Top Ten Most Popular Music Genres
Janvi Arora
- 16 September, 2024
- 12 min read
Table of Contents
From indulging in pop music for an upbeat start to the day to a bit of indie rock for wholesome vibes during long travels, music makes our heads bob even during the toughest of times.
With hundreds of new genres emerging, the lines between them are blurring increasingly. However, as a basic definition, a music genre is simply a set of songs with similar characteristics that create a recognisable sound.
When discussing popular music genres, ranking depends on personal preference, cultural influences, and geographical locations. While personal taste plays a big role, some genres consistently rise to the top in popularity, based on popular surveys, chart trends, and public forms. In this blog, we will look at those music genres and discuss their impact, history, and more!
i. Pop
As per the YouGov Global Profiles research, pop music along with rock, is the most popular music genre in most countries, including Mexico, Spain, and Singapore. Pop music originated in its modern form in the mid-1950s, and through these years, it has evolved and implemented some styles from various genres like rock, electronic dance music, and hip hop.
This genre of music is characterized by repeated choruses and hooks, often following the verse-chorus-verse structure.
The pop genre has short to medium-length songs with groove-worthy melodies and tunes, thus making it globally loved and a chart dominator!
Some artists who have proven influential in shaping this genre of music are The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, and Madonna. Some pop stars currently topping the charts include Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Doja Cat, and Dua Lipa.
On Torrins, we feature song lessons on famous pop songs like Just the Way You Are, Can’t Help Falling in Love, Thinking Out Loud, and many more!
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ii. Rock
Rock is one of the most popular music genres, known for its powerful and stage-shaking sound! This popular style of music originated in the 1940s in the United States as “rock and roll” and draws influences from genres like Blues, Jazz, Folk, and Country music. Rock is an extremely diverse genre with various sub-genres like heavy metal, indie-rock, post-rock, alternative rock, grunge rock, etc.
Songs from this genre usually have a 4/4 time signature and follow the famous verse-chorus-verse form. What makes this genre so loved is its powerful vocals, distorted guitar riffs, electrifying performance by electric and bass guitars, and driving rhythms!
One of the main reasons for the popularity of this genre is the relatable social themes like individuality, rebellion, love, fantasy, and personal struggles discussed in the songs.
One of the first few artists to popularise the rock genre was Elvis Presley, also called “The King of Rock and Roll.” Some popular music bands that popularised this genre further include Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Queen, and Pink Floyd.
For all rock enthusiasts, we have an entire rock guitar series covering lessons on all the necessary skills to help them set the stage on fire (not literally). We also have a free lesson on the Rock Series on our platform.
iii. Hip-Hop
Hip-hop, sometimes used synonymously with the term ‘rap’, came much later than the music styles like pop and rock. This genre of music originated in the early 1970s from African Americans and Afro-Caribbean immigrants in the Bronx. Along with rapping, hip-hop includes elements like turntablism, DJing, scratching, beatboxing, and instrumental tracks.
This genre of music heavily focuses on vocals, with artists sharing their opinions on social and political themes with a poetic speech- the rap. The lyrics are backed up with tracks and melodies, making the music catchy and memorable!
Some famous hip-hop artists and bands are Golden Age, N.W.A, The Notorious B.I.G., and Jay-Z.
This style of music also has a remarkable cultural impact, with many people attending hip-hop concerts and other events every year. The influences of hip-hop culture go beyond just music festivals, as the fashion sense of many young people is influenced by hip-hop today!
iv. Electronic Dance Music (EDM)
Electronic Dance Music is a style of music popularised in music festivals and rave parties worldwide. It is characterised by the uptempo and highly energetic sound that makes the crowd jump and dance for hours. This music genre started gaining mainstream popularity in Europe in the late 1980s and emerged as a distinctive musical genre only in the 2000s. As the name tells, this genre is all about using electronic instruments and computer-generated sounds and is created by DJs who mix and match various beats and tones to create a unique output. Artists such as Fat Boy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, and Underworld made this music genre a chart-topper in the 1990s.
v. Jazz
Jazz, a music genre often referred to as cool and sophisticated, originated back in the late 19th and early 20th century. This is one of the most popular musical styles that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana. Over time, this popular music style has evolved into many sub-genres like fusion, bebop, and swing. In the 1930s and 1940s, some popular swing big bands gained recognition, leading to all clubs and ballrooms playing Jazz.
What sets this genre apart is its heavy dependence on blue notes and swing, complex chords that make up this music, call-and-response vocals, polyrhythms, and, most importantly, improvisation.
Some of the most influential jazz artists are Louis Armstrong, George Gershwin, Charlie Parker, Billie Holiday, Miles Davis, and Duke Ellington. Jazz music has also influenced several other genres, including pop, rock, and hip-hop.
If Jazz is one of your favorite music genres, check out these comprehensive lessons on our platform:
Jazz Series for Guitar
Jazz lessons for Bass
Jazz Piano lessons
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Louis Armstrong, trumpeter and vocalist, is considered one of the founding fathers of Jazz.
vi. Reggae
Reggae, another one from the list of popular music genres, originated in Jamaica in the 1960s. This style of music evolved from earlier genres such as mento, sky, and rocksteady and heavily uses drums, guitar, and bass. Reggae mainly uses uplifting and positive lyrics with a laid-back, rhythmic sound and often discusses topics like peace, love, unity, political news, and social justice.
