Electronic Music Vocabulary: The Basics

If you’re new to the world of electronic music, it can be daunting to try and figure out all the different terms and genres. This blog post will give you a basic introduction to some of the most common electronic music vocabulary.

Introduction

Electronic music is a genre of music that is created with the use of electronic instruments and electronic effects. It is a broad genre that includes various sub-genres, such as techno, house, ambient, drum and bass, and more.

The term “electronic music” was first used in the 1930s by Italian composer Gino Marini, who used an electronic organ to create his music. In the 1940s and 1950s, composers such as Olivier Messiaen and Pierre Schaeffer began experimenting with electronics in their music. In the 1960s, electronic music began to be used in popular music, with artists such as the Beach Boys and the Beatles using it in their songs. In the 1970s, electronic music became more popular with the advent of disco and funk. In the 1980s, electronic music became even more popular with the rise of synth-pop and new wave. In the 1990s and 2000s (decade), electronic dance music became increasingly popular with clubs and festivals around the world. Today, electronic music is one of the most popular genres of music.

There are many different types of electronic instruments that can be used to create electronic music. These include synthesizers, drum machines, samplers, sequencers, and more. Synthesizers are often used to create Lead sounds (melodic lines) and Pad sounds (longer sustained chords). Drum machines are used to create percussion sounds. Samplers are often used to record and playback short snippets of audio (such as drum beats or vocal samples). Sequencers are used to record and playback musical phrases (often called “loops”).

Electronic effects can also be used to modify the sound of an instrument or voice. Common effects include echo/delay, reverb, filtering (EQ), distortion/overdrive, and flanging/phaser. Effects can be added to an instrument or voice using an effects processor (such as a pedal or rackmount unit) or by using software plugins on a computer.

There are many different genres of electronic music. Some common genres include techno, house, ambient, drum & bass, dubstep, electro-industrial/EBM , IDM , breakcore , glitch , techno-industrial , minimal techno , trance , acid house , rave , hardcore / gabber , trip hop / downtempo , progressive trance / psychedelic trance .

The Different Types of Electronic Music

Electronic music is a genre of music that is made with electronic musical instruments or electronic music technology. It is a broad category of music that includes many different styles of music. Some of the different types of electronic music include trance, techno, house, and dubstep.

Techno

Techno is a type of electronic dance music played on synthesizers and drum machines featuring repetitive, hypnotic beats. Techno is a form of house music, and first gained popularity in the techno clubs of Detroit in the late 1980s. Placing an emphasis on minimalism, techno is known for its robotic, industrial sound.

House

In the broadest sense, house music is a style of popular music that developed in the mid-1980s. It is characterized by a steady four-on-the-floor beat and often features electronic instruments and synthesizers. House music is often based on danceable, soulful, and energetic melodies and rhythms that are easy to remember and sing along to.

While there is no one definitive sound of house music, certain production techniques are commonly used, such as the use of a drum machine or sequencer to create a steady beat, layered synth melodies, and various effects (such as reverb, delay, and phaser) to create a more atmospheric sound. House tracks often have a distinctly hypnotic quality that can make them perfect for dancing.

House music has its roots in the early 1980s Chicago club scene, where DJs would play a mix of disco, soul, pop, and electro records. These DJs would often extend the beats of these songs by using Pioneer drum machines such as the TR-808 or TR-909 to create a more groove-oriented sound. By the mid-1980s, this style of music had begun to gain popularity outside of Chicago and was being played at clubs all over the world.

Trance

Trance is a genre of electronic dance music that emerged from the British new-age music scene and the early 1990s rave scene in Germany. Trance music is characterized by a tempo of between 130 and 160 beats per minute, repeating melodic structures, and a musical form that builds up and down throughout a track.

Drum and Bass

Drum and bass is a type of electronic music that emerged in the early 1990s. It is characterized by fast, syncopated beats and often features samples from other genres of music, such as hip hop, dub and breaks. Drum and bass tends to be very bass-heavy, with the drums serving as more of a percussive accent than a melody.

Dubstep

Dubstep is a type of electronic dance music that originated in the early 2000s in the United Kingdom. It is characterized by a strong bass line and halftime beats.

The Different Elements of Electronic Music

In order to understand electronic music, it is important to first understand the different elements that make it up. This includes understanding things like beats, bars, and melody. These are all important parts of electronic music, and once you understand them, you will be able to better appreciate the music itself.

The Kick Drum

The kick drum is perhaps the most important element in electronic music, providing the foundation for the groove and giving the track its energy. It’s often one of the first things people notice about a track, and a well-crafted kick can make all the difference between a good track and a great one.

