Genres
41 musical genres — each one a living, evolving language of sound.
Afrobeat
Genre pioneered by Fela Kuti fusing Yoruba music, jazz, and funk with socially conscious lyrics.
Arabic Music
Classical and popular music of the Arab world, characterised by the maqam modal system.
Bhajan
Hindu devotional songs typically sung in a call-and-response style.
Bluegrass
American roots music derived from the music of Scots-Irish and other European immigrants to Appalachia.
Blues
African-American genre rooted in field hollers, spirituals, and work songs; foundation of much of modern popular music.
Bossa Nova
Brazilian genre blending samba rhythms with jazz harmonies; emerged in Rio de Janeiro in the late 1950s.
Carnatic Classical
South Indian classical music tradition encompassing kriti, varnam, ragam-tanam-pallavi, and concert forms.
Chamber Music
Western classical music written for a small ensemble, typically performed without a conductor.
Chinese Classical
Traditional and classical music of China including guqin, pipa, erhu, and regional operatic forms.
Classical
Western European art music tradition from the medieval period through the 20th century.
Country
American popular music rooted in Southern folk, Appalachian, and western cowboy traditions.
Devotional
Music composed or performed for religious or spiritual purposes across any tradition.
Electronic
Music produced primarily with electronic instruments and technology.
Fado
Portuguese music characterised by mournful tunes and lyrics, often with themes of longing (saudade).
Flamenco
Andalusian art form encompassing song (cante), guitar (toque), and dance (baile); deeply influenced by Moorish and Romani traditions.
Folk
Traditional music passed down through oral tradition within a community or region.
Gamelan
Ensemble music of Java and Bali built around bronze percussion instruments; a defining art form of Indonesian culture.
Gnawa
Moroccan spiritual music of sub-Saharan origin, performed in healing ceremonies using guembri and krakeb.
Gospel
Christian devotional music rooted in African-American church traditions.
Griot Music
Music of the West African jeli (griot) storyteller-musician tradition; encompasses kora, balafon, and vocal praise music.
Highlife
West African genre originating in Ghana and Nigeria, blending indigenous rhythms with Western brass and guitar.
Hindustani Classical
North Indian classical music tradition encompassing khayal, dhrupad, thumri, and instrumental forms.
Hip-Hop
African-American musical and cultural form encompassing rap, DJing, beatboxing, and sampling.
Japanese Classical
Traditional music of Japan including koto, shakuhachi, gagaku court music, and theatrical forms.
Jazz
African-American music tradition originating in New Orleans, characterised by improvisation, syncopation, and swing.
Kirtan
Devotional chanting practice in Hindu and Sikh traditions, often participatory.
Mbalax
Senegalese popular music fusing sabar drumming with Cuban rhythms and Wolof griot traditions.
Opera
Western staged dramatic work combining music, singing, and orchestral performance.
Persian Classical
Classical music of Iran based on the dastgah modal system, featuring tar, setar, and santour.
Pop
Broad genre of popular music characterised by catchy melodies, verse-chorus structure, and mass appeal.
Qawwali
Sufi devotional music of South Asia, made internationally known by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
R&B
Rhythm and blues; a broad genre of African-American popular music with roots in jazz, gospel, and blues.
Reggae
Jamaican music characterised by offbeat rhythms, Rastafarian themes, and a strong bass-heavy sound.
Rock
Genre rooted in 1950s rock and roll, characterised by electric guitar, bass, and drums.
Salsa
Cuban-derived dance music with roots in son cubano; a dominant form across Latin America and urban Latino communities.
Samba
Brazilian music and dance genre with African roots; the defining music of Rio Carnival.
Soul
Music combining gospel, rhythm and blues, and jazz, emphasising emotional expressiveness and vocal technique.
Spiritual
African-American religious folk songs originating in the era of slavery.
Sufi
Devotional music associated with Islamic mysticism; includes qawwali, sama, and related forms.
Traditional
Music closely tied to the customs and practices of a specific cultural community.
World Music
Broad umbrella term for non-Western popular and traditional music; often used for cross-cultural fusion.