This document provides an introduction to genres in modern electronic music. It discusses genres such as downtempo, breakbeat, drum and bass, dub(step), house, and trance. For each genre, it provides a brief definition and examples of subgenres and influential tracks. It directs the reader to additional online resources for learning more about the wide variety of electronic music genres.

1. 1
Spoken Fluency Practice
presentation
JAN CERMAN GROUP E, 19:10-20:45

2. Conversation 2
What are you listening to?
Just some music…
What kind?
Umm… electronic.
Right…

3. 3
An introduction to
genres in modern
electronic music

4. What is electronic music? 4
 Electronic music
 Music that uses electronic musical
instruments and electronic music
technology in its production
 From the 1960s on, the availability
of affordable music technology
meant that EM production
became more common in public
domain
 Today electronic music is very
varied and ranges from
experimental art music to popular
forms such as electronic dance
music (EDM)
Moog modular synthesizer

5. Genres in electronic music 5
 There are many already…
 Each usually with its own set of
subgenres
 …and more are being created
 People like to mix things together
 New variation gets popular
 New genre arises
A portion of genres in electronic music

6. Downtempo 6
 Sometimes also called „chill out“,
„chill“ or „downbeat“
 Similar to ambient music, but with
a groove or beat
 Popularized by Austrian duo
Kruder & Dorfmeister in the late
1960s
Downtempo: Husky Recue – Rainbow Flows
(from „Country Falls,“ 2005)
A list of downtempo subgenres
Trip Hop: Tricky – Hell Is Round The Corner
(from „Maxinquaye,“ 1995)

7. Breakbeat 7
 Also called „breaks“ or
„breakbeats.
 Characterized by the use of a
non-straightened 4/4 drum pattern
 Tempo ranges from 110 to 150 BPM
A list of breakbeat subgenres
Breakbeat: Hybrid – We Are In Control
(from „Morning Sci-Fi,“ 2003)
Big Beat: Fatboy Slim – Praise You
(from „You‘ve Come A Long Way Baby,“ 1998)

8. Drum and Bass 8
 Characterized by fast breakbeats
(typically between 160 – 180 BPM)
with heavy bass and sub-bass lines
 It began as an offshoot of the UK
rave scene in the very early 1990s
Techstep: Bad Company – The Nine
(from „Bad Company Classics,“ 1996)
Neurofunk: Misanthrop – Sidereal
(from „Lattitude / Sidereal,“ 2011)
A list of DnB subgenres

9. Dub(step) 9
 Dub is a genre which grew out of
reggare in 1960s and has
developer beyond the scope of
reggae
 Dubstep originated in South
London in late 1990s and was A list of dub subgenres
underground to late 2000s
 Mainstream popularity rise in late
2010
Dub: Spacemonkeyz vs. Gorillaz – 19/2000 (Jungle Fresh)
(from „Spacemonkeyz vs. Gorillaz,“ 2002)
Dubstep: Zanetic – True Dedication (Teknian Remix)
(from „The Remix Album Vol. 01,“ 2012)

10. House 10
 Originated in Chicago, US in the
early 1980s
 House music today varies a lot in
style and influence – ranges from
soulful and atmospheric deep
house to the more minimalistic
microhouse
Acid house: Josh Wink – Higher State of
Concisousness (from „Higher State of
Consciousness,“ 1995)
A list of (some of the) house subgenres
Electro house: Porter Robison – Spitfire
(from „Spitfire,“ 20011)

11. Trance 11
 EDM genre that developed in the
1990s
 Characterized by a tempo of
between 110 and 150 BPM,
repeating melodic phrases, and a
musical form that builds up and
down throughout a track
 Combination of many styles
Trance: Armin van Buuren – Zocalo
(from „Shivers,“ 2005)
Psytrance: Infected Mushroom – Nation of Wusses A list of (some of) trance subgenres
(from „Army of Mushrooms,“ 2012)

12. Want to know more? 12
 Ishkur‘s Guide to Electronic Music  Many audio examples; well organized
Google „guide to electronic music“ or just go to http://techno.org/electronic-music-guide/

13. The end 13
 Thank you for your attention. Genres in
electronic music
(incomplete)