How Different Electronic Dance Music Genres Affect Song Structure
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How Different Electronic Dance Music Genres Affect Song Structure
When it comes to electronic dance music, there are a lot of different genres out there. And each genre has its own unique sound and style. But what you may not know is that each genre also has its own effect on song structure.
In this blog post, we’re going to take a look at how different EDM genres affect song structure. We’ll also give you some tips on how to make sure your song
Electronic Dance Music Defined
Before we get into the meat of the matter, it’s important to understand what electronic dance music is. Electronic dance music is a genre of music that is produced using electronic instruments and synthesizers. It is typically characterized by a fast tempo, repetitive beats, and a heavy bass line.
What is electronic dance music?
Electronic dance music (EDM) is a genre of music that is created using electronics. It is characterized by its fast tempo, strong beats, and energetic atmosphere. EDM is often played in clubs and festivals, and can be heard on the radio and in movies.
There are many different genres of electronic dance music, each with its own unique sound and style. These genres include house, techno, trance, dubstep, drum and bass, and more.
The structure of a song in electronic dance music can vary depending on the genre. For example, house songs often have a 4/4 time signature and are built around a simple chord progression. Techno songs tend to be more experimental, with irregular time signatures and complex 3-4 note basslines. Trance songs often have a slow build-up followed by a concise drop, while dubstep tracks are typically characterized by their heavy bass and half-time drums.
No matter what genre of electronic dance music you enjoy, there is sure to be a song that will get you moving!
The history of electronic dance music
The history of electronic dance music is long and storied, with the genre having its origins in the disco era of the 1970s. while there are many different sub-genres of electronic dance music, the common thread that binds them all together is their use of electronic instruments to create a sound that is designed to be danced to.
electronic dance music began to take on a life of its own in the 1980s, with the advent of technologies such as synthesizers and samplers making it easier for artists to create new sounds. The 1990s saw a huge explosion in the popularity of electronic dance music, with sub-genres such as techno, house and trance becoming hugely popular around the world.
The early 2000s saw a slowdown in the popularity of electronic dance music, but the genre has made something of a comeback in recent years thanks to the rise of festivals such as Tomorrowland and Ultra Music Festival.
The Different Genres of Electronic Dance Music
Electronic dance music is a broad range of percussive electronic music genres made largely for nightclubs, raves, and festivals. Produced for playback by DJs who create seamless selections of tracks, called a mix, by segueing from one recording to another. EDM producers also perform their music live in a concert or festival setting in what is sometimes called a live PA.
Techno
Techno is a genre of electronic dance music (EDM) that emerged in the Detroit area in the United States during the mid-to-late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno in reference to a specific genre of music was in 1988. Many styles of techno now exist, but Detroit techno is seen as the foundation upon which other subgenres have been built.
Characteristics of techno include a 4/4 time signature, a tempo of 120 to 150 beats per minute (BPM), repetitive rhythms, and often limited melody and harmony. Songs typically consist of one or more individual tracks that build on each other, creating a larger structure. Techno is often associated with industrial music, and shares many characteristics with it, such as the use of synthesizers and electronic percussion.
Techno has been influential to other genres of EDM, such as house music and trance. It has also been incorporated into non-electronic music genres, such as rock and roll (for example, the work of Nine Inch Nails) and hip hop (e.g., Missy Elliott’s “Work It”).
House
House is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago in the 1980s. It was originally influenced by disco, and developed from a blend of disco, electronic and soul music. House music is characterized by a strong 4/4 beat, a repetitive bassline and synthesizer melodies. The structure of house songs typically includes an intro, a main section, a breakdown and a climax. The tempo of house songs is usually between 120 and 130 beats per minute.
Trance
Trance is a genre of electronic dance music that developed in the early 1990s in Germany. It is characterized by a Tempo between 125 and 150 BPM,Repeating melodic phrases, and a musical form that distinctly builds tension and elements throughout a track often culminating in 1 to 2 “drops”. Trance tracks are often lengthy to allow for such progression.
Although Trance was developed in Germany, the genre’s popularity spread to the rest of the world in the 1990s and 2000s. While the term “Trance” has been used as a catch-all for everything from Eurodance to Techno, its true meaning is much more specific. A good way to think of it would be as Progressive House’s more upbeat cousin.
Drum and Bass
Drum and bass is a genre of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 1990s. It is characterized by fast breakbeats (typically between 150 and 180 beats per minute) with heavy bass and sub-bass lines. Drum and bass often incorporates elements of other styles such as techno, dubstep, trap, and grime.
Dubstep
Originating in London in the late 2000s, dubstep emerged as a more underground counterpart to commercial UK garage. It’s characterized by a slow, wobbling bassline and often features half-time rhythms.
How the Different Genres Affect Song Structure
There are many electronic dance music genres, each with their own sub-genres. These genres have different influences on song structure. For example, progressive house is known for its build ups and drop outs, while techno is known for its constant 4/4 beat. In this article, we will explore how different electronic dance music genres affect song structure.
Techno
Techno is a type of electronic dance music that emerged in the 1980s. It is characterized by a repeating bass line and synthesizer melodies. Techno songs typically have a 4/4 time signature and are in the range of 120-180 beats per minute. The structure of a typical techno song consists of an intro, one or two main sections, and a outro. The main sections are typically 8-16 bars long and feature the song’s main melody. The intro and outro are usually 4-8 bars long and typically feature a drum loop or other percussion element.
House
The typical house song is around 120 beats per minute (BPM), and is based around a 4/4 time signature. A lot of house music also incorporates elements of funk, disco, and soul. The songs are often groove-based, with a repetitive bass line and simple melody. The drums usually have a lot of hi-hats and are very up-tempo. House music often has a “rolling” feel to it, which means the beat is constantly moving forward.
Trance
The trance genre is typified by a tempo of around 140 BPM, though it can range anywhere from 120-155 BPM. Trance tracks often have a 4/4 time signature, with a kick drum on every downbeat and clap or snare usually occurring on the backbeat (every second beat). The most common chord progression in trance is A-Minor to C, though other popular progressions include A-Minor to G and D-Minor to G. Trance tracks also often incorporate breakdowns, which are usually 8-16 bars long and break down the melody and bassline of the track before building back up to the drop.
Drum and Bass
Drum and bass (also written as “drum ‘n’ bass”; abbreviated as D&B, D+B, DnB or simply as D’n’B) is a genre of electronic music characterised by fast breakbeats (usually 170–185 beats per minute) with heavy bass and sub-bass lines, sampled sources, and synthesizers. The music grew out of breakbeat hardcore (and its derivatives of darkcore, ravecore and hardstep), and the earlier Jamaican dub/reggae sound. Drum and bass subgenres include breakcore, big beat, ragga jungle, hardstep, darkstep, techstep, neurofunk, ambient drum and bass, liquid funk (a.k.a. “intelligent drum and bass”), jump up, drill ‘n’ bass (and its extraterritorial offshoots such as juke/footwork), speed garage and wonky
Dubstep
Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 2000s. It is characterized by a tempo of 140 beats per minute, half-time rhythms, and heavy sub-bass. The style emerged in London and was pioneered by producers such as Skream, Benga, and Digital Mystikz.
