origins of Dance Electronic Music
Dance electronic music is a broad category that encompasses a wide range of subgenres. The origins of dance electronic music can be traced back to the early 1970s, when electronic music artists began experimenting with incorporating disco and house elements into their music. In the 1980s, dance electronic music emerged as its own distinct genre, with artists such as Kraftwerk, Giorgio Moroder, and Jean-Michel Jarre paving the way for what would become one of the most popular genres in the world.
Today, dance electronic music is enjoyed by millions of people all over the world. The genre has spawned countless subgenres and subcultures, and its influence can be heard in everything from pop music to film scores. Whether you’re a fan of EDM, techno, trance, house, or any other style of dance electronic music, there’s something out there for you.
The Different Types of Dance Electronic Music
There are many different styles of Dance Electronic Music (DEM). Here is a breakdown of some of the most popular genres:
1. Techno: Techno is a very fast and intense type of DEM. The music is typically between 140 and 150 beats per minute (bpm). It often has a heavy bassline and synthesizer sounds.
2. House: House music is slightly slower than techno, typically between 130 and 140 bpm. It has a 4/4 beat and often includes piano or other melodic elements.
3. Trance: Trance is another fast-paced genre, typically between 140 and 160 bpm. It is characterized by repetitive synthesizer melodies and pumping basslines.
4. Drum & Bass: Drum & bass is a style of DEM that originated in the UK in the early 1990s. It is characterized by breakbeats (rhythmic patterns made up of drum sounds) and basslines that are often very distorted. The tempo can range from 160 to 180 bpm or even higher.
5. Dubstep: Dubstep is a slower style of DEM, usually between 70 and 140 bpm. It originated in the UK in the early 2000s and is characterized by heavy basslines, sub-bass frequencies, and sparse beats.
How to Make Dance Electronic Music
Dance electronic music is a type of music that is specifically designed for people to dance to. It is usually made up of a mix of different genres, including house, techno, trance, and dubstep. If you want to make your own dance electronic music, there are a few things you need to know. In this article, we will give you a brief overview of how to make dance electronic music.
The Software You Will Need
In order to create your own dance electronic music, you will need the following software:
-Ableton Live (a digital audio workstation)
-Reason (a music production software)
-Fruity Loops Studio (another music production software)
With these three pieces of software, you will have everything you need to create professional sounding dance electronic music.
The Equipment You Will Need
To get started making your own dance electronic music, you will need a few things. First, you will need a computer with a sound card and music software. The type of software you use is not as important as making sure it is compatible with your sound card. You will also need a MIDI controller, which is a device that allows you to control the sound of your music with physical buttons and pads, rather than having to use a mouse and keyboard. Finally, you will need some speakers or headphones to listen to your music.
Now that you have all of the equipment you need, it is time to start making music! Creating dance electronic music can be divided into two parts: the songwriting process and the production process. In the songwriting process, you will come up with ideas for melodies, basslines, chord progressions, and drum patterns. You can do this by yourself or with a collaborator. Once you have written a song, it is time to start producing it.
In the production process, you will turn your ideas into actual sounds using your computer and software. This involves adding drums, basslines, melodies, and other elements to create a full track. Once your track is complete, you can then export it as an MP3 file so that others can listen to it.
The Process of Making Dance Electronic Music
Dance electronic music is one of the most popular genres in the world. It’s also one of the most fun and rewarding genres to produce. Here’s a quick guide on how to make your own dance electronic music.
1) Choose your software: The first step is to choose which software you’re going to use to produce your music. There are a number of great options out there, but we recommend Ableton Live for its ease of use and powerful features.
2) Load up your samples: Once you have your software set up, it’s time to start loading in your samples. When it comes to dance music, drums are king, so make sure you have a good selection of drum samples to choose from. It’s also a good idea to have a few basslines and melodies ready to go as well.
3) Start sequencing: Now it’s time to start putting together your track. Start by laying down a simple drum beat, then add in a bassline and some melody elements. Once you have the basic structure of your track down, you can start adding in fillers, effects, and other small details.
4) Arrange your track: Once you have all of your elements in place, it’s time to start arranging your track. This is where you’ll decide how long each section will be, what order the sections will go in, and how everything will flow together.
5) Export your track: When you’re happy with how your track sounds, it’s time to export it as an audio file so you can share it with the world!
Conclusion
Dance electronic music is a broad term that can be used to describe a wide variety of genres and sub-genres. At its most basic, it is music that is created specifically for dancing, with the intention of getting people moving and grooving on the dance floor. While it can be traced back to the early days of electronic music, dance electronic music has come into its own as a distinct genre over the past few decades, with artists and producers pushing the boundaries of what is possible with sounds and beats.
