Top 17 'Score-Ready' World Music Genres to Practice for Game and Film Composers in 2025 - Goh Ling Yong
The world is getting smaller, but the sonic worlds we build as composers are getting bigger. Gone are the days when a sweeping orchestral score was the only tool in our cinematic toolkit. Today, directors, game developers, and audiences crave something more: authenticity, uniqueness, and emotional specificity. They want to hear the world, not just a romanticized version of it.
This is where your musical curiosity becomes your greatest asset. Diving into world music isn't about collecting exotic sounds to sprinkle over a generic track. It's about understanding the culture, the emotion, and the musical language of different traditions. This understanding allows you to create scores that are not only unique but also deeply resonant. It's the difference between a score that's merely functional and one that's truly unforgettable. Here at the Goh Ling Yong blog, we're all about future-proofing your career by expanding your creative palette.
So, where do you begin? The sheer diversity of global music can be overwhelming. That's why we've curated this list for 2025: 17 "score-ready" world music genres that are particularly relevant and versatile for modern game and film composers. This isn't just a list; it's a creative roadmap. Let's dive in.
1. Nordic/Scandinavian Folk
With the enduring popularity of Viking sagas, dark fantasy, and atmospheric survival games, the sound of the North is more in demand than ever. Nordic folk music is characterized by its haunting melodies, often built on ancient modes, and its sparse, cold instrumentation. It evokes vast, snow-covered landscapes, crackling fires in a longhouse, and a sense of profound, melancholic history.
Think of instruments like the Nyckelharpa (keyed fiddle), the Hardanger fiddle with its sympathetic strings, and the primal call of the Lur. The key to this genre isn't complexity but atmosphere. Drones are your best friend, creating a hypnotic foundation over which a lonely, expressive melody can soar. It’s the perfect sound for conveying both the beauty and the brutality of a harsh, ancient world.
Pro-Tip: Listen to the soundtracks of God of War (2018) and The Northman. Notice how they blend these folk elements with modern orchestral and electronic textures. Start by experimenting with a simple drone and a single, emotive violin or cello line using folk-like ornamentation.
2. Japanese Traditional (Minyo/Gagaku)
From samurai epics like Ghost of Tsushima to serene puzzle games and contemplative dramas, the sounds of traditional Japan offer a massive expressive range. This isn't just one genre, but a collection of styles, from the stately court music of Gagaku to the folk songs of Minyo. The common threads are often the use of pentatonic scales, a focus on timbre and texture, and the vital concept of ma (negative space or silence).
The iconic instruments are a composer's dream: the breathy, meditative Shakuhachi flute; the sharp, evocative plucks of the Koto and Shamisen; and the earth-shaking power of Taiko drums. Japanese music can create incredible tension, profound peace, or explosive action. Understanding how these instruments "speak" is crucial for scoring any content set in or inspired by Japan.
Pro-Tip: Don't just play pentatonic scales on a piano. Study the specific articulations of the Shakuhachi—the bends, flutters, and airy tones. For action cues, explore the interlocking rhythms of a Taiko ensemble.
3. Celtic/Irish Folk
A perennial favorite, Celtic music is the heart and soul of countless fantasy worlds, from The Lord of the Rings to The Witcher. But its use extends far beyond that. Its lilting melodies and driving rhythms can evoke adventure, nostalgia, deep sorrow, or communal celebration. It’s a genre that feels instantly familiar and emotionally direct.
The core instruments include the Uilleann pipes (more mellow than their Scottish cousins), the nimble tin whistle, the bodhrán frame drum, and the fiddle. The music is heavily ornamented, with rolls, cuts, and taps that give it its characteristic life and energy. Whether you're scoring a lively tavern scene or a character's poignant farewell, the Celtic language has a phrase for it.
Pro-Tip: The key to authentic Celtic-inspired writing is in the melodic ornamentation. Get a good tin whistle library and practice writing simple melodies, focusing on adding grace notes and "rolls" to make them dance.
