Emphasizes texture and tone over traditional musical structure, aimed at evoking a particular atmosphere or mood.

Originated toward the end of the 19th century in African American communities in the United States, particularly the Deep South; d…

Part of a broad generalization about the structure and function of music throughout history across the globe, describing tradition…

American genre derived from Southern and Appalachian forms of American Folk Music and later Rock and Pop influences, with a focus …

Rooted in Disco and developed largely within Electronic Dance Music; emphasizes rhythm and is generally produced for play by DJs a…

Typically instrumental, including lush arrangements and melodies played by orchestras or big bands aiming for light entertainment.

Uses non-traditional electronic instrumentation and sound manipulation technology as the primary backbone of a composition.

Most radical approaches throughout history, featuring non-traditional production methods resulting in sounds and styles that go la…

Rooted in mostly oral traditions of the peoples of the world, encompassing international Traditional Folk Music as well as Western…

Emerged primarily on the United States East Coast in African-American communities in the late 1970s; emphasizes rhythmic beat patt…

Umbrella encompassing Noise and Industrial, as well as later derivatives that combine the latter aesthetics with other styles and …

Originating in African American communities in the Southern United States around the turn of the 20th century, building on New Orl…

Driving and distorted riffs, aggressive drumming, vigorous vocals, and an all-around show of brute force in its early days, since …

Range of styles of theatre individually popular in the United States or in various countries in Europe, mostly from the 19th centu…

Broad genre centered on peaceful, meditative melodies, using a wide variety of instrumentation.

Umbrella of popular styles closely tied to mass production and mass marketing, focusing on catchiness and accessibility through me…

Umbrella of styles intended to replicate or enhance the altered state of consciousness brought on by the use of psychedelic drugs,…

Musical and cultural product of Punk Rock known for its simplistic, brash playstyle and anti-establishment themes.

Umbrella of styles covering the most popular forms of Black American music from the late 1940s, when the term Rhythm & Blues first…

Umbrella for related forms of Jamaican Music which have grown beyond their regional roots to become global phenomena.

Music of regional cultural traditions, that is or was predominantly played and produced in these regions.

Typically uses a verse-chorus structure with a backbeat rhythm and the electric guitar at the forefront; generally heavier and/or …

Heavily focused on lyrics and songwriting, with musical accompaniment tending to take lower precedence.

Usually unaccompanied vocal readings.