Music Genres

Funk music is an relatively inclusive term describing a specific type of beat-driven music derived from rhythm and blues. Funk music generally focuses on the bass in particular and tends toward...

Unlike other traditional music from western Europe, traditional Spanish music is a mixture of European and Arabic cultural influences. This is because of the Moorish conquest of Spain, which,...

Southern gospel music is a genre within Christian music that is used to praise or thank God or Jesus. Southern gospel is best-known for its all-male vocal ensembles, particularly quartets....

In the late 1950s, ska music began in Jamaica and in the 1960s became known as the national music of Jamaica. It was a melting pot of music because its origins are based in a number of different...

Generally considered to be the musical predecessor to reggae, the upbeat, energizing sounds of ska form a formidable musical genre that has kept its popularity for several decades. In order to...

Jewish culture has a long history of music, both sacred and secular. Like many religions, Judaism incorporates music and singing into its rituals and practices. Secular Jewish society also uses...

Believe it or not, without classical music from composers such as Mozart and Beethoven, we probably would not have our popular music, from the Beatles to Kanye West. Classical music is the...

Disco was at one time a ubiquitous form of pop music. It topped charts and sold albums at a fantastic rate. Whether you loved disco, hated it or did everything you could to try to ignore it, disco...

Several decades after its development in Jamaica, ska music remains popular and celebrated in older forms and modern reincarnations. The distinctive aspects of this musical genre are formed by its...

Born in the brothels and back alleys of Santo Domingo, bachata has evolved into the national music of the Dominican Republic. At its core, bachata is an emotional, romantic genre of music, fusing...

To define hip hop as synonymous with rap would be incomplete. As a musical genre, it certainly is well rooted in rap music, but as you study its history, it becomes clear how the music has...

The blues is a musical form based on the blues scale. Hart Wand's "Dallas Blues" was the first blues song ever published as sheet music, in 1912, but the blues was a popular musical form before...

Although the literal definition of Bollywood refers to the Hindi-language spectacular films of Mumbai, it is also used to describe Indian cinema and the music that drives it. The word is a...

Irish traditional music in the United States has experienced a resurgence in recent years thanks to the popularity of Riverdance and traditional Irish groups like Cherish the Ladies, Clannad,...

Maybe your Man or boyfriend does not feel like going to the movies or concert or (where-ever). Maybe they are not able to go at the time you planned the date. Don't get angry with your loved ones....

Blame Larry Graham or any bassist that's ever graced a note with James Brown, because it's all about the funk, or "fonk" if you're hip enough. Funk bass playing has evolved over the years,...

If you have ever listened to music by Los Lobos or Los Lonely Boys, you've heard the modern form of Tejano music. Tejano, also called Tex Mex music, has a long and diverse history, bringing...

Blues music is an American musical genre defined by the presence of a 12-bar chord progression and the use of "blues notes" (notes lower than the major scale). The blues has its origins in the...

Cuban music, or Afro-Cuban music, has had a tremendous role in influencing world music. Practically every musical style around the world has been influenced by Cuban music. Yet Cuban music is a...

Free form jazz, also known as free jazz, is a style of music that emerged in the United States in the mid-twentieth century. It is a loosely defined movement that includes many different musical...

The folk art of flamenco guitar originated from the province of Andalusia in Spain. Flamenco involves singing, dancing and rhythmic punctuation such as hand clapping as well as the percussive yet...

Black American music is vitally important to the creation of such musical genres as jazz and blues. Today's R&B and hip hop music are thought to be direct descendants of the original forms of...

The history of zydeco Cajun music stems from a variety of different sources and traces its origins to traditional French culture. It is most prominent in rural southern Louisiana and Texas. It has...

Power Chords, Palm Muting, Distortion, All these things add to a punk song, In this tutorial, I'll show you how to make about any song sound pretty cool.

Greek music is a genre of music that is full of diversity. One of the main reasons for this is because Greece is one of the world's oldest civilizations. Therefore, there have been many different...

