Music has tremendous power. It breaks all barriers and boundaries and strikes an instant chord with listeners. The musical styles from musicians across the globe are vast. This article explores different types of music and music genres.

The earliest forms of music were the sounds of nature. In the early ages man made instruments from wood, and bones of animals. Ethnic handmade instruments were used by tribes in rituals and ceremonies. Although traditional music seems to be taking a downward spiral, there is no doubt about its revival in the future.

How music genres and sub-genres came into being

Technology and innovation has changed music a great deal. The vast number of modern musical instruments has allowed musicians to broaden the structure of improvisation. Traditional forms of music are being used in popular music to create new sounds.

Genres and subgenres are associated with different types of music. Purists and musicians believe music should not have genres, and rather the essence of music is a collective unified entity. However, the styles of music that have emerged over the years made it necessary for genres and sub-genres to come into being. Genre wise categorization of different types of music has made it easier for listeners to give bands and artists a listen in accordance with their likes or preferences.

Different types of music have led to offshoots of certain genres called subgenres. With musicians experimenting with various forms of music, new sub-genres of root genres will emerge. Experimental music will give rise to new art genres The styles and playing techniques of musical instruments in different types of music has changed dramatically. As new forms of music that seek influences from the past take shape, new genres and sub-genres will emerge. Will a rise in the number of music genres in the future make a music buff’s life chaotic? You decide! Here’s a list of different types of music, genres and subgenres.

Different type of music- Music genres and music styles

A

• Alternative Metal
• Acid House
• Aleatoric Music
• Acid Jazz
• Alternative Country
• Acid Rock
• Alternative Dance
• Acoustic Music
• Alternative Hip-Hop
• Adult Contemporary Music
• Alternative Rock
• Afrobeat
• Ambient Music
• Afropop
• Americana
• Avant-Garde Jazz
• Art Rock
• Anmie Music
• Avant-Garde Music
• Australian Hip-Hop
• Anti-Folk
• Art Punk
• Ashiq: American Bards
• Apala
• Axe
• Australian Country Music
• Avant-Garde Metal
• Aquacrunk
• Arabesque
• Austtralian Pub Rock
• Argentine Rock
• Ars Nova
• Arabic Pop

B

• Baltimore Club
• Batucada
• Bachata
• Ballet
• Baggy
• Bambuco
• Baiao
• Banda
• Bakersfield Sound
• Bangsawan
• Bakshy
• Bantowbol
• Bal-musette
• Barbershop
• Bajourou
• Balakadri
• Barn Dance
• Balinese Gamelan
• Bassline
• Balearic beat
• Bass
• Baroque
• Balkan Brass Band
• Ballad
• Bata-rumba
• Ballata
• Baisha xiyue
• Beach
• Benga
• Beat
• Bend-skin
• Bebop
• Berlin School
• Beatboxing
• Beiguan
• Bel canto
• Beautiful (Easy Listening)
• Bhangragga
• Bhangra
• Bhajan
• Big Beat
• Biomusic
• Biguine
• Bihu
• Bitpop
• Big Band
• Black Metal
• Blues Ballad
• Bluegrass
• Blackened Death Metal
• Blues
• Blue-Eyed Soul
• Blues-Rock
• Bossa Nova
• Bouncy Techno
• Boi
• Bounce
• Brass
• Byzantine
• Breakbeat
• Bush Ballad
• Breakbeat Hardcore
• Burgundian School
• Breakcore
• Burger-highlife
• Breton
• Bunraku
• Brill Building Sound
• Bulerias
• Brit Funk
• Bikutsi
• Britpop
• Bubblegum Pop
• British Blues
• Brostep
• Bubblegum Dance
• Broken Beat
• British Invasion
• Brukdown
• Brown-Eyed Soul

C

• Ca Din Tulnic
• Campursari
• Ca tru
• Calypso-style baila
• Cabaret
• Calypso
• Cajun
• Cadence-lypso
• Calgija
• Cadence rampa
• Calinda
• Cai luong

 

