Confused by all of the sub-genres of electronic dance music (EDM)? No worries, EDM can be hard to categorize even by rabid fans. And it doesn’t help that the genre overall continues to shape shift, making it hard to track for even for the best of fans. But if you're like us, you get a little bit nerdy about these things and are always looking to educate yourself on all of these genres.

Herewith is a list of 40 sub-genres of EDM we've compiled to help you on this educational journey. This list is in no particular order and includes examples we thought best represent each genre, or that service as a launch pad for exploring the genre even more.

HOUSE

Characterized by a 4/4 beat and often includes repetitive loops of samples. It's versatile and can range from soulful to more minimalistic styles.

Example: "Music Sounds Better With You" by Stardust

TECHNO

Often faster-paced with a relentless, repetitive beat. It originated in Detroit and is associated with a futuristic, industrial sound.

Example: "The Bells" by Jeff Mills

TRANCE

Features repeating melodic phrases and is known for building up and breaking down large musical tension. It often has a fast tempo and anthemic qualities.

Example: "Adagio for Strings" by Tiësto

DRUM & BASS

Features fast breakbeats (typically 160-180 BPM) with heavy bass and sub-bass lines. It originated in the UK.

Example: "Inner City Life" by Goldie

DUBSTEP

Characterized by its heavy bass, reverberant drum patterns, clipped samples, and occasional vocals. It generally features a tempo of 140 BPM.

Example: "Bangarang" by Skrillex ft. Sirah

ELECTRO HOUSE

A fusion of house and electro. It's known for its heavy bass and punchy beats, often accompanied by melodic elements.

Example: "Animals" by Martin Garrix

PROGRESSIVE HOUSE

Evolves over time during the track, characterized by building up and breaking down sequences to create a more atmospheric and emotional sound.

Example: "Strobe" by Deadmau5

DEEP HOUSE

Description: A slower variant of house with deep basslines, mellow melodies, and often includes vocals. It emphasizes atmosphere and harmony.

Example: "Rej" by Âme

HARDSTYLE

Features a fast tempo (around 150 BPM), distorted kick drums, and catchy melodies. It's known for its energetic and hard sound.

Example: "Imaginary" by Brennan Heart

TRAP (EDM Trap)

Derived from hip-hop trap, it's known for its distinctive hi-hats, aggressive kick drums, and deep 808 basslines. It often incorporates dubstep-like drops.

Example: "Harlem Shake" by Baauer

BREAKBEAT/BREAKS

Breakbeats revolve around the use of a non-straightened 4/4 drum pattern (as opposed to the steady beat of house or trance). It's rhythmic and often incorporates hip-hop elements.

Example: "Windowlicker" by Aphex Twin

TROPICAL HOUSE

A sub-genre of house music featuring deeper instruments such as steel drums, marimba, and flute. It's laid-back and often has a sunny, beachy vibe.

Example: "Firestone" by Kygo ft. Conrad Sewell

FUTURE BASS

A broad genre that's characterized by its focus on a hard bassline with detuned synthesizers, rich chords, and melodic drops.

Example: "Never Be Like You" by Flume ft. Kai

AMBIENT

Focused on atmosphere and mood more than rhythmic or melodic structure, often used to induce relaxation.

Example: "Music for Airports" by Brian Eno

ACID HOUSE

A sub-genre of house music characterized by the squelchy sound of the Roland TB-303 electronic synthesizer-sequencer.

Example: "Higher State of Consciousness" by Josh Wink

BIG ROOM HOUSE

Recognized for its intense drops, large build-ups, and massive kicks. It's festival-friendly and designed for large crowds.

Example: "Tremor" by Dimitri Vegas, Martin Garrix, & Like Mike

NU-DISCO

A modern take on disco music, combining funk elements with house beats and synth pop.

Example: "Inspector Norse" by Todd Terje

FUTURE HOUSE

A fusion of deep house, UK garage, and other genres, characterized by its unique basslines and crisp percussion.

Example: "After Life" by Tchami ft. Stacy Barthe

HARDCORE (or Happy Hardcore)

A faster variant of EDM, often exceeding 170 BPM, known for its high-energy sound and the occasional incorporation of happy melodies.

