Exploring Different Genres (Jazz, Hip-Hop, Classical)

Here's something amazing—the same melody becomes completely different music when you change the genre!

Think about "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." Play it in jazz and it feels like a bar, in hip-hop it feels like the streets, in classical it feels like a concert hall. Same song, completely different vibes.

Today we'll learn this magic. Genre is the identity of music. Let's master the major genres!

Core Elements of Genres - What Makes Them Different?

Each genre has its "signature." Knowing this lets you make precise requests to AI.

Each genre has unique characteristics:

• Instrument composition: Which instruments are used
• Rhythm pattern: Beat and groove
• Harmonic progression: Chord patterns
• Tempo: Speed
• Production style: Sound processing

Jazz

Characteristics of Jazz

• Swing rhythm
• Improvisation
• Complex harmony
• Representative instruments: saxophone, trumpet, piano, double bass

Jazz Subgenres

1. Smooth Jazz

Suno Prompt:

Smooth jazz, sultry saxophone, laid-back groove, cool piano, relaxed

Features:

• Smooth saxophone
• Comfortable tempo
• Cafe or lounge atmosphere

Use:

• Cafe background music
• Work focus music
• Evening time BGM

2. Bebop

Suno Prompt:

Fast bebop jazz, complex trumpet solo, walking bass, swing drums, virtuosic

Features:

• Fast tempo
• Complex solos
• Technical performance

3. Jazz Ballad

Udio Prompt:

Jazz ballad, emotional piano trio, slow and intimate, late night jazz club

Features:

• Slow tempo
• Emotional
• Piano-centered

Jazz Prompts by Instrument

Saxophone-centered:

Jazzy saxophone melody, smooth, bluesy, with piano and drums

Piano Jazz:

Jazz piano trio, melodic, swinging, Bill Evans style

Trumpet Jazz:

Trumpet jazz, Miles Davis style, cool jazz, muted trumpet

Hip-Hop

Characteristics of Hip-Hop

• Strong beat
• Bassline
• Sampling
• Key elements: drums, 808 bass, scratching

Hip-Hop Subgenres

1. Boom Bap

Suno Prompt:

Boom bap hip-hop beat, classic 90s style, hard drums, vinyl scratch, jazzy sample

Features:

• 90s style
• Strong kick and snare
• Jazz sampling

Use:

• Rap beats
• Freestyle music
• Hip-hop dance

2. Trap

Suno Prompt:

Hard trap beat, 808 bass, hi-hat rolls, dark atmosphere, aggressive

Features:

• Powerful 808 bass
• Fast hi-hats
• Dark atmosphere

3. Lofi Hip-Hop

Suno Prompt:

Chill lofi hip-hop, relaxed beat, nostalgic piano, vinyl crackle, study vibes

Features:

• Comfortable beat
• Vintage sound
• Study/work music

Use:

• Focus music
• Background music
• YouTube live streams

Hip-Hop Prompts by Mood

Bright and Cheerful:

Upbeat hip-hop, positive vibes, bouncy beat, summer party

Dark and Intense:

Dark aggressive trap, heavy 808, menacing, hard-hitting

Emotional:

Emotional hip-hop, sad piano, slow beat, introspective

Classical

Characteristics of Classical

• Orchestral arrangement
• Sophisticated composition
• Period-specific styles
• Representative instruments: violin, cello, piano, flute

Classical by Period

1. Baroque

Suno Prompt:

Baroque classical, harpsichord and strings, Bach style, ornate, contrapuntal

Features:

• Harpsichord
• Counterpoint
• Ornamental melodies

Period: 1600-1750 Representative composers: Bach, Vivaldi

2. Classical Period

Suno Prompt:

Classical period symphony, Mozart style, elegant strings, balanced, graceful

Features:

• Balanced form
• Elegant melodies
• Clear structure

Period: 1750-1820 Representative composers: Mozart, Haydn

3. Romantic

Udio Prompt:

