How to Know the Difference Between Emo and Goth

From the surface, determining the difference between emo and goth subcultures can be pretty tricky. However, giving a closer look at the backgrounds of these subcultures show some major differences as both scenes have roots in distinct musical movements. This article provides a breakdown of emo and goth subcultures, from the music to the fashion.

Method 1
Method 1 of 16:
The Origin of the Terms Goth and Emo

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    Both terms are rooted in history. While the term 'emo', which stands for 'emotive hardcore' and has its roots in the 80s hardcore punk scene, it is unclear on exactly who first used it.[1] ‘Goth,’ on the other hand, which was used to describe the atmosphere of late 70s/early 80s post-punk bands, can be traced back to the term "gothic" used by journalists.[2] [3]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 16:
History of Goth Subculture

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    Listen to proto-goth for an early look at goth culture. Many cite bands such as The Velvet Underground, David Bowie, and The Doors, who were labelled "gothic rock" in 1967 due to the sound of their atmospherics and dreary use of the organ[4] as influential goth predecessors.[5] [6]
    • Nico's The Marble Index is considered is a proto-goth album and has even been citied as "the first Goth" album due to her "lyrical drone accompanied by a medieval-sounding musical landscape populated with a harpsichords and glockenspiels".[7] [8]

Method 3
Method 3 of 16:
Post-Punk Beginnings

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    Siouxsie and The Banshees and The Cure give a snapshot of the 1980s goth sound. These artists combined lyrics with a fixation on darkness and depravity with effects-laded guitars, atmospheric basslines and tom-tom heavy or 'tribal' drums.[9] However, it wasn't until Bauhaus released their 1979 single Bela Lugosi's Dead, in reference to the actor who played the 1931 film adaption of Bram Stoker's Dracula, that goth really became recognized as a genre and subculture.[10] [11]
    • Other bands like UK Decay, Southern Death Cult, and The Danse Society were also particularly popular and influential bands during this era.[12] [13] [14]
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Method 4
Method 4 of 16:
The Development of Goth Rock

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    The second wave, spearheaded by The Sisters of Mercy, saw a shift in goth's sound. During the mid-80s the genre began to move away from its pure experimental and arty post-punk sound and started to incorporate hard rock elements. The bands' use of the drum machine is particularly notable.[15] Their mainstream success spawned several similar sounding bands, such as Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, The Merry Thoughts, Fields of the Nephilim.[16] [17]
    • Goths evolution saw the beginnings of notable offshoots, including darkwave (Clan of Xymox and Switchblade Symphony) which is post-punk crossed with new wave and synthpop,[18] and ethereal wave (Cocteau Twins).[19]

Method 5
Method 5 of 16:
Goth in the Modern World

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    While goth certainly does have it classic bands, it continues to evolve. Decades on sees bands continuing to experiment and incorporate elements of other genres into their music, with several developments springing up all around the world.
    • One includes the boom in Russian post-punk with bands like Ploho and Molchat Doma, who gained popularity after their song "Sudno (Boris Ryzhy)" went viral on TikTok.[20] [21]
    • Another includes bands such as She Past Away, Twin Tribes, and Wingtips part of so-called "gothwave" genre, a perfect blend of classic goth guitar sounds with signature darkwave synths.[22]
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Method 6
Method 6 of 16:
The Early Beginnings of Emo Subculture

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    Emo also has its roots in music. Many consider the first emo band to be Rites of Spring, a Washington, D.C. band that formed in 1984. Led by singer Guy Picciotto, the band’s music was characterized by noisy, hardcore instrumentation and intensely vulnerable, confessional lyrics.[23] Soon after, bands like Embrace, Beefeater, and Dag Nasty joined the D.C. scene, and the emo music movement officially began (even if each of these bands has been forthright about hating the term ‘emo.’).[24]
    • Rites of Spring’s Guy Picciotto and Ian MacKaye of Embrace eventually formed the hardcore punk band Fugazi, another band credited as influencing the emo movement.

