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.’
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Types of music genres (41–50)
Candombe
It’s a style of traditional music from Uruguay.
Created by Afro-Uruguayans based on African drumming, it centers on a percussion instrument called the tambor.
In Uruguay, it’s so beloved that it’s a highlight of Carnival!
Klezmer
Klezmer is music that originated with German Jews and Eastern European Jewish communities, and the term can also refer to the musicians who play it.
Centered on the clarinet and violin, it ranges from very fast pieces to slow ones, performed using a distinctive, plaintive scale.
Kroncong
Among Indonesian music, this is a genre that is listened to as popular music.
To put it roughly, it corresponds to what would be called kayōkyoku or enka in Japan, and even after Western pop music was introduced, it has maintained strong popularity in its home country.
Cumbia
It is one of Colombia’s traditional music styles, and its name comes from a word in an African language meaning “feast.” With a 2/4 meter that emphasizes the off-beats, it has elements in common with ska and reggae.
Known for its simple beats and addictive feel, it is also considered a form of Latin music!
cool jazz
Compared to bebop, it is a style of jazz that reduces a sense of dynamism, favors restrained playing, and keeps technique understated.
Although it was later defined as jazz by white people for white people, Miles Davis’s work “Birth of the Cool” is famous as the first notable example.
grindcore
It’s one of the subgenres of hardcore punk! Its most notable feature is the use of blast beats—ultra-fast two-beat rhythms—and many songs are extremely short, often under a minute, with some even under a second! It’s also a genre with many fans coming from heavy metal.
glam rock
It’s a style of rock that was popular in the UK in the early 1970s! Named glam rock from “glamorous,” it means an enchanting kind of rock.
It’s characterized by gaudy makeup, glittering outfits, and androgynous behavior, and it often features upbeat, catchy sounds.