List of music genres and styles
| Popular music |
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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.
Classical
- Andalusian classical music
- Indian classical music
- Korean court music
- Persian classical music
- Ottoman music (Classical Turkish 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 (1900–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
Popular
Avant-garde & experimental
- Crossover music
- Danger music
- Drone music
- Electroacoustic
- Industrial music
- Instrumental
- Lo-fi
- Musical improvisation
- Musique concrète
- Noise
- Outsider music
- Progressive music
- Psychedelic music
- Underground music
Blues
- African blues
- Blues rock
- British blues
- Canadian blues
- Chicago blues
- Classic female blues
- Contemporary R&B
- Country blues
- Delta blues
- Desert 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
- Soul blues
- St. Louis blues
- Swamp blues
- Talking blues
- Texas blues
- West Coast blues
Country
- Alternative country
- Americana
- Cowpunk/Country-punk
- Gothic country
- Roots rock
- Australian country
- Bakersfield sound
- Bluegrass
- Blue Yodeling
- Bro-country
- Cajun
- Cajun fiddle
- Canadian country
- Franco-country
- Christian country
- Classic country
- Country and Irish
- Country blues
- Country en Español/Latin Country
- Country folk
- Country pop/Cosmopolitan country
- Country rap/Hick-hop
- Country rock
- Cowboy pop
- Dansband
- Gulf and Western
- Hokum
- Honky tonk
- Instrumental country
- Lubbock sound
- Nashville sound
- Neotraditional country
- Old-time
- Outlaw country
- Pop country
- Progressive country
- Regional Mexican
- Rockabilly/Neo-Rockabilly
- Psychobilly/Punkabilly
- Gothabilly/Hellbilly
- Psychobilly/Punkabilly
- Southern rock
- Southern soul
- Sertanejo
- Talking blues
- Traditional country
- Truck-driving country
- Western/cowboy music
- YEEDM
- Zydeco
Easy listening
- Adult contemporary music
- Adult standards
- Background music
- Barococo
- Beautiful music
- Chill-out
- Downtempo
- Furniture music
- Light music
- Lounge music
- Middle of the road
- New-age music
- Soft rock
Electronic
- Ambient
- Ambient dub
- Dark ambient
- Dreampunk
- Illbient
- New-age
- Neoclassical new-age
- Space music
- Bass music
- Breakbeat
- Chill-out
- Disco
- Drum and bass
- Dub
- Electronic rock
- Electronica
- Folktronica
- Live electronic (Livetronica)
- Nu jazz (Jazztronica)
- Progressive electronic
- Ethnic electronica and regional EDM
- Asian Underground
- African electronic dance music
- Afrobeats
- Coupé-décalé
- Kuduro
- Mahraganat
- Shangaan electro
- Budots
- Changa tuki
- Dancehall pop
- Denpa music
- Guaracha (EDM)
- Funk carioca
- Funk melody
- Funk ostentação
- Proibidão
- Rasteirinha
- Merenhouse
- Nortec
- Rabòday
- Rara tech
- Russ music
- Shamstep
- Tecnocumbia
- Tribal guarachero
- Worldbeat
- Manila sound
- Experimental electronic
- Black MIDI
- Deconstructed club
- Drone
- Electroacoustic music
- Glitch
- Microsound
- Noise music
- Danger music
- Japanoise
- Harsh noise
- Harsh noise wall
- Power electronics
- Death industrial
- Power noise
- Plunderphonics
- Sampledelia
- Reductionism
- Lowercase
- Onkyokei
- Funk fusion genres
- Hard dance
- Hardcore
- Hauntology
- Hip hop fusion genres
- Afroswing
- Alternative hip hop
- Hipster hop
- Cloud rap
- Crunk
- Electro
- Emo rap
- Glitch hop
- Instrumental hip hop
- Lofi hip hop
- Miami bass
- Mumble rap
- Trap
- House music
- Acid house
- Afro house
- Afro tech
- Amapiano
- Kidandali
- Ambient house
- Balearic beat
- Ballroom
- Bass house
- Brazilian bass
- Blog house
- Chicago hard house
- Chicago house
