- Medieval
- Renaissance
- Baroque
- Classical + Romantic
- 20th and 21st Century
{{Unreferenced|date=November 2016}}{{Expand list|date=November 2014}}This is a list of musical forms and genres organized according to the eras of Classical music. The form of a musical composition refers to the general outline of the composition, based on the sections that comprise it or on specific details that are unique to a certain type of composition. For example, a rondo is based on alternation between familiar and novel sections (ABACA); a mazurka is defined by its meter and rhythm; a nocturne is based on the mood it creates, required to be inspired by or evocative of night. This list summarizes these broadly defined forms and genres within the musical periods that they arose or became common. Medieval- Ballata
- Estampie
- Gregorian Chant
- Madrigal (Trecento)
- Motet
- Organum
- Saltarello
Renaissance- Ballade
- Canzona
- Carol
- Chanson
- Fantasia
- Galliard
- Intermedio
- Laude
- Litany
- Madrigal
- Madrigal comedy
- Madrigale spirituale
- Mass
- Cyclic mass
- Parody mass
- Paraphrase mass
- Cantus firmus mass
- Motet
- Motet-chanson
- Opera
- Pavane
- Ricercar
- Sequence
- Tiento
- Toccata
Baroque- Allemande
- Canon
- Cantata
- Chaconne
- Concerto
- Concerto grosso
- Solo concerto
- Courante
- Fugue
- Gavotte
- Gigue
- Mass
- Minuet
- Opera
- Oratorio
- Partita
- Passacaglia
- Passepied
- Prelude
- Sarabande
- Sinfonia
- Sonata
- Suite
Classical + Romantic- Bagatelle
- Ballade
- Ballet
- Caprice
- Carol
- Concerto
- Cello concerto
- Clarinet concerto
- Double bass concerto
- Flute concerto
- Oboe concerto
- Piano concerto
- Trumpet concerto
- Viola concerto
- Violin concerto
- Dance
- Divertimento
- Étude
- Impromptu
- Intermezzo
- Lied
- Mass
- Mazurka
- March
- Music hall
- Nocturne
- Opera
- Ballad opera
- Opera buffa
- Opéra comique
- Opera seria
- Operetta
- Overture
- Concert overture
- Symphonic poem
- Singspiel
- Zarzuela
- Concert Aria
- Oratorio
- Polonaise
- Prelude
- Quartet
- Piano quartet
- String quartet
- Oboe quartet
- Quintet
- Piano quintet
- String quintet
- Requiem
- Rhapsody
- Rondo
- Scherzo
- Serenade
- Sinfonia concertante
- Sonata
- Piano sonata
- Violin sonata
- Viola sonata
- Cello sonata
- Flute sonata
- Clarinet sonata
- Bassoon sonata
- Symphony
- Program symphony
- Choral symphony
- Suite
- Waltz
20th and 21st Century- Ballet
- Neoclassical ballet
- Contemporary ballet
- Burlesque
- Cabaret
- Concerto for Orchestra
- Electronic music
- Film score
- Moment form
- Minimal music
- Musical theatre
- Opera
- Soundtrack
- Vaudeville
{{Music theory lists}}{{Music topics}} 4 : Musical forms|Musical terminology|History of European art music|Western classical music styles |