• Candombe
• Cartageneras
• Canon
• Carol
• Cantata
• Carnatic
• Cante Chico
• Cantiga
• Cariso
• Cante Jondo
• Capoeira
• Canterbury Scene
• Canzone Napoletana
• Canto Livre
• Cantinas
• Cantopop
• Cavacha
• Cello Rock
• Celtic Rock
• Celempungan
• Celtic Hip Hop
• Celtic Reggae
• Celtic
• Celtic Punk
• Celtic Metal
• Celtic Fusion
• Cha-Cha-Cha
• Chau van
• Chacarera
• Chastushka
• Chakacha
• Charikawi
• Chalga
• Charanga-vallenata
• Chamame
• Charanga
• Chamber Jazz
• Chanson
• Chap Hop
• Chamber
• Changui
• Chant
• Champeta
• Cheo
• Chiptune
• Children’s Music
• Chinese Rock
• Chicago Soul
• Chicago Blues
• Chinese Music
• Chill-Out
• Chicago House
• Chillwave
• Chicken Scratch
• Chouval Bwa
• Chylandyk
• Chowtal
• Christian Ska
• Choro
• Christian Rock
• Christian Hip Hop
• Christian Alternative Rock
• Christian Punk
• Christian Country
• Christian Music
• Christmas Carol
• Christian Metal
• Christian Electronic
• Christmas Music
• Christian Hardcore
• Chumba
• Chutney Soca
• Chut-Kai-Pang
• Chutney
• Classic Country
• Classic Rock
• Close Harmony
• Classic Female Blues
• Classical Period
• Classical
• Coimbra Fado
• Corrido
• Coladeira
• Cool Jazz
• Coldwave
• Contradanza
• Combined Rhythm
• Contemporary R&B
• Concerto Grosso
• Comedy Music
• Contemporary Christian Music
• Comedy Rap
• Conjunto
• Comic Opera
• Concerto
• Conga
• Comedy Rock
• Compas
• Country Blues
• Country Rock
• Cow Punk
• Country Music
• Coupe-Decale
• Country Rap
• Country Pop
• Cretan
• Cybergrind
• Crossover Thrash
• Cuarteto
• Cumbia Villera
• Crunk
• Cumbia
• Crunkcore
• Cueca
• Crust Punk
• Casardas

D

• Dabke
• Dark Wave
• Dadra
• Darkstep
• Dadra Tala
• Darkcore
• Diana
• Dark Cabaret
• Dance
• Dark Ambient
• Dance-Pop
• Dangdut
• Dappan Koothu
• Dance –Punk
• Danzon
• Dance- Rock
• Danza
• Dancehall
• Dansband
• Danger
• De Dragoste
• Dhun
• Deathcore
• Dhrupad
• Deathgrind
• Dhamar
• Death Industrial
• Detroit Techno
• Death Metal
• Deep House
• Detroit Blues
• Death-Doom
• Desi
• Death Rock
• Dementia
• Decima
• Delta Blues
• Digital hardcore
• Drumstep
• Dirge
• Drum and Bass
• Dirty Rap
• Drone
• Disco
• Drone Metal
• Disco Polo
• Dream Pop
• Diva House
• Downtempo
• Dixieland
• Doom Metal
• Djent
• Dondang Sayang
• Doo-wop
• Doina
• Dongjing
• Donegal fiddle tradition
• Dub
• Dutch Jazz
• Dubstyle
• Dubtronica
• Dunedin Sound
• Dubstep
• Dunun
• Early
• Enka
• East Coast Blues
• Emo
• East Coast Hip Hop
• Elevator Music
• Easy Listening
• Electronica
• Electric Blues
• Electronic Rock
• Electric Folk
• Electroclash
• Electronic Music
• Electro
• Electronic Dance
• Electro Backbeat
• Electronic Body Music
• Electro-Industrial
• Electro Swing
• Eremwu eu
• Extreme Metal
• Ethereal Wave
• Experimental Rock
• Eurobeat
• Experimental
• Euro Pop
• Eurodance
• Exotica
• Euro Disco

