Many Styles Under One Umbrella
It’s not uncommon nowadays to hear someone say they listen to EDM when they are really just talking about one specific genre of music like House or Bass Music. The term “Electronic Dance Music”, or EDM, is not one specific style of music, but is rather a blanket term that envelops all type of music that are electronically produced. It uses synthesizers, drum machines, and samplers to create the sound. It is a massive catch-all that covers scores of genres and sub-genres! Giving an explanation of EDM and its many faces is a daunting task. One thing I truly love about EDM is that it’s such a monumentally diverse type of music. It goes from beatless soundscapes to machine gun fast rata-tat-tat of high BPM music and everything in between!
To present you with a working framework of what makes up EDM is a herculean task. It’s virtually impossible to cover all genres and sub-genres without writing a novel. In our abbreviated explanation of EDM we will explain the primary genres and provide some detailed charts, interactive resources, and basic definitions with musical samples. Hopefully that gives anyone a working, conversational knowledge of the many faceted EDM.
Origins of Electronic Dance Music
The origins of EDM can be traced back to Jamaica in the 1960s. The artists there tried to create a new form of music by overlapping multiple tracks on reel-to-reel audio tape recorders. They called this experimentation with music Dub music. It became popular in night clubs and bars. There is also a rich history of experimentation in electronic music. Artists like Brian Eno, amongst others, expanded the field for the future. In the 1960s synthesizers began being used in music. Artists like The Beatles, Frank Zappa, and others experimented with synthesizers. Then around 1970, commercially available synthesizers were made by Moog and Buchla.
During the late 1970s and early 80s, Disco began to sound like something similar to House. Many people look at Disco as the root of EDM, but it stood on previous traditions. Disco stood on this start and added a straight “4 on the floor” beat pattern that we now recognize as House, creating a sort of “Proto-House”. It came to dominate dancefloors in clubs and parties through the late 1970s and early 1980s. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the popularity of Disco started to wane and largely went underground to gay clubs. Around this time another major transformation occurred. A man named Frankie Knuckles began to experiment with tracks and sounds by fusing various genres. He did this by adjusting the tempo and adding percussion, using the “Proto-House” Disco sound as a starting point. House music was born! Frankie Knuckles really is the Godfather of House!
The Move to House and EDM
House became a style of music that quickly took hold of dancefloors and music aficionados alike. It soon spread to the rest of the world. It took strong hold in places like Chicago, Detroit and New York. In the late 1980s the sound found purchase in the UK, spawning widespread love for the music and an explosion of new music and styles. Over the next few decades, countless new genres popped up within the Electronic Dance Music soundscape. EDM has since become a diverse, thriving musical expression that spans the globe!
As the years and decades went by, EDM’s popularity skyrocketed and more and more music producers took a crack at adding to the sound. This diversified the sound so now there is a sound for every taste imaginable. You can track its rise to increased sales of the various forms of music. It slowly shifted from what is now called Old School House into more energetic forms like Progressive House, Trance, Drum-N-Bass, and Bass Music. It moved from a deeply underground movement played in select clubs and rave parties to massive festivals with tens of thousands of attendees.
Explanation of EDM’s Main Genres
Any explanation of EDM’s many genres is forced to be cursory unless you want a massive tome. We will take a look at the main genres with a basic description and a musical example. To help you broaden your command of EDM we will provide a list of sub-genres for each one. We will include a couple graphs showing the various root genres and what has spawned from them. The other resource we will link to is an interactive flow chart that shows the genealogy of each style on a date line. You can drag around the chart and zoom in. It is amazing!
Visual Resources
The chart we will share is an amazing resource. It was originally created in 1999 and then a full update of genres was done in 2016. It is missing a few of the most recent additions but it is pretty comprehensive overall. The resource is made by Ishkur. Of the product, Ishkur sates, ” It is constantly changing and it is infinitely mutable, so the map, the music, and my self-righteous opinions are all subject to change as I discover, investigate, and incorporate new knowledge and more music. Nothing is definitive.” That being said, it is a pretty impressive work. Take a look!
Another similar take on a flow site explaining the different genres of EDM is “Every Noise At Once” It is a scatter plot of every EDM music genre. You can click on each one for a musical examples. You can then click on the double arrows and it will give you examples of famous DJs and artists for that particular genre. It is pretty impressive! It is the most comprehensive list I’ve seen, although it doesn’t chart the genesis of the styles like Ishkur does…
For further visual options, we have included below a chart of the root forms of EDM with a list of the various subgenres. It is in no way completely inclusive but it is a good guidepost to see what’s out there. The chart is from a college project by “McGill”. The disclaimer strongly states that the “chart is based on the authors interpretation and is NOT an exhaustive list”, but we still say he went close to building a solid visual foundation of Electronic Dance Music. The main styles are all represented with “root” genres – Breakbeat, Trance, House, Jungle, Techno, Hardcore, Drum and Bass, Dub, Downtempo and UK Garage.