Method 7
Method 7 of 16:
The 1990s Emo Revival

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    Listen to Midwest emo bands to learn about the 1990s emo music movement. In the nineties, bands like Sunny Day Real Estate, American Football, and Cap’n Jazz made the Midwest the epicenter of the revival. These bands took emo’s messy, noisy sound and made it a little more polished.[25]
    • As bands continued to form under the influence of preceding emo bands, offshoots of the emo sound started to shape in all kinds of directions, most notably screamo (Saetia and Orchid).[26]
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Method 8
Method 8 of 16:
The Emo-Pop Explosion

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    From the late 90s to the late 2000s, emo music burst into the mainstream. Pioneered by bands like The Promise Ring and The Get Up Kids, emo saw a shift from the unconventional song structures into a catchy and hook-filled fusion of emo and pop punk.[27] Jimmy Eat World officially launched the emo-pop movement with their 2001 album Bleed American whose "The Middle" became the flagship. Other bands such as Saves The Day and Brand New were also considered emo pop bands.[28] [29]
    • Soon other bands, such as Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance whose debuts, Take This to Your Grave[30] [31] and I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love[32] [33] [34] respectively, began gaining more mainstream attention.

Method 9
Method 9 of 16:
Emo Revival

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    The waning commercial popularity of emo-pop saw the genre retreat underground. Around the early 2010s, many mainstream emo-pop bands either broke up or began to move away from their roots and experiment with other genres. In its place saw a new crop of bands such as Snowing and Algernon Cadwallader that, not only took taken inspiration from the sounds and aesthetics of the '90s, but seemed to explore a fusion between post-hardcore, math rock, and pop-punk.[35] [36] Screamo has shown a similar resurgence, with 2018 summers being labelled "Summer of Screamo" due to many classic screamo bands reuniting.[37] [38]
    • More recently, emo continues to influence present-day artists, with emo rappers like Lil Peep, Lil Tracy, and Princess Nokia bringing innovations to the genre.[39]
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Method 10
Method 10 of 16:
Goth Fashion

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    For a grasp on goth fashion, take a look at what the goth musicians wore. Staples in goth fashion include black clothing often in lace or leather with a DIY air, elaborate and expressive make-up, fishnets, winklepickers, silver jewellery, and big, back-combed, often dyed, hair.[40] [41]
    • In the early days, many goths creatively thrifted and made their own clothes; the goal was to take inspiration from their idols without directly copying.

Method 11
Method 11 of 16:
Emo Fashion

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    If you're going for an emo look, try something a little more casual. Staples of the subculture include band t-shirts, sweeping bangs, skinny jeans, beaten-up converse, and, you guessed it, heavy eyeliner. If you get cold, wear a sweater. It’s important to note, though, that due to the varying subgenres within emo music, typical emo fashion varies pretty widely.[42]
    • For example, 1980s and 1990s emo bands like Embrace and Sunny Day Real Estate really didn’t emphasize fashion as a part of the work that they did. Later emo-pop bands like My Chemical Romance and Fall Out Boy were more focused on style and fashion.
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Method 12
Method 12 of 16:
Goth Music

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    Goth music often uses synthesizers, drum machines, and effect-ladened guitar. Goth can carry an array of sounds, but usually stands out due to its use of a prominent atmospheric bass and a flanging guitar, most notably used on Siouxsie and the Banshees' second LP Join Hands.[43] Vocal styles can appear baritone, unusually high-pitched or drowned out, especially in modern darkwave.
    • At one point in time, goth was given the name "positive punk" in reference to the positive direction punk was heading. Many bands used tribal drums and avoided guitar power chords, opting for slashing, screeching and razor-like effects instead.[44]

Method 13
Method 13 of 16:
Emo Music

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    Emo music combines punk-influenced guitars and heart-on-your-sleeve style lyrics. In addition to the hardcore dissonance of emo guitar playing and instrumentation, a huge part of what distinguishes the genre is the lyrics. Most emo lyrics describe intense feelings of alienation, loneliness, and despair, often using anguished metaphors that veer towards melodrama.[45]
    • For example, Guy Picciotto kicks off the Rites of Spring track “For Want Of” with the lyrics, “I woke up this morning with a piece of past caught in my throat / And then I choked.”[46]
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Method 14
Method 14 of 16:
Visit a goth club.

