What Genre is Electronic Music?

This article is a collaborative effort, crafted and edited by a team of dedicated professionals.

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

Contents

If you’re a fan of electronic music, you might be wondering what genre it falls under. Is it dance music? Is it rock? Is it pop?

The answer is: it depends. Electronic music can be any genre, depending on the artist and the sound they’re going for. So if you’re a fan of electronic music, don’t be afraid to branch out and try new things!

Defining Electronic Music

Electronic music is a genre of music that is made using electronic instruments and sounds. This can include anything from synthesizers and drum machines to sequencers and samplers. It is a popular genre of music that is often played in clubs and festivals.

What is Electronic Music?

Electronic music is a genre of music that is created using electronic devices and instruments. It can be divided into various subgenres, depending on the style of the music and the devices used to create it.

The earliest electronic music was created in the late 19th century, thanks to the development of early audio synthesizers and electronic instruments. These early instruments were often used for creating sound effects or adding strange new sounds to traditional pieces of music.

In the early 20th century, composers such as Edgar Varèse and Tape experimentalists began to experiment with electronic sound in a more deliberate way, creating entire pieces of music using only electronic sounds. This marked the beginning of what we now think of as electronic music.

During the 1950s and 1960s, electronic music became increasingly popular, thanks to the development of new technology such as voltage-controlled synthesizers. These instruments allowed composers to create a wider range of sounds, making it possible to create entire pieces of purely electronic music. By the end of the 20th century, electronic music had become one of the most popular genres in the world.

Where did Electronic Music come from?

Electronic music is a genre of music that is made using electronic devices and instruments. It emerged in the late 19th century, with the invention of the telegraph and telephone, and the first electronic instruments, such as the theremin, synth, and sequencer. Electronic music was initially thought of as noise or wallpaper music, but it soon developed into a range of genres, including dance, ambient, experimental, and rock.

The term “electronic music” can be used to refer to any type of music that uses electronic devices and instruments. However, it is most commonly used to refer to a specific genre of music that emerged in the late 20th century. This genre is characterized by the use of synthesizers, drum machines, and other electronic equipment and instruments. It often has a repetitive or danceable beat, and it can be divided into subgenres such as house, techno, trance, drum and bass, dubstep, and more.

The Different Genres of Electronic Music

Electronic music is a genre of music that is created with the help of electronic devices. It is a very broad genre and can be divided into sub-genres like house, techno, trance, etc. In this article, we will take a look at the different genres of electronic music.

Dubstep

Dubstep is a genre of electronic music that developed in the early 2000s. It is characterized by a heavy bass sound with lots of sub-bass frequencies, as well as a prominent use of syncopation and melody. Dubstep typically uses a 4/4 time signature, with a tempo of around 140 beats per minute.

Drum and Bass

Drum and bass (commonly abbreviated to D&B, D+B or DnB) is a genre of electronic music characterised by fast breakbeats (typically between 160–180 beats per minute) with heavy bass and sub-bass lines, sampled sources, and synthesizers. The music grew out of the UK rave and jungle scenes in the early 1990s and developed further during the mid-1990s.

Drum and bass often features syncopated breakbeats, drum rolls and drums on the offbeat or second beat of every bar, creating a distinctive rhythm. Basslines vary widely in style, often including growling lows and rumbling sub-basses. After the initial rush of drum and bass’ popularity, many producers moved away from the genre’s original sound towards a more commercial form that was more palatable to mainstream audiences. This resulted in a schism, with newer artists producing music that was slicker, more polished and easier to dance to, while older artists stuck to the genre’s roots by retaining its experimental edge.

Trance

Trance is a genre of electronic dance music that developed in the early 1990s in Germany. It is characterized by a tempo of between 130 and 155 beats per minute, repetition of melodic phrases, and a musical form that builds up and breaks down throughout the song.

House

House is a genre of electronic music characterized by a repetitive four-on-the-floor beat and a basic track structure. The genre was created in the early 1980s by DJ Pierre, a Chicago-based record producer and DJ. House music is often based on pop or soulful R&B songs, and it usually has a strong bassline, simple drum beats, and synthesizer melodies.

Techno

Techno is a genre of electronic 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 specific genre of music was in 1988. Many styles of techno now exist, but they all share a common foundation that is built on the use of electronic instruments and technology for musical experimentation and expression.

Techno is characterized by a heavy reliance on technology and machines, often with a minimalistic approach to composition. The focus is on the physical experience of the music, which is typically achieved through the use of repeating beats and basslines. The use of synthesizers, drum machines, and sample-based effects are common in techno productions.

Techno music developed out of the electro-punk and industrial scenes of the 1980s. It was heavily influenced by these genres, as well as by hip hop and disco. The early techno sound was typified by tracks like Cybotron’s “Clear” and Juan Atkins’ “No UFO’s”, which were released in 1985 and 1986 respectively. These tracks were characterized by their use of synthesizers and drum machines to create an futuristic soundscape that was distinctly different from anything that had come before it.

During the 1990s, techno became one of the most popular genres of electronic music, with artists like Carl Cox, Jeff Mills, Derrick May, Richie Hawtin, and Dave Clarke achieving global success. In recent years, techno has experienced something of a renaissance, with younger generations discovering and embracing the genre. Today, techno is as vital and relevant as it ever has been, with new subgenres continuing to emerge all the time.

The Future of Electronic Music

Electronic music is a genre of music that is created with the use of electronic instruments and electronic devices. It is a broad category that includes a wide range of styles, from dance and techno to ambient and experimental.

Where is Electronic Music going?

The term “electronic music” is a broad one, and can refer to anything from early 20th century composers like Erik Satie and Edgar Varèse, to cutting edge contemporary artists like Aphex Twin and Boards of Canada. Electronic music has come to mean anything that uses electronic instruments or electronics in its production.

In the 1950s and 1960s, electronic music began to be used in popular music, with songs like The Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations” and The Beatles’ “Tomorrow Never Knows” incorporating electronic instruments and effects. In the 1970s, artists like Kraftwerk and Giorgio Moroder codified what would come to be known as “electronic dance music” or “EDM,” with hits like “Autobahn” and “I Feel Love.”

Today, electronic music is more popular than ever, with genres like house, techno, drum & bass, and dubstep garnering mainstream attention. At the same time, the line between what is considered “electronic music” and what is not has become increasingly blurred, as more and more artists employ electronic sounds and production techniques in their work. It seems safe to say that electronic music will continue to evolve in exciting new directions in the years to come.

What is the next big genre of Electronic Music?

The next big genre of Electronic Music is Downtempo.

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