Listen: Drone music examples
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About Drone music
Drone music is a music genre that emerged in United States and United Kingdom in the 1950s. It is usually classed as a form of experimental music and minimal music. Its influences include minimalist music and pedal.
Well-known performers associated with it include John Cale, Lou Reed, The Velvet Underground and Brian Eno.
From Wikipedia
Drone music (also known as drone-based music, or simply drone) is a minimalist genre of music that emphasizes the use of sustained sounds, notes, or tone clusters called drones. It is typically characterized by lengthy compositions featuring relatively slight harmonic variations. La Monte Young, one of its 1960s originators, defined it in 2000 as "the sustained tone branch of minimalism." Music containing drones can be found in many regional traditions across Asia, Australia, and Europe, but the genre label is generally reserved for music originating with the Western classical tradition. Elements of drone music have been incorporated in diverse genres such as rock, ambient, and electronic music.
Genre family tree
Parent genres (↑) and subgenres (↓) of Drone music.
- ↑ experimental music
- ↑ minimal music
Key artists
- John Cale
- Lou Reed
- The Velvet Underground
- Brian Eno
Related genres
Industrial music
1970s · United Kingdom
Experimental rock
1960s · United States
Noise music
1910s · Europe
Electroacoustic music
1950s
Turntablism
1990s · United States
Sound art
art discipline that uses sound as a medium
Free improvisation
1960s
Experimental pop
pop music that cannot be categorized within traditional musical bounda
Questions people ask
Real questions from the Stack Exchange community – follow a link to read the discussion.
- Oblivion - Drone sound design...WOW · Sound Design SE
- Avant Garde Enthusiasts (drone, noise etc..) · Sound Design SE
Frequently asked questions
What is Drone music?
Drone music is a music genre that emerged in United States and United Kingdom in the 1950s. It is usually classed as a form of experimental music and minimal music. Its influences include minimalist music and pedal.
Where and when did Drone music originate?
Drone music originated in United States and United Kingdom in the 1950s.
Who are famous Drone music artists?
John Cale, Lou Reed, The Velvet Underground and Brian Eno.