A Comprehensive Guide to Electronic Music Subgenres

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the various subgenres of electronic music and what distinguishes each one.

Introduction

Since the 1980s, electronic music has come to be increasingly divided into subgenres. This is partly due to the development of new genres and subgenres, and partly due to the fact that artists and bands began to experiment with different styles within the same genre. As a result, it can be difficult to keep up with all the different subgenres and their associated characteristics.

In this guide, we’ll take a comprehensive look at some of the most popular electronic music subgenres. We’ll discuss their origins, key characteristics, and notable artists within each subgenre. By the end, you should have a good understanding of the major differences between these genres, and be able to identify them when you hear them.

What is Electronic Music?

Electronic music is a genre of music that is made with the use of electronic instruments and equipment. It is a type of music that is made by using synthesizers, drum machines and sequencers. The electronic music genre has its roots in the early 20th century and has evolved over the years to include different subgenres.

The Origins of Electronic Music

The first ever electronic musical instrument was the theremin, invented in 1920 by Russian scientist Leon Theremin. The theremin was originally intended to be used as a way to doorbells, but it soon became clear that it had much more potential as a musical instrument. Over the next few decades, a variety of other electronic instruments were invented, including the ondes Martenot, the trautonium, and the Ondioline.

In the 1940s and 1950s, composers like Pierre Schaeffer and Pierre Henry began experimenting with ways to create music using recordings of sounds instead of acoustic instruments. This new type of music came to be known as musique concrète. In 1955, Schaeffer founded the Groupe de Recherche de Musique Concrète, which was the first ever electronic music studio.

Towards the end of the 1950s, a new type of electronic instrument called the synthesizer began to gain popularity. The first commercially available synthesizer was the Audio-Visual Synthesizer, created by American engineer Harold Bode in 1955. In 1963, British engineer Don Banks created the VCS 3, one of the first portable synthesizers. By the end of the 1960s, a wide variety of synthesizers were available on the market.

In 1974, Japanese composer Isao Tomita released Snowflakes Are Dancing, one of the first albums of electronic music made using only synthesizers. This album helped popularize electronic music and inspired many other composers to experiment with synth-based music.

In 1977, Giorgio Moroder released “I Feel Love,” a disco song that featured synthpop elements and is widely considered to be one of the first ever electronic dance music tracks. The following year, Moroder produced Donna Summer’s album Bad Girls, which featured several more pioneering dance tracks including “Hot Stuff” and “MacArthur Park.” These songs helped pave the way for future EDM genres like house and techno.

By the 1980s, electronic music had gained mainstream popularity thanks to artists like Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, and Yellow Magic Orchestra. New subgenres like synth-pop and industrial also emerged during this decade. In 1985, Afrika Bambaataa released “Planet Rock,” a track that blended elements of hip hop and electro and is credited with helping popularize electro among hip hop audiences.

The 1990s saw more experimentation with digital technology which led to new subgenres like drum & bass and IDM (intelligent dance music). In 1997, Daft Punk released their debut album Homework which proved hugely influential in both underground and mainstream dance circles

The Different Subgenres of Electronic Music

From glitch Hop to happy hardcore, there are dozens of electronic music subgenres to explore. This guide will take you through some of the most popular subgenres, what defines them, and what artists are worth checking out in each one. So whether you’re a seasoned fan of electronic music or just getting started, this guide is for you.

House

House is a genre of electronic music that was developed by dance clubs in Chicago in the early 1980s. The style was initially influenced by disco music, but quickly evolved into its own unique sound. House music is characterized by a thumping 4/4 beat, synthesizer melodies, and soulful vocals. Early house tracks often samples disco and funk jams, which give the genre its signature groove. House music became popular in the 1990s and 2000s with the rise of rave culture and electronic dance festivals such as Ultra Music Festival and Tomorrowland.

Techno

Techno is a genre of electronic dance music that is characterized by a repetitive four on the floor beat and a heavy use of synthesizers. The genre evolved in the 1980s in Detroit, Michigan from the work of Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson, who were all influenced by the work of Kraftwerk and Afrika Bambaataa. Techno is a very broad genre with many subgenres, but it is typically divided into three categories:

-Hard techno: This subgenre is characterized by hard, fast, and often aggressive beats. It is often underpinned by a deep and powerful bassline.
– Acid techno: This subgenre is characterized by its use of the acid house sound, which is created by manipulating the sound of a Roland TB-303 bass synthesizer.
– Minimal techno: This subgenre is characterized by its stripped-down sound, which uses minimal elements to create a hypnotic effect.

Drum and Bass

Drum and bass (also written as “drum ‘n’ bass” or “d&b”) is a type of electronic music which emerged in the mid-1990s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats (typically between 150 and 200 beats per minute) with heavy bass and sub-bass lines. Drum and bass often incorporates elements of other genres, including hip hop, dub, reggae, techno and jungle.

One of the earliest popular drum and bass tracks was “No More Tears” by Jungle Brothers, which was released in 1992. In 1993, Goldie’s track “Inner City Life” helped to bring the genre to wider mainstream attention. Other early hits include tracks like “Boom Bap” by Shy FX, “Tears” by 4hero, and “Ruffneck” by Movin’ Fusion.

The drum and bass scene continued to grow in popularity throughout the 1990s and 2000s, with artists like Roni Size, Andy C, Pendulum, Chase & Status and Spor becoming mainstream stars. In recent years, the genre has begun to splinter into various subgenres such as neurofunk, jump up, liquid funk and darkstep.

Dubstep

Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that emerged in South London in the late 1990s. It is generally characterized by sparse, syncopated rhythmic patterns with bass lines that contain prominent sub-bass frequencies. The style emerged as a development of UK garage and jungle, and draws influence from grime, dub, techno, and 2-step.

In the early 2010s, dubstep began to enter the mainstream in the UK, with artists such as Ellie Goulding and Calvin Harris achieving commercial success. In 2014, Billboard magazine declared that “dubstep has gone from an underground sound to a genre capable of spawning hits.”

The term “dubstep” is often used to refer to a specific style of drum and bass (breakbeat) characterised by minimalism and low-end growls. This style was associated with the early releases on labels such as Music Maniac Records, Big Apple Records and temperatures rising Records. Dubstep lyrics are sometimes dark or violent in content; however, there are many tracks which feature elements of lightheartedness orhumor.

Trance

Trance is a genre of electronic music that originated in the early 1990s. It is characterized by a tempo of around 140 beats per minute, and often features synthesizer pads, arpeggios, and violin-like melodies. The genre is often compared to classical music, and its popularity has grown steadily since the 1990s.

Trap

Trap music is a subgenre of hip hop that originated in the early 2000s in the Southern United States. It is typified by sub-divided hi-hats, heavy, sub-bass layered kick drums in the style of double-time, breakbeat, and often includes rap vocals. Trap music shares many features with other EDM genres such as Moombahton and Drumstep, but is distinguishable by a heavier, more hypnotic sound that includes pitched-down vocals and simpler, sparse beats.

Conclusion

Electronic music is a broad umbrella term that encompasses a wide range of subgenres. The subgenres of electronic music are constantly evolving, so it can be hard to keep up with the latest trends. However, by familiarizing yourself with the most popular subgenres, you’ll be able to find the style of music that best suits your taste.