Alternative: This is the umbrella term for all music that is not part of the mainstream, includes such divisions as Punk, Modern, Gothic, Industrial, Techno, Ska, etc. Originally intended to mean music that is different, underground, avant-garde, not part of the mainstream, not popular. The term has become an oxymoron because much "alternative" music is now mainstream Top 40. Corporate music marketers love to use this term to sell bands that are not doing much of anything new or different. Since what it refers to now is so far from what it originally intended to mean, it has become a joke to the underground community.

Goth rock/death punk/death rock: This is what gothic music started as, a darker form of punk rock music with a tendency toward misanthropy, the macabre, mystery and desolation. It grew into a distinct entity from the punk movement in the late 70's. Originally what we now call Gothic music was called death rock and its listeners death rockers, especially in the UK. It wasn't until the mid to late 80's that it was called Gothic. Gothic rock is characterized by the music of Christian Death, The Sisters of Mercy and Bauhaus, for example. It usually contains the hard guitars typical of rock music, but with a more apocalyptic flair and a certain theatricality of the band. Gothic rock is very different from heavy metal and death metal. Gothic music in its narrowest definition only consists of this music type.

Folk/occult gothic: This subset goes by different names, also medieval folk music, it often focuses on European, religious or occult history. The music sounds much like folk or tribal music (obscure instruments, acoustic guitar, violin, flute etc.). The most representative bands are Current 93, Sol Invictus, and Death in June. Whether or not these bands count as gothic depends on whom you ask. However, a great deal of people who listen to these bands are Gothics. This category is not clearly defined, but it is one of the classifications that Gothic in its broadest terms encompasses.

Industrial: To go over the basics, a record label called Industrial Records coined the term in 1976. Bands like Throbbing Gristle were the Industrial pioneers. As a subculture however, industrial is much younger, probably only becoming identifiable in the 1990's. Its adherents are called rivetheads. Industrial music has its own subdivisions. There is the more guitar oriented industrial rock music, of KMFDM and Ministry for example, the more electronic dance music called EBM (Electronic Body Music) of bands such as Front 242 and Front Line Assembly, and the more experimental electronic soundscape type of music from bands like Coil and Download. Industrial and Gothic are two sides to the same coin, the yin and yang, the male and female. Gothic expresses the emotional, beautiful, supernatural, feminine, poetic, theatrical side and Industrial embodies the masculine, angry, aggressive, noisy, scientific, technological, political side. Industrial music often uses electronics, synthesizers, samples from movies or political speeches, loops, and distorted vocals. It tends to be male dominated in those who make the music and those who enjoy it. Industrial culture adherents are usually not quite as bizarre-looking as Gothics in general. The relative newness of the subculture also helps make Rivetheads less noticeable than Goths. There is hugely significant amount of crossover between Gothic and Industrial music and these bands are often called Gothic Industrial or Industrial Gothic depending on who says it.

Darkwave: A fairly new term that refers to a branch of gothic music that is more introspective, moody, emotional, and artistic -- less rock and roll oriented. Darkwave encompasses ethereal and darkambient music. (There is some uncertainty as to whether Darkwave music is a subdivision of Gothic or a separate sister category in itself like Industrial.) Darkwave originally was used to designate a more dark electronic sound, however it wasn't until the distribution service called darkwave was born that the term had a widely noticeable usage.

Ethereal: (Highly refined, exquisite, of the celestial spheres, heavenly, unearthly, spiritual). Ethereal music is most characterized by soprano female vocals combined with almost classical or folk type instrumentation (acoustic guitar, piano, cello, flute, violin along with or instead of the usual bass, lead guitar, and drums) which creates a surreal, angelic or otherworldly effect e.g. Love Spirals Downwards, Cocteau Twins. Ethereal music often contains opera-like vocals and uses the female voice as an instrument. Sometimes, a male vocalist will also be in the group along with the female vocalist. Even more rarely will there be only a male vocalist, but it is still considered ethereal if the mood created is otherworldly and surreal. The background music can also be electronic or soundscape oriented. It is currently a small division of music, and people who like this music are often called Gothics. Ethereal is a subdivision in itself, however it is grouped toward the Darkwave end rather than the Gothic Rock end.

Darkambient: Ambient music is usually used to refer to a techno-trance type of repetitive creation. Darkambient by contrast is a subset of Darkwave music and focuses on emotional, moody soundscapes (layer upon layer of sound), with droning or mysterious sounds and minimal, if any, vocals. It is all geared toward creating a sort of hypnotizing introspective effect. Sometimes tribal or electronic oriented, it creates a darker atmosphere than the techno counterpart of ambient music. Steve Roach, Vidna Obmana and Soul Whirling Somewhere are good examples of this music.