Developed from Western traditions with roots in European culture, classical music spans multiple periods, including Baroque, Romantic, Modern, and Contemporary. Key instruments include piano, violin, and orchestral ensembles.
Originated in early 20th-century African American communities, known for swing rhythms, improvisation, and complex harmonies. Instruments include saxophone, trumpet, double bass, and piano.
Evolved from rock and roll in the 1950s, featuring electric guitar, bass, and drums, often with energetic performances. Subgenres include Classic Rock, Hard Rock, Alternative, Punk, and Metal.
Popular music with catchy melodies and simple structures, aimed at mainstream audiences. Known for global stars like Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Taylor Swift.
Emerging in the 1970s, emphasizing rhythmic spoken lyrics, often addressing social issues. Elements include rapping, DJing, and beatboxing.
Originated in the U.S. South, blending folk, blues, and rural themes. Common instruments: guitar, fiddle, and banjo.
Known for expressive lyrics and 12-bar chord progressions, rooted in African American history. Instruments include guitar, harmonica, and piano.
Created using synthesizers and drum machines, EDM is designed for dance and club scenes. Subgenres include House, Techno, Dubstep, Drum & Bass.
A genre blending soul, jazz, and pop with smooth rhythms. Known for artists like Stevie Wonder and Whitney Houston.
Originated from African American gospel music, known for powerful vocals. Icons include Aretha Franklin and Marvin Gaye.
Known for aggressive sound, heavy guitar riffs, and powerful drumming. Famous bands include Metallica and Iron Maiden.
Traditional music often telling stories, with acoustic instruments. Popularized by artists like Bob Dylan and Joan Baez.
Christian religious music, often with choral arrangements and soulful melodies.
A rebellious genre from the 1970s with fast, energetic songs and anti-establishment themes.
Originally independent music with unique sound styles. Known for artists like Radiohead and Arctic Monkeys.
Originating in Jamaica, known for its laid-back rhythm and socially conscious lyrics. Key figure: Bob Marley.
A form of country music with fast tempos and intricate instrumentals, using banjo, mandolin, and fiddle.
Relaxing instrumental music often used for meditation, known for artists like Enya and Yanni.
A dramatic Western music genre combining singing and orchestral accompaniment, originating in Italy.
Traditional music from Ireland and Scotland with instruments like the fiddle and bagpipes, often upbeat.
A fusion of African musical styles with jazz and funk, popularized by Fela Kuti.
A lively dance genre blending Cuban son and mambo, featuring brass instruments and percussion.
A dramatic genre with syncopated rhythms, often accompanied by the bandoneon.
Energetic dance music featuring the dhol drum, blending traditional Punjabi rhythms with modern beats.
A melancholic genre expressing themes of longing and nostalgia, performed with Portuguese guitar.
Sufi devotional music known for intense vocals and spiritual lyrics, popularized by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
Expressive folk music using violin, clarinet, and accordion, often for celebrations.
A dramatic dance music featuring guitar and rhythmic footwork, originating from Andalusian gypsies.
Uses the erhu, guzheng, and pipa, known for its unique scales and connection to philosophy and nature.
Combines African rhythms with Western instruments, known for its upbeat tempo.
An ensemble using gongs and metallophones, with a trance-like, cyclical rhythm.
A soulful, nostalgic genre, famously sung by Cesária Évora.
Folk music with modern influences, often rebellious and socially conscious.
Devotional music with hypnotic melodies, associated with Islamic mysticism.
A blend of West African music and blues, focusing on soulful guitar and storytelling.
Traditional music using pan flutes and charango, often connected to nature.
Shona music using thumb piano, known for its rhythmic structure and spiritual connections.
Traditional Japanese drumming with choreographed performances, used in ceremonies.
Group drumming and chanting with cultural and spiritual significance in Native communities.
Music from the Indian film industry, blending Indian and Western styles, with elaborate dance.
A Latin American genre with African, indigenous, and Spanish influences, known for its danceable rhythm.
North Indian classical music based on the raga system, often involving improvisation. Instruments include sitar, tabla, sarod, and bansuri.
South Indian classical music, highly structured, with emphasis on vocal performance. Instruments include veena, mridangam, violin, and ghatam.
