A Beginner's Guide to Trance (revised)

[Viceroy]

I've worked on this a little bit more and tried to iron out some of the wrinkles. Give it a look and if you have any suggestions, post or PM me.

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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 is generally considered the most popular form of electronic dance music (EDM) worldwide. It has heavy, often uplifting melodies and a strong bass beat and percussion which help to drive the track. Instead of bands or groups, trance artists are called producers or production teams.
Many people say all trance sounds the same; but in fact, the variety of sounds that can be produced by electronic instruments outnumbers those that could be created by traditional instruments. To add an extra touch, some producers add sampled or synthesized sounds of real instruments. These can range from saxophones (Hi-Gate – Saxuality) to strings and violins (Rank 1 – Symsonic). Vocals, either spoken or sung, are not unusual, especially in uplifting trance.

Types of Trance

Although sometimes distinctions between genres are blurred, there are four main types of trance: psy-trance/goa, uplifting/melodic, hard, and progressive.
Psy-trance, or goa, is the most underground of all the genres. Most psy-trance comes from Israel. A psy track will never be confused with something else. They have their own unique sound. A lot of weird, squiggely sounds and strange sounding synths are used in this genre. Often, psy-trance is used to evoke an emotion rather than have a specific melody, as in other types of trance. Because of its quick, psychedelic sound, psy-trance is sometimes considered “drug music”.
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). Uplifting trance is based on melodies; there is usually a strong melody or sound in a track, and as the song goes on, it will periodically shift back to this melody, rather like a chorus in other types of music. This type of trance is often layered with several different synthesizers, sounds, and percussion happening at once, if you listen to the track carefully. Typically, the different sounds of the track are layered on as it progresses.
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 the melodies and heavy synths that define trance, although they are not as important as in other sub-genres. Instead of the layered sounds of uplifting trance, in hard trance there is usually just one main sound to the track, but it is very powerful and typically melodic.
Example artists:
S.H.O.K.K.
Marco V
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, and quieter than other genres. Its floating sounds do not charge forward but progress, slowly, as the track goes on, creating, as prog fans like to say, “a journey”. There is not as much of a “chorus” sound as is in hard or uplifting.
Example artists:
James Holden
Gabriel & Dresden
Sasha
John Digweed
Paul Oakenfold

What is a Remix?

A remix is where one producer takes a track made by other producer and basically remakes it, but using their unique sound to make a new track. This can range from a simple touch-up of the synthesizers used to a complete reworking of the track.
Remixing non-electronic music is becoming more popular. Several of Sarah McLaughlin’s tracks have received remixes from well-known producers, and Gabriel & Dresden have even remixed Evanescence. Avril Lavigne’s track “I’m With You” has garnered a mix by progressive producers Leama & Moor.
The idea behind remixes is to make a track appeal to a larger audience. Perhaps if you did not like the original track, the remix will save the track for you.

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. 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, although not all original tracks are officially called “original mixes”.
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).
Instead of albums, many DJs release compilation CDs of their favourite tracks that they have been playing. Compilations are often two or three CDs.

What is Mixing?

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 around 1-2 minutes at the end of the track, depending on how long he wants the track to be. 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 played 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.
Turntablism, such as scratching and cutting, are not usually used by trance DJs, although it can enhance a set. One DJ who does do this is British hard-trance jockey Eddie Halliwell.

Why are they so long?

Unlike most music, particular commercial stuff, trance tracks are typically 7-9 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. Usually there are one or two minutes at the beginning and end of a trance track for the DJ to do this. So it usually takes at least 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.
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I've also made a track-list for a pair of demo CDs.

CD1
1. Labworks - Summerbreeze (Club Mix)
2. Lost Tribe - Gamemaster (Original Mix)
3. Pulser - Cloudwalking (Astral Mix)
4. Andain - Beautiful Things (Photon Project Remix)
5. Rank1 - Airwave (Original Mix)
6. RMB feat. Talla 2XLC - Spring
7. GTR vs. The Shrink - Nervous Breakdown
8. Erasure - Oh L'amour (Matt Darey Mix) ----> although not really trance
9. Higate - Saxuality
10. Oceanlab feat. Justine Suissa - Sky Falls Down (Armin van Buuren Remix)
11. H4Z - Northern Riser
12. Veracocha - Carte Blanche
13. Re:locate - Waterfall

CD2.

1. Astral Projection - Mahdaheva
2. Man With No Name - Teleport
3. Astral Projection - Kabalah (New Age Mix)
4. James Holden - I Have Put Out the Light
5. Sasha - Xpander
6. Andain - Summer's Calling (Airwave Progessive Remix)
7. Dave Joy - First Impression (S.H.O.K.K. Remix)
8. Alphazone - Rockin' (Original Mix)
9. Barthezz - On the Move (Dumonde Remix)
10. DJ Energy - Arya (Dave Joy Remix)
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I purposely made this list very disjointed, as to emphasize the differences between tracks of even the same type of trance. So people can't just say "It all sounds the same!"

