Music styles

Songen generates nearly 50 music styles. These guides break down how each one works, and how Songen gives you a loop to start from.

• Make Drift Phonk beats

  110–120 BPM

  Drift phonk is a loose, dark branch of phonk built on crushed, distorted sounds and a relentless, repetitive drive more than any strict formula. It usually runs around 110 to 120 BPM, and while a melodic cowbell riff is a common thread, the beat and bass vary widely from one track to the next.

• Make Horror Rap beats

  120–130 BPM

  Horror rap is a menacing trap style that borrows the tension of horror movie soundtracks. It pairs heavy 808 basslines and a trap beat with eerie, dissonant melodies, usually around 120 to 130 BPM, for a sound that lands like a jump scare set to a beat.

• Make Dark Trap beats

  125–148 BPM

  Dark trap is a ghostly, half-tempo trap style where the harmony hides in the background and the 808 and drums take the front. Around 125 to 148 BPM, it leans on sparse, reverb-soaked melodies and a heavy 808 that doubles the kick, leaving wide space for vocals.

• Make Emotional Trap beats

  130–150 BPM

  Emotional trap is trap with a ballad at its heart: soft piano and sustained chords over modern trap drums and bass, usually around 130 to 150 BPM. The bass supports the harmony instead of stealing focus, leaving room for tender, melodic vocals.

• Make Hyper Trap beats

  130–145 BPM

  Hyper trap is a high-energy crossover of trap and EDM: trap drums and an 808 fused with bright EDM synth leads and a brutal, clipped, wall-of-sound master. Around 130 to 145 BPM, it pushes everything loud and forward.

• Make PluggnB beats

  120–150 BPM

  PluggnB is a smooth, R&B-tinged offshoot of plugg and trap: lush, melodic chords and a heavy 808 and trap beat, usually around 120 to 150 BPM. It marries soft harmony with a hard low end.

• Make Bounce beats

  155–190 BPM

  Bounce is an up-tempo, sample-driven rap style built on short, repeated loops, usually around 155 to 190 BPM. The tight loops leave wide rhythmic space for vocals to drive the energy.

• Make Wavy Trap beats

  130–145 BPM

  Wavy trap is a smooth, melodic trap style defined by lush minor-7th and major-7th chords that give it a dreamy, wavy feel, usually around 130 to 145 BPM. More a vibe than a strict genre, it often carries an R&B tint.

• Make Pop Trap beats

  130–155 BPM

  Pop trap blends evergreen pop songwriting with modern trap production: catchy, easy-going melodies and harmony over a half-time trap beat, 808 and hat rolls, usually around 130 to 155 BPM. It is built for wide appeal.

• Make Westcoast Rap beats

  155–185 BPM

  West coast rap has sunshine built in: sweet R&B chord progressions, a whistle-like sine or guitar lead, and a warm analog-style bass, usually written around 155 to 185 BPM with a half-time feel. It leaves wide space for rap or melodic singing.

• Make Boom Bap beats

  82–92 BPM

  Boom bap is one of the oldest rap styles: short loops sampled from vinyl, a swung kick-and-snare groove with ghost hits, and a steady 8th-note hi-hat, usually around 82 to 92 BPM. The name says it: boom is the kick, bap is the snare. The drums stay sampled and gritty, but the kick and snare crack crisper and punchier than softer lo-fi.

• Make New York Rap beats

  85–95 BPM

  New York rap is the East Coast, sample-driven cousin of boom bap: short loops, a steady 8th-note hi-hat and a gritty, street-level mood, usually around 85 to 95 BPM. It puts the spotlight on lyricism.

• Make Dub beats

  120–150 BPM

  Dub is a bass-heavy, spacious style rooted in reggae: a deep, dominant bassline, offbeat chords, and drums drenched in echo and reverb, usually around 120 to 150 BPM. Space and low end are the whole point.

• Make Club Rap beats

  100–120 BPM

  Club rap is a dance-floor crossover of EDM and rap: an EDM drum beat, funk-influenced basslines and EDM-style chords, with rap-and-sing vocals over party themes, usually around 100 to 120 BPM.

• Make Jersey Club beats

  135–155 BPM

  Jersey club is a high-energy dance style built on a signature kick pattern: a half four-on-the-floor with the last beat split into three syncopated kicks, doubled by an 808. Around 135 to 155 BPM, it pairs R&B harmony with chopped, unexpected samples.

