Music History Timelines

Timelines of music through the centuries, from Renaissance composers and the symphony to jazz, rock and roll and hip hop. Each one lays out the key dates in order, so you can see where a sound came from, who shaped it and how it led to the music that followed.

Music Through the Ages

Classical Music

Great Composers

Opera, Ballet and Broadway

Jazz, Blues and Soul

Rock, Punk and Metal

Pop, Hip Hop and Dance Music

Country and Folk

Latin, Reggae and World Music

Musical Instruments

Famous Musicians

Records, Festivals and Awards

Making Your Own

Every timeline here can be copied into your own Preceden account, where you can add events, change the dates, or restyle it. To set two timelines side by side, see how to make a comparative timeline.

These timelines are generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet, and mistakes do get through. If you spot one, email us at [email protected].

We also have collections of ancient history timelines, American history timelines, space exploration timelines, World War II timelines, Cold War timelines, World War I timelines, revolution timelines, invention and technology timelines, empire timelines, science timelines, video game history timelines, sports history timelines, movie and TV timelines, religion timelines, food and drink history timelines, Chinese history timelines, Indian history timelines, Japanese history timelines, and art history timelines. For every other topic, browse all of our history timelines.