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    A goth club is a bar or nightclub affiliated with goth culture. Starting with the highly influential goth club The Batcave in the 1980s, goth clubs have been a staple in keeping a flourishing goth scene alive in cities across the world. To learn more about goth subculture and distinguish it from emo subculture, consider finding a goth club in your city![47]

Method 15
Method 15 of 16:
Attend emo night at a local venue.

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    More recently, bars and clubs have been throwing emo-themed events. These events feature emo music and invite attendees to dress in their favorite emo fashion looks. If you want to see first-hand what makes emo subculture unique from goth subculture, see if any local clubs or bars are hosting an emo night in your area![48]
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Method 16
Method 16 of 16:
Dismiss stereotypes and take this as a general guideline.

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    It’s important to avoid making harmful assumptions about any group of people. Learning about particular music and fashion subcultures is a lot of fun, but you should remember that everyone is a unique individual. Avoid generalizing groups of people simply because of the clothes they wear or the music they like.
    • For example, liking emo music doesn’t make someone an unhappy person. They may just enjoy the emotional catharsis the lyrics and music bring them!

Community Q&A

  • Question
    My parents think I have the devil in me because I wear black clothes, lipstick, and so forth. I'm a Baby Bat, I've tried to explain it to them but they just ignore me. What should I do?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    At the end of the day, it’s your identity. Try having a respectful conversation with your parents to talk through your differences, so you can explain why you enjoy wearing dark clothing and makeup.
  • Question
    Can you be a mix of goth and emo?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    You can definitely incorporate fashionable elements of both subcultures into your outfits.
  • Question
    What if my parents don't want me to be an emo kid?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Try to talk with them and work out a compromise. While they might not want you to make permanent alterations to your hair, you might be able to strike a balance on which emo clothes you can wear.
  • Question
    I'm considering being emo but I'm not sure my parents would approve and I don't think they would get me the clothes or let my hair be like that. What do I do?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    If you’re under 18, you have to respect your parents’ wishes about any permanent alterations you’d like to make to your hair or body. However, if adopting an emo fashion style is important to you, it might be worth discussing with your parents.
  • Question
    Why do people confuse Marlyn Manson as goth?
    Regina
    Regina
    Community Answer
    It's mainly due to the mainstream not understanding that goth isn't synonymous with "darkness". Other shock rock/nu metal/alternative metal bands were also labelled as "goth", most notably Evanescence, Korn, and Slipknot. Every decade, there seems to be a new crop of bands or musicians who are incorrectly labelled - "goth" is a buzzword to the mainstream media as every time a celebrity wears black, they claim "goth is back!" despite it never going away.
  • Question
    Is 60's psychedelic rock is close enough to goth music?
    Torpi
    Torpi
    Top Answerer
    60's psych rock isn't very close to gothic rock at all, at least not in terms of rock music (obviously it's closer than, say, smooth jazz). But there's nothing stopping a goth from listening to gothic rock AND 60's psychedelic rock, and psychobilly combines elements of both.
  • Question
    I wear black jeans and black/grey shirts and black jackets/long coats, and I colour my hair black. I also play bass and I hear mostly rock n' roll music. Is it goth/emo or something else?
    Torpi
    Torpi
    Top Answerer
    Goths listen to gothic rock (and today, many originals of the goth scene think that clothing isn't important at all as long as you listen to the music), and emos listen to emo music. If you don't listen to either of these specifically, you're just a bassist with great fashion sense.
  • Question
    Is there a subculture for someone who is wearing black clothes and black hair, play bass and listens to rock'n'roll, likes Arthur C Doyle's and Oscar Wilde's works but also Monty Python's comedy?
    Torpi
    Torpi
    Top Answerer
    If you mean rock & roll as it's usually meant today (rather than just rock) - Elvis, Buddy Holly, etc - then, depending on the clothing, that sounds like a rockabilly who happens to like Victorian literature. If your clothing is more punk inspired then that's not really a subculture, you're just someone who wears alternative fashion and likes rock & roll and Sherlock Holmes. But no subculture can encompass any member's entire taste.
  • Question
    Are all depressing songs emo?
    Torpi
    Torpi
    Top Answerer
    Not at all (and many emo songs aren't depressing, despite the subgenre's reputation). Emo is pop punk influenced by hardcore, with emotive lyrics; these days a lot of emo has "twinkly" rather than distorted guitars. Other depressing songs belong to different genres: Evanescence is symphonic metal; Arvo Part's Cantus In Memory of Benjamin Britten is minimalist classical; Nine Inch Nails' Hurt is industrial rock (and Johnny Cash's cover is country), etc.
  • Question
    Why do people get eboy and emo mixed up. When I walk in public, people call me a eboy when I am emo. I get so confused on how they look similar.
    Regina
    Regina
    Community Answer
    It might be down to the 'e' subculture being influenced by the late emo pop scene in the beginning of the 10s. Alternative fashion in general is shared among these groups, so you can't tell just by looking at someone what, if any, group they're part of. It's also possible that people who aren't into any subcultures themselves can't tell the difference, so they often mislabel others not realising the damage, if any, or confusion it's creating.
Show more answers

