Electronic music genres: the full family tree
PulseRoots groups 307+ electronic music styles into 14 families. Start with a family to see how its styles and substyles evolved, or open the complete list of genres.
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Ambient
17 styles
Ambient music is an electronic genre that focuses on creating immersive, atmospheric soundscapes, often with minimal structures, slow tempos, and a focus on tone and mood...
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Bass Music
48 styles
Bass music is a broad genre of electronic music that emphasizes heavy, prominent basslines and sub-bass frequencies, often incorporating elements from various styles such as...
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Breakbeat
16 styles
Breakbeat is a genre of electronic music that features syncopated drum patterns, typically derived from sampled drum breaks in funk, hip-hop, or soul music. It emphasizes...
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Chill-out
17 styles
Chill-out is an umbrella term for a variety of mellow, downtempo electronic music styles that emerged from the post-acid house culture of the early 1990s. Originally born in...
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Disco
9 styles
Disco is a genre of dance music that emerged in the 1970s, characterized by its upbeat, rhythmic sound and focus on creating a vibrant, energetic atmosphere for the dance...
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Electro
11 styles
Electro, short for electro-funk, is a genre of electronic music that emerged in the early 1980s, directly influencing the development of techno, house, and Miami bass. Its...
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Experimental
39 styles
Experimental electronic music is a genre that explores unconventional sounds, structures, and techniques, often pushing the boundaries of traditional music. It incorporates a...
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Funk and Soul Fusion
8 styles
Funk and Soul Fusion represents the evolution of traditional African American rhythm and blues into the digital age. It is defined by the intersection of organic musicianship...
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Global Club
19 styles
Global Club (also known as Global Bass or World Club) refers to a diverse movement of electronic dance music that emerges from local scenes outside the Western mainstream. It...
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House
42 styles
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that emerged from the underground club scene of Chicago in the early 1980s. Its name is derived from The Warehouse, a club...
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Industrial and Post-Industrial
8 styles
A genre rooted in harsh, mechanical sounds and dystopian themes, often blending elements of electronic, noise, and experimental music. Post-industrial extends these concepts,...
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Pop and Rock Fusion
18 styles
Pop and Rock Fusion within the electronic realm represents the bridge between traditional songwriting and digital production. Emerging largely from the post-punk and new wave...
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Techno
33 styles
Techno is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Detroit, Michigan, during the mid-to-late 1980s. Pioneered by 'The Belleville Three'—Juan Atkins, Derrick May,...
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Trance
22 styles
Trance is a genre of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 1990s, characterized by its hypnotic rhythms, uplifting melodies, and a focus on creating a deep emotional...
How this genre tree is organised
Each family is a starting point: Techno, House, Trance, Ambient, Bass Music, Breakbeat, Electro, Disco, Chill Out, Experimental, Industrial, Pop and Rock Fusion, Funk and Soul Fusion and Global Club. Families branch down into styles and substyles, so a page such as Detroit Techno sits under Techno while Ghettotech sits under Detroit Techno.
The hierarchy is an interpretation rather than a rule. Genres overlap, split and merge, and the same sound can be classified differently elsewhere. Every genre page links to its parent style, its substyles and its closest neighbours, so you can walk the tree in any direction.
Looking for something specific? Search by name in the header, or browse the alphabetical and hierarchical sitemap.