4. Middle Eastern/Arabic Maqam
For desert landscapes, ancient mysteries, historical epics, or modern thrillers set in the region, understanding Arabic music is essential. The core of this tradition is the Maqam system—a set of melodic modes that are far more nuanced than Western scales, often using microtones (notes between the notes). This is what gives the music its characteristic winding, soulful quality.
The Oud (a pear-shaped, fretless lute) is the king of instruments here, capable of incredible melodic expression. It's often accompanied by the haunting Ney flute and a rich tapestry of percussion like the Darbuka, Riq, and frame drums. This sound palette can create suspense, romance, and a powerful sense of time and place, as heard in scores like Dune.
Pro-Tip: You don't need to be a music theory expert to start. Begin by listening to and internalizing the sound of the Maqam scales. Use a percussion loop with a Darbuka and Riq as a rhythmic bed, then improvise a melodic line with an Oud or Ney sample library, focusing on the microtonal bends.
5. Balkan/Eastern European Folk
If you need music that's bursting with chaotic energy, quirky charm, and a "laughing through tears" emotional complexity, look no further than the Balkans. This music is famous for its fiery brass bands, lightning-fast accordion and clarinet lines, and its use of asymmetric (odd) time signatures like 7/8 and 9/8 that give it a unique, infectious limp.
This genre is a fantastic tool for scoring dark comedies, heist scenes, or anything that needs a shot of high-octane, slightly unhinged energy. It’s the sound of a village wedding that turns into a wild party. Think of the films of Emir Kusturica and the music of Goran Bregović. It's raw, passionate, and full of life.
Pro-Tip: Start by clapping along to a track in 7/8 (try a 2+2+3 pattern). Once you feel the groove, try writing a simple bassline and chord progression over it. Then, add a melody with a clarinet or trumpet sound, focusing on short, accented phrases.
6. Indian Classical (Hindustani/Carnatic)
With its immense depth and spiritual resonance, Indian classical music offers a universe of sonic possibilities. This tradition is broadly split into Hindustani (North) and Carnatic (South). Both are built on the concepts of Raga (a melodic framework with specific moods and rules) and Tala (a rhythmic cycle). It’s a deeply expressive and often improvisational art form.
Instruments like the Sitar, the Bansuri (bamboo flute), and the Sarod provide the melody, while the Tabla drum duo creates incredibly complex rhythmic patterns. This music is perfect for spiritual or meditative scenes, dramas exploring complex emotions, or even for creating otherworldly textures in a sci-fi setting.
Pro-Tip: Move beyond the cliché "sitar drone." Listen to a full performance by an artist like Ravi Shankar. Pay attention to the Alap (the slow, non-rhythmic introduction) to understand how a Raga's mood is established.
7. Sub-Saharan African Polyrhythms
It’s crucial to remember that "Africa" is a massive continent, not a single genre. However, a common thread in many Sub-Saharan musical traditions is the powerful use of polyrhythm—the layering of multiple, contrasting rhythms simultaneously. This creates a complex, driving, and incredibly dynamic groove that can be adapted for countless scoring situations.
From the Djembe and Dundun drums of West Africa to the hypnotic Kalimba (mbira) of Zimbabwe and the elegant Kora (harp-lute) of the Mandinka people, the instrumental palette is rich and varied. As the score for Black Panther demonstrated, these traditions can be powerfully fused with orchestral and electronic elements to create something fresh and heroic.
Pro-Tip: Build a cue from the ground up using rhythm. Start with a simple shaker pattern. Add a bass drum on a different beat. Add a third percussive layer with its own simple pattern. Hear how they lock together to create a groove that's greater than the sum of its parts.
8. Andean Folk
The music of the Andes mountains in South America has a sound that is instantly evocative. It’s the sound of wind, stone, and sky. Characterized by poignant, often pentatonic melodies, it can convey solitude, community, or a deep connection to nature.
The key instruments create a unique and beautiful texture: the airy Sikus (panpipes) and Quena (flute), the bright, high-strung Charango (a small lute traditionally made from an armadillo shell), and the deep heartbeat of the Bombo drum. It's the perfect sound for adventure games set in high altitudes, historical stories of ancient civilizations, or any scene requiring a sense of natural, wistful beauty.
