List of music genres and styles
Popular music |
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Timeline of musical events |
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List of popular music genres |
This is a list of music genres and styles. Music can be described in terms of many genres and styles. Classifications are often arbitrary, and may be disputed and closely related forms often overlap. Larger genres and styles comprise more specific sub-categories.
Art (classical)[]
- Andalusian classical music
- Indian classical music
- Korean court music
- Persian classical music
- Western classical music
- Early music
- Medieval music (500–1400)
- Ars antiqua (1170–1310)
- Ars nova (1310–1377)
- Ars subtilior (1360–1420)
- Renaissance music (1400–1600)
- Baroque music (1600–1750)
- Galant music (1720–1770)
- Classical period (1750–1820)
- Romantic music (1780–1910)
- Medieval music (500–1400)
- 20th and 21st-centuries classical music (1901–present):
- Modernism (1890–1930)
- Impressionism (1875 or 1890–1925)
- Neoclassicism (1920–1950)
- High modernism (1930–present)
- Postmodern music (1930–present)
- Experimental music (1950–present)
- Contemporary classical music (1945 or 1975–present)
- Minimal music
- Early music
Avant-garde and experimental[]
- Danger music
- Electroacoustic
- Lo-fi
- Musique concrète
- Noise
- Outsider music
- Industrial music
- Progressive music
Popular[]
Blues[]
- African blues
- Blues rock
- Blues shouter
- British blues
- Canadian blues
- Chicago blues
- Classic female blues
- Contemporary R&B
- Country blues
- Delta blues
- Detroit blues
- Electric blues
- Gospel blues
- Hill country blues
- Hokum blues
- Jump blues
- Kansas City blues
- Louisiana blues
- Memphis blues
- New Orleans blues
- Piedmont blues
- Punk blues
- Rhythm and blues
- Doo-wop
- Soul blues
- St. Louis blues
- Swamp blues
- Texas blues
- West Coast blues
Country[]
- Alternative country
- Cowpunk
- Americana
- Australian country
- Bakersfield sound
- Bluegrass
- Progressive bluegrass
- Reactionary bluegrass
- Country blues
- Country pop
- Country rap
- Country rock
- Cajun
- Cajun fiddle
- Christian country
- Close harmony
- Dansband
- Hokum
- Honky tonk
- Instrumental country
- Nashville sound
- Neotraditional country
- New Mexico music
- Outlaw country
- Progressive country
- Red dirt
- Rockabilly
- Hellbilly
- Psychobilly
- Sertanejo
- Tejano
- Texas country
- Traditional country music
- Truck-driving country
- Western (Cowboy)
- Cowboy pop
- New Mexico
- Texas country
- Tejano
- Western swing
- Zydeco
Easy listening[]
- Background music
- Elevator music (muzak)
- Barococo
- Beautiful music
- Chill-out
- Furniture music
- Light music
- Lounge music
- Middle of the road
- New-age music
Electronic[]
- Ambient
- Ambient dub
- Dark ambient
- Ambient industrial
- Dungeon synth
- Isolationism
- Drone
- Illbient
- New-age
- Andean new-age
- Neoclassical new-age
- Space music
- Reductionism
- Lowercase
- Onkyokei
- Bass music
- Footwork
- Future bass
- Kawaii future bass
- Jungle terror
- UK bass
- Wave
- Hardwave
- Breakbeat
- Acid breaks
- Baltimore club
- Jersey club
- Philly club
- Big beat
- Breakbeat hardcore
- 4-beat
- Darkcore
- Hardcore breaks
- Broken beat
- Florida breaks
