Different Types of Electronic Music

Not to be confused with early electronic music - this is genres that have originated from computer technology and advances in electronic music in the 1980/90's.

Electronic music is made by DJ programs; CD decks and turntables. Along with a few other fidgets I'll not go into (because I don't really know).

While people know a large amount of artists that play electronic music, they actually don't know what genre they represent. I've seen some YouTube videos and forums completely warring over what sub-genre of electronic music the song is. This Hub is just a basic guide into electronic music, and it's many sub-genres.

In the 1980's, House music was first created in America. It appealed to a lot of clubs what were opening in the area at that time; especially in places with Latino American, African-American or gay communities.

It hit Europe in the 1990's, with mainstream artists starting to use the beats and cover with their lyrics. This past decade has played host to one of the greatest House artists of our generation - Daft Punk.

House is normally recognised for being quite funky, while at the same time maintaining a regular 4/4 beat and kick-drum on every beat. Baselines are normally created and not changed or rarely changed in the song; to acquire the 'house' style. Obviously, there are variations on how strong or weak the house music can be, there are sub-genre's of house music: deep-house and micro-house. House is a mid-tempo genre, hitting around 118 to 135 bpm (beats per minute).

In our day and age, there are many House artists, including: David Guetta, Avicii, Swedish House Mafia and Benny Benassi, along with other chart topping artists.

The birthplace of Trance music was Germany, in 1992.

With trance, there is a lot more work done to a track before it is finished. It usually has the mid-break; where the rhythm fades out and instrumental or lyrical work stands alone for a few seconds, before returning to the beat or moving to another change.

Trance can have variations on how hard the beat is, with some trance music being more lower than house and others reaching to dubstep level. The bpm ranges from 125 to 150.

While it is one of the newest genres to appear, it's one of the most loved. Especially by DJ Mag, who for 13 consecutive years awarded trance artists with #1 DJ. Noted trance artists include Tiesto and Armin Van Buuren, who have both won #1 DJ in past years.

More modern garage type grime. Dubstep originates from England, where up-and-coming DJ's began making alternatives to house and trance.

Dubstep is made up of little vocal intros or even sometimes just words; a large amount of drum beats or keyboard beats before large drops in bass. Sometimes artists will re-create a mainstream hit by taking out most lyrics and changing the chorus with a "drop". This is done in many UKF songs.

With the success of Dubstep, many artists outside England have created dubstep tracks. The most notable artist would be Skrillex, who started on electro-trance and has now made a large collection of dubstep tracks. Skrillex has also collaborated with many UKF members.

The biggest dubstep artists at the moment are Flux Pavillion, Nero and Skrillex.

Breakbeats, kick-drums and ascending/descending claps downbeat - this is electro. Electro music has evolved from the age of drum machines, to more computerised ways of beats. Electro music is normally quite funky; with very baron vocals that have been changed by computer technology.

Like all music created by decks or computers, it's very electronic and fuzzy. Electro music normally has a lack of instrumental, only using one or two different instruments.

Electro music has changed very much within ten years, it's went from being a sub-genre of hip-hop to more house and dubstep like. Examples of electro artists are deadmau5, Sak Noel and Fedde Le Grand.

Drum & Bass is a type of electronic music which involves large drumming before hardbeats. It contains heavy bass lines - normally after a build up of drumming. It has a few kick-drums and comes with a large amount of samples.

The genre came into the music fashion scene in the late 1980's, but did not really 'kick off' till the 1990's, where rave all around England was harbouring all drum & bass artists. Most every rave bar had drum & bass on all night.

Drum & Bass is known as the Father to dubstep, as they both contain heavy basslines and quick movements in tune with variations in vocals. Drum & Bass hits around 160 - 180 bpm.

Notable artists are Netsky, Nero, Pendulum, Skrillex, Sub Focus and Aphrodite along with a whole list of other talents.