Ambient music is a genre focused on creating atmospheric soundscapes, often without a clearly defined melody or rhythm. It aims to evoke specific moods, often calmness, relaxation, and immersion in the sonic environment. Ambient music can be used as background music, for meditation, relaxation, or to set a particular atmosphere in various contexts.

Key features of ambient music include:

1. Lack of a prominently expressed melody: Unlike many other musical genres, ambient music often lacks a clearly defined melody. Instead, it focuses on textural and sonic qualities.
2. Atmospheric sounds: Usage of atmospheric and unconventional sounds, such as natural noises, water sounds, synthesized tones, and other sound effects.
3. Calmness and relaxation: The goal of ambient music is often to induce a calm and relaxed state in the listener. It can be used to alleviate stress and tension.
4. Extended sound passages: Musical segments in ambient music are often long and flowing, creating a sense of stretched-out time and space.
5. Experimental elements: Some ambient compositions may include experiments with sound effects and atmospheric sounds.
6. Application in films and art: Ambient music is widely used in film soundtracks, commercials, art, and other multimedia projects to set a mood and underscore visual elements.

One of the pioneers of ambient music, Brian Eno, described his music in 1978 as “music that should be in the background but remain interesting if you choose to listen to it.”

Ambient music is a genre of electronic music that is characterized by atmospheric, enveloping, unobtrusive, background sound¹. There are several subgenres of this style, such as:

1. Ethnic ambient: combines elements of ethnic music and ambient. Examples include albums by Dead Can Dance and Enigma.
2. Space ambient: creates soundscapes that resemble space travel. Examples include albums by Tangerine Dream and Brian Eno.
3. Dark ambient: creates a gloomy, dark atmosphere. Examples include albums by Lustmord and Thomas Köner.
4. Lowercase: uses quiet, almost indistinguishable sounds to create an atmosphere of silence and tranquility. Examples include albums by Bernhard Günter and Richard Chartier.
5. Experimental ambient: uses unusual sounds and techniques to create unique soundscapes. Examples include albums by FKA Twigs and Tim Hecker.
6. Drone ambient: a subgenre of ambient that is characterized by the use of continuously stretched or repeated sound tones or clusters that create a hypnotic effect. This genre of music was founded by American minimalist composer La Monte Young in the 1960s. Other subgenres of ambient, such as dark ambient, space ambient, ethnic ambient, lowercase, and experimental ambient, may also use elements of drone in their compositions.

Space ambient is a subgenre of ambient music that embodies soundscapes and atmospheres associated with space and cosmic journeys. This genre was primarily developed in the 1970s and 1980s and is often linked with electronic music, especially the use of synthesizers.

Key features of space ambient include:

1. Spatial sounds: Usage of sounds associated with outer space, such as smooth synthesized tones, pulsations, meteor sounds, cosmic winds, etc.
2. Electronic instruments: Extensive use of synthesizers and other electronic instruments that create unique and cosmic sounds.
3. Melody-free textures: Often lacking a prominently expressed melody, favoring rich and complex textures reminiscent of the space environment.
4. Extended sound passages: Long and smooth musical fragments that can create a sense of vastness.
5. Space associations: Themes and visual elements associated with space and stars, both in album covers and musical compositions.
6. Experimental effects: Utilization of various sound effects and experiments with spatial sound to create a unique cosmic experience.
7. Individual compositions: While there is a general style of space ambient, compositions in this genre can be diverse and individual, reflecting each artist’s contribution.

Some of the most well-known and influential artists associated with space ambient include Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, Jean-Michel Jarre, and Brian Eno. Space ambient also finds applications in soundtracks for science fiction films and video games.

Meditation music is specially crafted to support meditation practices, creating an atmosphere of inner tranquility and aiding in achieving a serene state of consciousness. This music is used in various spiritual and practical contexts, including meditation, yoga, relaxation, and other forms of inner work.

Key features of meditation music include:

1. Specific sounds: Usage of sounds conducive to relaxation, such as gentle melodies, nature sounds (birds, water, wind), Tibetan bowls, gongs, and other instruments that create a pleasant and calming effect.
2. Slow tempo: Meditation music often has a slow and steady tempo, promoting deep relaxation and concentration.
3. Melody-free textures: Unlike many other music genres, meditation music may have less emphasized melodic lines, focusing more on creating textures and atmosphere.
4. Extended sound passages: Similar to ambient music, compositions for meditation often contain prolonged and smooth sound passages to instill a sense of tranquility and silence.
5. Breath focus: Some compositions may incorporate sounds synchronized with breathing patterns to help establish rhythm and depth of breath.
6. Support in healing processes: Meditation music can also be applied to support healing processes, both physical and emotional.
7. Variability: There are numerous styles of meditation music, ranging from traditional instruments to electronic sounds, allowing listeners to choose a style that suits their preferences and goals.

Meditation music often becomes an essential component of meditative practices, creating a suitable environment for achieving harmony and peace for the listener.

Despite these shared characteristics among the mentioned genres, each has its own specific features, subgenres, and unique characteristics that make them suitable for various contexts and listener preferences.