- Nu skool breaks
- Progressive breaks
- Psychedelic breakbeat
- Chill-out
- Downtempo
- Psybient
- Psydub
- Trip hop
- Trip rock
- Chopped and screwed
- Disco
- Afro/cosmic music
- Electro-disco
- Hi-NRG
- Eurobeat
- Eurodance
- Italo disco
- Spacesynth
- Space disco
- Hi-NRG
- Eurodisco
- Nu-disco
- Post-disco
- Boogie
- City pop
- Disco edits
- Drum and bass
- Dub
- Dub poetry
- Dubtronica
- Electroacoustic music
- Acousmatic music
- Electroacoustic improvisation
- Live electronics
- Musique concrète
- Soundscape
- Electronic rock
- Dance-rock
- Alternative dance
- Madchester
- Baggy
- New rave
- Madchester
- Dance-punk
- Alternative dance
- Krautrock
- New wave
- Cold wave
- Dark wave
- Neoclassical dark wave
- Neue Deutsche Todeskunst
- Ethereal wave
- Nu-gaze
- Minimal wave
- Neue Deutsche Welle
- New romantic
- Sophisti-pop
- Synth-pop
- Dance-pop
- Disco polo
- Electroclash
- Electropop
- Hyperpop
- Electropop
- Indietronica
- Dance-pop
- Post-rock
- Space rock
- Synth-metal
- Electrogrind
- Electronicore
- Synth-punk
- Dance-rock
- Electronica
- Folktronica
- Jazztronica
- Laptronica
- Livetronica
- Progressive electronic
- Kosmische musik
- Ethnic electronica / regional EDM
- Asian underground
- African electronic dance music
- Afrobeats
- Azonto
- Coupé-décalé
- Kuduro
- Mahraganat
- Shangaan electro
- Afrobeats
- Budots
- Changa tuki
- Dancehall pop
- Funk carioca
- Funk ostentação
- Melodic funk
- Proibidão
- Rasteirinha
- Merenhouse
- Nortec
- Rabòday
- Rara tech
- Russ music
- Shamstep
- Tribal guarachero
- Worldbeat
- Manila sound
- Funk fusion genres
- Acid jazz
- Funktronica
- Synth-funk
- Jungle
- Ragga jungle
- Hardcore
- Bouncy techno
- Breakcore
- Raggacore
- Digital hardcore
- Doomcore}
- Frenchcore
- Gabber
- Early hardcore
- Mainstream hardcore
- Happy hardcore
- Industrial hardcore
- J-core
- Lento violento
- Mákina
- Speedcore
- Extratone
- Flashcore
- Hypertone
- Splittercore
- Hardstyle
- Dubstyle
- Euphoric frenchcore
- Euphoric hardstyle
- Jumpstyle
- Rawstyle
- Trapstyle
- Hauntology
- Chillwave
- Hypnagogic pop
- Synthwave
- Darksynth
- Sovietwave
- Vaporwave
- Dreampunk
- Future funk
- Hardvapour
- Mallsoft
- Hip hop fusion genres
- Afroswing
- Alternative hip hop
- Hipster hop
- Cloud rap
- Crunk
- Crunkcore
- Snap music
- Electro
- Latin freestyle
- Emo rap
- Instrumental hip hop
- Lofi hip hop
- Miami bass
- Mumble rap
- Trap
- Afro trap
- Drill
- UK drill
- Latin trap
- Phonk
- Trap (EDM)
- UK trap
- House music
- Acid house
- Afro house
- Amapiano
- Gqom
- Kidandali
- Kwaito
- Ambient house
- Balearic beat
- Ballroom
- Bass house
- Blog house
- Brazilian bass
- Slap house
- Chicago hard house
- Chicago house
- Deep house
- Disco house
- Diva house
- Hardbag
- Electro house
- Big room house
- Complextro
- Dutch house
- Fidget house
- Melbourne bounce
- Electro swing
- Eurohouse
- French house
- Funky house
- Future house
- Garage house
- Ghetto house
- Ghettotech
- Juke house
- Hip house
- Italo house
- Jazz house
- Latin house
- Melodic house
- Microhouse
- Moombahcore
- Moombahton
- Moombahsoul
- New Jersey sound
- Outsider house
- Progressive house
- Soulful house
- Tech house
- Tribal house
- Tropical house
- UK hard house
