Drum and Bass Subgenres Explained: A Complete Guide for Producers

A Producer Guide to Drum and Bass Subgenres

Drum and bass is one of the most diverse genres in electronic music. What started as a single sound in the early 1990s has split into dozens of subgenres, each with its own production techniques, bass sounds, and audience. As a producer, understanding these subgenres helps you find your niche and target your sound design more effectively.

This guide breaks down every major DnB subgenre with production notes for each.

High-Energy Subgenres

Jump-Up DnB

Jump-up is the party side of drum and bass. It uses bouncy, wobbly bass sounds with catchy hooks and energetic builds. The bass is typically a filtered square or saw wave with heavy modulation. Think Macky Gee, Tyke, and Annix.

Production notes: 170-175 BPM. Simple drum patterns with a prominent snare. Bass sounds use lots of wobble and pitch modulation. The drops are designed for maximum dancefloor impact. Keep arrangements straightforward: intro, build, drop, breakdown, drop.

Dancefloor DnB

Dancefloor DnB sits between jump-up and the deeper styles. It is accessible and crowd-pleasing but with more musical depth than pure jump-up. Artists like Sub Focus, Culture Shock, and Dimension represent this sound.

Production notes: 174-176 BPM. Polished production with layered synths, vocal hooks, and big builds. Bass sounds are clean and punchy. Heavy use of side-chaining and compression for that commercial DnB sound.

Heavy Subgenres

Neurofunk

Neurofunk is the technical side of DnB. It focuses on complex bass sound design, intricate arrangements, and surgical mixing. The bass sounds are layered, metallic, and constantly evolving. Noisia, Mefjus, and Phace are the standard-bearers.

Production notes: 174-178 BPM. Multiple bass layers (sub, mid, high) that interweave. Extensive use of resampling: design a bass, record it, chop it, and layer it with new sounds. Mixing is critical because neurofunk has a lot of frequency content competing for space.

Techstep

Techstep is the darker, more industrial cousin of neurofunk. It emerged in the late 90s with artists like Ed Rush, Optical, and Bad Company UK. The bass is dark, heavy, and mechanical, with less melodic content than neurofunk.

Production notes: 170-178 BPM. Dark, minimal arrangements. Bass sounds use lots of distortion and metallic processing. The drums are typically harder and more industrial than other DnB styles. Use reverb and delay for atmosphere.

Darkstep

Darkstep takes the darkness of techstep and pushes it further. The tempos are often faster, the bass is more distorted, and the overall vibe is aggressive and chaotic. Current 304 and Counterstrike represent this style.

Production notes: 175-185 BPM (sometimes faster). Aggressive, distorted bass patches. Fast breakbeat programming with lots of fills and rolls. Dark atmospheric pads and samples. Think horror movie meets rave.

Smooth Subgenres

Liquid DnB

Liquid drum and bass is the melodic, soulful side of the genre. It features smooth sub basses, lush pads, vocal samples, and jazzy chord progressions. Calibre, LSB, and Etherwood are masters of this style.

Production notes: 170-174 BPM. Warm sub bass (clean sine or triangle waves). Emphasis on musicality: chord progressions, melodies, and vocals. Light, shuffled drum patterns with natural-sounding breaks. Use reverb and delay generously for atmosphere.

Minimal DnB

Minimal DnB strips the genre down to its essential elements. A simple breakbeat, a deep bass, and space. Lots of space. Artists like Alix Perez, dBridge, and Skeptical work in this area.

Production notes: 170-174 BPM. Less is more. Simple drum patterns with one or two bass elements. Heavy use of silence and dynamics. The bass should be deep and felt rather than heard. Subtle processing and restraint in arrangement.

Specialist Subgenres

Jungle

Jungle is the ancestor of drum and bass. It uses chopped breakbeats (especially the Amen break), ragga and dancehall vocal samples, and deep bass. Congo Natty, DJ Zinc (early work), and Remarc define the classic jungle sound.

Production notes: 160-170 BPM. Chopped Amen breaks and other classic breakbeats. Deep, simple sub bass (often a sine wave with pitch modulation). Ragga vocal samples and dub-style effects (echo, reverb, filter sweeps).

Roller DnB

Rollers are the hypnotic, driving side of DnB. The bass “rolls” continuously, creating a trance-like effect on the dancefloor. The drum pattern locks in with the bass for a relentless groove. Calibre (his deeper work), DRS, and Lenzman make excellent rollers.

Production notes: 172-176 BPM. Continuous, flowing basslines (usually reese-based). The bass pattern repeats with subtle variations over many bars. Drums are steady and locked in. Minimal arrangement changes – the groove is the focus.

Halftime DnB

Halftime DnB uses the same tempo but half-speed drum patterns, creating a heavier, more spacious feel. Ivy Lab and Alix Perez explore this territory. See our full halftime DnB production guide for detailed production techniques.

Finding Your Sound

The beauty of drum and bass is its diversity. You do not need to pick just one subgenre. Many producers blend elements from multiple styles to create something unique. Study the subgenres that excite you most, learn their production techniques, and then combine them in your own way.

Whatever style you choose, quality bass sounds are the foundation. Our Dirty DnB Serum Presets cover sounds suitable for neurofunk, jump-up, techstep, and more. Use them as starting points for your own exploration.

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Related Production Guides

• Riddim Bass in Serum
• Tearout Dubstep Bass
• Color Bass Sound Design
• Brostep Sound Design
• Melodic Dubstep Guide
• Deathstep Bass in Serum
• How to Chop Amen Breaks
• Best DnB Chord Progressions

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For a complete overview of modern drum and bass production and preset recommendations, see our Modern Drum and Bass Serum Presets guide.