Electronic Music Genres You Need to Know

A guide to the most popular electronic music genres, from EDM and dubstep to trance and techno.

Electronic Dance Music (EDM)

Electronic Dance Music, also known as EDM, is a broad range of percussive electronic music genres made largely for nightclubs, raves, and festivals. EDM is generally produced for playback by disc jockeys who create seamless selections of tracks, called a mix, by segueing from one recording to another.

What is EDM?

Electronic Dance Music, more commonly known as EDM, is a broad range of percussive electronic music genres made largely for nightclubs, raves and festivals. EDM is generally produced for playback by DJs who create seamless selections of tracks, called a mix, by segueing from one recording to another.

EDM producers also perform their music live in a concert or festival setting in what is sometimes called a live PA. In Europe, EDM is more commonly called ‘dance music’, or simply ‘dance’.

The term “electronic dance music” and the initialism “EDM” were both coined in the 1980s. Over the past few decades, EDM has grown from niche underground genres to become one of the most popular forms of music in the world.

History of EDM

EDM is a catch-all term for a variety of electronic music genres that have emerged since the early 1990s. This includes music styles such as techno, house, trance, dubstep, and Drum & Bass.

The history of EDM can be traced back to the birth of electronic music in the late 19th century. Early electronic instruments such as the Theremin and the Ondes Martenot were used in avant-garde classical music compositions in the 1920s and 1930s. In the 1950s, Electronic music began to be used in popular music with artists such as composers Raymond Scott and Les Paul experimenting with new sounds.

The first Electronic Dance Music (EDM) nightclub opened in 1971 in New York City. The club, called The Loft, was founded by legendary DJ David Mancuso and quickly became a mecca for dance music lovers from all over the world. The Loft is credited with helping to launch the careers of many now-famous DJs and producers including Larry Levan, Frankie Knuckles, and Nile Rodgers.

In the 1980s, EDM began to gain popularity in Europe with the rise of disco and techno music. Clubs such as Amnesia in Ibiza, Spain became hotspots for partygoers looking to experience the newest and best EDM has to offer. By the 1990s, EDM had become a global phenomenon with festivals such as Glastonbury in England and Tomorrowland in Belgium attracting huge crowds each year.

Today, EDM is more popular than ever with new subgenres continuing to emerge and evolve. With electronic music now being played at mainstream festivals such as Coachella and Lollapalooza, it is clear that this genre is here to stay.

Popular EDM Genres

There are countless genres of electronic dance music, but some are more popular than others. Here are five of the most common genres you’re likely to hear at a club or festival:

1. House: House music is often characterized by a 4/4 beat and a deep, thumping bassline. It originated in the early 1980s in Chicago, and has since evolved into many different subgenres.

2. Dubstep: Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 2000s. It is characterized by its heavy bass and drumbeats, as well as its half-time feel.

3. Drum & Bass: Drum & bass is a fast-paced genre of electronic dance music that originated in the UK in the early 1990s. It is characterized by its breakbeats and polyrhythmic basslines.

4. Trance: Trance is a genre of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 1990s. It is characterized by its soaring melodies and hypnotic rhythms.

5. Techno: Techno is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Detroit in the mid-1980s. It is characterized by its repetitive beats and synthesized sounds.

House Music

House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in the Chicago club scene in the 1980s. House music is characterized by a four-on-the-floor drumbeat, repetitive basslines, and off-beat hi-hat cymbals. The style was created by DJs who were looking for a new sound to replace disco.

What is House Music?

House music is a style of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized by DJs who played it at clubs, and the sound soon spread to other parts of the world. House music is characterized by a 4/4 time signature, bass-heavy beats, and distinctive synthesizer melodies. It often features samples of disco and funk songs, as well as vocals from R&B and soul tracks.

History of House Music

House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized by radio stations such as WBMX and WGCI, as well as clubs such as the Warehouse and the Music Box. House music quickly spread to other American cities such as New York, Detroit, and Los Angeles, and then to the rest of the world.

The original house music sound was a fusion of genres, including disco, electronic, garage, Latin, and pop. House music is often characterized by a thumping 4/4 beat, synthesizer melodies, and soulful vocals. The genre has been influential on subsequent genres such as techno, trance, and jungle.

Popular House Music Genres

House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino, and gay community; black and Latino partygoers typically wore colorful clothes and hairstyles, and danced to the music using their bodies, not their hands. House music quickly spread to other American cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco, and then to the rest of the world.

The defining characteristic of house music is a dominant bassline that is often accompanied by drums, 808 kick drum, synths, and occasionally vocal samples. House tracks are often created with software samplers, drum machines, and sequencers. The tempo of most house songs is between 118 and 135 beats per minute (bpm).

There are many subgenres of house music, including acid house, deep house, future house, garage house, hardhouse/ hardcore house/ hard techno/ trancecore/ techno trance/ rave core/ UK hardcore/, tribal house/ Afro-house/,tech house/ Minimal techno /Disco tech / Funky tech jackin’ house / Wonky dancefloor fillers / Mainroom club anthems / vocal club tracks.