• Make Grime beats

  135–142 BPM

  Grime is a UK rap style built on a strong unison motif and creative, space-filled drum patterns, usually around 135 to 142 BPM. Its push-and-pull rhythms and sudden bursts of density make the head bop.

• Make Drill beats

  130–140 BPM

  Drill is a dark rap style born in Chicago in the early 2010s, built on syncopated hi-hats, sliding bass and rhythms full of gaps that hide the 4/4 pulse. Around 130 to 140 BPM, it pairs dark, menacing harmony with off-kilter, displaced snares.

• Make UK Garage beats

  120–140 BPM

  UK garage is a soulful, swung dance style with skippy, jumpy drums and strong, melodic basslines, usually around 120 to 140 BPM. The heavy swing is built to move a dance floor.

• Make Drum & Bass beats

  160–180 BPM

  Drum and bass is a fast UK electronic style built on breakbeats and deep sub-bass, usually around 160 to 180 BPM. Frantic drums sit over a half-time-feeling low end for high energy with a rolling groove.

• Make Techno beats

  115–135 BPM

  Techno is a hypnotic, four-on-the-floor electronic style built on a driving kick, repetitive loops and subtle, evolving modulation, usually around 115 to 135 BPM. It trades big melodies for relentless, immersive groove.

• Make Pop D&B beats

  130–155 BPM

  Pop drum and bass marries fast D&B rhythms with pop song structure: bright, vocal-friendly harmony over breakbeats and ravey bass, usually around 130 to 155 BPM. It feels like pop with a fast, euphoric engine.

• Make Minimal House beats

  115–128 BPM

  Minimal house is a stripped-back house style with groovy keyboards, sparse melodies and a steady four-on-the-floor, usually around 115 to 128 BPM. It does a lot with a little, leaning on groove and space.

• Make EDM beats

  105–120 BPM

  EDM is the broad, festival-ready sound of electronic dance music: a four-on-the-floor beat, big builds and drops, and bright, anthemic synths, usually around 105 to 120 BPM. It is made to fill big rooms and main stages.

• Make Trance beats

  120–140 BPM

  Trance is an uplifting, hypnotic electronic style built on rolling arpeggios, lush pads and long, euphoric builds, usually around 120 to 140 BPM. It aims for emotional liftoff on the dance floor.

• Make 90's Dance beats

  115–128 BPM

  90s dance is a retro, feel-good sound: a four-on-the-floor beat, bright cheap-piano stabs, FM-synth tones and groovy basslines, usually around 115 to 128 BPM. Uplifting chords and melodies are a time machine to the decade.

• Make Amapiano beats

  95–105 BPM

  Amapiano is a South African house style built on a soft four-on-the-floor kick, shaker-driven rhythm and its signature sound: a punchy, free-roaming log-drum bass. Usually around 95 to 105 BPM, with a simple, repetitive synth riff floating half-melodic on top.

• Make Afrobeats beats

  90–100 BPM

  Afrobeats is a vibrant West African pop style with syncopated, percussive rhythms, warm melodic hooks and a danceable groove, usually around 90 to 100 BPM. Bright percussion and catchy vocals drive its global appeal.

• Make Reggaeton beats

  90–100 BPM

  Reggaeton is built on the dembow pulse and the tresillo groove, a syncopated Latin rhythm carrying melodic piano, guitar and plucky leads over a smooth synth bass, usually around 90 to 100 BPM. The rhythm is unmistakable and made to move.

• Make Tropical Pop beats

  100–115 BPM

  Tropical pop is a bright, summery EDM-pop hybrid: a four-on-the-floor beat, strong basslines and breezy tropical leads like pan flutes, usually around 100 to 115 BPM. It is built for sunny, sing-along hits.

• Make Bollywood Dance beats

  100–120 BPM

  Bollywood dance blends Indian film-music color with modern dance production: acoustic instruments like flutes playing fast arpeggios and melodies over an energetic beat, usually around 100 to 120 BPM.

• Make Bossa Nova music

  140–170 BPM

  Bossa nova blends Brazilian rhythm with American jazz: an acoustic soundscape, a distinctive syncopated percussion pattern and rich jazz harmony, usually written around 140 to 170 BPM but felt relaxed. Lush sevenths and altered chords give it its sophistication.