Romantic orchestral piece, passionate, sweeping strings, dramatic piano, emotional depth, Chopin style

Features:

• Emotional expression
• Grand orchestra
• Free form

Period: 1820-1900 Representative composers: Chopin, Tchaikovsky

4. Modern Classical

Udio Prompt:

Modern classical, minimalist, ambient strings, contemporary, ethereal, atmospheric

Features:

• Experimental
• Minimalism
• Modern harmony

Representative composers: Philip Glass, Max Richter

Classical Prompts by Ensemble

Piano Solo:

Classical piano solo, Chopin nocturne style, delicate, expressive

String Quartet:

String quartet, chamber music, intimate, classical harmony

Symphony:

Full orchestral symphony, grand, powerful, dramatic movements

Piano Concerto:

Piano concerto, virtuosic piano with orchestra, romantic style

Other Popular Genres

Rock

Classic Rock:

Classic rock, electric guitar solo, driving drums, powerful, arena rock

Indie Rock:

Indie rock, alternative, jangly guitars, atmospheric, modern

Electronic

House:

House music, four-on-the-floor beat, uplifting, dancefloor, energetic

Ambient:

Ambient electronic, atmospheric pads, ethereal, spacious, meditative

Synthwave:

Synthwave, retro 80s synths, nostalgic, neon vibes, cyberpunk

Pop

Modern Pop:

Modern pop, catchy, upbeat, radio-friendly, polished production

Synth-pop:

Synth-pop, 80s inspired, catchy melody, electronic drums

R&B/Soul

R&B:

Smooth R&B, sultry vocals, neo-soul, contemporary, groovy bass

Soul:

Classic soul, warm, emotional, vintage vibes, Motown style

Genre Mixing (Fusion)

Jazz + Hip-Hop

Jazz hip-hop fusion, boom bap beat with jazz piano, saxophone samples, laid-back

Classical + Electronic

Classical electronic fusion, orchestral strings with EDM production, epic

Rock + Orchestra

Symphonic rock, electric guitar with orchestra, cinematic, powerful

Same Melody, Different Genre Experiment

Let's create one basic melody in various genres.

Basic Melody: "Simple beautiful melody"

Jazz Version

Simple beautiful melody, smooth jazz arrangement, saxophone lead

Hip-Hop Version

Simple beautiful melody, lofi hip-hop beat, chill vibes

Classical Version

Simple beautiful melody, classical piano interpretation, romantic style

Electronic Version

Simple beautiful melody, ambient electronic, synth pads

Genre Experimentation with MusicGen

Jazz Loop

Jazz drum loop, swing rhythm, with bass and piano
Duration: 10 seconds

Hip-Hop Beat

Hip-hop drum beat, boom bap style, hard-hitting
Duration: 15 seconds

Classical Theme

Classical orchestral theme, strings and brass, dramatic
Duration: 20 seconds

Tempo Guide by Genre

Genre	Average BPM	Description
Lofi Hip-Hop	70-90	Slow and relaxed
Jazz Ballad	60-80	Very slow
Boom Bap	85-95	Medium slow
House	120-130	Fast
Trap	130-150	Fast (hi-hat double time)
Classical	Varies	Depends on piece

Practice Assignments

Assignment 1: Express One Theme in 3 Genres

Create the same basic idea in jazz, hip-hop, and classical.

Theme: "Night Sky"

Jazz:

Night sky jazz, smooth saxophone, starlit, mellow

Hip-Hop:

Night sky lofi hip-hop, atmospheric, chill beat, stargazing

Classical:

Night sky classical, nocturne style, piano, romantic

Assignment 2: Favorite Song in Different Genre

Example: Nursery rhyme "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"
- As jazz version
- As hip-hop beat
- As classical variation

Next Time Preview

Now that you've mastered genres, it's time to add melodies to lyrics. Next time we'll turn your written lyrics into music!

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TIP: When specifying genre, be as specific as possible. Rather than "jazz," say "smooth jazz" or "bebop jazz" for more accurate results!