These are the app’s working production sketches, not complete genre histories or statistical definitions. Tempo bands are broad planning defaults. Instrument and voice descriptions are example traits, not rules about what a genre or its performers must be. The interactive score uses this same editable dataset.
Industrial & Gothic
industrial rock
Working tempo: 110–130 BPM. Groove sketch: live backbeat drums.
Palette examples: metallic percussion, distorted guitars, machine noise. Bass: distorted synth bass.
Example voice treatment: distorted shouted male vocal.
Use industrial rock as an anchor →EBM
Working tempo: 120–130 BPM. Groove sketch: four-on-the-floor kick.
Palette examples: mechanical drum machine, harsh synth stabs, militant claps. Bass: sequenced analog bass.
Example voice treatment: commanding half-spoken vocal.
Use EBM as an anchor →gothic rock
Working tempo: 110–140 BPM. Groove sketch: live backbeat drums.
Palette examples: chorus-drenched guitars, drum machine, cold reverb. Bass: melodic chorused bass.
Example voice treatment: deep baritone vocal.
Use gothic rock as an anchor →darkwave
Working tempo: 100–125 BPM. Groove sketch: live backbeat drums.
Palette examples: cold synth pads, gated drum machine, icy arpeggios. Bass: pulsing analog bass.
Example voice treatment: detached baritone vocal.
Use darkwave as an anchor →Metal
heavy metal
Working tempo: 110–150 BPM. Groove sketch: live backbeat drums.
Palette examples: galloping guitar riffs, dual harmony leads, driving drums. Bass: galloping bass.
Example voice treatment: soaring high male vocal.
Use heavy metal as an anchor →thrash metal
Working tempo: 160–210 BPM. Groove sketch: blast beats and double-kick.
Palette examples: palm-muted thrash riffs, fast double-kick, shredding solos. Bass: tight picked bass.
Example voice treatment: aggressive shouted vocal.
Use thrash metal as an anchor →black metal
Working tempo: 140–220 BPM. Groove sketch: blast beats and double-kick.
Palette examples: tremolo-picked guitars, blast beats, lo-fi atmosphere. Bass: buried bass.
Example voice treatment: shrieked vocal.
Use black metal as an anchor →doom metal
Working tempo: 50–80 BPM. Groove sketch: half-time drums.
Palette examples: downtuned slow riffs, massive cymbals, feedback drones. Bass: crushing low bass.
Example voice treatment: mournful clean vocal.
Use doom metal as an anchor →metalcore
Working tempo: 120–170 BPM. Groove sketch: live backbeat drums.
Palette examples: chugging breakdowns, drop-tuned guitars, double-kick. Bass: downtuned bass.
Example voice treatment: screamed verses, clean sung chorus.
Use metalcore as an anchor →nu metal
Working tempo: 90–110 BPM. Groove sketch: swung hip-hop drums.
Palette examples: downtuned seven-string riffs, turntable scratches, hip-hop drum groove. Bass: slap-heavy downtuned bass.
Example voice treatment: rapped verses, screamed chorus.
Use nu metal as an anchor →progressive metal
Working tempo: 100–140 BPM. Groove sketch: broken odd-meter drums.
Palette examples: polyrhythmic djent riffs, clean ambient guitar, precise drums. Bass: extended-range bass.
Example voice treatment: clean soaring vocal.
Use progressive metal as an anchor →Rock
rock and roll
Working tempo: 140–180 BPM. Groove sketch: shuffle groove.
Palette examples: twangy electric guitar, boogie piano, snare backbeat. Bass: walking upright bass.
Example voice treatment: energetic male vocal.
Use rock and roll as an anchor →rockabilly
Working tempo: 150–190 BPM. Groove sketch: shuffle groove.
Palette examples: twang guitar, slapback echo, brushed snare. Bass: slap upright bass.
Example voice treatment: hiccuping male vocal.
Use rockabilly as an anchor →surf rock
Working tempo: 140–170 BPM. Groove sketch: live backbeat drums.
Palette examples: spring reverb guitar, tremolo picking, surf drums. Bass: picked bass.
Example voice treatment: instrumental.
Use surf rock as an anchor →classic rock
Working tempo: 110–140 BPM. Groove sketch: live backbeat drums.