We disagree with some of his placement of subgenres, but it does cover a lot of styles. The chart is a little older and is missing a few genres, but as the author states, it “is NOT an exhaustive list”. This is a good chart, but In honesty, the Ishkur and Every Noise resources are more correct representation in our opinion. Still, this is worth a look!
Definitions & Examples
Now that there are a couple resources available to you to visually examine an explanation of EDM, let us go where the real knowledge is – in the music! The best way to have a working knowledge of the different genres of EDM is to hear examples! We will pair the musical examples with a brief definition and a short list of the subgenres. Hope everything together gives you a clear understanding of what EDM is! EDM is such a beautifully diverse, rich collection of musical styles! It is so expansive that you can listen to strictly EDM and still be able to find a tempo and sound to match any mood you have!
As we try to describe and illustrate the different main styles, there is something you should keep in mind. This list is subjective and other people with a different musical history may place them differently. Also, artists often create songs that blur the lines between genres and genres are constantly in flux. Even on music sites like Beatport the various styles shift. Use this than as a guidepost from which to do your own further, continuing research and listening. Discuss EDM with friends or at parties when talking gibberish is appropriate! Learn more and keep your curiosity alive! Let’s dive into the descriptions and examples!
Acid:
The term Acid reflects that the main music in the song is from one of the acid producing electronic instruments. Instruments like the iconic Roland TB 303, various analog synths, or other acid banks are used to produce a squelching, tweaked sound that gives the genre its name. The tempo or BPM (beats per minute) can vary greatly. It can fluctuate from very low in things like Acid Dub or some Breaks up to very high in things like Hardcore Acid. The original acid sound was made from the Roland TB 303 which was released as a bass instrument in 1981 used to simulate a bass guitar. However, it was a commercial failure and was discontinued in 1984. Then producers realized they could adjust the settings to create a unique sound that became highly used in EDM.
Subgenres: Acid House, Acid Dub, Acid Breaks, Acid Trance, Acid Techno, Hard Acid, Hardcore Acid
Ambient:
Ambient music is either beatless or has very sparse rhythm elements. It focuses on creating a soundscape using tonal qualities and atmosphere using synthetic sounds. The term “Ambient” was coined by electronic pioneer, Brian Eno, in the 1960s. Ambient takes some from the roots of New Age music as well. It is a chillout genre that is considered largely cerebral by its makers. Generally, it is played in Chill Out Rooms at parties and festivals and is often mixed with other forms of Downtempo music.
Subgenres: Atmosphere, Ambient Dub, Chill Out, Drone
Bass Music:
Bass Music is a genre that is really a collection of subgenres. It has quickly become one of the most popular genres in EDM, particularly with newer EDM lovers. Bass Music grew out of a blending and organic growth from Dubstep and Drum-N-Bass and encapsulates both styles. It is the most common genre now used at many larger festivals. Bass Music features complex beat patterns and massive bass. What constitutes Bass Music is relatively diverse and even includes some forms of House blends that transition throughout the song.
Subgenres: Dubstep, Brostep, Grime, Drum-N-Bass, Trap
Breaks:
Breaks are a diverse genre that rely on syncopated rhythms or breakbeats. The beat pattern uses unusual arrangements to create a regular pattern with irregular rhythms. It often has a strong emphasis on the One beat and accents off elements in the meter. Breaks have a rich tradition going back to Jazz and Funk. The first “modern DJs” would sample the break from a song and juggle two copies of it to create a breakbeat arrangement or song. Breaks gained prominence during the early 1980s with Hip Hop and Boogie, or Breakdance music. Now Breaks are played as entire sets or used in Fusion sets with House to spice up the set. It is a highly varied style that shares the commonality of the alternate beat pattern, or break.
Subgenres: Electro, Big Beat, Nu Skool, Boogie, Electro-Funk, Funky Breaks, Breakcore, 2-Step, Acid Breaks
Here’s a sample of what Boogie is. Boogie is commonly known as “Breakdance music” and is the precursor to Electro. The two sound very similar!
Disco:
A good deal of Disco relies on acoustic elements, but there is quite a bit that uses electronic instruments, particularly the later stuff in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Disco is one of the root genres that Electronic Dance Music developed from, so it deserves a place in this list. It usually has a beat pattern similar to House and is a form of “Proto-House”. Disco is still heavily sampled by various forms of EDM. It has also spawned several updated genres that mimic it.
