The Different Types of Electronic Dance Music

There are many different types of electronic dance music (EDM), each with its own unique sound and style. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the most popular EDM genres and sub-genres, and provide a brief overview of each one. Whether you’re a fan of hard-hitting dubstep or mellow trance, we hope you’ll find something to enjoy in this comprehensive guide!

Introduction

The Different Types of Electronic Dance Music can be classified in many ways, but the two most common classifications are by genre and by tempo.

There are four primary genres of electronic dance music: house, techno, trance, and drum & bass. House and techno are the two original genres of electronic dance music, with trance and drum & bass having evolved out of those two in the early 1990s. In general, trance is higher tempo than house and techno, and drum & bass is the highest tempo of all four genres.

However, within each genre there are sub-genres and sub-sub-genres, each with their own characteristic sounds. For example, within the house genre there is deep house, progressive house, tech house, and many others. And within the techno genre there is minimal techno, Detroit techno, acid techno, etc. The list goes on and on.

In addition to these four primary genres of electronic dance music, there are also a number of hybrid genres which combine two or more of the primary genres. For example, progressive trance is a hybrid genre that combines elements of both progressive house and trance. There is also psytrance which combines psychedelic trance with Goa trance; hard dance which combines hardcore techno with happy hardcore; dubstep which combines dubstep with 2-step garage; breakbeat which combines breakbeat with drum & bass; and electro house which combines electro with house.

The above are just some of the most popular genres and hybrids; there are many more out there. But regardless of how you classify it, electronic dance music is one of the most popular forms of music in the world today.

Trap

Trap is a subgenre of hip hop that originated in the early 2000s in the southern United States. It is typified by its aggressive lyrical content and sound, which features heavy use of sub-bass frequencies and synthesizers. Trap achieved mainstream popularity in the 2010s, with Trap music becoming increasingly popular in mainstream pop, Hip Hop and EDM.

Dubstep

Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that emerged in the late 1990s. It is characterized by a heavy bass sound with synthesized drums and sparse melodies.

Drum and Bass

Drum and Bass, also known as D&B, is a type of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 1990s. It is characterized by fast beats, often with syncopated basslines, and occasional breakbeats. Drum and Bass generally has a dark or aggressive sound, making it popular with ravers and clubbers alike.

Techno

Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in the late 1980s. The sound is typified by a repetitive four-on-the-floor beat, often accompanied by hi-hat cymbals, synthesized basslines, and synth pads. Techno is generally very robotic sounding, and the melodies are often quite minimal.

House

House is a genre of electronic dance music characterized by a repetitive four on the floor beat and a tempo of 120 to 130 beats per minute. It was created by DJs and music producers from Chicago in the early 1980s. House music is often based on soul, funk, disco, and pop-oriented music samples from the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The first use of the word “house” in reference to electronic dance music is believed to be in 1985, on Chicago radio station WBMX’s Hot Mix 5 show. DJs Roy Davis Jr. and Maceo Plex are credited with popularizing house music in the 2010s.

Trance

Trance is a genre of electronic dance music that developed in the early 1990s in Germany. It is characterized by a tempo of between 125 and 150 BPM, repeating melodic phrases, and a musical form that builds up and down throughout a track.

Conclusion

Now that you know the different types of electronic dance music, you can start to explore the genre and find the sub-genre that suits your taste. There is a lot of great music out there, so don’t be afraid to experiment. Who knows, you may just find your new favorite style of EDM.