Electronic Music Genres: A Guide to the Most Influential Styles

With few exceptions, nearly all the acts topping the charts today are "electronic" in some way. The reasons are multifaceted—technical, cultural, financial, and logistical—but one thing is clear: understanding modern music means understanding electronic music.

In this guide, we explore the seemingly endless world of electronic music genres, tracing their evolution from the late 1960s to the present.

What Is Electronic Music?

Although most music today incorporates some electronic elements, here we’ll define electronic music as any music primarily created, modified, or performed using electronic instruments and technology—such as synthesizers, drum machines, samplers, and computers—rather than traditional instruments like guitar, drums, and bass.

There are many reasons electronic music has become so important, but two stand out above others: its accessibility to almost anyone and the use of nontraditional tools that enable the creation of sounds previously unimaginable. 

It's important to note that by these definitions, hip-hop is a form of electronic music, given the innovative ways that Black communities across the country combined new technology with rap. Even so, hip-hop's rich cultural history and continued popularity deserve its own guide, and thus outside the scope of this article.

First, let’s look at a brief history, which will help put the long list of genres in context.

A Brief History of Electronic Music

Serving as a cultural bridge, Wendy Carlos’s 1968 debut album Switched-On Bach—a series of works by Bach played on a Moog synthesizer—ranked high on both the Billboard 200 and the Billboard Classical Albums charts, which played a prominent role in bringing the synthesizer into the popular consciousness. 

Listen to a Moog synth trio pay homage to the trailblazing trans composer Wendy Carlos:

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By the 1970s, synthesizers and consumer audio equipment such as turntables and cassette recorders allowed both mainstream and grassroots music innovators to explore new sounds. This DIY ethos gave rise to both hip-hop and what we now recognize as electronic music, as artists from diverse scenes built upon their influences, blending different cultures to invent new genres.

Pioneers such as Kraftwerk and Brian Eno continued to shape the genre. When the disco boom hit, it brought together these earlier more experimental influences with dance music. In 1977, Donna Summer released the disco smash hit "I Feel Love," which featured the novel combination of a four-on-the-floor beat with all electronic instrumentation (in this case a Moog analog synth arranged by composer and synth apologist Giorgio Moroder), ultimately setting the stage for the creation of house and techno styles.

Meanwhile, club scenes—often within queer circles—in cities such as New York, Detroit, Chicago, and Berlin evolved alongside music festivals and rave culture, fostering music with near-infinite nuance. 

Driven by deep regional pride and endlessly inventive producers trying to stand out, electronic music has grown to be as wide and deep as jazz and as revolutionary as rock.

14 of the Most Influential Types of Electronic Music

“Electronic music” is really an umbrella term—it encompasses a technological craft, a cultural movement, and an ever-evolving art form. In our globally connected world, the lines between genres and traditions are often blurry, leaving plenty of room for overlap. Let's explore 14 different types of electronic music you should know, arranged in more or less chronological order:

Ambient

Ambient emerged in the ’70s, driven by advances in synthesizer tech and the pioneering work of artists like Brian Eno. Inspired by experimentalism, minimalism, and natural soundscapes, ambient music rejects conventional rhythm and melody in favor of creating sonic atmospheres. Think sustained tones and reverb-laden immersive soundscapes.

“Underscore [traditional background music that supports primary elements] has a rich tradition, but what about foregrounding the sound of not-quite music?” says Daedelus, an assistant professor in Berklee's Electronic Production and Design Department (EPD). “Ambient often lacks tempo, key, or even beginnings and endings, challenging our traditional ideas of listening.”

Listen to "1/1" (1978) from Brian Eno's formative album Ambient 1: Music for Airports:

House

120–150 BPM | 4/4 time

House music blends soulful vocals with drum-machine rhythms—a sound that emerged primarily within an underground and often queer culture. Emerging in Chicago during the 1980s, house became the soundtrack of underground dance culture, emphasizing freedom and inclusivity on the dancefloor. Pioneers like Chicago's Frankie Knuckles DJed at the Warehouse, an iconic venue and hub for queer Black men. Daedelus notes, “Legend holds that Frankie Knuckles' night at the Warehouse was so iconic that fans would flock to record stores asking for 'house music.’”