F

• Fado
• Forro
• Falak
• Folktronica
• Fandango
• Folk Rock
• Farruca
• Folk Punk
• Filk
• Folk Pop
• Film Score
• Flamenco
• Folk
• Filmi
• Fingerstyle
• Folk Metal
• Filmi-Gazhal
• Franco-Country
• Frevo
• Freakbeat
• Free Tekno
• Free Music
• Freak Folk
• Free Style
• Free Jazz
• Free Improvisation
• Fuji
• Futurepop
• Full on Trance
• Future Garage
• Funana
• Funk Metal
• Fusion Jazz
• Funeral Doom
• Funk
• Furniture Music
• Funk Rock
• Funky House

G

• G-Funk
• Galant
• Gagku
• Gaana
• Gaita Zuliana
• Gabber
• Gamelan
• Gangsta Rap
• Gamelan Bebonnangan
• Gandurung
• Gamelan Salendro
• Gamelan Degung
• Gammaldans
• Gamelan Selunding
• Gamelan Gong Kebyar
• Gamelan Semar Pegulingan
• Gar
• Garage Rock
• Gavotte
• Garage House
• Gender Wayang
• Gwana
• German Folk
• Glitch
• Girl Group
• Ghetto House
• Glam Rock
• Ghettotech
• Glam Metal
• Glam Punk
• Go-Go
• Grupera
• Goa Trance
• Grunge
• Gong Chime
• Group Sounds
• Goombay
• Groove Metal
• Grebo
• Goregrind
• Grindcore
• Goshu Ondo
• Grime
• Gospel
• Gothic Rock
• Gregorian Chant
• Gothic Metal
• Guajira
• Gypsy Punk
• Gwo Ka
• Gumbe
• Gypsy Jazz
• Guoyue
• Gunchei
• Gwo Ka Moderne
• Gunka

H

• Habanera
• Hasapiko
• Halling
• Harmonica Blues
• Hambo
• Hard Trance
• Hamburger Schule
• Hardstyle
• Hardcore Techno
• Happy Hardcore
• Hard Bop
• Hardstep
• Haqibah
• Hard Rock
• Hardcore Hip Hop
• Hard House
• Hardcore Punk
• Hat Tuong
• House
• Heartland Rock
• Horror Punk
• Heavy Metal
• Horrorcore
• Hi-NRG
• Hornpipe
• Highlife
• Hindustani Classical
• Hora Lunga
• Hiplife
• Honkyoku
• Hip Hop
• Hiragasy
• Honky-Tonk
• Hip House
• Huayno
• Hyphy
• Hyangak
• Hula
• Hymn
• Humppa
• Hunguhungu

I

• Icaro
• Izvorna Bosanska
• Igbo
• Italo House
• Illbient
• Italo Dance
• Impressionist
• Isolationist
• Improvisational
• Isicathamiya
• Incidental
• Irish Rebel
• Indietronica
• Irish Folk
• Indie Folk
• Inuit
• Industrial
• Indie
• Intelligent Dance
• Indie Pop
• Instrumental Rock
• Indie Rock
• Industrial Hip Hop
• Industrial Rock
• Indo Jazz
• Italo Disco
• Industrial Metal
• Industrial Death Metal
• Industrial Musical

J

• J Rock
• Jesus
• J Pop
• Jenkka
• Jaipongan
• Jegog
• Jam
• Jawaiian
• Jazz Rap
• Jamrieng Samai
• Jazz Fusion
• Jangle Pop
• Jazz-Funk
• Jarana Yucateca
• Jazz-Blues
• Jarocho
• Jazz
• Jig
• Junkanoo
• Jing Ping
• Jungle
• Jingle
• Jumpstyle
• Jit
• Jump Blues
• Jitterbug
• Juju
• Joik
• Jive
• Juke Point Blues
• Joged
• Jug
• Joged Bumbung
• Jota
• Joropo

K

• Kaba
• Kayokyoku
• Kabuki
• Kawachi ondo
• Kagok
• Kachashi
• Kaiso
• Kaseko
• Kantrum
• Kalamatiano
• Kargyraa
• Kan ha diskan
• Kansas City Blues
• Kecak
• Khene
• Khoomei
• Kacapi suling
• Khyal
• Khaleeji
• Kertok
• Kirtan
• Kpanlogo
• Kiwi rock
• Kolomyjka
• Kizomba
• Klasik
• Kliningan
• Klapa
• Klezmer
• Krakowaik
• Kundiman
• Kwela
• Krautrock
• Kwassa Kwassa
• Kirti
• Kulintang
• Kwaito
• Kroncong
• Kavaeoi
• Kuduro