Palette examples: crunchy overdriven guitars, Hammond organ, big live drums. Bass: driving bass.
Example voice treatment: gritty male rock vocal.
Use classic rock as an anchor →psychedelic rock
Working tempo: 90–130 BPM. Groove sketch: live backbeat drums.
Palette examples: fuzz guitar, sitar drone, phaser and tape echo. Bass: melodic fuzz bass.
Example voice treatment: dreamy reverbed vocal.
Use psychedelic rock as an anchor →prog rock
Working tempo: 80–140 BPM. Groove sketch: broken odd-meter drums.
Palette examples: Mellotron, odd time signatures, analog synth solos. Bass: melodic picked bass.
Example voice treatment: high clear vocal.
Use prog rock as an anchor →hard rock
Working tempo: 115–145 BPM. Groove sketch: live backbeat drums.
Palette examples: power chord riffs, big drums, guitar solo. Bass: driving bass.
Example voice treatment: powerful raspy vocal.
Use hard rock as an anchor →punk rock
Working tempo: 160–200 BPM. Groove sketch: live backbeat drums.
Palette examples: raw power chords, fast snare, gang shouts. Bass: fast eighth-note bass.
Example voice treatment: snotty shouted vocal.
Use punk rock as an anchor →post-punk
Working tempo: 120–150 BPM. Groove sketch: live backbeat drums.
Palette examples: angular guitars, motorik drums, cold reverb. Bass: melodic driving bass lead.
Example voice treatment: deadpan baritone vocal.
Use post-punk as an anchor →new wave
Working tempo: 120–140 BPM. Groove sketch: live backbeat drums.
Palette examples: bright synths, chorused guitar, drum machine. Bass: synth bass.
Example voice treatment: quirky male vocal.
Use new wave as an anchor →pop punk
Working tempo: 160–190 BPM. Groove sketch: live backbeat drums.
Palette examples: bright power chords, fast drums, gang vocals. Bass: punchy bass.
Example voice treatment: nasal youthful vocal.
Use pop punk as an anchor →hardcore punk
Working tempo: 170–230 BPM. Groove sketch: blast beats and double-kick.
Palette examples: blistering power chords, D-beat drums, breakdowns. Bass: fast bass.
Example voice treatment: barked vocal.
Use hardcore punk as an anchor →emo
Working tempo: 120–170 BPM. Groove sketch: live backbeat drums.
Palette examples: twinkly clean guitars, dynamic drums, quiet-loud shifts. Bass: melodic bass.
Example voice treatment: strained emotional vocal.
Use emo as an anchor →grunge
Working tempo: 90–130 BPM. Groove sketch: live backbeat drums.
Palette examples: sludgy distorted guitars, loud-quiet dynamics, heavy drums. Bass: thick bass.
Example voice treatment: raspy anguished vocal.
Use grunge as an anchor →shoegaze
Working tempo: 90–130 BPM. Groove sketch: live backbeat drums.
Palette examples: walls of reverbed guitar, glide guitar, dreamy haze. Bass: buried bass.
Example voice treatment: breathy buried vocal.
Use shoegaze as an anchor →indie rock
Working tempo: 110–140 BPM. Groove sketch: live backbeat drums.
Palette examples: jangly guitars, tight live drums, garage fuzz. Bass: melodic bass.
Example voice treatment: casual male vocal.
Use indie rock as an anchor →dream pop
Working tempo: 80–110 BPM. Groove sketch: live backbeat drums.
Palette examples: shimmering guitars, lush reverb, soft drum machine. Bass: soft bass.
Example voice treatment: ethereal female vocal.
Use dream pop as an anchor →math rock
Working tempo: 120–160 BPM. Groove sketch: broken odd-meter drums.
Palette examples: tapped clean guitars, odd meters, crisp drums. Bass: melodic bass.
Example voice treatment: instrumental.
Use math rock as an anchor →post-rock
Working tempo: 70–130 BPM. Groove sketch: half-time drums.
Palette examples: tremolo guitars, crescendo builds, cymbal swells. Bass: swelling bass.
Example voice treatment: instrumental.
Use post-rock as an anchor →alternative rock
Working tempo: 100–140 BPM. Groove sketch: live backbeat drums.
