Difference Between House Music and Techno

With so many different genres of electronic music out there, it can be hard to keep them all straight. House music and techno are two of the most popular, but what’s the difference between them? Let’s take a closer look.

House Music

House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago in the early 1980s. It is characterized by a four-on-the-floor drumbeat, a prominent bassline, and often shuffling rhythms. The style was developed by DJs and producers from Chicago’s underground club culture.

Origins

House music is a genre of dance music that emerged in the early 1980s. It is characterized by a four-on-the-floor drumbeat, syncopated basslines, and offbeat hi-hat cymbals. House music developed in Chicago’s underground disco scene and was strongly influenced by elements of soul, funk, and disco.

Techno is a genre of electronic dance music that emerged in the mid-1980s. It is characterized by a repetitive 4/4 beat, synthesizer melodies, andtough basslines. Techno is often regarded as a form of underground dance music that was developed in Detroit’s warehouse party scene.

Characteristics

There are four distinct styles of house music: Chicago house, Baltimore club, acid house and deep house. All four are defined by a heavy 4/4 bass drumbeat, but each has unique characteristics that set it apart from the others.

Chicago house is the original style of house music, and is characterized by a soulful vocal style and simple, repetitive synth melodies. Baltimore club is a more recent style that originated in the city of Baltimore. It is characterized by its use of samples from other genres of music, especially R&B and hip-hop, and is often considered to be more danceable than other styles of house music.

Acid house is defined by its use of the Roland TB-303 bass synthesizer to create a distinctive squelching sound. Deep house is characterized by its use of organic instrumentation and jazz-inspired chords progression. It is often slower and more relaxing than other styles of house music.

Techno

House music and techno are two genres of electronic music that have a lot in common, but there are also some key differences. Both styles emerged in the 1980s and were influenced by disco and other dance music styles of the time. House music is typically more soulful and rooted in disco, while techno is more mechanical and focused on creating a danceable, repetitive groove.

Origins

The first techno productions were made in Detroit in the mid-to-late 1980s by Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson, who were collectively known as the Belleville Three. Although House music was also being produced in Detroit during the 1980s, it was not until after Atkins, May, and Saunderson had relocated to Europe that techno became an international phenomenon.

Atkins has stated that he was influenced by electronic music pioneer Giorgio Moroder and by disco music; May has stated that he was inspired by George Clinton’s work with Parliament-Funkadelic; and Saunderson has cited Kraftwerk as his main source of inspiration. In addition to these Detroit-based artists, other early techno producers who helped to shape the sound of the genre include Anthony “Shake” Shakir (also from Detroit), Joey Beltram (from New York City), and Pierre Henri (from France).

Characteristics

There are a few key characteristics that define techno music and separate it from other genres, such as house music. Techno is generally faster paced, with a more consistent beat and a heavier emphasis on the bassline. The tracks are also often longer, giving DJs more time to build up a following and create a sense of excitement before breaking into the main track.