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References

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  2. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/apr/26/goth-life-fields-nephilim
  3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMRZROGtm1Q
  4. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20130504231130/http://mildequator.com/performancehistory/articlesreviews1967.html
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  8. ↑ https://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/27034/1/was-nico-the-first-ever-goth-girl
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  2. ↑ https://www.popmatters.com/115525-bela-lugosis-dead-thirty-years-of-goth-gloom-and-post-post-punk-2496118963.html
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  6. ↑ https://gothic-rock.com/the-sisters-of-mercy/
  7. ↑ https://post-punk.com/40-years-of-goth-essential-albums-from-the-genres-beginnings/
  8. ↑ http://www.gothicsubculture.com/articles/undead.php
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  11. ↑ https://observer.com/2017/05/profile-russia-post-punk-scene-best-bands/
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  13. ↑ http://www.obscuraundead.com/blog/top-10-darkwave-and-gothwave
  14. ↑ https://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/secret-history-emo-music
  15. ↑ https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/emo-wave-guide-evolution-2302802
  16. ↑ https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/emo-wave-guide-evolution-2302802
  17. ↑ https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/emo-wave-guide-evolution-2302802
  18. ↑ https://www.adkguitar.com/blogs/news/our-favorite-emo-bands-from-the-90-s-and-2000-s
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  25. ↑ https://www.altpress.com/reviews/ibroughtyoumybulletsyoubroughtmeyourlove/
  26. ↑ https://www.stereogum.com/1503252/12-bands-to-know-from-the-emo-revival/lists/
  27. ↑ https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/is_emo_revival_really_a_thing-64327
  28. ↑ https://www.brooklynvegan.com/majority-rule-playing-reunion-tour-dates-with-pg-99-and-city-of-caterpillar/
  29. ↑ https://www.vice.com/en/article/ne5dm7/the-spirit-of-screamo-is-alive-and-well
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  32. ↑ Hodkinson, P, (2002), Goth: Identity, Style and Subculture, Femininity and Ambiguity, pp. 36 - 49 ISBN 1-85973-605-X
  33. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2020/feb/21/how-to-wear-new-emo-look-priya-elan
  34. ↑ http://souciant.com/2012/04/a-brief-history-of-deathrock-part-ii/
  35. ↑ http://souciant.com/2012/04/a-brief-history-of-deathrock-part-ii/
  36. ↑ https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/emo-wave-guide-evolution-2302802
  37. ↑ https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/emo-wave-guide-evolution-2302802
  38. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/oct/29/music-of-the-macabre-goth-music
  39. ↑ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/mark-hoppus-chris-carrabba-on-how-emo-night-vindicated-the-scene-231602/

About This Article

RD
Co-authored by:
Regina Dunn
Goth Subculture Enthusiast
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Madeleine Criglow, and Regina Dunn, a trusted member of wikiHow's volunteer community. Regina has been passionate about the goth subculture for over 10 years. She studied goth fashion and subculture in school and she has worked to fight misinformation and misappropriation about the goth subculture within the media. Regina is active in a range of online communities and wikis, continuing to educate and get exposure for goth music and subculture. This article has been viewed 84,924 times.
6 votes - 67%
Co-authors: 28
Updated: November 13, 2021
Views: 84,924
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