Palette examples: layered guitars, stadium drums, atmospheric delay. Bass: driving bass.
Example voice treatment: earnest male vocal.
Use alternative rock as an anchor →garage rock
Working tempo: 130–160 BPM. Groove sketch: live backbeat drums.
Palette examples: fuzzy riffs, raw drums, handclaps. Bass: fuzz bass.
Example voice treatment: swaggering vocal.
Use garage rock as an anchor →Pop
synth pop
Working tempo: 110–130 BPM. Groove sketch: live backbeat drums.
Palette examples: analog synth leads, drum machine, lush pads. Bass: synth bass.
Example voice treatment: clean pop vocal.
Use synth pop as an anchor →dance pop
Working tempo: 115–128 BPM. Groove sketch: four-on-the-floor kick.
Palette examples: bright synth chords, punchy drums, vocal chops. Bass: pumping synth bass.
Example voice treatment: polished female pop vocal.
Use dance pop as an anchor →hyperpop
Working tempo: 140–170 BPM. Groove sketch: chopped breakbeats.
Palette examples: glitchy pitched vocals, bitcrushed synths, sugary chords. Bass: distorted 808.
Example voice treatment: pitched-up auto-tuned vocal.
Use hyperpop as an anchor →synthwave
Working tempo: 95–115 BPM. Groove sketch: live backbeat drums.
Palette examples: gated reverb drums, neon pads, soaring lead synth. Bass: arpeggiated analog bass.
Example voice treatment: reverbed male vocal.
Use synthwave as an anchor →disco
Working tempo: 115–125 BPM. Groove sketch: four-on-the-floor kick.
Palette examples: string section, funk guitar, open hi-hats. Bass: octave disco bass.
Example voice treatment: diva vocal.
Use disco as an anchor →nu-disco
Working tempo: 115–122 BPM. Groove sketch: four-on-the-floor kick.
Palette examples: filtered strings, funk guitar, claps. Bass: slap-style disco bass.
Example voice treatment: falsetto hooks.
Use nu-disco as an anchor →indie pop
Working tempo: 100–125 BPM. Groove sketch: live backbeat drums.
Palette examples: jangly guitars, dreamy synths, handclaps. Bass: melodic picked bass.
Example voice treatment: intimate lead vocal.
Use indie pop as an anchor →bedroom pop
Working tempo: 80–110 BPM. Groove sketch: live backbeat drums.
Palette examples: lo-fi guitar, soft drum machine, tape hiss. Bass: soft bass.
Example voice treatment: soft intimate vocal.
Use bedroom pop as an anchor →art pop
Working tempo: 90–120 BPM. Groove sketch: broken odd-meter drums.
Palette examples: experimental textures, orchestral flourishes, unusual percussion. Bass: warped synth bass.
Example voice treatment: theatrical vocal.
Use art pop as an anchor →Country & Folk
classic country
Working tempo: 90–130 BPM. Groove sketch: shuffle groove.
Palette examples: pedal steel, twangy telecaster, fiddle. Bass: walking bass.
Example voice treatment: warm twangy vocal.
Use classic country as an anchor →bluegrass
Working tempo: 140–200 BPM. Groove sketch: shuffle groove.
Palette examples: banjo rolls, mandolin, fiddle. Bass: upright bass.
Example voice treatment: high lonesome harmonies.
Use bluegrass as an anchor →americana
Working tempo: 80–120 BPM. Groove sketch: live backbeat drums.
Palette examples: acoustic guitar, dobro, brushed drums. Bass: warm bass.
Example voice treatment: gritty storyteller vocal.
Use americana as an anchor →country pop
Working tempo: 90–120 BPM. Groove sketch: live backbeat drums.
Palette examples: acoustic strum, polished drums, pedal steel accents. Bass: clean bass.
Example voice treatment: clean twangy vocal.
Use country pop as an anchor →folk
Working tempo: 80–120 BPM. Groove sketch: 6/8 lilt.
Palette examples: fingerpicked acoustic guitar, harmonica, close room sound. Bass: none.
Example voice treatment: intimate folk vocal.
Use folk as an anchor →indie folk
Working tempo: 90–120 BPM. Groove sketch: live backbeat drums.
Palette examples: acoustic guitar, banjo, stomp-clap percussion. Bass: warm bass.