- Hard NRG
- Pumping house
- Hardbass
- Scouse house
- Industrial / post-industrial
- Deconstructed club
- Electro-industrial
- Dark electro
- Aggrotech
- Dark electro
- Electronic body music (EBM)
- Futurepop
- New beat
- Industrial hip hop
- Industrial metal
- Cyber metal
- Neue Deutsche Härte
- Industrial rock
- Martial industrial
- Witch house
- Intelligent dance music (IDM)
- Drill 'n' bass
- Glitch
- Glitch hop
- Neo soul
- Nightcore
- Noise music
- Danger music
- Harsh noise
- Harsh noise wall
- Japanoise
- Power electronics
- Death industrial
- Power noise
- Plunderphonics
- Sampledelia
- Techno
- Acid techno
- Ambient techno
- Birmingham sound
- Bleep techno
- Detroit techno
- Dub techno
- Hardtechno
- Free tekno
- Jungletek
- Raggatek
- Free tekno
- Industrial techno
- Minimal techno
- Schaffel
- Toytown techno
- Tecno brega
- Trance music
- Acid trance
- Balearic trance
- Dream trance
- Eurotrance
- Hands up
- Goa trance
- Nitzhonot
- Hard trance
- Progressive trance
- Psychedelic trance
- Dark psytrance
- Full-on
- Minimal psytrance
- Progressive psytrance
- Suomisaundi
- Zenonesque
- Tech trance
- Uplifting trance
- Vocal trance
- UK garage
- 2-step garage
- Bassline
- Breakstep
- Dubstep
- Brostep
- Post-dubstep
- Reggaestep
- Riddim
- Future garage
- Grime
- Grindie
- Speed garage
- UK funky
- Funkstep
- Wonky
- Video game music
- Chiptune
- Bitpop
- Nintendocore
- Skweee
- FM synthesis
- Sequencer music
- Chiptune
Contemporary folk[]
- American folk revival
- Americana
- Anti-folk
- British folk revival
- Celtic music
- Chalga
- Corrido
- Filk
- Folk rock
- Celtic rock
- Freak folk
- Indie folk
- Industrial folk
- Mariachi
- Neofolk
- Progressive folk
- Protest song
- Psychedelic folk
- Singer-songwriter
- Skiffle
- Sung poetry
Hip hop[]
- Alternative hip hop
- Hipster hop
- Boom bap
- Bounce
- British hip hop
- Road rap
- Chopped and screwed
- Chopper
- Cloud rap
- Comedy hip hop
- Crunk
- Crunkcore
- Country rap
- East Coast hip hop
- Emo rap
- Freestyle rap
- G-funk
- Hardcore hip hop
- Dirty rap
- Gangsta rap
- Mafioso rap
- Horrorcore
- Memphis rap
- Hip hop soul
- Hyphy
- Industrial hip hop
- Instrumental hip hop
- Jazz rap
- Latin hip hop
- Chicano rap
- Lofi hip hop
- Miami bass
- Mumble rap
- Nerdcore
- Chap hop
- New jack swing
- Political hip hop
- Conscious hip hop
- Pop rap
- Progressive rap
- Punk rap
- Ragga hip hop
- Rap opera
- Rap rock
- Rap metal
- Trap metal
- Rapcore
- Rap metal
- Religious hip hop
- Christian hip hop
- Jewish hip hop
- Snap
- Southern hip hop
- Trap
- Drill
- Brooklyn drill
- UK drill
- Latin trap
- Phonk
- Tread
- Drill
- Turntablism
- Underground hip hop
- West Coast hip hop
Jazz[]
- Acid jazz
- Afro-Cuban jazz
- Alt-jazz
- Avant-garde jazz
- Bebop
- Boogie-woogie
- Bossa nova
- Brazilian Jazz
- British dance band
- Cape jazz
- Chamber jazz
- Continental jazz
- Cool jazz
- Crossover jazz
- Dixieland
- Ethno jazz
- European free jazz
- Free funk
- Free improvisation
- Free jazz
- Gypsy jazz
- Hard bop
- Jazz blues
- Jazz-funk
- Jazz fusion
- Jazz rap
- Jazz rock
- Kansas City jazz
- Latin jazz
- Livetronica
- M-base
- Mainstream jazz
- Modal jazz
- Neo-bop jazz
- Neo-swing
- Novelty ragtime
- Nu jazz
- Orchestral jazz
- Post-bop