- Deep house
- Disco house
- Diva house
- Hardbag
- Electro house
- Big room house
- Future rave
- Complextro
- Dutch house
- Fidget house
- Melbourne bounce
- Big room house
- Electro swing
- Eurohouse
- French house
- Funky house
- Future house
- Garage house
- Ghetto house
- Gqom
- Hip house
- Italo house
- Jackin house
- Jazz house
- Kwaito
- Latin house
- Melodic house
- Microhouse
- Moombahcore
- Moombahton
- New Jersey sound
- Outsider house
- Lo-fi house
- Progressive house
- Soulful house
- Stadium house
- Tech house
- Tribal house
- Tropical house
- Trouse
- UK hard house
- Industrial and post-industrial
- Intelligent dance music (IDM)
- Jungle
- R&B and soul fusion genres
- Techno
- Acid techno
- Ambient techno
- Birmingham sound
- Bleep techno
- Detroit techno
- Dub techno
- Hard techno
- Industrial techno
- Minimal techno
- Schaffel
- Toytown techno
- Trance music
- Acid trance
- Balearic trance
- Dream trance
- Eurotrance
- Goa trance
- Nitzhonot
- Hard trance
- Progressive trance
- Psychedelic trance
- Dark psytrance
- Full-on
- Minimal psytrance
- Progressive psytrance
- Suomisaundi
- Tech trance
- Uplifting trance
- Vocal trance
- UK garage
- Video game music
Folk
- American folk revival
- Americana
- Anti-folk
- British folk revival
- Cajun music
- Celtic music
- Chalga
- Corrido
- Creole music
- Filk
- Folk noir
- Folk rock
- Folktronica
- Freak folk
- Indie folk
- Industrial folk
- Mariachi
- Neofolk
- New Weird America
- Progressive folk
- Protest song
- Psychedelic folk
- Singer-songwriter
- Skiffle
- Sung poetry
- Tarantella/Pizzica
- Traditional blues verses
Hip hop
- Alternative hip-hop
- Experimental hip-hop
- Hipster hop
- Boom bap
- Bounce
- British hip-hop
- Chopped and screwed
- Chopper
- Christian hip-hop
- Cloud rap
- Comedy hip-hop
- Crunk
- East Coast hip-hop
- Freestyle rap
- Funk carioca
- Funk ostentação
- Frat rap
- G-funk
- Hardcore hip-hop
- Hyphy
- Instrumental hip-hop
- Latin hip-hop
- Lofi hip-hop
- Miami bass
- Mumble rap
- Nerdcore
- Political hip-hop
- Progressive rap
- Religious hip-hop
- Christian hip-hop
- Jewish hip-hop
- Slab music
- Snap music
- Southern hip-hop
- Trap music
- Drill music
- Brooklyn drill
- UK drill
- Latin trap
- Phonk
- Plugg
- Pluggnb
- Rage
- Tread rap
- Drill music
- Turntablism
- Underground hip-hop
- West Coast hip-hop
- Country rap
- Digicore
- Electro
- Emo rap
- Hip-hop soul
- Hip house
- Industrial hip-hop
- Jazz rap
- New jack swing
- Pop rap
- Punk rap
- Ragga hip-hop
- Rap opera
- Rap rock
- Trip hop
Jazz
- Acid jazz
- Afro-Cuban jazz
- Alt-jazz
- Avant-garde jazz
- Bebop
- Big band
- 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
- Jazztronica
- Kansas City jazz
- Latin jazz
- Livetronica
- M-base
- Mainstream jazz
- Modal jazz
- Neo-bop jazz
- Neo-swing
- Nu jazz
- Orchestral jazz
- Post-bop
- Progressive jazz
- Punk jazz
- 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 contemporary
- Adult hits
- Alternative pop
- Ambient pop
- Arabic pop music
- Art pop
- Avant-pop
- Baroque pop
- Beach music
- Bedroom pop
- Brill building
- Britpop
- Bubblegum pop
- C-pop
- Canción
- Canzone
- Chalga
- Chamber pop
- Chanson
- Christian pop
- Classic hits
- Classical crossover
- Contemporary hit radio
- Country pop
- Cringe pop
- Dance-pop
- Dark pop
- Disco polo
- Electropop
- Europop
- Austropop
- Eurobeat
- French pop
- Italo dance
- Italo disco
- Laïkó
- Nederpop
- Neomelodic music
- Nordic popular music
- Russian pop
- Folk pop
- Hyperpop
- Indie pop
- Indian pop
- Iranian pop
- J-pop
- Jangle pop
- Jazz pop
- K-pop
- Korean hip hop
- Korean rock
- T'ong guitar
- Trot
- Latin ballad
- Latin pop
- New pop
