Introduction to Electronic Music
Contents
This blog post will introduce you to the basics of electronic music production. You will learn about the different genres of electronic music, the equipment needed to produce it, and the skills required to create your own tracks.
What is electronic music?
Electronic music is music that is created with the use of electronic instruments and technology. It can be divided into various subgenres, according to the style of music and the technology used to create it.
Some of the most popular subgenres of electronic music include house, techno, trance, drum and bass, and dubstep. House and techno are often created with synthesizers, drum machines, and sequencers, while trance uses mostly samples and loops. Drum and bass is characterized by its fast tempo and often uses breakbeats. Dubstep is a newer genre that is characterized by its heavy bass lines and often uses elements from other genres such as hip hop or grime.
In the past, electronic music was mostly produced by musicians who were trained in traditional instruments such as piano or guitar. However, with the advent of digital technology, it has become possible for anyone to create electronic music with little or no training. This has led to the rise of a new generation of electronic musicians who are self-taught or have only a basic knowledge of music theory.
The history of electronic music
Today, electronic music is enjoyed by millions of people around the world. It has come a long way from its humble beginnings in the early 20th century. Let’s take a look at the history of electronic music.
Early electronic instruments
The first electronic instruments were invented in the early 20th century. The earliest were used for popular music, but by the middle of the century, they were being used in all genres, including classical music.
Some of the most important early electronic instruments include:
The telharmonium (or dynamophone), which was invented in 1897. It was one of the first electronic instruments capable of producing sound using electricity, and it was widely used in public places such as restaurants and department stores.
The theremin, which was invented in 1920. It is one of the earliest electronic instruments that is still widely used today. It is played without physical contact, using two metal rods that control the pitch and volume of the sound.
The ondes martenot, which was invented in 1928. It was one of the first electronic instruments capable of producing a wide range of sounds, and it influenced many subsequent electronic instruments.
The trautonium, which was invented in 1930. It is one of the earliest polyphonic electronic instruments, meaning it can play more than one note at a time.
The birth of electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments, digital instruments and circuitry-based music technology. These instruments are used to produce sound via sonic vibrations, which are then converted into electrical signals that are amplified with a loudspeaker.
The first electronic musical instruments were developed in the early 20th century, and progresses made in sound synthesis techniques during the following decades led to the development of a range of increasingly sophisticated electronic musical instruments. By the 1940s, magnetic tape sound recording had been perfected and commercialized, allowing composers such as Alan Turing, Daphne Oram and Percy Grainger to create entirely new sounds for use in their compositions.
The development of electronic music
The earliest electronic musical instruments were developed in the late 19th century, and early twentieth century. The instruments were mostly used forSupporting roles in orchestras, and for composition and sound effects in theatres. They were not well suited for use as solo instruments. The first electronic musical instruments were developed in the late 19th century. These included the theremin, croixsonor, telharmonium, phonoliths and organ Harmoniums.
The theremin was invented by Leon Theremin in 1920. It is played by moving the hands around two metal rods which are connected to capacitors. The movement of the hand changes the capacity of the capacitor, which alters the pitch of the note being played. The first commercial theremin was released in 1929.
The croixsonor was invented by Edgard Varese in 1921. It consists of a keyboard with ten keys, each of which is connected to a different capacitor. The player presses the key, which changes the capacity of the capacitor and produces a note with a specific pitch.
The telharmonium was invented by Thaddeus Cahill in 1897. It is a large dynamo that produces electrical signals that are amplified and sent to speakers mounted on resonators. The pitch of the notes is controlled by changing the frequency of the electrical signal sent to the resonators.
The phonoliths were invented by Hermann von Helmholtz in 1877. They are glass plates that are vibrated by electromagnets to produce sound waves. The pitch of the notes is controlled by changing the frequency of vibration of the electromagnets.
The organ Harmonium was invented by Alexandre Debain in 1842. It is a keyboard instrument that uses bellows to blow air through reeds which produce sound vibrations. The pitch of the notes is controlled by changing the tension of the reeds with screw pedals.
The different types of electronic music
Electronic music is a type of music that is made with the help of electronic musical instruments. It is a very popular genre of music and there are many different subgenres of it. Some of the most popular subgenres of electronic music are house, techno, and dubstep.
House
House is a genre of electronic dance music characterized by a four-on-the-floor rhythmic pattern. It was originated in the early 1980s in Chicago. The typical house track includes a drum machine, synthesizer, and bass guitar. House music is often repetitive and has a steady beat, which makes it perfect for dancing.
Techno
Techno is a genre of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid-to-late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988. Many styles of techno now exist, but Detroit techno is seen as the foundation upon which a number of subgenres have been built.
Techno is generally repeating 4/4 beats with synthesized basslines and drum patterns featuring hi-hats, claps, and snare drums. These elements are layered over melodic synth pads and lead lines. The tempo typically ranges from 120 to 150 beats per minute (bpm), depending on the style of techno.