- Progressive jazz
- Punk jazz
- Ragtime
- Samba-jazz
- Shibuya-kei
- Ska jazz
- Smooth jazz
- Soul jazz
- Straight-ahead jazz
- Stride jazz
- Swing
- Trad jazz
- Third stream
- Vocal jazz
- West Coast jazz
Pop[]
- Adult album alternative
- Adult contemporary
- Ambient pop
- Arabic pop
- Iranian pop
- Art pop
- Baroque pop
- Bedroom pop
- Brill building
- Britpop
- Bubblegum pop
- C-pop
- Cantopop
- Hokkien pop
- Mandopop
- Canción
- Canzone
- Chalga
- Chamber pop
- Chanson
- Christian pop
- Classic hits
- Classical crossover
- Country pop
- Cringe pop
- Dance-pop
- Disco polo
- Electropop
- Europop
- Austropop
- Eurobeat
- French pop
- Italo dance
- Italo disco
- Laïkó
- Nederpop
- Neomelodic music
- Russian pop
- Fado
- Folk pop
- Hyperpop
- Indie pop
- Indian pop
- J-pop
- City pop
- Shibuya-kei
- Jangle pop
- Jazz pop
- K-pop
- Korean hip hop
- Korean rock
- T'ong guitar
- Trot
- Latin ballad
- Latin pop
- Mexican pop
- New Romantic
- Oldies
- Operatic pop
- OPM
- Pinoy pop
- Pop rap
- Pop rock
- Pop punk
- Emo pop
- Neon pop
- Power pop
- Soft rock
- Surf pop
- Yacht rock
- Pop punk
- Pop soul
- Progressive pop
- Psychedelic pop
- Rebetiko
- Schlager
- Sophisti-pop
- Space age pop
- Sunshine pop
- Swamp pop
- Synthpop
- Teen pop
- Traditional pop
- Turbo-folk
- Turkish pop
- Vispop
- Wonky pop
- Worldbeat
- Yé-yé
R&B and soul[]
- Alternative R&B
- Contemporary R&B
- Disco
- Freestyle
- Go-go
- Funk
- Deep funk
- Minneapolis Sound
- Psychedelic funk
- Gospel music
- New jack swing
- Post-disco
- Boogie
- Rhythm and blues
- Doo-wop
- Soul
- Blue-eyed soul
- Hip hop soul
- Neo soul
- Northern soul
- Psychedelic soul
- Southern soul
Rock[]
- Afro rock
- Alternative rock
- Alternative dance
- Britpop
- Post-Britpop
- Dream pop
- Goth Rock
- Shoegaze
- Grunge
- Post-grunge
- Indie rock
- Dunedin sound
- Math rock
- Post-punk revival
- Madchester
- Baggy
- Noise pop
- Sadcore
- Slowcore
- Beat
- British Invasion
- Freakbeat
- Nederbeat
- Blues rock
- Boogie rock
- British rhythm and blues
- Chamber pop
- Christian rock
- Classic rock
- Comedy rock
- Country rock
- Dark cabaret
- Electronic rock
- Electronicore
- New wave
- Cold wave
- Dark wave
- Ethereal wave
- Experimental rock
- Art rock
- Industrial rock
- Post-punk
- Dance-punk
- Gothic rock
- No wave
- Noise rock
- Post-rock
- Post-metal
- Folk rock
- British folk rock
- Celtic rock
- Medieval folk rock
- Funk rock
- Garage rock
- Glam rock
- Hard rock
- Heartland rock
- Instrumental rock
- Jazz fusion
- Jazz rock
- Latin rock
- Mangue bit
- Metal
- Paisley Underground
- Desert rock
- Pop rock
- Jangle pop
- Power pop
- Soft rock
- Yacht rock
- Progressive rock
- Art rock
- Avant-prog
- Canterbury scene
- Flamenco rock
- Krautrock
- Neo-progressive rock
- New prog
- Post-progressive
- Space rock
- Symphonic Rock
- Psychedelic rock
- Acid rock
- Neo-psychedelia
- Raga rock
- Pub rock (Australia)
- Pub rock (United Kingdom)
- Punk rock
- Rap rock
- Rapcore
- Reggae rock
- Rock and roll
- Rockabilly
- Rock opera
- Roots rock
- Southern rock
- Stoner rock
- Swamp rock
- Sufi rock
- Surf rock
- Tropical rock
- Visual kei
- Nagoya kei
- Wizard rock
- Worldbeat
- World fusion
Metal[]
- Alternative metal
- Funk metal
- Nu metal