- New Romantic
- Oldies
- Operatic pop
- OPM
- Pop rap
- Pop rock
- Pop soul
- Progressive pop
- Psychedelic pop
- Rebetiko
- Rhythmic adult contemporary
- Rhythmic contemporary
- Rhythmic oldies
- Schlager
- Sophisti-pop
- Space age pop
- Sunshine pop
- Swamp pop
- Synth-pop
- Teen pop
- Traditional pop
- Turbo-folk
- Turkish pop
- Urban adult contemporary
- Urban contemporary music
- Vispop
- Wonky pop
- Worldbeat
- Yé-yé
R&B & soul
- Alternative R&B
- Contemporary R&B
- Disco
- Freestyle
- Funk
- Deep funk
- Minneapolis Sound
- Psychedelic funk
- Synth-funk
- Gospel music
- New jack swing
- Post-disco
- Rhythm and blues
- Soul
- Blue-eyed soul
- Brown-eyed soul
- Cinematic soul
- Classic soul
- Hip hop soul
- Neo soul
- Northern soul
- Progressive soul
- Psychedelic soul
- Quiet storm
- Southern soul
Rock
- Active rock
- Adult album alternative
- Adult-oriented rock
- Afro rock
- Album oriented rock
- Alternative rock
- American rock
- Anatolian rock
- Arabic rock
- Arena rock
- Blues-rock
- Beat
- British Invasion
- Freakbeat
- Mod (subculture)
- Nederbeat
- Blues rock
- Brazilian rock
- British rock music
- Chinese rock
- Christian rock
- Classic rock
- Comedy rock
- Country rock
- Dark cabaret
- Death 'n' roll
- Deathrock
- Desert rock
- Electronic rock
- Emo
- Experimental rock
- Folk rock
- Fire rock
- Funk rock
- Fusion rock
- Garage rock
- Geek rock
- Glam rock
- Gothic rock
- Hard rock
- Heartland rock
- Metal
- Indian rock
- Iranian rock
- Instrumental rock
- Japanese rock
- Fusion jazz
- Korean rock
- Latin rock
- Mainstream rock
- Mangue bit
- Modern rock
- New wave of classic rock
- Occult rock
- Paisley Underground
- Pop rock
- Progressive rock
- Art rock
- Avant-prog
- Canterbury scene
- Flamenco rock
- Krautrock
- Neo-prog
- New prog
- Post-progressive
- Progressive rock (radio format)
- Proto-prog
- Space rock
- Symphonic Rock
- Zeuhl
- Psychedelic rock
- Acid rock
- Freak scene
- Neo-psychedelia
- Raga rock
- Pub rock (Australia)
- Pub rock (United Kingdom)
- Punk rock
- Rap rock
- Reggæ rock
- Rock and roll
- Rock music in France
- Rock opera
- Roots rock
- Southern rock
- Stoner rock
- Swamp rock
- Sufi rock
- Surf rock
- Tropical rock
- Turkish rock
- Viking rock
- Visual kei
- Nagoya kei
- Wizard rock
- Worldbeat
- World fusion
Metal
- Alternative metal
- Avant-garde metal
- Black metal
- Christian metal
- Death metal
- Death 'n' roll
- Deathgrind
- Melodic death metal
- Technical death metal
- Brutal death metal
- Slam death metal
- Doom metal
- Death-doom
- Stoner-doom
- Funeral doom
- Folk doom
- Atmospheric doom
- Blackened doom
- Gothic doom
- Symphonic doom
- Sludge doom
- Drone doom
- Extreme metal
- Folk metal
- Glam metal
- Gothic metal
- Grindcore
- Industrial metal
- Kawaii metal
- Latin metal
- Math metal
- Metalcore
- Neoclassical metal
- Neue Deutsche Härte
- New wave of American heavy metal
- New wave of British heavy metal
- Nintendocore
- Pop metal
- Power metal
- Progressive metal
- Sludge metal
- Speed metal
- Symphonic metal
- Thrash metal
Punk
- Afro-punk
- Anarcho punk
- Art punk
- Avant punk
- Christian punk
- Cowpunk
- Crust punk
- Deathrock
- Electropunk
- Cyberpunk
- Dance-punk
- Digital hardcore
- Dreampunk
- Synth punk
- Folk punk
- Celtic punk
- Cowpunk
- Gypsy punk
- Scottish Gaelic punk
- Garage punk
- German punk
- Glam punk
- Gothic punk
- Grindcore
- Hardcore punk
- Bardcore
- Beatdown hardcore
- Christian hardcore
- Crabcore
- Crunkcore
- Electronicore
- Krishnacore
- Melodic hardcore
- Positive hardcore
- Post-hardcore
- Queercore
- Taqwacore
- Emo
- Powerviolence
- Street punk
- Horror punk
- Latino punk
- Nazi punk
- Oi!
