* Skiffle: Skiffle is a genre of music that originated in Britain in the 1950s. It is characterized by its use of acoustic guitars, banjos, and tea chest basses. McCartney was a member of a skiffle band called the Quarrymen, which he formed with John Lennon in 1957.
* Classical music: McCartney's father was a brass band leader, and McCartney himself studied classical piano and trumpet as a child. He has cited composers such as Beethoven, Mozart, and Bach as influences on his music.
* Folk music: McCartney was a fan of folk music in the 1960s, and he incorporated folk elements into many of the Beatles' songs. He was particularly influenced by folk singers such as Bob Dylan and Joan Baez.
* Psychedelic music: The Beatles experimented with psychedelic music in the late 1960s, and McCartney was a major contributor to this sound. He was inspired by psychedelic drugs such as LSD, and he incorporated psychedelic imagery and sounds into many of the Beatles' songs.