Types of music genres
The famous saying goes, “There are only two kinds of music: good and bad.” That said, it’s often easier to start listening when music is categorized by genre.
Use this as a reference to help you discover new ‘good music.’
Types of music genres (1–10)
hardcore techno
It’s a style of electronic music that emerged simultaneously in places like Rotterdam in the Netherlands, New York in the United States, and Newcastle in Australia.
It’s characterized by a high BPM, assertive beats, and bold, rhythmic sampling.
The genre is quite subdivided, with many different variations.
Eurobeat
A type of dance music that mainly uses electronic instruments, characterized by a 4/4 time signature and a fast tempo around 120–160 BPM.
Even after Eurobeat lost popularity outside Japan from the 1990s onward, it has remained popular in Japan for a long time.
It’s said that Eurobeat’s four-on-the-floor style makes it easy to keep the beat, which is a key reason for its popularity among Japanese listeners, who are often considered to have weaker sense of rhythm.
Calypso
A musical style born on the islands of the Caribbean, which some say is the root of reggae.
It is said to have originally begun as communication among African slaves who did not share a common language, and later evolved in many forms into a traditional music.
techno-pop
Electro-pop is characterized by its cold, robotic feel and an emphasis on electronic sounds.
It’s a genre greatly influenced by the Japanese band Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO).
It became one form of electronic music that first gained popularity between 1978 and 1981, producing numerous classic tracks.
bluegrass
A subgenre of country music said to have originated in the American South in the 1950s, featuring an acoustic sound that incorporates traditional music from Scotland and Ireland.
Many songs are fast-paced, and one of the genre’s hallmarks is the use of rapid, virtuosic instrumental playing.
ment
It’s a musical genre that existed in Jamaica before ska and reggae.
It’s so-called folk music played with acoustic instruments, and from this music, ska and reggae developed—truly Jamaica’s traditional music.
Afrobeat
It is a genre of African music originating from the Yoruba/Nigerian tradition that draws on funk and jazz, characterized by a brass-band ensemble that incorporates African percussion.
The music is also marked by powerful sounds that express political lyrics and an energy toward liberation.
It may be a genre that is not very well known in Japan.