- Rap metal
- Avant-garde metal
- Black metal
- Blackened death metal
- Atmospheric black metal
- Blackgaze
- Melodic black metal
- National Socialist black metal
- Symphonic black metal
- Viking metal
- War metal
- Christian metal
- Unblack metal
- Death metal
- Death 'n' roll
- Deathgrind
- Melodic death metal
- Technical death metal
- Doom metal
- Drone metal
- Folk metal
- Celtic metal
- Medieval metal
- Pagan metal
- Glam metal
- Gothic metal
- Heavy metal
- Industrial metal
- Kawaii metal
- Latin metal
- Metalcore
- Deathcore
- Mathcore
- Melodic metalcore
- Metalstep
- Neoclassical metal
- Neue Deutsche Härte
- Nintendocore
- Pirate metal
- Post-metal
- Power metal
- Progressive metal
- Djent
- Sludge metal
- Speed metal
- Symphonic metal
- Thrash metal
- Crossover thrash
- Groove metal
Punk[]
- Anarcho punk
- Crust punk
- D-beat
- Crust punk
- Art punk
- Christian punk
- Deathrock
- Digital hardcore
- Folk punk
- Celtic punk
- Cowpunk
- Gypsy punk
- Garage punk
- Grindcore
- Crustgrind
- Goregrind
- Noisegrind
- Pornogrind
- Hardcore punk
- Crossover thrash
- Melodic hardcore
- Post-hardcore
- Emo
- Emo pop
- Screamo
- Emo
- Powerviolence
- Street punk
- Thrashcore
- Horror punk
- Nazi punk
- Oi!
- Pop punk
- Easycore
- Neon pop
- Psychobilly
- Punk pathetique
- Riot grrrl
- Ska punk
- Skate punk
Regional[]
African[]
- African heavy metal
- African hip hop
- African popular music
- Afro house
- Afro pop
- Afrobeat
- Afrobeats
- Amapiano
- Apala
- Arabesque
- Benga
- Bikutsi
- Bongo flava
- Boomba
- Cape jazz
- Chaabi
- Chalga
- Chaoui music
- Chimurenga
- Congolese rumba
- Coupé-Décalé
- Fuji music
- Genge
- Gnawa
- Gqom
- Highlife
- Hiplife
- Igbo highlife
- Igbo rap
- Isicathamiya
- Jit
- Jùjú
- Kadongo Kamu
- Kizomba
- Kuduro
- Kwaito
- Kwela
- Makossa
- Maloya
- Ma'luf
- Marabi
- Marrabenta
- Mbalax
- Mbaqanga
- Mbube
- Morna
- Ndombolo
- Palm-wine
- Raï
- Sakara
- Sega
- Seggae
- Semba
- Shangaan electro
- Soukous
- Taarab
- Zamrock
- Zouglou
Asian[]
Chinese:
- C-pop
- Cantopop
- Hokkien pop
- Mandopop
- Chinese hip hop
- Chinese folk music
- Chinese rock
Hong Kong, China:
- Hong Kong English pop
- Hong Kong hip hop
Taiwanese:
- Taiwanese hip hop
- Taiwanese pop
- Taiwanese rock
Japanese:
- Enka
- J-pop
- Japanese hip hop
- Japanese jazz
- Japanese rock
- Kayōkyoku
Korean:
- K-pop
- Korean folk music
- Korean hip hop
- Korean rock
- Trot
South Asian
- Asian Underground
- Baila
- Baul
- Bhangra
- Bhawaiya
- Dohori
- Filmi
- Indian classical
- Carnatic
- Hindustani classical
- Indian jazz
- Indian pop
- Indian rock
- Raga rock
- Kuthu
- Lavani
- Morlam
- Ragini
- Sufi rock
Southeast Asian
- Gamelan
Malaysian:
- Malaysian hip hop
- Malaysian pop
- Malaysian rock
Indonesian:
- Dangdut
- Indo pop
- Sundanese pop
- Keroncong
Thai:
Filipino:
- Manila sound
- Original Pilipino
- Pinoy pop
- Pinoy rock
Lao:
- L-pop
- Mor lam
Vietnamese:
Middle Eastern[]
- Arabic music
- Arabic pop music
- Fann at-Tanbura
- Fijiri
- Khaliji
- Liwa
- Sawt
Caribbean and Caribbean-influenced[]
- Baithak Gana
- Bouyon
- Cadence-lypso
- Calypso
- Cha-cha-chá
- Chutney
- Compas
- Dancehall
- Mambo
- Mento
- Merengue
- Méringue
- Mozambique
- Pichakaree
- Punta
- Punta rock
- Rasin
- Reggae
- Dub
