House Music Terms You Need to Know
Contents
You need to know these house music terms if you want to be a part of the underground house music scene.
House Music Terms
Even if you’re not a house music fan, you’ve probably heard some of these terms before. If you are a fan, then you definitely need to know them. Some of these terms are used to describe the music, while others are used to describe the culture and the people who listen to it.
Acid house
A subgenre of house music, acid house emerged in the 1980s. It is defined by its squelchy, synthesized 303 bassline which was used to create a new sound that was Acidic, Addictive and caught on like wildfire. The name is derived from the LSD-like experience one can have when dancing to this hard-hitting genre of music.
Chicago house
Chicago house is a style of house music that was developed in the early 1980s by DJ Pierre, Rolando Alias, Marshall Jefferson, and Frankie Knuckles in Chicago, Illinois. It was initially popularized by radio stations WBMX and WGCI-FM and later by clubs such as the Warehouse and the Music Box. The style is characterized by a strong 4/4 bass drumbeat, soulful vocals, and with Chicago house’s signature “derrick sound” (named after House pioneer Derrick Carter).
The first well-known Chicago house track is called “House Nation” by Pierre’s group Housemaster Boyz. It was released in 1985 on Trax Records and instantly became a hit in the city’s clubs. This track would go on to inspire many other tracks and be credited as one of the earliest examples of Chicago house music.
Other well-known early Chicago house tracks include Farley “Jackmaster” Funk’s “Love Can’t Turn Around” (1986), Jamie Principle & Frankie Knuckles’ “Your Love” (1987), Adonis’ “No Way Back” (1987), and Tyree Cooper’s “Turn Up The Bass” (1988). These tracks became international hits and helped to spread the sound of Chicago house around the world.
Deep house
Deep house is a subgenre of house music that originated in the 1980s. It is characterized by a slow, thumping bass drum on every beat and often features a lead vocalist singing about love or other topics. The style became popular in the clubs of Chicago and Detroit in the late 1980s. Deep house tracks often have a atmospheric, jazzy sound and are usually between five and six minutes long.
Electronic Dance Music Terms
Not sure what a track is or what a DJ mix is? We’ve got you covered. Check out this list of important electronic dance music terms you need to know.
Beatmatching
The skill of beatmatching is central to DJing. It is the art of matching the beats per minute (BPM) of two songs so they can be mixed together seamlessly. To do this, DJs must have a good understanding of music theory and rhythm. They must also be able to use the pitch control on their turntables or CDJs to make small adjustments to the tempo of a track.
Beatmatching is not just about keeping two songs in time with each other; it’s also about finding the right moment to transition from one track to the next. This can be done by using a variety of techniques, such as mixing in key, fading out one track while fading in another, or using abrupt cuts.
As with all DJing techniques, practice makes perfect. The more you mix, the better you’ll get at beatmatching.
BPM
BPM stands for beats per minute and is a key element of most electronic dance music. The tempo of a song is usually measured in BPM and you’ll often see DJs and producers referring to tracks by their BPM. A track with a lower BPM will usually have a slower, more relaxing vibe while a track with a higher BPM will be more energetic and fast-paced.
BPM is also used as a unit of measurement for how fast a DJ or producer can mix two tracks together. The average human heartbeat is around 60-70 BPM, so mixing at around this speed would be considered slow. Mixing at double this speed, around 120-140 BPM, would be considered moderate or middle-range, while mixing at speeds above 140 BPM would be considered fast.
Break
In music production, a break is usually a momentary pause in the track created by removing all instruments or percussion for an instant. The effect produced by a break can often heavily depend on the context in which it is used.
A break can be used for a number of reasons in electronic dance music. One of the most popular uses is to give the listener a moment of respite before hitting them with another huge drop or bassline. This can help to create a sense of anticipation and really get the crowd going. Breaks can also be used to change up the rhythm of a track, or to introduce new elements such as a breakdown section.
There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to using breaks in your music, so it’s important to experiment and see what works best for you and your sound.
DJ Terms
If you want to get into DJing, there are a few terms you need to know. BPM stands for beats per minute, and it’s a measure of how fast a song is. Cueing is when you find the part of the song you want to play and line it up with the BPM. Mixing is when you transition between two songs.
Cue
A cue is a marker for where a particular track should start playing. In DJing, cues are typically used to prepare for mixing two tracks together. To cue up a track, you will first need to find the starting point of the track that you want to play. Once you have found the starting point, you can then set a cue point by pressing the “cue” button on your DJ controller or CDJ. This will give you a visual marker on the display of where the track should start playing. When you are ready to start playing the track, you can press the “play” button and the track will begin playing from the cue point that you have set.
Crossfader
The crossfader is a knob on a DJ mixer that allows the user to mix together two audio signals. By moving the crossfader from one side to the other, the user can fade out one signal while fading in the other. This is commonly used when mixing two songs together.
EQ
EQ refers to the process of equalizing the sound frequencies in a mix. This can be done using a EQ plugin on a digital audio workstation (DAW), or by using the EQ controls on a mixer. By boost certain frequencies and attenuating others, you can create a mix that is better balanced and sounds more pleasant to the ears.