Example voice treatment: warm group harmonies.
Use indie folk as an anchor →R&B & Soul
doo-wop
Working tempo: 60–90 BPM. Groove sketch: 6/8 lilt.
Palette examples: vocal group harmonies, piano triplets, soft brushes. Bass: upright bass.
Example voice treatment: smooth lead with backing harmonies.
Use doo-wop as an anchor →Motown soul
Working tempo: 100–125 BPM. Groove sketch: live backbeat drums.
Palette examples: tambourine, horn section, strings. Bass: melodic busy bass.
Example voice treatment: joyful soul vocal.
Use Motown soul as an anchor →funk
Working tempo: 95–115 BPM. Groove sketch: syncopated funk drums.
Palette examples: chicken-scratch guitar, tight horns, syncopated drums. Bass: slap bass.
Example voice treatment: gritty soul vocal.
Use funk as an anchor →new jack swing
Working tempo: 100–115 BPM. Groove sketch: swung hip-hop drums.
Palette examples: swung drum machine, synth stabs, orchestra hits. Bass: punchy synth bass.
Example voice treatment: smooth male vocal.
Use new jack swing as an anchor →90s R&B
Working tempo: 85–100 BPM. Groove sketch: swung hip-hop drums.
Palette examples: stuttering syncopated hi-hats, sparse off-beat kicks, vocal ad-lib chops. Bass: deep 808 sub.
Example voice treatment: silky layered female harmonies.
Use 90s R&B as an anchor →neo-soul
Working tempo: 80–95 BPM. Groove sketch: swung hip-hop drums.
Palette examples: Rhodes, brushed swung drums, jazzy extended chords. Bass: warm live bass.
Example voice treatment: soulful vocal.
Use neo-soul as an anchor →alt R&B
Working tempo: 120–150 BPM. Groove sketch: half-time drums.
Palette examples: reverb-drenched pads, pitched-down vocal layers, sparse trap hats. Bass: murky 808 sub.
Example voice treatment: moody falsetto.
Use alt R&B as an anchor →Blue Note
gospel
Working tempo: 70–110 BPM. Groove sketch: shuffle groove.
Palette examples: Hammond organ, choir, handclaps. Bass: organ bass.
Example voice treatment: powerful gospel vocal with choir.
Use gospel as an anchor →delta blues
Working tempo: 70–100 BPM. Groove sketch: shuffle groove.
Palette examples: slide guitar, stomping foot, resonator guitar. Bass: none.
Example voice treatment: raw weathered vocal.
Use delta blues as an anchor →Chicago blues
Working tempo: 90–130 BPM. Groove sketch: shuffle groove.
Palette examples: electric guitar licks, harmonica, shuffle drums. Bass: walking bass.
Example voice treatment: gritty blues vocal.
Use Chicago blues as an anchor →blues rock
Working tempo: 90–130 BPM. Groove sketch: live backbeat drums.
Palette examples: overdriven slide guitar, Hammond organ, big drums. Bass: driving bass.
Example voice treatment: raspy vocal.
Use blues rock as an anchor →bebop
Working tempo: 180–260 BPM. Groove sketch: swinging jazz drums.
Palette examples: swinging ride cymbal, fast horn lines, comping piano. Bass: walking upright bass.
Example voice treatment: instrumental.
Use bebop as an anchor →cool jazz
Working tempo: 100–160 BPM. Groove sketch: swinging jazz drums.
Palette examples: muted trumpet, brushed drums, soft piano. Bass: walking upright bass.
Example voice treatment: instrumental.
Use cool jazz as an anchor →big band swing
Working tempo: 140–200 BPM. Groove sketch: swinging jazz drums.
Palette examples: brass section, saxophones, swinging drums. Bass: walking bass.
Example voice treatment: crooner vocal.
Use big band swing as an anchor →jazz fusion
Working tempo: 100–140 BPM. Groove sketch: syncopated funk drums.
Palette examples: electric piano, synth solos, complex drums. Bass: fretless bass.
Example voice treatment: instrumental.
Use jazz fusion as an anchor →nu jazz
Working tempo: 110–125 BPM. Groove sketch: chopped breakbeats.
Palette examples: live jazz samples, broken-beat drums, Rhodes. Bass: upright bass loop.
