Tech house fuses house and techno via a distorted, off-beat bass at 120–130 BPM

Tech house is a fusion of house and techno, typically 120–130 BPM. It keeps elements to a minimum — focusing on kick drum, sub bass, and bass — and distorts the bass to get techno’s grit while playing it off-beat to keep the house feel. That off-beat, distorted bass is the key marker distinguishing it from both parent genres: cleaner and more four-on-the-floor than pure techno, grittier and more minimal than melodic house.

Examples

A driving 4/4 kick with a distorted synth bass sitting off the beat, and an arrangement pared down to a single bass hook plus percussion.

Assessment

Describe three production choices (tempo range, bass treatment, arrangement) that position a track as tech house rather than pure techno or pure house.