Subgenres

• Deep House: Smooth, jazzy chords with an emphasis on soulful melodies
• Tech House: A fusion of house and techno with mechanical beats
• Acid House: Characterized by squelchy bass lines created by the Roland TB-303

Listen to "Baby Wants to Ride" (1987), which features one of Frankie Knuckles's signature grooves:

Techno

120–150 BPM | 4/4 time

Techno, Detroit’s response to house, blends Black traditions and industrial grit with futuristic synths and mechanical rhythms. Early pioneers such as Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson—collectively known as the Belleville Three—crafted this hypnotic genre using synthesizers and drum machines. Its industrial edge reflects Detroit’s blue-collar culture, giving techno a distinct, rough character.

Subgenres

• Minimal Techno: Stripped-down tracks focusing on subtle changes and hypnotic loops
• Detroit Techno: A blend of funk, soul, and electronic precision
• Acid House: See "House Music" above

Listen to Derrick May's "Strings of Life" (1987), one of techno music's earliest hits—and was titled by Frankie Knuckles himself:

Trance

125–150 BPM | 4/4 time

Emerging in Germany in the early ’90s, trance mixes melodic, uplifting vibes with the repetitive energy of house and techno. It’s known for long builds, emotional breakdowns, and euphoric drops designed to evoke transcendence.

Subgenres

• Progressive Trance: Focuses on gradual builds and subtle transitions
• Psytrance: Faster, hypnotic beats often featured at outdoor festivals
• Uplifting Trance: Euphoric, orchestral-like compositions designed to lift spirits

Listen to "Last Train to Trancentral (Live from the Lost Continent)" (1991) by the influential and mysterious electronic band the KLF:

Drum and Bass

160–180 BPM | 4/4 or 6/8 time

Drum and bass (also styled as DnB, D&B, or D'n'B) emerged in the UK during the early ’90s, evolving from jungle music—a genre rooted in Jamaican traditions such as reggae and dub, as well as breakbeat experimentation. While both jungle and drum and bass share similar tempos and syncopated breakbeats, jungle leans heavily on reggae-style bass lines, ragga (a subgenre of Jamaican dancehall and reggae) vocals, and a raw, improvisational feel. In contrast, drum and bass developed a sleeker, more polished aesthetic tailored for fast-paced rave environments.

Drum and bass tracks feature intricate drum patterns, layered samples, and deep sub-bass lines that became staples of UK underground culture, thriving in secret warehouse parties and pirate radio broadcasts. The evolution from jungle to drum and bass reflects a push towards higher production standards and a broader range of influences. Drum and bass set the stage for related genres such as dubstep, which drew on the rhythmic complexity of jungle and drum and bass while introducing a heavier focus on bass modulation.

Subgenres

• Liquid Drum and Bass: Smooth, jazzy melodies paired with driving beats
• Neurofunk: Dark, futuristic tones and intricate sound design
• Jump-Up: Bouncy, bass-heavy tracks made to energize dance floor

Listen to "Inner City Life" (1994) by Goldie—one of the most influential drum and bass producers:

IDM

120–140 BPM | 4/4, 3/4, 6/8 time, as well as odd meters

IDM (intelligent dance music) emerged in the early ’90s as a cerebral counterpoint to the club-focused energy of electronic music, blending the experimental with the avant-garde. Artists such as Aphex Twin and Autechre took cues from techno and ambient music, crafting intricate rhythms and offbeat melodies that prioritized intellectual engagement over dance floor appeal.

IDM also gave rise to intelligent drum and bass, a subgenre that retained the fast-paced, syncopated beats of drum and bass while incorporating more atmospheric and melodic elements. This connection highlights IDM’s role in pushing rhythmic complexity and genre hybridization, driving electronic music's evolution in multiple directions.

