A List of Music Genres: 20 Styles of Music Explained

What are the main music genres?

The main music genres are pop, rock, hip-hop, R&B and soul, country, jazz, blues, classical, electronic, folk, Latin, reggae and gospel. Each has many subgenres, from punk and heavy metal inside rock to trap and boom bap inside hip-hop, and streaming services today track thousands of smaller styles. Most songs mix more than one genre, which is why the lines between them keep moving.

A list of music genres

1. Pop: catchy, melody-first music made for a wide audience, from the Beatles and Michael Jackson to Taylor Swift.
2. Rock: guitar-driven music born from rock and roll in the 1950s, from Elvis and Chuck Berry to Led Zeppelin and Foo Fighters.
3. Hip-hop and rap: rhythmic rhymes over beats, born at block parties in the Bronx in the 1970s.
4. R&B and soul: rhythm and blues grew from Black American music of the 1940s, and soul added gospel fire in the 60s.
5. Country: story songs with roots in Appalachian folk and the American South, centered on Nashville.
6. Jazz: improvised, swinging music from New Orleans in the early 1900s.
7. Blues: the foundation of much modern music, from the Mississippi Delta and Chicago.
8. Classical: composed concert music from Bach and Mozart to film scores today.
9. Electronic and EDM: music made with synthesizers and computers, from disco and house to techno and dubstep.
10. Folk: traditional songs passed down by ear, and the singer-songwriters they inspired.
11. Latin: a family of styles including salsa, bachata, cumbia, reggaeton and Latin pop.
12. Reggae: the offbeat, laid-back sound of Jamaica, made world famous by Bob Marley.
13. Gospel and Christian: music of faith, from spirituals and choirs to modern worship.
14. Metal: heavy, loud and powerful, from Black Sabbath to Metallica.
15. Punk: fast, raw and rebellious, from the Ramones and the Sex Pistols.
16. Funk: groove-first music built on bass and rhythm, from James Brown to Prince.
17. Disco: the four-on-the-floor dance music of the 1970s.
18. Indie and alternative: music made outside, or in reaction to, the mainstream.
19. Ambient: calm, atmospheric music meant to set a mood rather than demand attention.
20. K-pop: the polished, high-energy pop of South Korea, now global.

Pop and rock

Pop music is defined less by sound than by its goal: songs with strong hooks that as many people as possible will love. Rock grew out of 50s rock and roll, which blended rhythm and blues, country and gospel, and in the 60s and 70s it split into styles from hard rock and progressive rock to punk, heavy metal and, later, grunge and indie rock. For examples, see our 70s rock songs and grunge rock songs.

Hip-hop, R&B and soul

Hip-hop began in the 1970s when DJs in the Bronx looped the drum breaks of funk records and MCs rhymed over them. It became the most popular genre in America by the 2010s. R&B and soul, from Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and Motown to Beyoncé, gave pop music much of its rhythm and vocal style. For more, see our 80s rap songs and 90s rap songs.

Country and folk

Country music grew from the folk songs of the American South and Appalachia, mixed with blues and gospel, and became an industry in Nashville. Folk music is older still: songs passed down through generations, revived in the 50s and 60s by Pete Seeger, Joan Baez and Bob Dylan. For more, see our 2000s country songs and traditional folk songs.

Jazz, blues and classical

The blues, born in the Mississippi Delta, gave rock, R&B and jazz their basic shapes. Jazz began in New Orleans and grew through swing, bebop, cool jazz and fusion, built on improvisation. Classical music covers centuries of composed concert music, from the Baroque of Bach to the symphonies of Beethoven and the film scores of today. For more, see our famous jazz songs and most famous Mozart pieces.

Electronic, Latin and world music

Electronic music runs from 70s disco and the synth-pop of the 80s to house, techno and the EDM festivals of today. Latin music includes dozens of styles from salsa and merengue to reggaeton and Latin trap, and reggae, Afrobeats and K-pop have all become global sounds. For more, see our 70s disco songs and Spanish love songs.

How many music genres are there?

There is no single official number. Most lists name between 10 and 20 main genres, but each splits into many subgenres, and streaming services and music researchers now track thousands of smaller styles, often defined by a city, a decade or a single scene. New genres keep appearing as artists mix old sounds in new ways.

How to find your favorite music style

Start with the songs you already love and notice what they have in common: the instruments, the tempo, the voice or the mood. Then explore one step further: if you love Fleetwood Mac, try other 70s soft rock; if you love Adele, try classic soul. Playlists organized by genre and by decade are an easy way to discover new favorites.

Music genres for a personalized song

When you create a personalized song with Cantarova, you choose from 14 genres, including pop, acoustic, country, R&B, jazz, classical, rock, folk, Latin, hip-hop, ambient and electronic. Pick the style the person you love listens to most, or choose one that fits the moment: acoustic or classical for a wedding, country or rock for a birthday, jazz or R&B for an anniversary.

How to create a personalized song

1. Choose a style from 14 genres.
2. Add their name.
3. Share three memories or details about them.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $35.99, or $40.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Give them a song in their favorite style: create a song and hear four previews for free.