Stepping into the EDM world can feel overwhelming — there are so many sounds, styles, and stages. But once you learn the main subgenres, everything clicks. You’ll know which artists you vibe with, which stages to hit, and how to plan your entire festival night.

Here’s your beginner-friendly cheat sheet with simple explanations + artist examples so you can explore every sound with confidence. ⚡️🎧

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🎧 HOUSE — The Heartbeat of EDM

House

Feel-good, groovy, super danceable.
Artists: Chris Lake, FISHER, John Summit, Dom Dolla

Bass House

House but heavier — growly basslines & punchy drops.
Artists: JOYRYDE, Habstrakt, Tchami

Tech House

Minimal, bouncy, and hypnotic — great for long dancing sessions.
Artists: Mau P, Cloonee, Biscits, Westend

Deep House

Smooth, chill, melodic, atmospheric.
Artists: Lane 8, Nora En Pure, Ben Böhmer

Tropical House

Warm, beachy, vacation energy.
Artists: Kygo, Thomas Jack, Sam Feldt

Progressive House

Emotional builds, long melodies, uplifting drops.
Artists: Alesso, Eric Prydz, ARTBAT

Electro House

Chunky, energetic synths; festival classic.
Artists: Zedd (early), Skrillex (early), Steve Aoki

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🔊 BASS MUSIC — Heavy, Emotional, and High-Energy

Dubstep

Aggressive drops, machine-like sounds, filthy energy.
Artists: Excision, Subtronics, Zomboy, Svdden Death

Riddim

Minimal, wubby, repetitive dubstep with bounce.
Artists: Monxx, HE$H, Cyclops, Dirt Monkey

Future Bass

Pretty, emotional, sparkly drops.
Artists: Illenium, San Holo, Flume, Dabin

Melodic Bass

Future bass but more cinematic and emotional.
Artists: Seven Lions, Said The Sky, Trivecta

Drum & Bass

Fast, rolling drums; nonstop energy.
Artists: Sub Focus, Netsky, Chase & Status

Trap (EDM Trap)

Festival hype energy + hip-hop influence.
Artists: RL Grime, Baauer, TroyBoi

Glitch-Hop

Funky, broken beats with a swagger.
Artists: The Glitch Mob, KOAN Sound

Neurofunk

Dark, robotic, technical Drum & Bass.
Artists: Noisia, Black Sun Empire, Mefjus

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🖤 TECHNO — Dark, Driving, Underground

Techno

Hypnotic, repetitive, steady pulse.
Artists: Charlotte de Witte, Amelie Lens

Hard Techno

Faster, louder, more intense.
Artists: Sara Landry, Nico Moreno

Dark Techno

Moody, shadowy, late-night warehouse energy.
Artists: Alignment, Regal

Acid Techno

Iconic squiggly 303 synth lines.
Artists: Reinier Zonneveld, Nina Kraviz

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🌌 TRANCE — Emotional, Uplifting, Euphoric

Trance

Long builds, soaring melodies, emotional drops.
Artists: Armin van Buuren, Above & Beyond

Progressive Trance

Deeper grooves, warmer, slower build-ups.
Artists: Anjunadeep artists, Grum

Psytrance

Fast, trippy, spiritual, hypnotic.
Artists: Infected Mushroom, Astrix, Vini Vici

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🧠 How to Pick Your EDM Vibe

Here’s your quick starter pack:

• Emotional / uplifting: Future Bass, Melodic Bass, Trance

• Heavy / filthy: Dubstep, Riddim, Trap

• Dancey / groovy: House, Tech House

• Fast / high-energy: Drum & Bass

• Dark / underground: Techno, Dark Techno

• Bright / tropical: Tropical House

• Trippy / psychedelic: Psytrance, Acid Techno

The more you listen, the more your personal style will emerge.

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🎉 Final Thoughts

EDM is massive, colorful, and full of identity. Once you understand the subgenres, everything starts to make sense — what you love, who you love, and why certain stages feel like “home.”

And when you’re ready to build the perfect rave fit for your new music taste… well, that’s where One Stop Rave comes in 😉✨