House Music

electronic music · dance · Chicago · 1980s

Four on the floor. House music has a super steady beat that goes boom-boom-boom-boom, four times per measure, which makes it perfect for dancing all night long.

Born in Chicago. In the early 1980s, DJs and producers in Chicago's underground clubs created house music by taking disco songs and making them sound more mechanical and electronic.

Super speedy tempo. House music typically plays between 115 and 130 beats per minute, which is faster than most pop songs and keeps the energy high.

DJs transformed disco. DJs didn't just play existing songs; they altered and remixed disco tracks to create a whole new sound that felt futuristic and exciting.

Took over mainstream. By 1988, house music exploded into the mainstream and became the dominant sound, replacing the typical music styles of the 1980s.