Example voice treatment: airy vocal.
Use nu jazz as an anchor →Jamaican & Reggae
ska
Working tempo: 140–180 BPM. Groove sketch: one-drop offbeat groove.
Palette examples: offbeat guitar skank, horn section, upbeat drums. Bass: walking bass.
Example voice treatment: energetic vocal.
Use ska as an anchor →roots reggae
Working tempo: 65–85 BPM. Groove sketch: one-drop offbeat groove.
Palette examples: one-drop drums, offbeat guitar skank, organ bubble. Bass: deep melodic bass.
Example voice treatment: conscious vocal.
Use roots reggae as an anchor →dub
Working tempo: 65–85 BPM. Groove sketch: one-drop offbeat groove.
Palette examples: tape echo, spring reverb, sparse rimshots. Bass: massive sub bass.
Example voice treatment: fragmented echoed vocal.
Use dub as an anchor →dancehall
Working tempo: 90–105 BPM. Groove sketch: syncopated afro-Latin groove.
Palette examples: digital riddim, sparse snare, synth stabs. Bass: booming bass.
Example voice treatment: patois toasting vocal.
Use dancehall as an anchor →Rap & Hip-hop
boom bap
Working tempo: 85–95 BPM. Groove sketch: swung hip-hop drums.
Palette examples: dusty drum break, vinyl crackle, jazz sample chops. Bass: dusty upright-style bass.
Example voice treatment: confident rap vocal.
Use boom bap as an anchor →G-funk
Working tempo: 85–100 BPM. Groove sketch: swung hip-hop drums.
Palette examples: whiny portamento lead, talkbox, laid-back drums. Bass: deep synth bass.
Example voice treatment: laid-back rap vocal.
Use G-funk as an anchor →lo-fi hip-hop
Working tempo: 70–90 BPM. Groove sketch: swung hip-hop drums.
Palette examples: vinyl crackle, jazzy piano chops, dusty swung drums. Bass: mellow bass.
Example voice treatment: instrumental.
Use lo-fi hip-hop as an anchor →trap
Working tempo: 130–150 BPM. Groove sketch: half-time drums.
Palette examples: rolling hi-hats, sparse snare, dark bells. Bass: booming 808 slides.
Example voice treatment: auto-tuned rap vocal.
Use trap as an anchor →drill
Working tempo: 140–145 BPM. Groove sketch: half-time drums.
Palette examples: sliding hi-hats, dark piano, menacing strings. Bass: sliding 808 bass.
Example voice treatment: aggressive rap vocal.
Use drill as an anchor →phonk
Working tempo: 130–145 BPM. Groove sketch: half-time drums.
Palette examples: cowbell melody, Memphis vocal chops, lo-fi drums. Bass: distorted 808.
Example voice treatment: lo-fi chopped rap samples.
Use phonk as an anchor →cloud rap
Working tempo: 120–150 BPM. Groove sketch: half-time drums.
Palette examples: hazy pads, reverbed bells, sparse hi-hats. Bass: soft 808.
Example voice treatment: mumbled auto-tuned vocal.
Use cloud rap as an anchor →EDM & Dance
Chicago house
Working tempo: 120–126 BPM. Groove sketch: four-on-the-floor kick.
Palette examples: 909 drums, piano stabs, diva vocal samples. Bass: jacking bassline.
Example voice treatment: diva vocal samples.
Use Chicago house as an anchor →deep house
Working tempo: 120–124 BPM. Groove sketch: four-on-the-floor kick.
Palette examples: warm Rhodes chords, shuffled hats, late-night pads. Bass: rolling sub bassline.
Example voice treatment: soft soulful vocal.
Use deep house as an anchor →smoky deep house
Working tempo: 120–124 BPM. Groove sketch: four-on-the-floor kick.
Palette examples: sparse shuffled drums, Italo-disco keys, smoky reverb. Bass: melodic sub bassline.
Example voice treatment: sultry breathy falsetto.
Use smoky deep house as an anchor →tech house
Working tempo: 124–128 BPM. Groove sketch: four-on-the-floor kick.
Palette examples: punchy kick, chopped vocal shouts, shakers. Bass: percussive rubbery bassline.