- Pop punk
- Post-punk
- Proto-punk
- Psychobilly
- Punk blues
- Punk jazz
- Punk pathetique
- Punk rap
- Reggae punk
- Riot grrrl
- Ska punk
- Skate punk
- Street punk
- Surf punk
- Trallpunk
Regional
African
- African heavy metal
- African hip hop
- African popular music
- Afro pop
- Afrobeat
- Afrobeats
- Afro house
- Amapiano
- Apala
- Arabesque
- Afro tech
- Benga
- Bikutsi
- Bongo flava
- Boomba
- Bubu music
- Cape jazz
- Chaabi
- Chalga
- Chaoui music
- Chimurenga
- Congolese rumba
- Coupé-Décalé
- Fuji music
- Genge
- Gnawa
- Gqom
- Gumbe
- Highlife
- Hiplife
- Igbo highlife
- Igbo rap
- Ikorodo
- Ikwokirikwo
- Isicathamiya
- Jit
- Jùjú
- Kadongo Kamu
- Kizomba
- Kuduro
- Kwaito
- Kwela
- Lingala music
- Makossa
- Maloya
- Ma'luf
- Marabi
- Marrabenta
- Maskandi
- Mbalax
- Mbaqanga
- Mbube
- Morna
- Music of Egypt
- Music of Nigeria
- Ndombolo
- Owerri Bongo
- Ojapiano
- Palm-wine
- Raï
- Rumba
- Sakara
- Sega
- Seggae
- Semba
- Shangaan electro
- Soukous
- Kwassa kwassa
- Taarab
- Zamrock
- Zouglou
Antarctica
- Nunatak (band)
Asian
- Central Asian
- East Asian
Chinese:
- C-pop
- Chinese hip hop
- Chinese folk music
- Chinese rock
Hong Kong, China:
Taiwanese:
- Taiwanese hip hop
- Taiwanese pop
- Taiwanese rock
Japanese:
- Anime song
- 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
- Baul
- Bhangra
- Bhawaiya
- Dappankuthu
- Dohori
- Filmi
- Indian classical
- Indian jazz
- Indian pop
- Indian rock
- Lavani
- Morlam
- Ragini
- Sufi rock
- Baila
- Sri Lankan hip hop
- Southeast Asian
Malaysian:
- Malaysian hip hop
- Malaysian pop
- Malaysian rock
Indonesian:
Thai:
Filipino:
- Manila sound
- Pinoy pop
- Pinoy rock
Lao:
- L-pop
- Mor lam
Vietnamese:
- V-pop
- Middle Eastern
- Arabic music
- Fann at-Tanbura
- Fijiri
- Khaliji
- Liwa
- Music of Israel
- Persian traditional music
- Sawt
- Music of Turkey
- Turkish folk music
- Gypsy music
- Turkish folk music
Australasia & Oceania
- Australian folk music
- Australian hip hop
- Indigenous music of Australia
- Music of Hawaii
- Music of New Zealand
- Music of Polynesia
- Music of Samoa
European
- Balkan States
- Balkan music
- Balkan brass
- Balkan folk music
- Music of Albania
- Music of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Music of Bulgaria
- Music of Cyprus
- Music of Greece
- Music of Kosovo
- Music of Montenegro
- Music of North Macedonia
- Music of Romania
- Romani music
- Manele
- Gypsy music
- Romani music
- Baltic States
- Lithuanian folk music
- Music of Estonia
- Music of Latvia
- Caucasus
- Central European States
- Music of Austria
- Music of Croatia
- Music of the Czech Republic
- Music of Germany
- Music of Hungary
- Music of Liechtenstein
- Music of Poland
- Music of Serbia
- Music of Slovakia
- Music of Slovenia
- Music of Switzerland
- Nordic/Scandinavian States
- Nordic folk music
- Music of Denmark
- Danish traditional music
- Music of Finland
- Jenkka
- Rautalanka (Finnish surf-rock)
- Music of Iceland
- Music of Norway
- Music of Sweden
- Music of the Faroe Islands
- Viking metal
- Music of Denmark
- Slavic States
- Klezmer
- Music of Belarus
- Music of Moldova
- Music of Russia
- Music of Buryatia
- Russian folk music
- Music of Ukraine
- Music of Yugoslavia
- Western European
- Music of Andorra