Ryuichi Sakamoto's "E-3A" (1980) is credited as being an early progenitor of IDM:

Trap

130–175 BPM | 4/4 time 

Trap emerged in the early 2000s as a Southern US offshoot of hip-hop, marked by its booming 808 (referring to the Roland TR-808 drum machine) kicks, snappy snares, and rolling hi-hats. Its dark, minimalist production style owes much to predecessors like crunk and the gritty storytelling of Southern rap pioneers.

Trap is just one of hip-hop’s many influences on electronic music. Genres such as grime (London), UK garage, Afrobeats (West Africa), and drill (Chicago) share similar roots, showcasing hip-hop’s global reach and genre-blurring impact.    

For a good example of trap's early sound, listen to T.I.'s "24's" (2003) from his album Trap Muzik:

Dubstep

140 BPM | 4/4 time

Dubstep emerged in early-aughts London with its blend of syncopation, dramatic drops, and a signature oscillating bass sound referred to as "wobble" or "wub." Another key feature of the genre is its use of time, or rhythmic feel, within the tempo—namely, half time and double time. For example, a dubstep rhythm track at 140 BPM could be perceived as slower or faster depending on how the time is kept. "Dubstep has the two feels, one where you can nod your head at the slower tempo, or the other where you can dance and move your body at the faster tempo," says Michele Darling, chair of EPD. "It all depends on how you feel it. And you can even go back and forth feeling half time and double time."

Artists such as Burial and early James Blake showcased the darker, more experimental roots that gained underground popularity. Take a listen to"Archangel" (2007) by the reclusive artist Burial for an example of dubstep's shadowy production and signature beats:

The style gained polish on its way to the mainstream and soon became a global festival staple with DJs and producers such as Skrillex and Jaime xx. “Dubstep was one of the first post-millennium inventions,” says Daedelus. “It’s a sinewy form of dub reggae and UK two-step garage marked by ever lower bass lines and sound design that’s undeniably novel.”

Within the American scene, Skrillex notably pushed the boundaries, incorporating harder and more aggressive sounds into dubstep, a sound that came to be called "brostep." 

Listen to "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites" (2010) by Skrillex to hear that heavier "wobble" sound: 

Synthwave

80–120 BPM | 4/4 time

In the mid-to-late 2000s, synthwave channeled ’80s nostalgia with its use of retro synth sounds and cinematic aesthetics. The genre, now enjoying a resurgence, draws from early goth and death rock, as well as pioneering acts like Tangerine Dream, Vangelis, and New Order. Despite the availability of modern tools, its sound remains largely rooted in vintage synths, reverb-heavy drum machines, and lush, atmospheric melodies.

Subgenres

• Chillwave: Reverb-heavy, dreamy atmospheres with a visual aesthetic based in internet culture and nostalgia
• Darkwave: Goth-inspired, haunting synths, moody soundscapes, elements of '70s post-punk
• Outrun: Fast-paced and cinematic, named after an ’80s car racing arcade game

With well over 4 billion streams, "Blinding Lights" (2020), by the Weeknd, is perhaps the peak moment where synthwave hit the mainstream: 

Hardstyle

140–150 BPM | 4/4 time

Hardstyle originated in the Netherlands in the early 2000s, combining distorted kick drums, euphoric melodies, and relentless energy to dominate massive festivals such as Defqon.1. Hardstyle is generally performed by one or two DJs—a performance style that literally set the stage for the EDM festivals to come within the next decade. With its blistering tempos, hardstyle's thunderous beats and dramatic builds create visceral anthems for its audience.

