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A music genre is a term used to categorise certain types of music according to a shared tradition or set of rules. There are numerous ways to categorise music into distinct genres. These divisions are frequently debatable and arbitrary due to the artistic nature of music, and some genres may overlap. Let’s dig in deep to know more about the different types of music genres.
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What are Music Genres?
A music genre is a system of categorization that groups musical compositions into a style based on their most different characteristics. All songs belonging to a genre have comparable styles, forms, and/or antecedents. For more precise classification, subgenres are also separated into genres.
The time and purpose for which the work was produced, the instruments employed, the style and form, and the nation of origin are just a few factors that help define a music genre.
Different types of Music Genres
The top music genres list is shown below:
| Music Genres | Started Since |
| Electronic Dance Music | 1970s |
| Rock music | late 1940s and early 1950s |
| Jazz | late 19th and early 20th centuries |
| Dubstep | early 2000s |
| Rhythm and Blues music | 1940s |
| Techno | early 1980s |
| Country Music | 1922 |
| Electro | late 19th century to early 20th century |
| Indie Rock | early to mid-1980s |
| Pop Music | mid-1950s |
Electronic Dance Music
Electronic Dance Music, or EDM, is a genre of music generated by DJs who combine thousands of tones to produce original compositions. Depending on your access to the same, you can hear them at clubs or even live. Early 20th-century examples of electronic dance music included Jamaican dub, the Yellow Magic Orchestra, Giorgio Moroder’s disco, Kraftwerk’s electronica, and many others.
Rock music
Rock Music has been entertaining the world since the 1950s. It was first known as “Rock & Roll” in the United States. It is a style of music that originally used string instruments, but now also incorporates other contemporary instruments, making it challenging to define precisely. It is well-liked by young people due to its loud and powerful beats. Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bill Haley, and other rock musicians have helped to popularise the genre. Modern rock bands like Nirvana, The Doors, Pink Floyd, Metallica, and Megadeth have swept the nation.
Jazz
Swing and blue notes are hallmarks of jazz, which has roots in both West African and European cultures. Jazz is reportedly “One of America’s original art forms” and features a special blend of imagination, collaboration, and interaction. Jazz, which first gained popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, also contributed significantly to the global recognition of some female performers, including Betty Carter, Ella Fitzgerald, Abbey Lincoln, and Ethel Waters.
Dubstep
Electronic music incorporating instruments, such as dubstep, captivates listeners through its bass & rhythm. Despite having a reputation for being darker music, this subgenre has been around since the late 1990s and has done well for itself.
Rhythm and Blues music
Vocalists that adore Rhythm and Blues music, including Usher, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, and the iconic Michael Jackson, have all achieved great success in the music business. This African-American music, which dates back to the 1940s, is a fusion of funk, hip-hop, pop, and soul with a focus on sex, relationships, and independence.
Techno
While out dancing, you might have heard a number of techno tunes, however Detroit techno is regarded to be the genre’s birthplace. Modern technology has significantly raised the standard of techno-style music compared to when it initially emerged, and it is rapidly gaining popularity.
Country Music
Country music is another well-liked American musical style that dates back to the 1920s and has origins in both folk and Western music. Simple instruments like electric and steel guitars, drums, mandolins, and mouth organs are used to create it. The vocalists of country music Johnny Cash, Shania Twain, Taylor Swift, and Kenny Rogers are some of the most well-known.
Electro
Electro, also known as electro-funk, is a perfect fusion of hip-hop and electronic music. It combines a talkbox, vocoder, and drum machine to set itself apart from Disco, another related genre. Famous musicians that have embraced this style of music include Midnight Star, Man Parrish, Freeez, and Arthur Baker.
Indie Rock
A kind of alternative rock music that first appeared in the 1980s, Indie Rock has steadily transformed the music business. It also gave rise to a few sun genres in related styles over the course of a decade, including emo, math rock, post-rock, noise pop, and lo-fi.
Pop Music
Pop Music is a popular music genre because the word “pop” is derived from the word “popular.” This genre, which has its roots in rock and roll, can feature any type of music, from urban and dance to rock, country, and Latin. Electric guitars, synthesiser drums, and bass are among the instruments frequently employed in this kind of music, and Madonna, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, and of course Michael Jackson—the “King of Pop”—have all written songs that fit into this category.
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