There are two main types of kick drums:

Acoustic: These kicks are recorded using microphones and sound very natural. They’re great for adding depth and warmth to a track, but can be more difficult to mix.

Synthetic: These kicks are created using drum machines or plugins and often have a moredigital sound. They’re usually easier to mix than acoustic kicks, but can sometimes sound unnatural.

No matter which type of kick you use, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind to get the best possible sound:

1. Start with a good sample: This is especially important if you’re using a synthetic kick. A bad sample will make your kick sound weak and thin, so it’s worth taking the time to find a good one. There are plenty of freekick samples available online, or you can purchase high-quality ones from companies like Sample Magic.
2. Layer your kick: Layering two or more kicks can help add power and depth to your track. Try experimenting with different combinations of acoustic and synthetic kicks to see what works best for your song.
3. Use EQ: Equalization is key for getting your kick to sit nicely in the mix. Start by cutting out any frequencies below 60 Hz or above 8 kHz, then gently boost the midrange frequencies around 200 Hz until it sounds good to you.
4. Add compression: Compression will help even out the volume of your kick and allow it to punch through the mix without sounding overbearing. A good rule of thumb is to compress at a ratio of 2:1 with a relatively fast attack time (around 10 ms) and release time (around 50 ms).

These are just some basic tips to get you started – there’s no one right way to process a kick drum, so feel free to experiment until you find something that sounds good to you!

The Bassline

The bassline is the part of the song that carries the low frequencies. It is usually made up of notes played on the bass guitar or synth bass, but can also be created with other instruments such as drums, piano, or even vocals. The bassline is what gives the song its groove and can be a very important part of the song’s overall sound.

The Synth

In electronic music, a synth is short for synthesizer. A synthesizer is an instrument that creates sound by generating electrical signals that are converted to sound waves. The first synthesizers were created in the early 1900s, and since then, they have been used in a wide variety of music genres, including pop, rock, hip hop, and EDM.

Synthesizers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from small tabletop units to massive modular systems. They can be played with a keyboard or computer interface, or they can be controlled by external devices such as sequencers or MIDI controllers. Synthesizers can generate a wide range of sounds, from simple tones to complex noise textures.

The most basic synthesizers use oscillators to generate sound waves. Oscillators are electronic circuits that produce repetitive waveforms. These waveforms can be simple (such as sine waves) or complex (such as square waves or sawtooth waves). Oscillators can be modulated (altered) by other signals to create different timbres (tones).

Filters are another important element of synthesis. Filters shape the sound of an oscillator by removing certain frequencies from the waveform. Low-pass filters allow low frequencies to pass through and high frequencies to be attenuated (reduced in level). High-pass filters have the opposite effect: low frequencies are attenuated and high frequencies are passed through.Band-pass filters allow a certain range of frequencies to pass through while attenuating the rest. There are also more complex types of filters such as notch filters and ring modulators.

Envelopes are used to control the amplitude (loudness) of a sound over time. Attack envelopes determine how quickly the sound reaches its maximum amplitude; decay envelopes determine how quickly the sound decays from its maximum amplitude; sustain envelopes determine how long the sound sustains at its maximum amplitude; release envelopes determine how quickly the sound decays from its sustain level back to silence. By shaping these envelopes, you can create sounds that range from soft and gentle to aggressive and harsh.

LFOs (low-frequency oscillators) are used to modulate other signals in order produce tremolo (a fluctuating effect), vibrato (a wavering effect), or Pitch modulation(changing pitch). LFOs typically have very low frequencies (below 20 Hz), which is why they are called low-frequency oscillators. By modulating a signal with an LFO, you can create all sorts of effects ranging from subtle pitch fluctuations to aggressive vibrato.”

The Pad

A “pad” is a term used to describe a sustained, usually harmony-based sound. Pads are commonly played on synthesizers, but can also be created with samplers, drum machines, and other types of electronic instruments.

Pads are often used to create atmosphere or to fill out the harmonic content of a track. They can be soft and gentle, or they can be loud and explosive. Pads can also be played in a wide variety of styles, from classic analog synth sounds to modern digital textures.

The Lead

A lead is the main melody of a track, and is typically played by a synthesizer. Leads can be simple or complex, and often have a memorable hook that helps the track stick in the listener’s mind.

Conclusion

We hope this quick guide to electronic music vocabulary has been helpful! If you’re interested in learning more about electronic music, we suggest checking out our articles on the [best electronic music producers](https://www.soundonsound.com/news/10-best-electronic-music-producers) and [best modular synth](https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/best-modular-synthesizers) gear.