- Music of Belgium
- Belgian hardcore techno
- Belgian hip-hop
- Belgian jazz
- Belgian rock
- Music of France
- French classical music
- French electronic music
- French folk music
- French hip-hop
- French house
- French jazz
- French pop music
- Music of Ireland
- Music of Italy
- Italian classical music
- Italian folk music
- Italian hip-hop
- Italian jazz
- Italian popular music
- Music of Luxembourg
- Music of Malta
- Music of Monaco
- Music of the Netherlands
- Music of Portugal
- Portuguese folk music
- Chula
- Desgarrada
- Fado
- Coimbra fado
- Pimba
- Portuguese rock
- Portuguese folk music
- Music of Spain
- Spanish folk music
- Spanish jazz
- Spanish rock
- Music of the United Kingdom
Latin & South American
- Brazilian
- Axé
- Brazilian rock
- Brega
- Choro
- Forró
- Frevo
- Funk carioca
- Lambada
- Zouk-Lambada
- Maracatu
- Música popular brasileira
- Música sertaneja
- Samba
- Caribbean
- Baithak Gana
- Bouyon
- Cadence-lypso
- Calypso
- Cha-cha-chá
- Chutney
- Chutney soca
- Chutney parang
- Compas
- Dancehall
- Mambo
- Mento
- Merengue
- Méringue
- Mozambique
- Pichakaree
- Punta
- Punta rock
- Rasin
- Reggae
- Dub
- Lovers rock
- Ragga
- Reggae fusion
- Ragga jungle
- Reggae rock
- Reggaeton
- Alternative reggaeton
- Moombahton
- Roots reggae
- Rocksteady
- Rumba
- Salsa
- Ska
- Soca
- Son cubano
- Songo
- Timba
- Twoubadou
- Zouk
- Hispanic
- Boogaloo
- Bullerengue
- Flamenco
- Grupera
- Hispanic rhythmic
- Latin Christian
- Latin pop
- Latin rock
- Latin jazz
- Mariachi
- Ranchera
- Reggaeton
- Regional Mexican
- Tango
- Tropical
North American
- American rock
- Canadian folk music
- Indigenous music of North America
- Inuit music
- Ragtime
- Cakewalk
- Classic rag
- Folk ragtime
- Honky-tonk piano
- Novelty piano
- Stomp
- Stride piano
- Swing music
Religious
- Sikh music
- Buddhist music
- Christian music
- Islamic music
- Modern pagan music
- Music of ancient Greece
- New-age music
- Shamanic music
Traditional folk
- American patriotic music
- Christmas music
- Fado
- Huayno
- Mele
- Pastorale
- Polka
- Ragtime
- Son mexicano
- Música criolla
Other
- Ballroom dance music: pasodoble, cha cha cha and others
- Bedroom production
- Children's music
- Computer music
- Dance music
- Slow dance
- Drug use in music
- Incidental music or music for stage and screen: music written for the score of a film, play, musicals, or other spheres, such as filmi, video game music, music hall songs and showtunes and others
- Independent music
- LGBT music
- Patriotic music: military music, marches, national anthems, War songs and related compositions
- Martial industrial
- List of war metal bands
- 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.
- Theatre music
- Virtuoso
- 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
- List of country genres
- List of electronic music genres
- List of house genres
- List of industrial music genres
- List of trance genres
- List of hip hop genres
- List of jazz genres
- List of reggae genres
- List of rock genres
- List of heavy metal genres
- List of punk rock genres
- List of hardcore punk genres
- List of microgenres
- List of music styles that incorporate the accordion
- List of pop music genres
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.