Example: "Pretty Green Eyes" by Ultrabeat

TRIP HOP

A more downtempo electronic genre, merging hip hop beats with atmospheric and moody soundscapes.

Example: "Teardrop" by Massive Attack

LIQUID DRUM & BASS

A smoother, more melodic sub-genre of drum & bass, with an emphasis on harmonious and atmospheric sounds.

Example: "By Your Side" by S.P.Y.

TECH HOUSE

A fusion of techno and house, combining the rhythmic grooves of house with the synthesized sounds of techno.

Example: "On Off" by Cirez D

WITCH HOUSE

A dark, occult-themed genre that combines chopped and screwed hip-hop beats with synths and noise influences.

Example: "G△†∑ ß△ߥ" by †‡† (Ritualz)

BASS HOUSE

Merges elements of house with aggressive basslines typically found in dubstep and future house.

Example: "Chicken Soup" by Skrillex & Habstrakt

MOOMBAHTON

A fusion of house music and reggaeton, characterized by a slow tempo, around 108 BPM, with reggaeton-influenced drum patterns.

Example: "Que Que" by Dillon Francis & Diplo ft. Maluca

PSYTRANCE (or Psychedelic Trance)

A sharper, faster variant of trance with layered melodies creating a hypnotic, psychedelic atmosphere.

Example: "Free Tibet" (Vini Vici Remix) by Hilight Tribe

GARAGE(UK Garage)

Originated in the UK, it's characterized by shuffled drum patterns, chopped-up vocals, and syncopated basslines.

Example: "Rewind" by Artful Dodger ft. Craig David

CHILLSTEP

A sub-genre of dubstep. It maintains the half-time tempo and bass, but tones down the aggressive sound in favor of more melodic and relaxed tunes.

Example: "Ocean" by Seven Lions & Jason Ross ft. Jonathan Mendelsohn

LO-FI HOUSE

A blend of house with lo-fi (low fidelity) elements, giving it a vintage or analog sound, often accompanied by mellow beats.

Example: "Winona" by DJ Boring

INDUSTRIAL TECHNO

A darker, more aggressive form of techno, often with a higher BPM and distorted sounds.

Example: "Spitfire" by Perc

ELECTRONICA

A broad term that encompasses various electronic music styles, known for its intricate soundscapes and downtempo beats.

Example: "Porcelain" by Moby

GHETTO HOUSE (or Booty House)

A sub-genre of house music originating from Chicago, known for its use of repetitive, sexually explicit lyrics and faster BPM.

Example: "Let Me Bang" by DJ Deeon

GLITCH HOP

Combines the glitch sound - characterized by malfunctioning electronic sounds - with the beats of hip-hop.

Example: "We Swarm" by The Glitch Mob

GOA TRANCE

A style of trance originating from Goa, India, recognized by its complex melodies, and Eastern musical influences.

Example: "Mahadeva" by Astral Projection

MINIMAL TECHNO

Stripped down version of techno, focusing on the use of repetition with subtle changes to create a hypnotic groove.

Example: "Windowlicker" (Trentemøller Remix) by Aphex Twin

NEUROFUNK

A sub-genre of drum & bass, it emphasizes complex, distorted basslines and a darker, atmospheric sound.

Example: "Stigma" by Noisia

OUTRUN (or Synthwave)

Inspired by 1980s film soundtracks, it's characterized by synthesizers and a retro-futuristic vibe.

Example: "Turbo Killer" by Carpenter Brut

PROGRESSIVE TRANCE

A sub-genre of trance music that emphasizes the build-up throughout the track, usually more melodic and less aggressive than other trance sub-genres.

Example: "Clear Blue Water" by OceanLab

SPEED GARAGE

A sub-genre that originated in the UK, characterized by its sped-up garage sound, warped basslines, and energetic beats.

Example: "RipGroove" by Double 99

UPLIFTING TRANCE (or Epic Trance)

A style of trance music that emphasizes melody, emotion, and a euphoric atmosphere, often with long build-ups and breakdowns.

Example: "Man On The Run" by Dash Berlin with Cerf, Mitiska & Jaren

The electronic music universe continues to grow and diversify, with each sub-genre adding its unique touch and interpretation to the vast world of EDM. Share your favorite sub-genres, or even those we didn’t include, in the comments.