| HOUSE | TRANCE | HARDCORE | BREAKBEAT | DRUM & BASS |
| Acid ¹ ³ │ Ambient/ Chillout │ Bassline ² │ Big Room │ Complextro │ Deep/Tech │ Dirty Dutch │ Electro ³ │ Electro Soul /Future Funk │ Electro Swing │ French Electro │ Glitch/ Fidgit │ Grind/ Brutal │ Hard House │ Melbourne Bounce │ Minimal │ Neogen │ Noise ¹ │ Progressive House │ Tribal ² │ Vibe/Hype | Atmospheric │ Dark Psytrance │ Europop ¹ │ Forest │ Goa │ Hard Trance │ Hi-Tek Psy │ Night ¹ │ Nitzhonot Goa │ Nitzhonot Psytrance │ Progressive Trance │ Prog. Psy │ Psychedelic Trance ³ │ Psycore │ Psytrance (Full-on) │ Uplifting /Vocal | Bass Core │ Darkstyle │ Dubstyle │ EBM │ Gabber ² │ Happy Core │ Happy Hardcore │ Hardstyle │ Hardstep │ Jumpstyle /Tekstyle │ Nightcore │ Rotterdam │ Speedcore │ Techtonik¹ │ Terror │ Trapstyle | Acid Breaks │ Ambient Dubstep │ Brostep │ Darkbeat │ Dubstep │ Electro Breaks │ Filth/VIP │ Future Garage │ Glitch Hop/ Glitchbeat │ Grime │ Hard Trap/ Trapstyle │ HyperBreaks │ IDM │ Liquid Breaks │ Midtempo │ Minimal Dub │ Moombahton │ Prog Breaks │ Riddim │ Trap ³ │ Twerk | Ambient DnB │ Dark DnB │ Drumstep ¹ │ IDnB │ Jungle ² │ Liquid │ Neurofunk │ Neurohop │ Psy DnB │ Technical Itch │ Trap & Bass |
[ KEY ]
¹ Genre may fall into other main divisions, but is generally classified as listed.
² Denotes a "Dead" genre, meaning its main production has stopped (read: oldschool).
³ Denotes a genre that has had so many variations that it may be it's own branch.
Classification Methodology: House • Trance • Core • Breaks • DnB
This is the most common genre deliniation used in the world of EDM/Techno. Each of these five groups
acts as a branch of music all coming from the EDM trunk, with all genres being leaves growing off
the branches. Each branches started as a genre itself, so I clarify "traditional" genres as seperate
from their branch name.
Another common classification method goes from lightest to heaviest sounds:
Lounge 🠊 Light 🠊 Club 🠊 Hard 🠊 Rave 🠊 Industrial
Sources & References:
• PsyDB
• i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee163/karan129/AllpsygoagenresbyAnoebisnew.jpg
• Qntm's genre list
• Documentary on some of the roots and history of old school EDM
• Ahmen Break Documentary
• Decades of my own and other producers' experience.
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| HOUSE ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TRADITIONAL HOUSE ------------------------------------------------------ BPM: 110-140 Time Sig: 4—4
Defining Characteristics:
Examples: Where Are You by Paffendorf
ACID HOUSE ------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples: Acid 8000 by Fatboy Slim — Dark As Fuck 2 by Rob Acid — Hardfloor: Acperience 1
ACID JAZZ -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Ambient -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Bassline -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples: Ageispolis by Aphex Twin — Bassline by Mantronix — L.E.S. Artistes (Zodiac Cartel Remix) by Santigold
Big Room -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples: Fast Lane by Space Junkies — Tsunami (LNY TNZ Remix) by DVBBS & Borgeous — Melbourne Bounce (Deorro Remix) by Okestrated, Fries & Shine ft. Big Nab
Chillout -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Complextro -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Deep/Tech -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples: Actium by Aphex Twin
Dirty Dutch -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Electro -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples: Hip Hop, Be Bop by Man Parrish — Ptolemy by Aphex Twin — Drop That by Will Sparks & Zoolanda — Freak by Klass & Bodybangers
Electro Soul / Future Funk -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Electro Swing -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples: Clash by Caravan Palace — Booty Swing by Parov Stelar — Rock This Joint by Yanivi feat. Bella Potchy
French Electro -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Glitch / Figdit -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Grind / Brutal -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples: Lunatiq (Ryki The Drummaker Remix) by DgtlMonkey
Hard House -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Minimal -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples: Chobismanchobis by Downtown Sober
Noise House -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Progressive House -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples: A Mix Set by UMEK
Tribal House -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Vibe / Hype -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
House Sub-Genres: Acid Tweak, Acid Funk, Aggrepo, Wobble House, Dark-Electro, Electro-Goth, Crossover,
New Beat, Dark-Wave, Dark-Ambient, Bass House, T.B.M., Nasty/Ghetto House, Raghouse (from Swing),
Futurepop, Melodic Glitch Bass, Harsh EBM, Electrostep,
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| TRANCE ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Basic Trance (Traditional Trance) -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: 120-160 Time Sig: 4—4
Defining Characteristics:
Examples: Till the Sky Falls Down by Dash Berlin — I Remember by Deadmau5 & Kaskade — Extacy by Tiesto
Atmospheric Trance -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Dark Psytrance -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples: End of the Universe by Soulbringer
Europop -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Forest Trance -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Goa -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Hard Trance -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples: Ecstasy by Darude