- Lovers rock
- Ragga
- Reggae fusion
- Ragga jungle
- Reggaeton
- Roots reggae
- Rocksteady
- Rumba
- Salsa
- Ska
- Ska punk
- Two-tone
- Soca
- Power soca
- Son cubano
- Songo
- Timba
- Twoubadou
- Zouk
Latin[]
- Axé
- Brazilian rock
- Brega
- Tecnobrega
- Choro
- Forró
- Frevo
- Funk carioca
- Lambada
- Zouk-Lambada
- Maracatu
- Música popular brasileira
- Tropicalia
- Música sertaneja
- Samba
- Pagode
- Samba rock
Hispanic
- Boogaloo
- Bullerengue
- Flamenco
- Cantes de ida y vuelta
- Fandangos
- Soleá
- Tango
- Toná
- Grupera
- Latin Christian
- Latin pop
- Latin ballad
- Latin rock
- Latin jazz
- Afro-Cuban jazz
- Bossa nova
- Mariachi
- Ranchera
- Reggaeton
- Latin trap
- Regional Mexican
- Banda
- Norteño
- Tango
- Tropical
Religious[]
This section needs expansion. You can help by . (November 2021) |
- Buddhist music
- Christian music
- Church music
- Spirituals
- Gregorian chant
- Islamic music
- Hymn
- Liturgical music
Traditional folk[]
This section needs expansion. You can help by . (November 2021) |
- Latin folk
- Fado
- Huayno
- Son mexicano
- Música criolla
Other[]
- Children's music
- Dance music
- Incidental music or music for stage and screen: music written for the score of a play, musicals, or other spheres, such as filmi, video game music, music hall songs and showtunes and others
- Ballroom dance music: pasodoble, cha cha cha and others
- Occasional music: military music, marches, national anthems and related compositions
- Regional and national music with no significant commercial impact abroad, except when it is a version of an international genre, such as: traditional music, oral traditions, sea shanties, work songs, nursery rhymes, Arabesque and indigenous music. In North America and Western Europe, regional and national genres that are not from the Western world are sometimes classified as world music.
- Yodeling
These categories are not exhaustive. A music platform, Gracenote, listed more than 2000 music genres (included by those created by ordinary music lovers, who are not involved within the music industry, these being said to be part of a 'folksonomy', i.e. a taxonomy created by non-experts). Most of these genres were created by music labels to target new audiences, however classification is useful to find music and distribute it.
See also[]
- Genealogy of musical genres
This list is split into four separate pages:
- List of styles of music: A–F
- List of styles of music: G–M
- List of styles of music: N–R
- List of styles of music: S–Z
References[]
Bibliography[]
- Borthwick, Stuart, & Moy, Ron (2004) Popular Music Genres: An Introduction. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
- Fabbri, Franco (1982) A Theory of Popular Music Genres: Two Applications. In Popular Music Perspectives, edited by David Horn and Philip Tagg, 52–81. Göteborg and Exeter: A. Wheaton & Co., Ltd.
- Frith, Simon (1996) Performing Rites: On the Value of Popular Music. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.
- Holt, Fabian (2007) Genre in Popular Music. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
- Negus, Keith (1999) Music Genres and Corporate Cultures. London and New York: Routledge.
External links[]
- Popular music
- Lists of music genres