The original Detroit techno sound was created by producers such as Juan Atkins, Eddie Fowlkes, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson using analog synthesizers and drum machines such as the Roland TR-808 and TB-303 Bassline.
Drum and bass
Drum and bass (also written as “drum ‘n’ bass” or “d&b”) is a genre of electronic music characterised by fast breakbeats (typically between 150–180 beats per minute) with heavy bass and sub-bass lines, sampled sources, and synthesizers. The popularity of drum and bass at its commercial peak ran parallel to several other homegrown dance styles in the United Kingdom including big beat and hard house. Drum and bass incorporates a number of scenes and styles. A major influential style of drum and bass was created in London in the mid-’90s by producers such as Goldie and LTJ Bukem, drawing influence from American jazz, Italian disco, techno, dub music, and electro, resulting in what was generally known as the “intelligent” or “ambient” sound. Another style often associated with the early 2000s was the “techstep” sound which combined elements of techno with dark drum and bass.
In the late 1990s jungle broke away from the primarily American samples often used previously by decisively dropping them in favor of heavily UK based samples enhancing both rhythmically complex amen breakbeats along with ragga style MC chants which were typically delivered using a hardcore rap style flow over the tracks. These areas would later develop drastically divergent characteristics as they moved ever closer towards their fusion with grime giving rise to forms such as jump-up Drum & Bass (a more party based offshoot characterized by simple often amen breaks with distorted lead synths) while other elements would cross pollinate with garage to Create Dubstep (characterized by 2 step rhythms played at half time giving them a much slower tempo then their d&b forbears while borrowing heavily from grime’s use of synths).
Trance
Trance is a genre of electronic music that emerged from the British new-age music scene and the early 1990s German techno and rave scenes. At the same time, trance music was developing in Europe as a more mellow offshoot from house and techno. Trance typically features a tempo of between 130–150 BPM,Repeating melodic phrases, and layers of textures.
Dubstep
Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that originated 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 an offshoot of UK garage, drawing on a lineage of related styles such as 2-step and dub reggae.
In the early 2000s, dubstep was championed by a small group of London-based producers who created a forward-thinking sound that blendedForward thinking sound different musical elements. These producers were instrumental in developing and popularizing the genre, which subsequently achieved mainstream success in the mid-2000s. In the 2010s, dubstep experienced a resurgence in popularity and has become one of the most prominent genres in electronic dance music.
The benefits of electronic music
It can be used for therapeutic purposes
Electronic music has been shown to be beneficial for a wide range of therapeutic purposes. Some of the conditions that it has been shown to be helpful for include: anxiety, depression, stress, chronic pain, and cardiovascular risks.
Research has shown that electronic music can help to improve moods, lower blood pressure, and increase cognitive function. The music can also help to increase levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain. These neurotransmitters are known to be important for regulating mood, sleep, and appetite.
It can help you concentrate
When you’re trying to focus on a task, whether it’s writing an essay or coding a website, music can be a great way to boost your concentration. But not just any music — a study published in the journal PLOS ONE found that listening to electronic dance music (EDM) can help you focus better than other genres.
Researchers had college students listen to different genres of music while they completed tasks that required both creative and analytic thinking. They found that those who listened to EDM had better results on the creative tasks, while other genres had no effect.
So if you’re looking for something to help you power through your work, consider adding some EDM to your playlist.
It can improve your mood
Many people enjoy listening to music, but did you know that some types of music can actually have a positive effect on your mood? Studies have shown that listening to certain genres of music can help to improve your mood and overall mental wellbeing. One type of music that has been shown to have these benefits is electronic music.
electronic music has been shown to reduce stress levels and improve moods. In one study, participants who listened to 30 minutes of electronic music had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol than those who did not listen to music. Additionally, those who listened to electronic music had higher levels of the feel-good hormone oxytocin.
So if you’re feeling stressed out or down, try listening to some electronic music. It just might help you feel better!
The drawbacks of electronic music
Many people believe that electronic music is a recent development, but it has actually been around for quite some time. The first electronic music was created in the late 1800s, and it has been evolving ever since. While electronic music has a lot of benefits, there are also some drawbacks that you should be aware of.
It can be repetitive
While electronic music can be varied and complex, it can also be quite repetitive. This is because many tracks are made up of loops, which are short sections of sound that are then repeated over and over. This can make electronic music quite hypnotic, but it can also make it quite fatiguing to listen to for extended periods of time.
It can be loud
Electronic music can be quite loud, which can be a problem for some people. It can also be repetitive, which can make it difficult to listen to for extended periods of time.
It can be overwhelming
With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to try and figure out where to start with electronic music. There are a lot of different subgenres, and new music is being released all the time. It can be tough to keep up with the latest trends and figure out what you like.
Another downside of electronic music is that it can be repetitive and monotonous. Because it is often made with computers, it can lack the human element that makes other genres of music so captivating. This can make it difficult to listen to for extended periods of time.
