House music is a widely popular genre of electronic dance music that emerged in the United States between 1980 and 1990. It is characterized by a 4/4 rhythm produced by drum machines, typically at a tempo of about 120 to 130 BPM, with the bass drum on every quarter note, snares or handclaps on every second quarter note, and open hi-hats in between the eighth notes. House is one of the first successful genres of electronic dance music and remains popular to this day. The name “House” originates from the club where this style was first played, the Warehouse in Chicago.
The roots of House lie in the disco music of the late 70s. These influences are particularly noticeable in the harmony and melody lines of House tracks. Frankie Knuckles, considered the godfather of all House DJs, played at the Warehouse in Chicago and quickly noticed that the extended instrumental sections of disco maxi club mixes, which focused solely on rhythm, drove the crowd into ecstasy. He started mixing only these club mixes together and discarded the rest of the tracks.
Chicago House emerged in Chicago and is the original style of House, characterized by simple rhythms and strong disco influences. Garage House emerged in New York clubs like the Paradise Garage, shaped by DJs such as Larry Levan and François Kevorkian. This style is more disco-oriented and often features soulful vocals and deeper basslines.
In the early 90s, House spread widely and became an umbrella term for various types of electronic dance music. This diversity led to some confusion, which is why the classic subgenres are more clearly defined today. On August 10, 2005, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley proclaimed the first “Chicago House Unity Day.”