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Music genre

Electronic music

Electronic music is a music genre in the 1920s. It is usually classed as a form of music. Explore its 24 subgenres, key artists and related styles.

Listen: Electronic music examples

Hypnotic ambient electronic music by MusicLM
0:20Public domainby MusicLM artificial intelligence; prompted by…Wikimedia Commons
0:20
Variations on electronic music
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Tip: press play to see the sound's live frequency spectrum in blue over the waveform.

About Electronic music

Electronic music is a music genre in the 1920s. It is usually classed as a form of music.

Among the best-known names in the style are Madonna, David Bowie, Björk, Yoko Ono, Robbie Williams and Hande Yener.

Electronic music has given rise to 24 subgenres on this site, such as Electronic dance music, Electronic rock, Electronica and Synthwave.

From Wikipedia

Electronic music broadly is a group of music genres that employ electronic musical instruments, circuitry-based music technology and software, or general-purpose electronics (such as personal computers) in its creation. It includes both music made using electronic and electromechanical means (electroacoustic music). Pure electronic instruments depend entirely on circuitry-based sound generation, for instance using devices such as an electronic oscillator, theremin, or synthesizer: no acoustic waves need to be previously generated by mechanical means and then converted into electrical signals. On the other hand, electromechanical instruments have mechanical parts such as strings or hammers that generate the sound waves, together with electric elements including magnetic pickups, power amplifiers and loudspeakers process the electric signals produced by the pickups and convert them back into sound waves. Such electromechanical devices include the telharmonium, Hammond organ, electric piano and electric guitar.

Genre family tree

Parent genres (↑) and subgenres (↓) of Electronic music.

Key artists

  • Madonna
  • David Bowie
  • Björk
  • Yoko Ono
  • Robbie Williams
  • Hande Yener
  • Vangelis
  • John Cage
  • Daft Punk
  • Moby

Questions people ask

Real questions from the Stack Exchange community – follow a link to read the discussion.

Frequently asked questions

What is Electronic music?

Electronic music is a music genre in the 1920s. It is usually classed as a form of music.

Where and when did Electronic music originate?

Electronic music originated in the 1920s.

Who are famous Electronic music artists?

Madonna, David Bowie, Björk, Yoko Ono, Robbie Williams and Hande Yener.

Sources & credits