what was the genre(s) of music in the 1960s?

Answer 1

music genres changed dramatically as the decade edged closer to the 70's

In the early sixties there was mostly top 40 music (elvis, etc) with folk music (Peter Paul & Mary) then around the mid sixties the California sound hit (Beach Boys etc.). The Motown sound (temptations, Supremes etc) also became big starting in the mid sixties.
In 1964 the British invasion started with music from the Beatles and Rolling Stones
As the War in Vietnam heated up after 1966 and social unrest increased many musicians turned to protest music as a way of expressing there dissatisfaction with the war.
By the late 1960's acid rock and hard rock (Jimmy Hendrix, Cream etc) dominated the music sceme.

Answer 2

Well these may not be very specific....just what I've heard (this is my favorite type of music)

early 60's pre-beatles/british invasion: pop (teeny bopper...with really young girl and boy soloist talking of going-steady and first loves), some rock'n'roll, motown (smokey robinson and the miracles, the four seasons, temptations), the girl groups (motown and phil spector), r&b (aretha franklin, jackie wilson), california sound (beach boys, jan and dean, surfer music) folk music (bob dylan, joan baez)
then you have the british invasion started by the beatles continue with rolling stones, yardbirds, the who etc (rock with pop some a little bluesy...inspired by US music with British interpretation)
mid-sixties and late sixties you get a little funkier and psycodelic...strawberry alarm clock, jefferson airplane, doors, grateful dead)

Answer 3

rock/pop and soul. Thats what we called our categories back then. I know cuz I lived it.