If you want to learn electronic music, the first step should be acquiring appropriate equipment and resources for learning it. Beyond this, however, it’s also essential that you develop an understanding of its history and evolution.
Pre-World War II experiments with sound-producing devices provided the technical foundation for modern electronic music. Composers utilized this technology as part of their compositional strategies, producing diverse results.
Electro
Electro Funk, commonly referred to as electro funk, is an electroacoustic music genre combining elements from Hip Hop with Rock and Funk music genres. Easily identifiable by its use of drum machines and electronic sounds; fast tempo; lyrics often dealing with issues related to technology or society; initial works from electrofunk were inspired by German technopop band Kraftwerk as well as British futurist acts like Human League and Gary Numan among other influences.
Funk’s sound differs significantly from that of disco, which typically featured more traditional vocal and rhythm patterns. Funk features distorted percussion sounds and vocal effects like talkboxing or vocodering for vocal delivery in an often deadpan fashion; basslines are typically absent which adds an aggressive element.
From World War I through World War II, electronic musical instruments were created. At this time, basic circuits for sine, sawtooth, and square wave generators were invented as well as amplifiers, filter circuits, loudspeakers, mechanical acoustical recording processes were replaced with electrical recording processes; frequency spectrum analysis also occurred at this time to separate fundamental tones (Sine waves) from their harmonic overtones (Square and Sawtooth waves).
During this era of innovation, many musicians began experimenting with electronic instrumentation. Drum machines and synthesizers quickly gained in popularity because they allowed artists to produce an abundance of new sounds from these devices – inspired often by nature-sounds but capable of recreating other instruments’ sounds if programmed accordingly.
Electronic instruments enable artists to alter the tone of their voices using effects such as tremolo and phasers to alter vocal tone. Such effects can help highlight or downplay certain frequencies within audio tracks while adding vibrancy and depth.
Recently, an electro music genre with more modern and rock influences known as Electroclash has gained increasing popularity. This genre can sometimes be called by its official name on Discogs; typically featuring faster tempo than pure electro and more rhythmic than house music – as well as lead synths with distortion effects and rich harmonic content – Electroclash music has quickly become one of the hottest trends.
EDM
Electronic Dance Music (EDM), also known as electronic dance music, encompasses various subgenres of dance music tailored specifically for crowds of dancers. EDM includes disco music, synthpop, techno and dubstep – among many other sounds – but most notably synthesized beats and melodies which define EDM, DJs who use computers to produce tracks which then get played at clubs and festivals are the key creators of such tunes.
As the genre has gained in popularity, it has influenced a new generation of musicians while opening up endless possibilities to its fans. New electronic sounds have emerged while expanding what constitutes music genre.
EDM music has quickly become a mainstream part of mainstream music industry and many acclaimed artists have made names for themselves within this genre, such as The Chainsmokers, Martin Garrix, Steve Aoki, Daft Punk and Tiesto – not to mention pop, rock and hip-hop musicians who incorporate elements of EDM in their sound.
While most other genres of music have made the transition easily, older styles of music have had more difficulty adapting. This is particularly evident for traditional instruments that have been replaced by digital devices – once played using piano or guitar, now recorded using digital audio workstation (DAW) software which offers many features for mixing and editing sound files.
Though traditional music has changed greatly over time, certain elements remain. A drummer still keeps the rhythm while using percussion for fills and accents; however, production allows more freedom; for instance a song can easily be modified according to one’s mood at any given time by speeding up or slowing down bass lines, or replacing one riff with another from its library of samples included with software.
Hip-Hop
Hip hop music and culture originated in New York’s South Bronx during an economic downturn, with four components: deejaying or turntablism; deejaying of rhymed speech called rapping or “rhyme spitting”, graffiti painting commonly called “graff”, and break dancing or “b-boying”. Hip hop has quickly become a worldwide phenomenon and a dominant force within the music industry; furthermore it has inspired musicians in other genres, including electronic dance music and rock.
Hip hop’s early musicians had few resources but revolutionized the industry through innovative techniques and philosophies. They often employed simple equipment like turntables and classic records to produce beats; sampling the best parts from older funk, jazz, and soul albums to compose new songs with drum machines, synthesizers, and vocal effects added for effect.
Hip-hop music was initially an instrumental genre; however, soon afterwards it evolved to include rappers and dancers. Dancers would jump, spin, and perform other movements while the rapper chanted rhythmic lyrics; some lyrics might even be politically or socially charged; for example “Everything’s Alright,” by Kendrick Lamar is an invocation that life’s hardships will eventually pass by itself.
Public Enemy, Tupac Shakur, Notorious B.I.G, Schoolly D, and MC Hammer all played key roles during hip-hop’s golden era in the late 1980s and early ’90s. Their styles featured hard-edged sounds with aggressive beats that depicted inner city youth through lyrics; as well as their unique language known as street slang, which many outside of hip-hop could recognize with words such as dis, suck, homie.
After its golden era, hip-hop began to spread globally and gain ground across Japan, China, and Taiwan. Rapping became an integral component of hip-hop movements there; several Chinese rappers gained international renown, such as Wu-Tang Clan MC Hot Dog and Xiao Yin’s ill flow rapping styles. Even during times of economic crises such as today, hip-hop remains an integral component of global culture.
Rock
Rock music is one of the most beloved forms of musical expression, boasting an upbeat beat and iconic instruments such as electric guitars and drums. Rock can convey feelings that words alone cannot describe, while its wide array of styles and sub genres express various moods, some more intense while others more relaxed.
At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, experimental music began taking shape through emerging electronics. These new instruments enabled experimental composition without using traditional musical instruments or recording technology; several electrical instruments emerged including Golden Dionysis (an electronic instrument played using keyboards or wire rings), Telharmonium (1896), Hammond organ ondes Martenot (1896), Telharmonium 1896 (1896) as well as ondes Martenot which could be played using piano keys or even by touching it with a horn player’s fingers.
In the late 1960s, some well-known musicians began incorporating electronic sounds into their music, like American duo Silver Apples who utilized oscillators and synthesizers to produce psychedelic tunes. Also during this period were studios like Studio d’Essai in Paris and Cologne Electronic Studio that allowed experimentation with different sounds and effects.
In the 1970s, two music movements that would profoundly shape its future emerged: disco-music and punk-rock. Disco was one of the first popular forms to incorporate electronic instruments, leading to new genres like synth-pop (which featured synthesizers in their composition) gaining prominence through acts such as Ultravox, Depeche Mode and New Order as major successes.
With the dawn of digital music production and distribution came much greater ease. Programs such as Ableton Live or Reason have enabled even those without technical expertise to produce high-quality music with ease, opening doors for an entirely new generation of musicians to get involved with making it.
Today there is a diverse range of electronic music styles. Some are loud and intense while others can be more relaxing; many of these genres draw inspiration from diverse cultures and countries. Its future remains uncertain but likely that its development and change will continue.