Disco

Disco
The ceiling of an Arlington, Texas discothèque
Stylistic origins	Funk Philadelphia sound soul Latin psychedelic soul bubblegum pop pop
Cultural origins	Mid-to-late 1960s – early 1970s; East Coast, United States
Typical instruments	Vocals electric guitar bass guitar keyboards drums drum machines percussion string section horn section orchestral instruments
Derivative forms	Afro-funky Hi-NRG Italo Disco house post-disco hip hop new wave garage rave synthpop freestyle
Subgenres
Italo disco Euro disco space disco disco polo nu-disco
Fusion genres
Dance-punk disco house Manila Sound
Regional scenes
NYC Philadelphia Atlanta Miami LA Montreal, Canada
Other topics
Discothèque disco orchestration disco artists old-school hip hop rhythm and blues

Disco is a genre of dance music containing elements of funk, soul, pop, and salsa. It achieved popularity during the mid-1970s to the early 1980s. Its initial audiences in the U.S. were club-goers from the gay, African American, Italian American,Latino, and psychedelic communities in Philadelphia and New York City during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Disco can be seen as a reaction against both the domination of rock music and the stigmatization of dance music by the counterculture during this period. It was popular with both men and women, from many different backgrounds.

The disco sound often has several components, a "four-on-the-floor" beat, an eighth note (quaver) or 16th note (semi-quaver) hi-hat pattern with an open hi-hat on the off-beat, and a prominent, syncopated electric bass line. In most disco tracks, string sections, horns, electric piano, and electric rhythm guitars create a lush background sound. Orchestral instruments such as the flute are often used for solo melodies, and lead guitar is less frequently used in disco than in rock. Many disco songs use electronic synthesizers, particularly in the late 1970s.