Related genres: Disco House, French House, Nu Disco, Italo Disco, Funky Breaks
Downtempo:
Downtempo, like Bass Music, is a collection of closely related subgenres. Generally, the music features slow tempos with atmospheric or mellow music over the top. It can at times also have harsher sounds over the low BPM music. They key component is that it is a much slower music than most other EDM. It is popular in Chill Out Rooms and has a very devout following that collect the music.
Subgenres: Trip Hop, Glitch, Mid-tempo, Acid Jazz, Ambient Dub, IDM (Intelligent Dance Music)
Drum and Bass:
Drum and Bass is a popular style that started in the early 1990s in the UK. Commonly it is abbreviated as “DnB”. It features a high speed syncopated breakbeat as the rhythm element and a thick, raw bassline that adds to its tough feel. However, it is a diverse style and there are subgenres that are more melodic, such as Jazzy DnB and Liquid DnB. It’s early roots were in the UK Rave scene and some of the biggest Rave DJs ever moved to the genre after its inception. It is still very popular and is often linked to Bass Music at recent parties.
Subgenres: Jungle, Ragga, Liquid, Jazzy DnB, Atmospheric, Hardcore DnB, Drumstep, Jump Up, Breakcore, Hardstep
Hard House:
Hard House uses a straight “4 on the floor” beat pattern but is a much faster tempo that traditional House. The sound rose out of the early Rave scene in the UK. It was especially popular in the UK and was even called “UK Hard House”. It is also popular in parts of Europe that are into a harder sound such as cities like Rotterdam and countries like Germany. Hard House uses hard, fast beats and stabbing electronic sounds. One sound it is famous for the the hoover sound. It draws many of its sounds from a Trance tradition but relies on a hard, punishing kick drum.
Subgenres: NRG, Hardcore, Gabber, Hardstyle, Happy Hardcore
House:
House is definitely the most varied style of EDM. There’s a host of different styles of House. It really does have a style to fit any taste. House is the genre where it all began if you take Disco out of the mix. It began in Chicago and with artists like Frankie Knuckles. House quickly spread to other large cities like Detroit and New York, then jumping the pond to the UK and Europe. Early on it was the most prominent style of Electronic Dance Music and birthed a wide variety of subgenres. It can be deep, or vocal, or progressive, or organic, or synthetic. Here we’ll take a look at examples from a few of its subgenres so you can hear its rich diversity!
Subgenres: Classic House, Deep House, Minimal, Electro House, Big Room House, Progressive House, Disco House, French House, Chicago House, New York House, West Coast House, Underground House, Vocal House, Happy House, Tribal House, Tribal Progressive, New Beat, Hip House, Acid House, Tech House, Trouse, Garage, Speed Garage, Latin House, Italo House
House Subgenres
Deep House:
This first example we are sharing skirts the line between Classic House and Deep House. The original mix of the song is a masterpiece of Classic House, but this famous remix of it by David Morales takes it into Deep House territory. It was a huge hit in the underground. Deep House is usually a slower tempo with deep melodies, often with soulful or Gospel vocals. There are a lot of House purists that follow Deep House. In recent years the term Deep House has been used to describe a House sound that is more like Pop music, so calling it Deep House is a misnomer. This song is the Red Zone remix of “Where Love Lies” by Alison Limerick from 1991.
Big Room House:
Our next subgenre we’ll show an example of is incredibly popular at clubs, larger parties, and festivals right now. It is called Big Room House. Big Room House became a prominent style in the early 2000s and quickly began to dominate dancefloors. It has a driving beat and up-tempo feel. The sounds are energetic, often with effected vocal snippets. This example is by D. Ramirez, who is a standout producer in the genre. Take a listen to Big Room House:
Progressive House:
Progressive House uses more synthetic sounds and is a quicker tempo than Classic House. It is usually 125-135 BPM. It began to gain prominence in the early 1990s and hit full popularity in the first decade of the 2000s. Many of EDM’s most successful DJs play Progressive House. The reason it is called “progressive” is that it builds methodically, progressively adding new elements to push the song forward. The example we have is produced by two of the biggest names in Progressive House – Sasha and Junkie XL. Sasha is one of the genre’s most prolific, beloved DJs.
Techno:
Techno is a genre that EDM purists flock to. It is one of the original genres to grace the stage. It’s start is in Detroit by artists like Kevin Saunderson, Derrick May, and Juan Atkins. Techno arrived on the scene in the mid-1980s. Music historians sometimes credit Atkins with the first true techno song, the 1985 song, “No UFO’s.” Techno was a futuristic version of the new House sound influenced by a love of bands like Kraftwerk. It takes a minimalistic approach of blending a drum machine and synthesizer. As Techno evolved it took on a sharper, harder slant of driving rhythms and complex drum programming. It is often mixed at breakneck speed as tracks are layered and intertwined.