• Make Swing music

  80–120 BPM

  Swing is a classic jazz style with rich harmony, a swung groove and syncopated comping, usually around 80 to 120 BPM. A ride cymbal lays the foundation while sparse kicks, snares and an offbeat pedal hat lock in the feel.

• Make Classic Country music

  75–100 BPM

  Classic country is rootsy American music built on clean electric guitar, a banjo lead and a back-and-forth bass that alternates root and fifth, usually around 75 to 100 BPM. Simple, honest songwriting is the heart of it.

• Make Airy Pop music

  100–118 BPM

  Airy pop is spacious, vocal-first pop: a soft four on the floor, sustained pads and bell ear candy floating over a smooth synth bass, usually around 100 to 118 BPM. Everything is built to leave room for a voice.

• Make K-Pop music

  110–130 BPM

  K-pop is a polished, genre-blending pop style that fuses EDM, R&B, trap and more into one high-production package, usually around 110 to 130 BPM. Songs often shift between sounds, co-produced for maximum impact.

• Make Modern Country music

  100–130 BPM

  Modern country is guitar-driven country with a contemporary edge: bright acoustic and electric guitars, anticipated chord changes that push ahead of the beat, and a straight, steady groove, usually around 100 to 130 BPM.

• Make Energetic Pop music

  115–130 BPM

  Energetic pop is a punchy, modern pop sound with strong synths, a loud compressed drum beat and soulful harmony, usually around 115 to 130 BPM. It is a modern take on funk, turned up and radio-ready.

• Make Pop Punk music

  140–160 BPM

  Pop punk here is a crossover of trap and punk: rough, direct songs that swing between punk guitars and trap drums, 808 and keys, usually around 140 to 160 BPM. One song might flip between a punk section and a trap one.

• Make Rock music

  100–130 BPM

  This rock is fundamental guitar rock: a straight, heavy-hitting drum beat, a simple steady bassline and arpeggiated guitars or basic riffs, usually around 100 to 130 BPM. It is the no-frills core of the genre.

• Make Disco beats

  90–130 BPM

  Disco is groove-driven dance music powered by lively, octave-jumping basslines, four-on-the-floor drums and bright, danceable chords, usually around 90 to 130 BPM. The bassline and its fills bring the whole thing alive.

• Make Funk music

  80–110 BPM

  Funk is groove music built on tight 16th-note rhythms, polyrhythmic interplay, soulful harmony and adventurous synths, usually around 80 to 110 BPM. Everything serves the pocket.

• Make R&B music

  125–145 BPM

  R&B is smooth, soulful, vocal-led music with lush harmony, laid-back grooves and warm, intimate production, usually written around 125 to 145 BPM and often felt in half-time. Emotion and feel come first.

• Make Neo Soul music

  65–85 BPM

  Neo soul is a modern, jazz-tinged take on soul: slow, swung grooves, bold extended harmony and warm, rich tones, usually around 65 to 85 BPM. It suits both singing and rap, and lives for the chords.

• Make Lofi beats

  100–120 BPM

  Lo-fi is warm, mellow, jazz-tinged hip hop built for relaxing and studying: dusty drums, soft jazzy chords and a gentle swing, usually around 100 to 120 BPM but felt easy. Imperfection, nostalgia and atmosphere are the point.

• Make Chillwave music

  90–115 BPM

  Chillwave is a dreamy, nostalgic electronic style with hazy synths, washed-out textures and laid-back grooves, usually around 90 to 115 BPM. Warm, retro tones and a soft-focus mood define it.

• Make Synthwave music

  90–120 BPM

  Synthwave is a retro-futuristic style inspired by 80s film and game scores: lush analog-style synths, gated drums and arpeggiated basslines, usually around 90 to 120 BPM. Neon nostalgia is the whole aesthetic.

• Make Ambient music

  130–150 BPM

  Ambient is atmospheric, beat-light music built from evolving pads, drones and texture, made to set a mood and reward deep listening or fade into the background. Space and tone matter more than tempo.

• Make Cinematic music

  130–150 BPM

  Cinematic music is orchestral film-score writing: chord progressions colored by surprising borrowed chords, careful orchestration and unison melodies, usually around 130 to 150 BPM. It moves from epic triumph to grief, always serving the scene.