Whether you are a music lover or someone who just likes tunes playing in the background, there is something for everyone’s musical taste.
The classification of music into genres and styles seems unending.
Music can fall into categories that are fairly general but are also often overlap in certain areas.
There are large groups of genres and styles that can then be broken down into subcategories.
Whether your tastes are eclectic, specific or simple you can find it all.
If you aren’t someone who listens to music a lot, try listening to various genres and styles until you find something that appeals to you.
A music Genre for Everyone
When discussing music, it is easy to use the term genre to explain the types we are referring to.
Genre refers to a category that identifies certain selections of music that fit into a group that has similar traditions or a set of standards or conventions.
While many genres are considered popular, there are also genres and styles that are less well known or mainstream.
Both have their own way of contributing to a person’s listening pleasure.
Popular Music Genres and Styles
Music that is popular means that it has a broad range of appeal.
It is heard by larger audiences rather than small select ones.
These types of music tend to be less complex and require none or little musical training able to be enjoyed.
This popular music is global, and each country will have its own popular along with worldwide songs that have been enjoyed as well.
Genres that are not considered popular are still important to listen to if you want to expand your musical knowledge base.
These are genres and styles that may not be contemporary or commercial in nature.
They are not marketed to the masses so sales numbers are lower, and they may be enjoyed by a smaller number of people.
Popular Genres and Styles
The popular music genres and styles seem unending. The number in the hundreds.
To know if a genre is popular it is classified in four ways.
- It is produced with the intention that it will be mass distributed to a wide and socio-culturally heterogeneous collection of listeners.
- It is kept and distributed in an unwritten format.
- It is part of an industrial monetary market where it becomes a product that can be bought and sold.
- Those who put it on the market want to see as many copies as possible.
These genres are played on most commercial music services including radio, streaming and TV along with being found at music retail outlets and on movie and TV soundtracks.
They will also be found on ranks musical charts such as Billboard.
Non-Popular Music Genres and Styles
Music that is not covered under the popular genre category is still well-loved by many people worldwide.
These genres tend to be more segmented such as scores for plays or musicals and maybe video games.
Ballroom music tends to fall in this category as well.
The Pasodoble and Tango while known to many are not mainstream unless the listener is part of the ballroom dance world.
Other music that would be considered under this umbrella would be religious music such as hymns or chant, military pieces that include marches and national anthems.
It would also cover music derived nationally or regionally that is not distributed beyond national borders.
This type of on-popular music genres will not attain any significant financial gains from the marketplace, and it is a select group of people that will listen to them.
Sometimes of the regional pieces will be well known globally in the sense of sea shanties, traditional old school songs, nursery rhymes and perhaps indigenous songs but they were never created for mass distribution or with the intention of making a significant profit from the market be it national or international.
Expanding your Listening Platform
Many people who enjoy music are unaware of the many genres that exist both at home and around the world.
People tend to grow up enjoying a specific genre of music and then get locked into that genre without being exposed to other ones.
Listeners build their own preferences based on the music they are exposed to at home and at school as well as through the music their peer group listens to.
Those that listen to music such as classic rock, hip hop or classical don’t often cross genres and explore new sounds and listening options.
They listen to the same albums, streams, radio stations without expanding the content they listen to.
By understanding the many genres available, a listener may find other genres of music both popular and less mainstream to their liking.
Exploring lists of genres and listening to new pieces will not only expand a person’s musical experiences but perhaps allow them to access different cultural avenues that would not normally be on their radar when it comes to listening to music.
There are genres available for everyone and every listening experience.
Disco Music
This genre is considered a type of dynamic dance music that built a whole nightlife scene in the 1970s.
Its strong bassline, horns, electric instruments all created a sound all its own.
Films like Saturday Night Live brought it to the forefront but the genre actually came for multicultural venues, the LGBT community and the hippies of NYC and Philadelphia.
It was the counter music to the rock genre.
Disco opened the doors of disco clubs and the mixing of dance music by DJs.
It brought with it a fashion and drug scene all its own.
Disco music was loved and driven by the baby boomers and lost standing as they age.
However, many of its songs are still well known today and it also became the basis of the genre of electronic dance music.
It has successful revivals here and there when brought back by musicians such as Madonna.
Rock Music
This is one of the most popular genres of music.
It came out of the 1940s and 50s in the US and spread internationally.
It came out of the genres of blues, R&B and country music.
It also pulled in elements of jazz and classical just to name a few.
It is centred around the electric guitar with an electric bass and percussion set.
There are singers and the music are usually 4/4 time.
However, the content and style can be flexible to meet so many different mainstream desires.
The genre of rock has many subgenres that cross lines of various styles.
Blues-rock, folk, country, jazz and progressive are just a few.
Heavy metal became a genre of its own but began in the depths of rock.
Rock music has become symbolic of both cultural, political and social action and its lyrics have storied the changes of society around many different issues that relate to race, sex and drugs.
It has been a way youth express their revolt against the adult world.
Classical Music
Classical music is one of the older and more complex genres of music.
It began in the depths of religious and secular music going from the 6th century until today.
The range of this genre is huge going from medieval chants to symphonies for an orchestra to the Avant Garde.
While the many types of classical music are diverse and complex, it is the way the notation is done that defines its genre.
Mensural notation which became bar notation that we know today was and is used for all pieces.
There is also the creation and promotion of very complex compositions for instrumental works.
The growth of symphonies and complex pieces continues today.
The use of orchestration, harmonies, complex rhythm structure, musical phrasing and more make up the complex music.
The use of instruments over vocal is highlighted in concertos and sonatas.
However, operas are part of the classical genre with the orchestra backing singers.
Classical is a powerful type of music that is very different than rock or disco.
Electronic Music
This genre uses electronic and digital instruments and what is called circuitry based musical technology.
It can be defined by its electronic sound versus acoustic.
Its instruments do not have strings, hammers or other items that make a sound.
It is all driven by electronics including computers.
This genre began at the end of the 19th century.
Instruments were introduced in the 20s and 30s but then when recording tape was introduced, musicians could tape sounds and change them with tape speed and direction.
They could put but natural and electronic sounds in one piece.
Once computers were on the scene then electronic music grew even more.
Dub music, drum machines both brought in their influence as well.
The 1970s brought it into the popular realm through disco, new wave and EDM.
What used to be a small niche market has become a popular club genre and has hit mainstream culture.
Relaxing Music
Relaxing music is a style of music that encompasses multiple genres.
It is perfect for relaxation and stress management.
If you want to relax your body and mind, then there are pieces of music from various genres that can do that.
Classical string music is one of those that can bring soothing tones to a quiet time.
Along with select classical pieces, quiet country, soft jazz or smooth R&B can all help with some laid back time.
While some people can use more upbeat music to relax, most want some instrumental or soft sounds to sit with.
Being able to listen to tones that are soothing and smooth can reduce blood pressure, slow breathing, lessen anxiety and benefit mood.
If you use a music streaming service, you will find many playlists that will have a mix of relaxing music from various genres for your listening pleasure.