DJ the Prophet's "Emergency Call" (2005) was the anthem for that year's premier hardstyle event, the Defqon.1 festival:

EDM

EDM (electronic dance music) isn’t so much a genre as it is an umbrella term for dance music styles that have emerged since the 1980s—including elements of nearly every style listed in this article. While the name may sound generic, it's a helpful reminder that not all electronic music is dance music, and not all dance music is electronic. As Daedelus explains, “EDM is that big room sound—perfect for the ever-larger capacity raves it evolved alongside. Not strictly one set of techniques or tempo. If it’s blaring and broadly declarative, you’re likely listening to an EDM banger. And if you can repeat the phrase 'boots and cats and' you’re already doing the drum pattern.” In fact, the beats are often made with allowing DJs to seamlessly move from one track into another to keep the energy up.

While the style's roots are diverse and thus hard to pin down, the term itself started gaining recognition through the festival circuits in mid-aughts, with artists such as Skrillex, Aviici, David Guetta, and Deadmau5 often being the biggest headliners. Darling says that around the 2010s, "EDM also became more commercialized with more connection to the pop world, with Calvin Harris (who collaborated with Rihanna and Katy Perry), Tiësto, the Chainsmokers, Marshmello, and so on."

Subgenres

• Future Bass: elements of trap and dubstep but with a warmer and less aggressive sound
• Future House: melding of house music styles such as deep house and UK garage with EDM
• Big Room House: a more minimalist structure, drums are heavily processed with reverb
• Hybrid Trap: Southern hip-hop styles fused with EDM attributes such as build-ups, drops, and rave synths

David Guetta's use of high-profile guest artists—such as "Titanium" (2011), featuring Sia—helped boost the public profile of EDM: 

Hyperpop

100–180 BPM | 4/4 time

Hyperpop is the rebellious child of electronic music, emerging over the last decade with its internet-centric mentality, chaotic energy, and kitchen-sink production approach. “Much like vaporwave, its musical cousin, hyperpop thrives on borrowed sounds, remixing cultural fragments into a maximalist fever dream,” Daedelus says, highlighting the genre's DIY ethos and deep roots in social media culture. The music, according to Darling, is "a response to pop music, but it incorporates elements of electronic, hip-hop, and dance music, and featuring heavily processed vocals, metallic synths, and glitchy effects.

The genre's origins began in the UK with the founding of the music label PC Music in the early 2010s by producer A.G. Cook. Almost more of a performance art collective than a traditional label, Cook curated his artist roster with a specific aesthetic in mind, with many of his signees performing under outlandish personas. Formative hyperpop artists include early Charli XCX, 100 gecs, and the late Scottish producer SOPHIE, of whom Darling describes as "a key figure in the PC Music collective, and her work pushed the boundaries of pop music and gender norms."

Listen to SOPHIE's "BIPP" (2013) to hear one of hyperpop's early touchstones:

Over the years, hyperpop's energy and dizzying combination of cultural reference points has only increased, something very apparent in Rebecca Black's "Friday (Remix)" from 2021. A glitched-out take on Black's meme-baiting teen pop hit from 2011, the song is the perfect base for hyperpop's genre agnosticism, which features Big Freedia (bounce music) and 3OH!3 (synth-pop), along with hyperpop pioneers Dorian Electra and producer Dylan Brady (of 100 gecs). A study of extreme contrasts—irony and sincerity, retro and futuristic—the song is a chaotic yet unapologetically joyful freakout.

The Future of Electronic Music

The future of electronic music will undoubtedly be shaped by how new technology and fresh talent interact. Pushing the boundaries of technological tools has always been a hallmark of electronic music genres, and it will likely continue to be the case. AI tools like Amper and AIVA, for example, are already sparking debates around creativity and copyright, while spatial audio offers innovative ways to create immersive soundscapes.  

While earlier forms of electronic music grew out of specific geographical regions, the internet has dissolved those borders, fundamentally changing how new musical movements emerge. Social media, for instance, continues to revolutionize how artists connect with audiences, propelling hyperpop and other microgenres to viral fame almost overnight. "All this is very exciting because electronic music is always evolving, and there will always be more to explore," Darling says. "Stay tuned for more innovation and more unimaginable results."