Night Trance -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Progressive Psytrance -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Progressive Trance -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples: Full Moon Party by Paul Oakenfold — Sentio by Naden — Old Friends by Naden
Psytrance (aka Flase Builds: The Genre) -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples: Raido by Laboratory X — Goa Girl by O.P.E.N.A.I.R.S. — Tanuja Dancing by Point Vs. Orpheus — Oh, So This Is How You Rave? by Fifty Caliber Snax
Psycore -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Psytrance Full-On / Hi-Tek -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Uplifting / Vocal Trance -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Trance Sub Genres: Proglifting Trance, High-Energy, Morning, Ambient, Dark, Berlin Prog, Trancestep,
Psytechnical Prog-lem, Turbo-Trance, Melodic Goa,
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| CORE |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Core (Traditional Hardcore) -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: 140-200 Time Sig: 4—4
Defining Characteristics:
Examples: Insane Asylum (Gammer Remix) by Helix & Fury — Insane Asylum by Helix & Fury
Bass Core -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Darkstyle -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
EBM (Electric Body Music) -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples: Electrohead by Combichrist — This is My Rifle by Combiechrist
Gabber -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Happy Core (HxC) -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Happy Hardcore (HHC) -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Hardstyle (aka KANG KANG KANG KANG) -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples: Psychedelic by Headhunterz — The Wind by Edgie — Action by Zatox & Villain
Headshot by Headhunterz — Tsunami (LNY TNZ Remix) by DVBBS & Borgeous — Shiton of samples thrown together
Hardstep -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Jumpstyle / Tekstyle -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Rotterdam (Rotterdam HxC or Rotterdam Speedcore) -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Speedcore -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Techtonik -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Terror (Terrorcore) -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Trapstyle -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples: BACON by SAYMYNAME & Corrupted Data — Razr (SAYMYNAME remix) by Zany
Hardcore Sub Genres: Hard Glitch, UK Hardcore, Dark Core, Dutch Core, Hardtek, Dubcore,
Free Form, NU Energy, Aggrotech,
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| BREAKBEAT ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Breakbeat (Traditional Breaks) -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: 70-170 Time Sig: various
Defining Characteristics:
Examples: Polynomial C by Aphex Twin — Fox Fire by GH057 — Disco Breath by Silvertortoise
Acid Breaks -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples: Blair Bitch Project by Tommy Trash
Ambient Dubstep -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Brostep -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Brostep has exploded in popularity in the past couple years with a focus on wobble bass (ie: wub, wub, wub),
excessive midrange, and often an increasing emphasis on dirty and robotic sounding tracks (at about 140 bpm).
"Brostep" is a derogatory name used by some because they think brostep has tainted or even killed the dubstep genre.
Many think it's no longer about the culture and musical experience, but outdoing other producers with dirty tracks.
And they're right, just go through the beatport top 100 in that genre, you'll cringe a little.
A few examples of brostep producers are:
- Skrillex
- Doctor P
- Flux Pavilion
- Nero
- Anything you hear on UKF
Darkbeat -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Dubstep -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Dubstep evolved out of Jamaican dub and UK 2-step garage, characterized by sub-bass (below 90Hz) and the 2-step
kick-kick-snare pattern in each successive measure (at around 70-80 bpm). Early producers predominantly created the
music to be played on huge sound systems because the sub-bass was meant to be experienced and not just listened
to. It was essentially as much a culture as it was music.
"Real Dubstep was invented around the year 2000 and died in the year 2005; Mt. Eden, Datsik, Skrillex, they are
the reason dubstep is no longer popular." - Anon
There are many producers of traditional dubstep, but here's just a few:
- Skream
- Benga
- Digital Mystikz (Mala and Coki)
- Loefah
- Kode9
- Distance
Electro Breaks -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Filth / VIP -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Bliss by Cookie Monsta
Dirt Deep Drilla by Cookie Monsta
Predator (Cyberoptics Remix) by Chrispy
The Sweety Man by Ry Legit
Dubstep Nanosuit by Ry Legit
Dosage (Cyberoptics Remix) by Total Recall
Space Boots (Algorethym Remix) by The Greys
Rudeboy by Zedsdead
Necro by Vortek
Punchpacker by Davr
Inhumane by Skreamizm
Ginger Pubes by Cookie Monsta
The Devil Slayers by Scalp
Dahb Staph by Fifty Caliber Snax
The Desert by Bratkilla
Filthy Dubstep (or just Filth) is not to be confused with Brostep. Filthy Dubstep, like traditional
Dubstep, is set at around half the BPM of Brostep (even though this only effects instumentation and
synths, not the actual beats) and has a heavy focus on one or two specific instruments throughout the
entire song, instead of switching between instruments every half second like Brostep does.
