Many people have heard of dubstep and how popular it became during the early 2000s and 2010’s. Dubstep was a very popular form of electronic dance music that is still enjoyed by many listeners today.
Drumstep is a little less talked about but still listened to widely.
What Is Dubstep?
First, what is dubstep?
Dubstep is a popular form of electronic dance music that emphasizes syncopated rhythm patterns with a heavy focus on sub-bass lines. While less than two decades old, Dubstep has become a popular music genre with it’s own dedicated festivals and fans.
Anyone that’s listened to Dubstep will quickly point out how hard-hitting the bass usually is and how the hook is centered on a solid bass line that makes up its foundation. This is the essence of most Dubstep, a synthesized bass full of personality that rhythmically supports an instrumental chorus.
Originating from U.K. garage music, Dubstep gets its name from the dub-reggae genres and its common 2-step garage music.
Some great examples of dubstep songs are:
- Cinema – Benny Benassi ft. Gary Go (Skrillex Remix)
- I Can’t Stop – Flux Pavilion
- Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites – Skrillex
- Promises – Nero
- Crave You – Flight Facilities (Adventure Club Remix)
These songs are some of the most popular in dubstep and are easily recognizable.
What Is Drumstep?
So we know what Dubstep is, but what is Drumstep?
Drumstep is a sub-genre of drum and bass following a half-time beat. While a lot of Dubstep is half-time as well, the general BPM of Drumstep is usually a bit faster than that of Dubstep.
There are a lot of similarities and overlaps between Dubstep and Drumstep, many songs that you’ll find fitting into one category will fit into the other.
Some examples of Drumstep are:
- Here With You Now – Grabbitz
- Too Simple – Tristam & Stephen Walking
- Maelstrom – Tut Tut Child
- Full Focus – Noisestorm
- Flight – Tristam & Braken
Drumstep vs Dubstep
So how do these two genres compare, Drumstep vs Dubstep.
As mentioned earlier, Drumstep and Dubstep both have a focus on bass and it being a central part of the song. Dubstep can have a bit more focus on synth effects added to the drums and bass, giving them more range and a different feel. Meanwhile, Drumstep can have some effects as well but most attempt to keep the impact of drums by keeping them in a tight range.
Another difference is the BPM (beats per minute) between Drumstep and Dubstep. Drumstep can range from 160 to 180 BPM with a half-time structure. Meanwhile, Dubstep will be around 140 BPM, sometimes with a half-time beat structure.