Example voice treatment: chopped vocal hook.
Use tech house as an anchor →afro house
Working tempo: 118–124 BPM. Groove sketch: four-on-the-floor kick.
Palette examples: tribal percussion, djembe, kalimba motif. Bass: deep rolling bass.
Example voice treatment: chanted call-and-response vocal.
Use afro house as an anchor →melodic house
Working tempo: 120–124 BPM. Groove sketch: four-on-the-floor kick.
Palette examples: wide evolving pads, arpeggiated lead, soft piano chords. Bass: pulsing analog bass.
Example voice treatment: breathy vocal.
Use melodic house as an anchor →organic house
Working tempo: 114–122 BPM. Groove sketch: four-on-the-floor kick.
Palette examples: oud riff, handpan, frame drums. Bass: warm round bass.
Example voice treatment: airy distant vocal.
Use organic house as an anchor →indie dance
Working tempo: 118–124 BPM. Groove sketch: four-on-the-floor kick.
Palette examples: psychedelic acid arpeggio, live-feel drums, analog synthwave pads. Bass: thick bouncy bassline.
Example voice treatment: processed male vocal.
Use indie dance as an anchor →acid house
Working tempo: 122–128 BPM. Groove sketch: four-on-the-floor kick.
Palette examples: 808 drum machine, rave stabs, resonant filter sweeps. Bass: squelching 303 bassline.
Example voice treatment: instrumental.
Use acid house as an anchor →French house
Working tempo: 120–126 BPM. Groove sketch: four-on-the-floor kick.
Palette examples: sidechained disco samples, phaser sweeps, talkbox lead. Bass: filtered disco bass.
Example voice treatment: vocoder vocal.
Use French house as an anchor →bass house
Working tempo: 124–128 BPM. Groove sketch: four-on-the-floor kick.
Palette examples: metallic stabs, vocal one-shots, heavy kick. Bass: growling distorted bass.
Example voice treatment: pitched vocal one-shots.
Use bass house as an anchor →progressive house
Working tempo: 124–128 BPM. Groove sketch: four-on-the-floor kick.
Palette examples: long melodic builds, layered pads, plucky leads. Bass: rolling offbeat bass.
Example voice treatment: emotive vocal.
Use progressive house as an anchor →Detroit techno
Working tempo: 125–135 BPM. Groove sketch: four-on-the-floor kick.
Palette examples: string synth pads, 909 drums, futuristic chords. Bass: sequenced bass.
Example voice treatment: instrumental.
Use Detroit techno as an anchor →melodic techno
Working tempo: 122–126 BPM. Groove sketch: four-on-the-floor kick.
Palette examples: arpeggiated analog lead, cavernous reverb, emotive pads. Bass: driving analog bass.
Example voice treatment: instrumental.
Use melodic techno as an anchor →peak-time techno
Working tempo: 130–140 BPM. Groove sketch: four-on-the-floor kick.
Palette examples: pounding 909 kick, metallic percussion, industrial noise. Bass: distorted rumble bass.
Example voice treatment: instrumental.
Use peak-time techno as an anchor →minimal house
Working tempo: 124–128 BPM. Groove sketch: four-on-the-floor kick.
Palette examples: micro percussion, glitchy textures, hypnotic loop. Bass: dry clicky bassline.
Example voice treatment: instrumental.
Use minimal house as an anchor →hard techno
Working tempo: 145–160 BPM. Groove sketch: four-on-the-floor kick.
Palette examples: rave stabs, industrial textures, relentless percussion. Bass: distorted kick bass.
Example voice treatment: instrumental.
Use hard techno as an anchor →uplifting trance
Working tempo: 136–140 BPM. Groove sketch: four-on-the-floor kick.
Palette examples: supersaw chords, euphoric breakdown, gated pads. Bass: rolling offbeat bass.
Example voice treatment: ethereal female vocal.
Use uplifting trance as an anchor →progressive trance
Working tempo: 128–134 BPM. Groove sketch: four-on-the-floor kick.
Palette examples: hypnotic arpeggios, long filter builds, airy pads. Bass: pulsing offbeat bass.
Example voice treatment: instrumental.
Use progressive trance as an anchor →psytrance
Working tempo: 140–148 BPM. Groove sketch: four-on-the-floor kick.
