House music refers to a collection of styles of electronic dance music, the earliest forms beginning in the early-to mid- 1980s. The common element of most house music is a 4/4 beat in a not too fast tempo, (120 beats per minute) generated by a drum machine. On the 2nd and 4th beat, there is a a snare drum or hand clap; in between beats 1 2 3 and 4 of the bass drum you hear hi hats. The music also has a solid (usually electronically generated) bassline. Upon this foundation are added electronically generated sounds and samples of music such as jazz, blues, and synthpop as well as additional percussion. The tracks are finished with some happy/swining sounds and a simple melody. The roots of house are Disco and many consider the drum patterns used in MFSB's classic "Love is the Message" as a primary building block around house.

Two tunes are arguably the first House music, each arriving in early 1984. The tune that was chronologically first was Jamie Principle and Frankie Knuckles "Your Love", a huge hit in the clubs, but only available on tape copies. The second, "On And On" by Jesse Saunders was later but on vinyl.

Fully electronic music tracks predated house

House music grew out of the post-disco dance club culture of the early 1980s. After disco became popular, certain urban DJs, particularly those in gay communities, altered the music to make it less pop-oriented. The beat became more mechanical and the bass grooves became deeper, while elemnets of electronic synth pop, Latin soul, dub reggae, rap, and jazz were grafted over the music's insistent, unvarying 4/4 beat.