- Cookie Monsta
- Cyberoptix
- Excision
- Datsik
- Ry Legit
Future Garage -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Glitch Hop / Glitchbeat -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples: Break The Law by Yanntek — All or Nothing (Glass Bones Remix) by Blu Mar Tenk
Grime -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Hyper Breakbeat -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
IDM (Intelligent Dance Music) -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples: Two by Culprate
Liquid Breaks -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples: Be With You by Diversa
Midtempo -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Minimal & Chill Dub -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Moombahton -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Prog Breaks -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Riddim -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Trap -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Alpha Dog by Great Dane
Dum DUm by Baauer
Yaow by Baauer
[Peppered with Carnival Trap] - Black Gold by Apashe
[Peppered with Twerk] - About Bubble by Simeon
Here All Alone by Big Chocolate
Ctrl Alt Destruction by Aero Chord
Fresh like dougie (SAYMYNAME remix) by Wes Nyle
International (Skrillex Remix) by Chase & Status
Belligerently High by Gutter Brothers
Bueller Ft. Whiskey Pete by ETC!ETC! & Brillz & Diplo
Breakbeat Sub Genres: Industrial Dance, Moombahcore, Trapstep, Mudstep, GrooveStep, Post-Dubstep,
Ponystep, Hyper Dubstep, Speedstep, Trapaton, Deathstep, Doombahcore, Pornstep, Dubfunk, Tuki-Bass,
Noise Trap, Acid Crunk, PsyBreaks, Fast Trap, Space Bass, Bhangra
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DRUM AND BASS |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Traditional Drum & Bass ---------------------------------------------- BPM: 160-180 Time Sig: 3—4 / 4—4
Defining Characteristics: A very specific kick-snare-kick-kick-snare beat pattern (without which you cannot define as DnB)
Examples: Graphite by Flaxen — Witchcraft (Netsky Remix) by Pendulum
Out of all branches of music, DnB has the largest mood variety, the widest BPM deviance, and the
widest range in instumentation. It is truly "music for musicians". The DnB beat pattern is what
ultimately defines the genre and all other genres that stem from it. Without the beat pattern, a
song cannot be DnB.
Ambient DnB -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Darkstep -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Drumstep -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
IDnB -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples: Everything by Brainpain & Switch Technique
Jungle -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Liquid DnB -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Nuerofunk -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Control Room by Qo
Nothing Matters (Noisia Remix) by Mark Knight ft. Skin
Gain the Energy by NickBee
The Good, the Bad, and the Funky by Masq ft. Buoy
Nuerohop -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Bi Polar by Opsen & Primal Therapy
Razor Beam by Skope
RoboFunk by Skope
Psychedelic DnB -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Drunk Left Foot by Absurd
Never Change by Anode
Restored by Switch Technique
A Far Cry From Hell by Fifty Caliber Snax
Oh, So This Is How You Dance? by Snax
Xibalba by Yabol
Near The Town by Super Nas
Iron Hyde by Super Nas
Technical Itch -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Forward Thought by Technical Itch
Control Room (Masq Remix) by Qo
ROBOT by L 33
The Sect [Oxidize] (Allied Remix) by Venom Inc
Forsaken by Dextems
The most aggressive perc-range progression of any genre of music in existence.
Trap & Bass -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
DnB Sub Genres: Intelligent Liquid Dnb, Liquid Funk, Techstep, Technoid, Dungeon, Microfunk,
DnB Core, Light Drum and Bass, Nueroglitch, Ultrafunk DnB,
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| EXPERIMENTAL ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Experimental -------------------------------------------------------------- BPM: ???-??? Time Sig: ?—?
Defining Characteristics:
Examples:
Goto 10 by Amon Tobin
KFC by Prosthetic Leg
Focus by VCF
Burn Your Money (Tim Ismag Remix) by LIEf
Experimental music in EDM can almost be considered the largest branch because it's an umbrella term for
all the experimental aspects of all the other genres contained within EDM. It might even be easier to
say that all the named genres in the chart at the top have an "experimental _[u]genre name here[/u]_"
co-genre to accompany each of them. So for the purposes of this document, our experimental selections
will be limited to Experimental Electronic, or electronic music that is hard to driectly assign to a
co-genre.
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{ THE ELECTRONIC DICTIONARY }
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{ ALTERNATIVE BREAKDOWNS }
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