Palette examples: acid squelches, psychedelic FX, driving kick. Bass: rolling triplet bassline.
Example voice treatment: instrumental.
Use psytrance as an anchor →breakbeat
Working tempo: 125–135 BPM. Groove sketch: chopped breakbeats.
Palette examples: chopped funk breaks, rave stabs, scratches. Bass: funky acid bass.
Example voice treatment: vocal samples.
Use breakbeat as an anchor →big beat
Working tempo: 120–140 BPM. Groove sketch: chopped breakbeats.
Palette examples: huge drum breaks, sample hooks, acid squelch. Bass: distorted bass riff.
Example voice treatment: shouted vocal samples.
Use big beat as an anchor →IDM
Working tempo: 90–140 BPM. Groove sketch: broken odd-meter drums.
Palette examples: glitchy chopped breaks, granular textures, music-box melody. Bass: detuned analog bass.
Example voice treatment: instrumental.
Use IDM as an anchor →glitch hop
Working tempo: 100–110 BPM. Groove sketch: swung hip-hop drums.
Palette examples: glitchy vocal chops, funk samples, punchy drums. Bass: wompy wobble bass.
Example voice treatment: male vocal.
Use glitch hop as an anchor →liquid drum and bass
Working tempo: 170–176 BPM. Groove sketch: chopped breakbeats.
Palette examples: rolling breakbeats, lush pads, airy atmosphere. Bass: deep Reese sub.
Example voice treatment: soulful vocal.
Use liquid drum and bass as an anchor →jungle
Working tempo: 160–170 BPM. Groove sketch: chopped breakbeats.
Palette examples: chopped amen breaks, ragga stabs, dub echoes. Bass: booming sub bass.
Example voice treatment: chopped vocal stabs.
Use jungle as an anchor →neurofunk
Working tempo: 172–176 BPM. Groove sketch: chopped breakbeats.
Palette examples: tight breaks, metallic FX, dark atmosphere. Bass: aggressive neuro bass.
Example voice treatment: instrumental.
Use neurofunk as an anchor →happy hardcore
Working tempo: 165–180 BPM. Groove sketch: four-on-the-floor kick.
Palette examples: piano stabs, hoover synth, pitched-up vocals. Bass: pumping bass.
Example voice treatment: pitched-up female vocal.
Use happy hardcore as an anchor →gabber
Working tempo: 160–200 BPM. Groove sketch: four-on-the-floor kick.
Palette examples: distorted gabber kick, screeching synths, hoover. Bass: distorted kick.
Example voice treatment: shouted vocal samples.
Use gabber as an anchor →UK garage
Working tempo: 130–136 BPM. Groove sketch: swung 2-step drums.
Palette examples: swung shuffled drums, pitched vocal chops, stabby chords. Bass: warm organ bass.
Example voice treatment: pitched R&B vocal chops.
Use UK garage as an anchor →UK bass
Working tempo: 130–136 BPM. Groove sketch: swung 2-step drums.
Palette examples: gritty synth stabs, half-time drops, snare rolls. Bass: heavy distorted wobbling bass.
Example voice treatment: chanted confrontational hook.
Use UK bass as an anchor →future garage
Working tempo: 130–138 BPM. Groove sketch: swung 2-step drums.
Palette examples: vinyl crackle, ghostly vocal chops, rain textures. Bass: deep sub.
Example voice treatment: ghostly pitched vocal.
Use future garage as an anchor →deep dubstep
Working tempo: 138–142 BPM. Groove sketch: half-time drums.
Palette examples: sparse half-time drums, dub siren, reverb throws. Bass: sub wobble bass.
Example voice treatment: instrumental.
Use deep dubstep as an anchor →grime
Working tempo: 138–142 BPM. Groove sketch: swung 2-step drums.
Palette examples: icy synths, sparse percussion, hard stabs. Bass: square-wave bass.
Example voice treatment: rapid MC vocal.
Use grime as an anchor →Downtempo & Ambient
trip-hop
Working tempo: 80–95 BPM. Groove sketch: swung hip-hop drums.
Palette examples: dusty breakbeat, cinematic strings, vinyl crackle. Bass: deep dubby bass.
Example voice treatment: smoky detached vocal.