The origin of this popular music style has cultural significance as it is associated with the Rastafarian movement, which is centered around the belief in the divinity of Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia. This is why Rastafarian beliefs and culture are deeply intertwined with reggae, with many artists using their music to spread Rastafarian ideals.
Some renowned reggae artists are Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Dennis Brown, and Burning Spear.
Check out Torrins’ song lessons on popular Bob Marley reggae songs like Could You Be Loved and Three Little Birds to widen your repertoire and polish some skills.
If you love this genre of music and want to pursue it, check out our course on Reggae, digging deep into the intricacies of this genre.
vii. Country Music’
Country music also falls well into the category of popular music genres and is loved by people of all ages. Now called country music, this form of music was earlier called hillbilly music. This popular music style originated in the southern parts of the United States as early as the 1920s. This genre of music is synonymous with superb storytelling and sharing the life story of blue-collar workers. It also talks heavily about traditional values and rural life, often evoking a feeling of nostalgia and relatability.
The ballads and simple harmonies of this music genre are generally accompanied by instruments like banjos, fiddles, guitars, and harmonicas. This genre of music has evolved over time, spawning sub-genres like country pop, bluegrass, and honky-tonk.
Artists such as Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, and Kenny Rogers are some of the most famous and influential country music artists.
If you enjoy country music, you must check out our Country Series, delving deeper into the nuances of country-style guitar playing.
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Johnny Cash, a popular Country Music artist.
viii. Classical Music
Classical music continues to hold a significant place as one of the most popular music genres even after having a history spanning centuries. This music genre originated in the traditions of Western culture and encompasses a variety of styles, from the intricate compositions of the Baroque period to the evocative works of the Romantic era.
Despite its timeless appeal and cultural significance, it also holds an educational value. Classical music is a part of the curriculum in many schools and institutions since it’s considered a staple in developing fluency as a musician.
This style of music often features complex harmonies, sophisticated melodies, and a definite structure, and is commonly composed to be performed in orchestras and choirs. Traditional instruments like cello, piano, and violin are used while playing this genre of music.
Lastly, if you want to experience the richness of this genre, you must listen to masterpieces by composers like Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
ix. Rhythm and Blues
Rhythm and Blues, abbreviated as R&B, is also one of the popular music genres that originated in the United States. R&B has a wide appeal and is thoroughly enjoyed by people of all ages, courtesy of its relatable themes, soulful singing and rich vocals. The themes behind most R&B songs are love, relationships, and the search for joy and freedom.
Since its origin in the 1940s, R&B as a genre has undergone several changes in meaning. In the early years, it was associated with blues. In the mid-1950s, this style of music contributed to the development of rock and roll, therefore the term “rhythm and blues” became used in a wider context. In the 1970s, “R&B” was a blanket term for soul and funk. And, in the 1980s, the contemporary form of R&B developed combining rhythm and blues with other elements like pop, funk, disco, soul, hip-hop, and electronic music.
Some of the pioneering artists of this genre are B.B. King, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, and Marvin Gaye.
x. Latin Music
Latin music is a broad term for music from Latin America and the Caribbean. With time, the influence of Latin Music has grown substantially in America and beyond, with people across the globe grooving to tracks like Despacito, Macarena, and Hips Don’t Lie.
What distinguishes this genre of music is that it emphasizes having rhythms with complex percussion parts and driving beats.
One of the significant reasons for the immense popularity of Latin Music is also because of the several genres of music that fall under it, for example, Latin Pop, Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Tango, Cumbia, Reggaeton, Bossa Nova, etc.
Another reason for its popularity is that a large part of Latin Music is designed to get you moving. The infectious rhythms and melodies are perfect to leave everyone grooving.
Some globally celebrated artists from this genre are Shakira, Daddy Yankee, and J Balvin.
Other Popular Music Genres
Other popular music genres are K-pop music, Indie and alternative music, Dubstep, Folk, Indie Pop, Disco, Trance, Techno, etc.
Iconic Music Festivals
The craze for music festivals is unmatched in youth. It’s an event that brings music enthusiasts from around the globe together to celebrate their unwavering love for music, grooving and shouting to the same beats.. Some of the most iconic music festivals celebrated worldwide are Coachella, Tomorrowland, Lollapalooza, Glastonbury Festival, and Rock in Rio.
Festivals like Coachella, Rock in Rio, and Lollapalooza feature a diverse lineup of artists from various music genres. On the contrary, Tomorrowland is one of the biggest events for Electronic Dance Music fans, featuring a wide range of sub-genres within EDM. Glastonbury Festival, on the other hand, primarily focuses on pop and rock music, while occasionally venturing into other genres.
Benefits of Listening to Different Music Genres
Listening to different music genres not only adds variety to your playlist but also helps you learn about other cultures and communities. Listening to multiple music styles is even more crucial if you like to play any instrument. Listening to different music genres helps you add versatility to your playing, makes you more creative, and expands your skillset by introducing you to new concepts and techniques.
On Torrins, you will find lessons on different genres and styles for guitar, bass, and piano. In this way, you get to master all your favorite music genres at one stop! Check out the following free lessons to get an insight into our teaching method and curriculum-
Genre Based Free Lessons for Guitar
Style Based Free Bass Lessons
Free Genre Based Piano Lessons
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