PulseRoots: Electronic Music Styles Tree
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Music History:

How to Explore

Welcome to PulseRoots! This guide helps you navigate the vast world of electronic music using our interactive tools.

On desktop, you'll find an immersive treemap that visually maps out the connections between genres. On mobile, the genres are organized into a clear and accessible accordion list.

Styles and Substyles

Both views start with broad "Families" (like Techno or House) and branch down into specific styles and substyles. Click or tap on any genre to open a panel with a detailed description and a sample track to help you understand its unique sound.

Music History Timeline

Click the Timeline button to explore 107 key milestones in electronic music history, from 1897 to the present day. Hover over any dot to read the story.

Key Artists

For each genre, we've included a "Key Artists" section featuring pioneers and standout musicians who have significantly shaped its sound.

Accessibility

PulseRoots is keyboard-accessible. Press Tab to reach the genre tree, then use the arrow keys to move between genres and press Enter or Space to open the details panel for the selected genre.

Note on Classification

This visualization represents one interpretation of how electronic music genres are categorized. Music is fluid, and other classifications might group styles differently based on cultural, historical, or sonic perspectives.

Inspirations

PulseRoots is inspired by the incredible work of other music exploration projects. Special thanks to Ishkur's Guide to Electronic Music, Musicmap, and Every Noise at Once for paving the way.

Listening to Tracks

To listen to the example tracks, a Spotify account may be required. The embedded player provides a 30-second preview for all users. Logging into Spotify may unlock the full track, depending on your subscription.

Contact

Thank you for visiting, and I hope you enjoy exploring the world of electronic music.

If you have any suggestions, improvement proposals, if you've found any errors, or just want to say 'Hi!', feel free to write to me through our contact page.

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Explore Genres

    Acid House (Chicago House)

    Part of Chicago House

    Acid house is a subgenre of house music that emerged in the mid-1980s, known for its distinctive 'squelching' sound created by the Roland TB-303 bass synthesizer. Originating in Chicago but gaining massive popularity in the UK rave scene, acid house is characterized by its repetitive, hypnotic beats, minimalistic structure, and the signature, warbling 303 bassline, which gives it a trippy, psychedelic feel. Tracks typically feature stripped-back production and may include samples and vocal snippets, contributing to its entrancing and euphoric vibe. Acid house played a key role in shaping the late-1980s rave culture and remains a staple in electronic dance music.

    Acid House (Chicago House) at a glance

    Family
    House
    Parent style
    Chicago House
    Subgenres
    0 direct
    Path
    House › Chicago House › Acid House

    Key artists

    Listen to an example

    Phuture - Acid Trax

    Related styles

    Styles that share key artists

    These styles have key artists in common with Acid House.

    Read more about Acid House on Wikipedia

    This page covers Acid House within Chicago House. See also Acid House in Chicago House.