L

• Latin Pop
• Lambada
• Lavani
• Legenyes
• Latin Metal
• Lowercase
• Letkajenkka
• Lovers Rock
• Lhamo
• Lounge
• Liquindi
• Lied
• Louisiana Blues
• Light
• Long Song
• Lo-Fi
• Liquid Funk
• Luk Krung
• Logobi
• Lu
• Lundu
• Lubbock Sound
• Lullaby
• Luk Thung

M

• Madchester
• Mambo
• Mahori
• M-base
• Maloya
• Madrigal
• Malhun
• Mafioso Rap
• Makossa
• Manaschi
• Mangue Bit
• Mapouka
• Mandopop
• Manila Sound
• Manele
• Marabi
• Mazurka
• Maracatu
• Maxixe
• Mariachi
• Math Rock
• Martinetes
• Marrabenta
• Mathcore
• Martial Industrial
• Matamuerte
• Maskanda
• Mass
• Marinera
• Mbalax
• Mezwed
• Mbaqnaga
• Meykhana
• Mbube
• Mexican Rock
• Meditation
• Metalcore
• Medieval Folk Rock
• Meringue
• Medieval Metal
• Merengue Tipico
• Medieval
• Merengue
• Melodic Metalcore
• Mejoranera
• Mento
• Malhun
• Melodic
• Minuet
• Memphis Soul
• Melam
• Memphis Blues
• Minimal Trance
• Mini-Jazz
• Melodic Hardcore
• Miami Bass
• Milonga
• Microhouse
• Min’yo
• Minneapolis Sound
• Minimal
• Minstrel
• Minimal Techno

N

• Neoclassical
• New York Blues
• Neo-Classical Metal
• New Wave
• New Age
• Nashville Sound
• New Wave of British Heavy Metal
• Nu Jazz
• Nu Metal

O

• Opera
• Old School Hip Hop
• Oldies
• Orchestra
• Outsider Music
• Oriental Metal
• Operatic Rock
• Operatic Pop
• Organum

P

• Punk Rock
• Pagan Metal
• Peace Punk
• Psychobilly
• Pagan Rock
• Peyote Song
• Parody
• Persian Traditional Music
• Piano Blues
• Power Metal
• Power Pop
• Progressive Metal
• Post Grunge
• Progressive Rock
• Progressive Bluegrass
• Psychedelic Music
• Punk Blues

Q

• Quiet Storm
• Qawwali
• Queencore

R

• Rap
• Reggae
• Raga Rock
• Ragtime
• Rock
• Rockabilly
• Rock N Roll
• Rumba
• Religious

S

• Samba
• Salsa
• Seapunk
• Shango
• Show Tune
• Sludge Metal
• Shock Rock
• Ska Punk
• Skiffle
• Smooth Jazz
• Slowcore
• Soft Rock
• Soul Blues
• Soul Jazz
• Southern Rock
• Speed Metal
• Sufi
• Stoner Rock
• Swing Music
• Stoner Metal
• Surf music
• Synthpop
• Symphonic Black Metal
• Swamp Blues
• Symphonic Rock
• Synthpunk

T

• Techno
• Technical Metal
• Tech House
• Thrashcore
• Technical Death Metal
• Texas Blues
• Thrash Metal
• Trance
• Trip Hop
• Trip Music

U

• UK Garage
• Urban Folk
• Unblack Metal
• UK Pub Rock

V

• Vocal Jazz
• Video Game Music
• Visual Kei
• Visual Music
• Verismo
• Viking Metal

W

• Waltz
• Wizard Rock
• Western Blues
• Waltz
• World Music
• Western Swing
• West Coast Hip Hop

X

• Xhosa
• Xote

Y

• Yass
• Yodeling
• Yo-Pop
• Yayue

Z

• Zamrock
• Zulu Music
• Zapin
• Zydeco
• Zef
• Zouglou