Pro-Tip: The interplay between flutes is key. Try writing a simple melody for one Quena, then harmonize it with another playing in parallel thirds or sixths. This classic technique is a hallmark of the Andean sound.
9. Spanish Flamenco
Passion, drama, intensity. Flamenco is more than music; it's an art form expressing the deepest of human emotions. At its core is the concept of duende, a state of heightened emotion and expression. For a composer, it's a powerful tool for scenes of confrontation, seduction, or intense internal struggle.
The style is defined by the percussive, virtuosic Flamenco guitar, the soulful cante (singing), the intricate rhythms of the cajón (box drum), and the sharp punctuation of palmas (handclaps). The use of the Phrygian dominant scale and complex rhythmic cycles called compás gives it its unmistakable Spanish flavor.
Pro-Tip: Focus on rhythm and dynamics. Use a cajón sample to lay down a rhythm. Practice programming dynamic rasgueados (strums) on a guitar library that build in intensity. Don't forget the power of a sudden silence.
10. Chinese Traditional
With a history stretching back thousands of years, Chinese traditional music offers a vast and refined musical language. It can be grand and epic for historical dramas, or delicate and introspective for personal stories. Like Japanese music, it is often built on pentatonic scales, but with its own distinct character and instrumentation.
The beautifully expressive Erhu (a two-stringed fiddle) is said to mimic the human voice. The Guzheng (a large zither) creates shimmering, waterfall-like cascades of notes, while the Pipa (a pear-shaped lute) can be both lyrical and percussive. Understanding these instruments is key to scoring anything from a martial arts battle to a quiet moment of reflection in a palace garden.
Pro-Tip: Explore the expressive capabilities of an Erhu VST. It's all in the legato and vibrato. A simple, well-articulated Erhu line can carry more emotional weight than a 40-piece string section.
11. Armenian Duduk Music
If you need to instantly evoke a feeling of profound sorrow, ancient history, or spiritual longing, there is no sound more powerful than the Armenian Duduk. This double-reed instrument, made of apricot wood, has a warm, soft, and slightly nasal tone that feels incredibly human and mournful.
Popularized in film scores like Gladiator, the Duduk is often played in pairs. One player holds a continuous, circular-breathed drone note called the dam, while the other plays the slow, lyrical melody over the top. It’s a deceptively simple setup that can be heartbreakingly effective. It's the definitive sound for tragedy and deep reflection.
Pro-Tip: Less is more. The Duduk's power comes from its sustained, legato phrasing. Write a simple, slow-moving melody. Pay close attention to the expressiveness of the vibrato and the subtle swells in volume. Let the instrument breathe.
12. Mongolian Throat Singing & Morin Khuur
To score a vast, unending steppe or an epic nomadic journey, the sounds of Mongolia are unparalleled. The most famous element is Khöömei, or throat singing, where a single performer produces a low fundamental drone and a high, whistling harmonic melody at the same time. It's a truly otherworldly texture.
This is often accompanied by the Morin Khuur, the "horsehead fiddle." This two-stringed instrument has a gruff, earthy tone and is central to Mongolian culture. Together, these elements create a soundscape that is raw, elemental, and speaks of a deep connection between humans, animals, and the immense landscape.
Pro-Tip: Use these sounds as textures. A low, subtle throat-singing drone can create a fantastic, tense atmosphere under a scene. Use the Morin Khuur not for complex melodies, but for simple, powerful phrases that feel like a voice calling across the plains.
13. Indonesian Gamelan
A Gamelan is not an instrument but an entire orchestra, primarily composed of metallophones, gongs, xylophones, and drums. The resulting sound is a shimmering, hypnotic, and complex web of interlocking patterns. It can feel ancient and spiritual, or even alien and futuristic.
This music is built on cyclical patterns and layered textures, which made it a huge influence on Western minimalist composers. For scoring, it’s brilliant for creating trance-like states, magical or spiritual realms in fantasy games, or even the sound of a strange, advanced civilization in sci-fi.