Techno Music

Techno is a type of electronic dance music that was first developed in Detroit, Michigan in the 1980s. The genre is characterized by a repetitive four on the floor beat, often accompanied by synthesizers and samples. Techno is often described as being dark, futuristic, and underground.

What is Techno Music?

Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in the mid-to-late 1980s. Techno is generally characterized by a sparse, hypnotic, repetitive sound that is often accompanied by synthesizers, drum machines, and distorted vocals. The genre was first developed in Detroit, Michigan, by a group of African-American musicians and producers who were influenced by the experimental electronic music of Kraftwerk and Yellow Magic Orchestra. Techno music quickly gained popularity in European nightclubs and soon became an international phenomenon. Over the past few decades, techno has evolved into a diverse and complex genre with subgenres that include acid techno, hard techno, minimal techno, and tech house.

History of Techno Music

Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The first use of the word techno, in reference to music, was in 1988. Detroit techno is characterized by a strong African-American influence, while European techno is influenced by futurism and digital music. Techno is often described as dark, mechanical and robotic due to its lack of emotional melodies.

Popular Techno Music Genres

Techno music is a type of electronic dance music that originated in Detroit, Michigan in the early 1990s. The first techno tracks were produced by Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson, who were all influenced by the music of Kraftwerk and Afrika Bambaataa. Techno is characterized by a repetitive 4/4 beat and melodic synthesizer lines. It is often described as dark, hypnotic, and robotic.

There are many different genres of techno music, each with its own distinctive sound. Some of the most popular genres include acid techno, hard techno, minimal techno, and tech house.

Acid Techno:
Acid techno is a subgenre of techno that emerged in the early 1990s. It is characterized by acid-sounding synthesizer lines and a 303 bassline. Acid techno tracks often have a psychedelic feel to them. Hard Techno:
Hard techno is a subgenre of techno that emerged in the early 1990s. It is characterized by hard-hitting drums and distorted synthesizer sounds. Hard techno tracks often have a aggressive or industrial feel to them.
Minimal Techno:
Minimal techno is a subgenre of techno that emerged in the late 1990s. It is characterized by minimalistic percussion and hypnotic synth patterns. Minimal techno tracks often have a meditative or trance-like feel to them.
Tech House:
Tech house is a genre of electronic dance music that combines elements of house music and technosounding melodies and rhythms. Tech house tracks often have a funky or soulful feel to them.

Drum and Bass

Drum and bass (also written as “D&B”, “DnB” or “D’n’B”) is a genre of electronic music characterised by fast breakbeats (typically between 160–180 beats per minute) with heavy bass and sub-bass lines, synthesizers, and occasional vocals.

What is Drum and Bass?

Drum and bass is a type of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 1990s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats (typically between 150 and 180 beats per minute) with heavy bass and sub-bass lines. Drum and bass began as a development of jungle and techno.

The earliest drum and bass tracks were often dark, chaotic, and paranoid, with sampling providing an eclectic range of sounds; however, the genre has since diversified considerably. Developer Goldie introduced softer textures and melodies into the mix with his 1995 album Timeless, which many consider to be the watershed moment for drum and bass.

Other key figures in the evolution of drum and bass include Roni Size, who won the Mercury Prize in 1997 for his debut album New Forms; Andy C, considered one of the greatest DJs in the world; Pendulum, who pioneered a more rock-influenced sound; and Bristol four-piece Massive Attack, whose 1998 album Mezzanine was heavily influenced by drum and bass.

In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in old-school jungle and drum and bass, with artists like Shy FX, DBridge, Breakage, Calibre, and dubstep producer Skream all experimenting with the sound.

History of Drum and Bass

Drum and bass is a type of electronic dance music that evolved out of the hardcore rave and jungle scenes in the early 1990s. It is characterized by fast breakbeats (typically between 150 and 180 beats per minute) with heavy basslines and sub-bass frequencies.

The genre first emerged in the UK, with artists like Goldie, Roni Size, and Maurizio Pisciotti innovating the sound with a new production style that emphasized breaks, samples, and bass over traditional melodies. From there, it spread to other parts of Europe and eventually the world, becoming one of the most popular genres of electronic music in the process.

Today, drum and bass is enjoyed by millions of people all over the globe, with festivals dedicated to the genre popping up in countries across the world. The sound has also been adopted by many mainstream artists, resulting in some crossover success in recent years.

Popular Drum and Bass Genres

There are many different genres of Drum and Bass, each with their own unique sound and style. Here are some of the most popular:

-Liquid Drum and Bass: A subgenre of Drum and Bass characterized by its smooth, melodic sound. Liquid Drum and Bass often features vocals and is often compared to Chillout or Ambient music.
-Hardcore Drum and Bass: A subgenre of Drum and Bass characterized by its dark, aggressive sound. Hardcore Drum and Bass often features distorted basslines and drum patterns.
-Jungle: A subgenre of Drum and Bass characterized by its fast tempo and use of jungle Sounds samples. Jungle often features breakbeats, ragga vocals, and heavy basslines.
-Downtempo: A subgenre of Drum and Bass characterized by its slow tempo and relaxed atmosphere. Downtempo often features minimalistic beats and melodies.