A Beginner's Guide to Trance

[Viceroy]

I wrote this bit the other day, actually for my sister who is currently living in London, but it could have other uses as well. This is copied from MS Word.
If you have time, please read through it and give me feedback/suggestions. I'm not particularly proud of the "What is Trance?" section - suggestions appeciated there especially.
Remember, this is for someone who has barely heard any electronic music ever.
Thanks!

A Beginner’s Guide to Trance

What is Trance?

Trance is a kind of electronic music (typically, there are no “real” instruments in electronic music; the sounds are generated by electronic instruments like keyboards and synthesizers). Trance relies on melodies to make up its tracks. Trance typically has a strong bass-beat and addition percussion as well. It has lots of synth sounds that are often layered to produce one identifiable melody or sound to the track. It is a type of dance music. Instead of artists, bands or groups, the term producers or production teams are used.
Many people say all trance sounds the same; but in fact, the variety of sounds that can be produced by electronic instruments outnumbers those from traditional instruments. To add an extra touch, some producers add sampled or real sounds of traditional instruments. For example, HiGate – Saxuality adds the sound of a saxophone. In Armin van Buuren’s Yet Another Day, an electric guitar is used extensively. Layers of strings or other symphonic instruments are also often used – as in Rank 1 – Symsonic.

Types of Trance

Depending on who you ask, there are many sub-genres of trance. But there are four main ones: psy-trance/goa, uplifting or melodic trance, hard trance, and progressive trance.
Psy-trance/goa is by far the most underground of all the genres. Most psy comes from Israel. Psy relies on lots of weird squiggly sounds and synths that just sound off-kilter. It almost always features a fast pace and driving bassbeat. This is very different from all other types of electronic music. It is kind of a take it or leave it sub-genre. Pychedelic and weird.
Example producers:
Space Cat
Astral Projection
Infected Mushroom
Cosmosis
Man With No Name

Uplifting or melodic trance is the most popular form of trance worldwide. Some of it has been picked up by radio stations and given radio play (though not often in North America, it is much more popular in Europe and Japan). This genre features lots of soaring synths and melodies. It is based entirely on melodies, in fact, but still features the uquibious bass beat. In this type of trance, there is usually a main lead synth backed by other synths so there are in fact several things happening in one track. They blend together to produce a quite nice sound.
Example producers:
Armin van Buuren
Svenson & Gielen
Ferry Corsten
Solar Stone
Blank & Jones

Hard-trance has a powerful bass-beat that is the centrepiece of any track. Despite the focus on percussion, it still features melodies and heavy synths that define trance, although they are not as important as in other sub-genres.
Example artists:
S.H.O.K.K.
Alphazone
Dumonde
DJ Scot Project
Nu-NRG
Progressive trance is steadily becoming more popular. Unlike melodic trance it does not rely exclusively on one main melody throughout the track. It is more mellow, slower, softer, quieter than other genres. It has floating sounds of do not power forward but progress, slowly, as the track goes on, creating, as prog fans like to say, “a journey”.
Example artists:
James Holden
Deep Dish
Sasha
John Digweed
Paul Oakenfold

What’s the Name Again?

Trance, and most electronic music tracks, are named like this:
Artist – Track Title (mix name)
For example,

DJ Cor Fijineman – Venus (DJ Tiesto Remix)

There are often several different remixes of one track by different artists. Other artists, or producers, remix a different producer’s track, adding their own special sound to the original track. If the track is the original track, not a remixed version, it is called an original mix. For example,

DJ Cor Fijineman – Venus (Original Mix)
If there is no mix name, then the track can be assumed to be the original mix.

Trance is usually released only on vinyl. Some of the bigger tunes will be released on CD single, and occasionally a trance producer will release an album (but these are generally few and far between).

Trance compilations are popular. A DJ will mix a compilation, usually consisting of 12-16 tracks, and it will be released on CD. This is often the only way some trance fans can hear new stuff legally. Compilations are often 2 or 3 CDs.

Why are they so looooong?

Unlike most music, particular commercial stuff, trance tracks are typically 6-8 minutes in length and can be over 10. Why is there this extra length to the songs?

Well, trance is “made to mixed”. DJs take tracks and mix them together (for more info, see below). Usually there are a one or two minutes at the beginning and end of a trance track for the DJ to do this. So it usually takes this long for the melody to come in and for the tune to actually begin.

Also, trance is much more like jazz and symphonic music in this regard then punk, pop, rock, ect. The same sounds are often repeated which can make the song sound boring to the beginning trance listener. To most people who regularly listen to the genre, however, this is what makes a good track.

Made to be Mixed

Trance is rarely played in its entirety, by a DJ. Instead, a DJ will select several tunes to play in his performance, or “set”. He will then mix the tracks together. With trance, this usually means the DJ will mix about 1-2 minutes at the beginning of the track, and maybe ½ - 1 minute at the end of a track. The DJ beat-matches the tracks so the beats line up and it sounds like one track is being played, while in reality one track is being phased out while another is beginning. Skilled DJs will mix so well you won’t hear the track transition until the next track’s melody is already starting.

A Night Out

Big-name DJs, such as Ferry Corsten, Johan Gielen, DJ Tiesto, and Armin van Buuren, will be sent new trance vinyl ahead of the release of the track to the public by the record company. This is one of the reasons people go out to see them – they hear the “promos” ahead of time and can buy them as soon as they come out.

[Andy P]

don't suggest venus, it was a shit tune with on of the worst vocals ever..pathetic.

[RayvinAzn]

Yea, it's not big in Japan...trust me. I live here.

[Rakio]

Nice!
Although Im not a totally new to electronica or trance, it helped me to understand the different subgenres and the other stuff behind the tracks.
Thanks!
Dont got any other question right now, wil add if I get one.

[MeYeR]

Great piece of text

People who don't now much about trance should really read this.

[QbIx]

A great piece of writing there

[Viceroy]

[davehart]

Its a very good guide to those starting out with Trance and want to know more about it. Very good.

[Stream]

Excellent writing

[Cooler]

Nicely written, but I don't agree with you that James Holden and Deep Dish produce (progressive) trance! James Holden stays to his progressive house productions, while Deep Dish focuse more on the deep (progressive) side of house, with some elements from progressive trance (of course). Sasha is also one of the guys in the more or less consisting "prog." genre, together with John Digweed. Paul Oakefold has produced very varied trance music (electronic music in general), but if you mean ATM, yes he's producing progressive trance sounding stuff!

[DJ BASH]

very nice :>

i'll have to let my friends have a look

[WhiteEagle]

i knew about 95% of all this if not more but still it was cool to read.. its good for people dont want to expand their knowledge on this kind of music.

[Viceroy]

Is there anything else I should add?