Subgenres: Hard Techno, Acid Techno, Hardcore, Minimal Techno, German Techno, Deep Techno, Detroit Techno
Trance:
Trance blends atmospheric and melodic sounds with a higher tempo. It is usually 130 – 145 BPM. It uses a straight 4/4 beat with significant instrumentation and often uses ethereal vocals to add to the sound. The songs often have long, sweeping breakdowns and uplifting chords to create a “trancey” feel for the listener. There are several subgenres that are harder that still focus on being highly synthetic. Trance, in its various forms, has been with us since the early 1990s.
Subgenres: Hard Trance, Goa Trance, Psy Trance, Epic Trance, Techno Trance, Melodic Trance, Progressive Trance
Trance wraps up our explanation of EDM’s main genres. There’s a lot to digest, but we hope you have a better understanding of the various styles of EDM that are here for you to appreciate! It really does have enough options for you to fit it to your mood, no matter what your mood is! You may already have a favorite, but be open to other styles and sounds. They’re all related and your appreciation can easily extend to multiple genres. Enjoy the music and revel in the scene. Speaking of the scene, let’s look at how we all best enjoy EDM by an evaluation of the move from clubs to raves to festivals over the years!
Clubs to Raves to Festivals
Very likely the best way to listen to EDM is to hear it amplified to a very high volume. Sound is an energy that travels in waves. Amplify the volume and you amplify the energy carried in those waves! With greater energy there are substantially greater effects on the listener, both physically and psychologically. As you all no doubt know, there’s almost nothing better in the world than the feeling you get in front of a stack of speakers as the music rushes over you! It is transformative and ethereal.
There has always been a place to go hear dance music nice and loud! However, how we get that fix has changed over the years. In the early days of House, it could be heard amplified at underground clubs and house parties. However, by the late 1980s, the crowd of lovers of House and Techno had swelled and large, one-off parties were becoming the preferred place to hear the music. By 1988, these parties were being called Raves.
Raves
The term “rave” in relation to music and parties goes back the late 1950s in London, England. The term “rave” was used to describe the “wild bohemian parties” of the Soho beatnik set. We talk about these parties in the article, “Jazz – the First Pop that Popped” from March 2023. The word “rave” was later used in the burgeoning mod youth culture of the early 1960s as the way to describe any wild party in general. People who were gregarious party animals were described as “ravers”. (jungledrumandbass.co.uk) In the UK, the term came back into use around the “Second Summer of Love”, which was the summer of 1988 when there was an explosion of underground and unlicensed Rave parties that played Acid House.
After 1988 and certainly into the early 1990s, Raves got larger, more frequent, and became the standard for where to go to hear electronic, or Rave music! The term Rave became the norm for use when talking about the music or culture. There still was an ongoing tradition of clubs that played the music as well, such as Cream and Ministry of Sound. Raves dominated the landscape throughout the 1990s and have continued in some form up until today.
Festivals
In the late 1990s, the first large festivals popped into existence on a recurring basis. In 1997, the first Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) took place. EDC is part music festival mixed with carnival. It is a 3 day festival that happens in the US and has also happened in countries like Mexico, Brazil, and Japan. Attracting an average of over 100.000 visitors per day, EDC may just be the biggest festival in North America. Another massive festival is the Ultra Music Festival (UMF), which began as a huge party at the Winter Music Conference in Miami in 1999. Ultra has spread to almost every corner of the globe and due to the many stages almost every type of EDM is represented. There are many other large festivals around the world, such as Creamfields in the UK, Tommorrowland, and the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE).
EDM is even now played at festivals that are not specifically for EDM such as at Coachella and at Burning Man. Large festivals have become the norm for partying in recent years. There has even been a host of smaller regional festivals such as Bass Canyon in the Pacific Northwest and Das Energi in the mountain state of Utah. Festivals are often multiday affairs that have multiple stages. A wide variety of EDM can be heard at these mega-parties. Attendees still often refer to themselves as Ravers. PLUR (Peace, Love, Unity, Respect) is still alive and well.
Moving Forward
As the EDM scene and music continues to evolve, there will be new forms of music and more ways to enjoy it. EDM is becoming more popular on the world stage every year! Go to the clubs, raves, and festivals, but we suggest you seek out more intimate places and events to experience the music and culture. Give your patronage to smaller, more close knit events or throw a house party. Talk about the music and share your favorites with people you meet! Read the various articles on this site for amazing stories on the music and culture and its roots! And, certainly subscribe to this page for weekly articles on EDM and Rave music, history, and culture!
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