From its unlikely urban New York beginnings during the late 1970s, rap and hip hop culture have blazed a remarkable trail through the music industry. Armed with drum machines, turntables and...

R&B, or rhythm and blues, is a musical term that has changed drastically in meaning since it was coined by Atlantic Records executive Jerry Wexler in 1948 as a substitute for the term "race...

The music of Cuba is as varied and diverse as its culture and population. It is primarily a fusion of African and European musical influences that developed in the early 19th century from the...

Musical instrumental tracks are songs without lyrics. Instrumentals are often used as music to engage customers on hold when they make a call to a place of business, to relax customers while they...

Progressive metal is among the more complex subgenres of heavy rock and roll music. Though still a relatively young form of music, progressive metal is the result of years of musical evolution...

In addition to being madly in love with that precious little one, many first time parents express their dismay at all that they were never told about parenting. This seems to be a universal...

Rumba is a percussive style of music with its roots in Cuba. Similar in many ways to salsa, rumba encompasses a wide-range of musical elements from Latin-based music and has been cross bred with a...

Salsa is a musical genre with many variations, based primarily on an up-tempo Cuban/Caribbean style that includes heavy Latin, funk, reggae and even Indian influences. The salsa style not only...

Oromo music originally comes from Oromia, Ethiopia, the largest and most populated of Ethiopia's nine states. The Oromo people were colonized by the African nation of Abyssinia in the late 1800s,...

Fats Domino was one of the first New Orleans musicians to become a nationally mainstream pop artist from this city. Learn about Fats Domino with tips from a Crescent City resident in this free...

James Booker was a New Orleans musician who became famous playing piano for Fats Domino. Hear James Booker's music with tips from a Crescent City resident in this free video on New Orleans music.

Art Neville of New Orleans music was the grandfather of organ funk. Hear Art Neville's music with tips from a Crescent City resident in this free video on New Orleans music.

The New Orleans musician Dr. John, also known as Mac Rebennack, has the persona of a voodoo priest. Learn about Dr. John with tips from a Crescent City resident in this free video on New Orleans...

Music venues in New Orleans include Tipitina's, The Preservation Hall and dozens of other clubs in and out of the French Quarter. Visit music venues with tips from a Crescent City resident in this...

The early history of New Orleans music illustrates the fusion of different cultures over the centuries. Explore the city's music history with tips from a Crescent City resident in this free video...

The origin of rhythm found in New Orleans music comes from island influences. Discover the origin of rhythm with tips from a Crescent City resident in this free video on New Orleans music.

Instruments in New Orleans music range from large brass sections to solo banjos. Learn about jazz instruments with tips from a Crescent City resident in this free video on New Orleans music.

Street beats in New Orleans music gets its name from the brass bands that paraded the streets during funeral processions. Hear street beats with tips from a Crescent City resident in this free...

The 10-bar rules are unique to New Orleans music, while most blues songs are 12 bars. Hear a 10-bar song with tips from a Crescent City resident in this free video on New Orleans music.

Piano fundamentals of New Orleans music are relatively simple with no major harmonies. Practice piano basics with tips from a Crescent City resident in this free video on New Orleans music.

Allen Toussaint is a New Orleans musician who wrote "Working in the Coalmine" and other R&B classics. Meet Allen Toussaint with tips from a Crescent City resident in this free video on New Orleans...

In New Orleans music, Louis Armstrong is an influential character who became world famous. Learn about Louis Armstrong with tips from a Crescent City resident in this free video on New Orleans music.

A New Orleans musician Professor Longhair, also known as Henry Byrd, had a unique sound by mixing minor and major chords. Discover Professor Longhair with tips from a Crescent City resident in...

As with any musical instrument, on mandolin eighth notes are important to know how to play because they are widely used. Learn what eighth notes are and how to play them on mandolin in this free...

Sixteenth notes on a mandolin are important to know how to play because they are widely used. Learn what eighth notes are and how to play them on mandolin in this free video clip.