Subgenres of Electronic Dance Music

If you’re a fan of electronic dance music, you’re probably familiar with the various subgenres that exist. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the most popular subgenres of EDM and what sets them apart from each other.

Introduction

Electronic dance music 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.

Defining EDM

At its core, electronic dance music is a genre of music that is created with the use of electronic musical instruments and electronic musical effects. This includes the use of synthesizers, drum machines, and computer-generated sounds. EDM is often club-based music, but it can also be enjoyed in other settings.

The history of EDM can be traced back to the early 1970s, when electronic music artists began experimenting with new sounds and technologies. In the 1980s, a new wave of electronic dance music emerged, led by artists such as Kraftwerk and Afrika Bambaataa. This new wave of EDM would go on to inspire subsequent genres such as house music, techno, and trance.

Today, EDM is one of the most popular genres of music in the world. It is enjoyed by millions of people across all age groups and cultures. There are many different subgenres of EDM, each with its own unique sound and style. Some of the most popular subgenres include house, techno, trance, drum &bass, and dubstep.

The Different Subgenres of EDM

Electronic Dance Music, or EDM for short, is a broad term used to describe a wide range of genres that emerged in the late 80s and early 90s. EDM is characterized by its use of electronic instruments and computer-generated sounds, and is often produced for use in nightclubs, raves, and festivals. While there is no one definitive sound of EDM, there are several subgenres that have emerged over the years. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the different subgenres of EDM and their defining characteristics.

Trap

Trap is a subgenre of Hip Hop that originated in the early 1990s in the Southern United States. It is typified by its aggressive lyrical content and sound, which features heavy 808 sub-bass drums, punctuated snares, deep basslines, and often contains elements of electronic music.

House

House is a genre of electronic dance music characterized by a repeated four on the floor beat and a prominent lead melody. The name House comes from the abandoned warehouses in Chicago where DJs would play to large crowds in the 1980s. House music is often thought of as being peaceful and relaxing, with a steady beat that is easy to dance to. Many House songs have a feeling of build-up and release, with the lead melody becoming increasingly complex as the song progresses.

Techno

Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in the mid-to-late 1980s. Techno is generally characterized by a repetitive 4/4 beat, a driving bassline, electronic melodies, and effects. The style was developed in Detroit, Michigan, USA by DJs and producers who were influenced by the Futurist and Afrofuturist movements, as well as Chicago house music.

Drum and Bass

Drum and bass (commonly abbreviated to 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 sampled sources. Drum and bass incorporates a number of styles. A major influence on jungle and drum and bass was the original Jamaican dub and reggae sound. Another feature of the style is the complex syncopation of the drum tracks’ breakbeat. This results in a distinctive offbeat rhythm.

D&B tracks often use a time signature of 4/4, although this is not always the case. This time signature gives the music a very jumpy feel, as each bar starts on a different beat. This can result in some very complex rhythms being created, which are often hard to dance to! Many D&B tracks also use half-time or double-time rhythms, which can make them even more difficult to dance to.

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 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 United Kingdom, the origins of the genre can be traced back to the growth of the Jamaican sound system party scene in the early 1980s.

The music generally features a sparse, syncopated drum pattern with prominent sub-bass frequencies. Basslines are often accompanied by simple, repetitive synthesizer melodies and sparse vocal samples. Lyrics are sometimes Aimed at promoting hedonistic parties or drug use, but they can also be concerned with more political themes such as street violence and police brutality.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are many subgenres of electronic dance music, each with its own unique sound and history. While some subgenres are more popular than others, all have their own devoted fans and followers. Whether you prefer the thumping beats of techno or the soulful sounds of house, there is an electronic dance music subgenre for everyone. So get out there and start exploring!