Genres and sound families
Begin with major music families, then follow their branches, recordings and regions.
Practical listening guides
Funk vs soul: what to listen for
Compare funk and soul through rhythm, vocal phrasing and two recording examples. Build your ear without treating genre labels as fixed rules.
Read and explore →Jazz for beginners: a three-pass listening guide
Start listening to jazz with melody, pulse and conversation. Try Miles Davis and Sarah Vaughan examples, then explore the connected music map.
Read and explore →Reggae vs ska: compare the offbeat, bass and space
Compare ska and reggae through the placement of chords, bass and drums. Follow two credited recordings while keeping Jamaica's musical context in view.
Read and explore →Samba vs bossa nova: listen to how rhythm is arranged
Explore samba and bossa nova through guitar, percussion and vocal space, using Luiz Bonfá's source audio and a clearly credited catalog recording.
Read and explore →Rhythm vs tempo vs beat: hear the difference
Separate beat, tempo and rhythm with a counting exercise, two recording starting points and a way to explain why busy music can feel fast.
Read and explore →Song vs recording vs track: what are you comparing?
Understand a musical work, a particular recording and a track on a release. Use credits and version information to compare performances accurately.
Read and explore →