Every genre has its own rhythm, atmosphere and roots. Follow the signal through the sounds that bring people together.
ExploreHouse started in Chicago in the early 1980s. DJs mixed disco, soul and electronic music, while producers experimented with drum machines and synthesizers. One important club was the Warehouse, where Frankie Knuckles played. The club helped shape the sound and gave house music its name.
You can recognise house by its steady beat, hi-hats and repeating bassline. Many tracks also use piano chords and vocals. There are different types of house, but most share a rhythm that makes you want to dance.
House developed in clubs where Black, Latino and LGBTQ+ communities came together. These places gave people space to dance and express themselves. The music later spread beyond Chicago and became popular around the world.
DIFFERENT PEOPLE, DANCING TO THE SAME BEAT
Next genre: Techno ↓Techno started in Detroit in the 1980s. Juan Atkins, Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson were important in developing the genre. They combined influences from funk and electronic music, using synthesizers and drum machines to create a new sound.
Techno often has a steady beat and repeating electronic sounds. During a track, sounds are added, removed or changed little by little. Some techno is melodic, while other tracks are harder and faster. There are often few vocals, so the focus is mostly on the rhythm.
Techno grew out of Detroit’s Black music scene and later spread to other countries. Berlin became another important city for the genre. Clubs and raves gave people a place to hear DJs play and spend hours dancing together.
HUMAN ENERGY. ELECTRONIC PULSE.
Next genre: Electro ↓Electro developed in the early 1980s, mixing funk with electronic sounds. Kraftwerk influenced the genre, and “Planet Rock” by Afrika Bambaataa & the Soulsonic Force helped make it popular. Drum machines and synthesizers were a big part of this sound.
Electro usually has an uneven drum pattern rather than the steady beat you hear in house. It often uses sharp snares, electronic basslines and robotic-sounding vocals. These vocals can be made with a vocoder, which changes the sound of a voice.
Early electro was closely linked to hip-hop and breakdancing. People heard it in clubs, at parties and through DJs. Over time, artists made different versions of the sound. Despite the similar name, electro is a different genre from electro house.
BROKEN BEATS. CONNECTED PEOPLE.
Next genre: Drum & Bass ↓Drum & bass developed in the UK during the 1990s from jungle and the breakbeat rave scene. It was influenced by hip-hop, reggae and dub. Caribbean sound-system culture also played an important role in the scene.
Drum & bass is easy to recognise by its fast drums and heavy bass. Producers often cut up drum recordings and rearrange them into new patterns. Some tracks are melodic and smoother, like liquid drum & bass, while others sound darker and more aggressive.
Raves and pirate radio helped people discover drum & bass. DJs played the tracks, while MCs used the microphone to get the crowd involved. The scene started in the UK but later grew, with events and listeners around the world.
FAST BEATS. A SHARED PULSE.
Next genre: Ambient ↓Ambient grew from experimental music and electronic sounds. Brian Eno helped define the genre in the 1970s. He explored music that you could listen to closely, but that could also play in the background without demanding your attention.
Ambient often uses long notes, slowly changing sounds and little or no beat. Producers might use synthesizers, instruments or recordings of rain, wind and other everyday sounds. Instead of a dance rhythm, the focus is on the atmosphere.
Ambient is not mainly made for dancing. You can hear it in art installations, chill-out rooms or at home when you want something quieter. At clubs and raves, it can give people a break from the louder, faster music.
DIFFERENT SOUNDS. A SHARED LANGUAGE.
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