Use trip-hop as an anchor →dark downtempo
Working tempo: 60–90 BPM. Groove sketch: half-time drums.
Palette examples: slow heartbeat kick, tape-warped pads, glassy plucks. Bass: sub-bass drone.
Example voice treatment: deadpan low vocal.
Use dark downtempo as an anchor →chillwave
Working tempo: 90–110 BPM. Groove sketch: live backbeat drums.
Palette examples: hazy synth pads, tape warble, reverbed drums. Bass: soft round bass.
Example voice treatment: dreamy reverbed vocal.
Use chillwave as an anchor →ambient
Working tempo: 60–80 BPM. Groove sketch: beatless, free time.
Palette examples: slow evolving pads, field recordings, distant bells. Bass: soft drone.
Example voice treatment: instrumental.
Use ambient as an anchor →dark ambient
Working tempo: 60–80 BPM. Groove sketch: beatless, free time.
Palette examples: metallic resonances, cavernous reverb, field recordings. Bass: low drone.
Example voice treatment: instrumental.
Use dark ambient as an anchor →new age
Working tempo: 60–80 BPM. Groove sketch: beatless, free time.
Palette examples: soft synth pads, nature sounds, bells. Bass: soft pad bass.
Example voice treatment: instrumental.
Use new age as an anchor →Latin & Afro
afrobeats
Working tempo: 100–112 BPM. Groove sketch: syncopated afro-Latin groove.
Palette examples: afro percussion, palm-wine guitar licks, shakers. Bass: bouncy syncopated bass.
Example voice treatment: melodic sing-rap vocal.
Use afrobeats as an anchor →afrobeat
Working tempo: 100–120 BPM. Groove sketch: syncopated funk drums.
Palette examples: horn riffs, polyrhythmic percussion, funky guitar. Bass: funky bass ostinato.
Example voice treatment: chanted call-and-response vocal.
Use afrobeat as an anchor →amapiano
Working tempo: 108–115 BPM. Groove sketch: syncopated afro-Latin groove.
Palette examples: shakers, jazzy piano, soft pads. Bass: log drum bass.
Example voice treatment: smooth chanted vocals.
Use amapiano as an anchor →reggaeton
Working tempo: 88–100 BPM. Groove sketch: syncopated afro-Latin groove.
Palette examples: dembow drum pattern, plucked synth, reverb snare. Bass: punchy 808 bass.
Example voice treatment: smooth male vocal.
Use reggaeton as an anchor →salsa
Working tempo: 160–200 BPM. Groove sketch: syncopated afro-Latin groove.
Palette examples: piano montuno, horn section, congas and timbales. Bass: syncopated tumbao bass.
Example voice treatment: spirited vocal with coro.
Use salsa as an anchor →bossa nova
Working tempo: 120–140 BPM. Groove sketch: syncopated afro-Latin groove.
Palette examples: nylon guitar, brushed bossa rhythm, flute. Bass: soft bass.
Example voice treatment: soft breathy vocal.
Use bossa nova as an anchor →cumbia
Working tempo: 80–100 BPM. Groove sketch: syncopated afro-Latin groove.
Palette examples: accordion, güira scrape, hand percussion. Bass: bouncy bass.
Example voice treatment: warm male vocal.
Use cumbia as an anchor →baile funk
Working tempo: 125–135 BPM. Groove sketch: syncopated afro-Latin groove.
Palette examples: tamborzão drums, vocal chops, synth stabs. Bass: booming 808.
Example voice treatment: chanted MC vocal.
Use baile funk as an anchor →Classical & Cinematic
orchestral score
Working tempo: 60–120 BPM. Groove sketch: beatless, free time.
Palette examples: full orchestra, epic brass, timpani. Bass: low strings.
Example voice treatment: instrumental.
Use orchestral score as an anchor →epic trailer
Working tempo: 100–130 BPM. Groove sketch: half-time drums.
Palette examples: huge percussion hits, braams, choir. Bass: sub hits.
Example voice treatment: instrumental.
Use epic trailer as an anchor →modern classical
Working tempo: 60–90 BPM. Groove sketch: beatless, free time.
Palette examples: felt piano, string quartet, soft room tone. Bass: none.
Example voice treatment: instrumental.
Use modern classical as an anchor →