- Hip-hop / Rap
- Pop
- Rock
- Electronic (EDM)
- House
- Techno
- Trance
- Dubstep
- Garage
- R&B / Soul
- Neo-soul
- Soul
- Funk
- Jazz
- Blues
- Classical
- Reggae
- Country
- Folk
- Latin Music
- Alternative
- Lo-fi
- Punk
- Indie (Rock, Pop)
- K-pop
Hip-hop / Rap
- Rhythmic spoken or chanted lyrics (rap) over a backing beat
- Focus on wordplay, flow, rhythm
Pop
- Catchy melodies, verse-chorus structure
- Designed for mass appeal
Rock
- Electric guitars, bass, drums, vocals
- Emphasises energy, riffs, strong backbeat
- → driving rhythm of electric guitars + steady drum beat
Electronic (EDM)
House
Techno
Trance
Dubstep
Garage
R&B / Soul
- Smooth, emotive vocals
- Focus on melody and groove
- Roots in gospel and blues
- → soulful singing, laid-back but rhythmic groove
Neo-soul
- Organic instrumentation (live bass, rhodes piano),
- Jazzy chords, poetic lyrics
- Classic soul x hip-hip and jazz influences
Soul
- Raw, gospel-influenced vocals, prominent backbeat, emotional delivery
- Similar to gospel
Funk
- Strong rhythmic groove, prominent bass guitar, syncopated rhythms, horn sections
- → the groooooove makes you dance
Jazz
- Complex harmony, syncopated rhythms, improvisation
- Swing feel and sophisticated chords
Blues
- 12-bar chord progression and blues scale
- Lyrical themes of struggle and emotion
Classical
- Orchestral instruments (strings, woodwinds, brass)
- Complex compositions
Reggae
- Off-beat rhythmic accent
- Prominent bass lines, relaxed tempo
Country
- Storytelling lyrics, twangy vocals
- Acoustic guitar, banjo, fiddle
Folk
- Acoustic instrumentation, narrative storytelling
Latin Music
- Danceable rhythms, percussion-driven
- Spanish/portuguese lyrics
Reggaeton
Alternative
- Broad term for music outside the mainstream
- Often features experimental sounds, distorted guitars
Lo-fi
Punk
Indie (Rock, Pop)
- Independent, non-mainstream ethos
K-pop