Pro-Tip: Think in layers, not melodies. Start with a slow, simple pattern on a low-pitched metallophone. Add a second, faster-moving pattern on a higher-pitched instrument. Continue to layer different interlocking ostinatos to build a complex, shimmering texture.
14. Argentinian Tango
Tango is the sound of the Buenos Aires night: seductive, dangerous, and dramatic. It's a dance of tension and release, making it perfect for spy thrillers, noir films, and scenes depicting complex, push-and-pull relationships.
The soul of Tango is the Bandoneón, a type of concertina with a sharp, reedy, and incredibly expressive sound. The music is characterized by strong, syncopated rhythms, dramatic pauses (cortes), and melodies that are both passionate and melancholic. It’s a genre that walks a tightrope between elegance and aggression.
Pro-Tip: Dynamics are everything. A Tango cue should move dramatically between a quiet, sneaky staccato passage and a loud, sweeping legato melody. The contrast is where the drama lies.
15. Brazilian Bossa Nova/Samba
Brazil offers two sides of a vibrant musical coin. Bossa Nova is the epitome of cool and sophistication. With its gentle nylon-string guitar, subtle percussion, and mellow vocals, it's perfect for suave heist scenes, relaxed lifestyle content, or any setting that requires an effortless, "cocktail hour" vibe.
Samba, on the other hand, is pure, explosive joy. It’s the sound of Carnival, driven by a powerful battery of percussion (bateria) and bursting with energy. It’s fantastic for big, celebratory moments, sports montages, or any scene that needs to feel like a massive party.
Pro-Tip: The syncopated rhythmic foundation (often related to the clave) is the key to both genres. Isolate the guitar and percussion parts in Bossa Nova tracks to really understand how that gentle-but-insistent groove is built.
16. American Delta Blues
For stories of hardship, resilience, and raw emotion, the Delta Blues is a foundational language. Born in the Mississippi Delta, it's a genre stripped to its bare essentials: often just a single voice and an acoustic or resonator guitar. It’s the sound of dust, struggle, and soul.
The use of slide guitar, "blue notes" (flattened 3rds, 5ths, and 7ths), and call-and-response patterns between the voice and instrument gives the Blues its powerfully human and mournful quality. It's essential for Westerns, period dramas set in the American South, or any character moment that needs to feel grounded and authentic.
Pro-Tip: Authenticity here is about feeling, not technical perfection. Use a guitar VST with good slide articulations. Let notes buzz a little. The beauty is in the raw, unpolished expression.
17. Klezmer
Originating from the Ashkenazi Jewish communities of Eastern Europe, Klezmer is a music of deep feeling. It’s famous for instruments—especially the clarinet and violin—that mimic the sobs, laughter, and inflections of the human voice. It can be wildly celebratory for a wedding, or deeply mournful for a funeral, often within the same piece.
Characterized by its expressive melodies based on specific prayer modes (like the Freygish scale), it has a truly unique emotional flavor. It's a fantastic, under-utilized genre for historical films, quirky comedies, or any story that deals with themes of community, tradition, and perseverance.
Pro-Tip: Listen to master Klezmer clarinetists like Dave Tarras or Giora Feidman. Pay attention to the krekhts (sobs or cracks in the notes), the bends, and the slides. Replicating this vocal quality is the key to capturing the Klezmer spirit.
Your Next Sonic Adventure
Whew! That's a lot to explore, and we've barely scratched the surface of each tradition. But don't be intimidated. See this as a starting point for your own journey of musical discovery. As a modern media composer, your ability to draw from a deep and diverse well of influences is what will set you apart.
The goal isn't to become a world-renowned expert in all 17 genres overnight. The goal is to listen, learn, and let these incredible musical languages inform and enrich your own unique voice. I, Goh Ling Yong, personally believe that the most exciting scores of the future will be written by composers who are also dedicated students of the world's music.
So, pick one. Just one. Spend a week listening to it, find a documentary about it, and try writing a short cue inspired by it. You'll be amazed at how it opens up new creative pathways.
Which of these genres are you most excited to dive into first? Is there a crucial genre you think I missed? Share your thoughts and start the conversation in the comments below!
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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