* Medieval music (500-1400)
* Monophonic (single melody line)
* Use of plainchant (unaccompanied, monophonic vocal music)
* Development of polyphony (multiple melodic lines)
* Renaissance music (1400-1600)
* Increased use of polyphony
* Development of harmony
* Use of instruments, including the lute, viol, and recorder
Baroque Music (1600-1750)
* Early Baroque (1600-1650)
* Continuation of Renaissance polyphony
* Development of the opera
* Rise of the violin family of instruments
* High Baroque (1650-1700)
* Increased use of instruments
* Development of the concerto and the sonata
* Rise of the harpsichord
* Late Baroque (1700-1750)
* Continuation of High Baroque trends
* Development of the symphony
* Rise of the piano
Classical Music (1750-1820)
* Early Classical (1750-1770)
* Simplification of texture
* Increased use of homophony (melody accompanied by chords)
* Development of the sonata-allegro form
* High Classical (1770-1820)
* Continuation of Early Classical trends
* Development of the symphony and the concerto
* Rise of the string quartet
* Late Classical (1800-1820)
* Continuation of High Classical trends
* Development of the romantic style
Romantic Music (1820-1910)
* Early Romantic (1820-1850)
* Increased emotional expression
* Use of chromaticism (use of notes outside of the key)
* Development of the symphonic poem
* High Romantic (1850-1890)
* Continuation of Early Romantic trends
* Development of the opera
* Rise of the virtuoso performer
* Late Romantic (1890-1910)
* Continuation of High Romantic trends
* Development of the ballet
* Rise of nationalism in music
20th-Century Music (1900-present)
* Impressionism (1890-1920)
* Use of non-traditional harmonies and melodies
* Emphasis on timbre (tone color)
* Development of the tone poem
* Expressionism (1910-1930)
* Use of dissonance (clashing harmonies)
* Emphasis on emotional expression
* Development of the twelve-tone technique
* Neoclassicism (1920-1940)
* Return to traditional forms and harmonies
* Use of instruments in new ways
* Development of the neoclassical ballet
* Serialism (1940-1960)
* Use of a series of notes as the basis for a composition
* Emphasis on atonality (lack of a key center)
* Development of electronic music
* Post-Serialism (1960-present)
* Continuation of serialism and electronic music
* Development of minimalism
* Rise of world music