[DJ BASH]

haha, very nice

i remember the original guide you made, which wasnt bad at all

i've shown alot of friends that guide, and they've got a better understanding. even a couple of mates have started listenin to trance after reading the guide!

[Dreej]

Nice one, the descriptions you use are quite clear.

Perhaps you can write something about the more techy form of trance, mostly called techtrance (duh ). Stuff that's being played by Marcel Woods and (sometimes) Marco V. For example, Marcel Woods - 'Static State' can't really be categorized under one of your genres, I think

[Cooler]

Tech-trance -> Marco V. - G.O.D.D.

[Cooler]

Armin van Buuren
Solar Stone
Blank & Jones

None of those producers are known for making uplifting trance! Armin has made a couple of uplifting tracks (one of them is "Exhale", whom he made together with Ferry). Blank & Jones combine almost every possible genre, but when they first started they did produce quite many uplifting trance tracks, that's 100% correct. Solar Stone = 100% melodic trance & chillout

Nu-NRG have made very few tracks which can be concidered hard trance! Most of their tracks are very uplifting (some even melodic), but have some elements from hard trance as well.

[Viceroy]

[Viceroy]

[Stream]

Good description, Viceroy!

Maybe we can use your guide as an article on i:Vibes too?

[RayvinAzn]

Not too shabby; although I think Rank 1 or Ayla would hold a much better place on the Uplifting list than Armin or Solar Stone. Of course, as you pointed out, the lines between genres can sometimes blur, and artists don't stick to one sound all the time.

Something to add: A bit about how Producers aren't all DJ's, and vice-versa. Although it is becoming more and more popular to be both, not everyone is.

[Viceroy]

[SeikQ]

...good job with this Trance Guide. i know some other guides but they are not to day. trance is evolving and it's not the same thing like 3-4 years ago...

[davehart]

Very well written guide that Viceroy and very helpful to beginners. Mayby we could publish it as a guide on the site for newcomers on the scene.

[Viceroy]

[chrisronaldomarsh]

good of you to take the time out to do this. its something that i have wanted to do for a while but have never had the time!!! GOOD OLD BOY

[newtorontotrancegirl]

Very nice guide. However, wouldn't it be helpful to throw in a little trance or edm history in there as well? I realize it is a work in progress. Oh by the way, haven't other people posted guides or bio's on trance before?

[Andy P]

newtorontotrancegirl has it right, I have a feeling she is a genius like me . I think the guide has some major flaws and I'll take a more in depth look at it this afternoon and NO I AM NOT DEAD!

[Andy P]

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, and quieter than other genres. Its floating sounds do not charge forward but progress, slowly, as the track goes on, creating, as prog fans like to say, “a journey”. There is not as much of a “chorus” sound as is in hard or uplifting.
Example artists:
James Holden
Gabriel & Dresden
Sasha
John Digweed
Paul Oakenfold


I disagree with the premise, Holden is more Progressive, not progressive trance, G&D are into Mcprog, the worst kind. Sasha is into progressive breaks, Digweed is still into progressive and Oakenfold is heading more into the mcprog. I think we have to make the clear distinction here for the noobs like newtorontotrancegirl, if you have not realized yet, is my better half. Progressive was forward thinking music, not the lame claptrap that certain people have done to the genre of late. I mean Mcprog is just lame commercialized Armin van buuren or Markus Schulz pushed progressive to sell to the lame ASOT masses. Sasha has been doing more progressive breaks and his sets reflect that. Paul Oakenfold is playing popular trance and some progressive, but more Schulz influenced stuff. The problem with the guide is that you did not point out GU011, GU012, GU013 as the main points for progressive trance, that's progressive trance but these days, some artists are bluring the lines between it. I'll happily tear more of it apart later :p

[Andy P]

I think the premise of the entire thing is a little weak, yes you are trying to help noobs but you can't just say Armin does this, that is progressive because for every person that thinks it is, there is one person who thinks differently. I mean even my own g.f is posting in this thread, she is new to trance but she has to learn by listening, sadly it is usually the only way. She does have complete access to my entire CD library, so that does help but you can't say Uplifting trance follows this because there are always a few producers that buck the trend. Keep trying if you want but I think personally it is a bit weak because no one ever agrees on anything completely. No worries about my woman, she won't be confused because I'll help her.

[Viceroy]

[Viceroy]

[Andy P]

Well in my mind, progressive and progressive trance has always been separate. That is the genre that gets most people when they do a guide or just writing something about it. The problem I think is that progressive is often blended, which is why I don't write genre guides anymore and I basically refuse to. I mean you can say deejays play the best part of the record but some deejays play the whole record, some play just parts. I mean I'm not trying to confuse anyone, nor am I trying to say what you put your time into above was a waste. I'm saying that progressive trance to me is a word that is used and abused because marketing companies love to just brand something and then run with it. Hell I bet Mixmag would claim they invented it but the fact of the story is that you cannot put it into words to describe the different genres. You need clips and that's the only way but you will run into different opinions. As I told my better half, it takes time to learn it because you learn by listening and then you have some idea about that. Keep at it Viceroy if you want, I just don't see the purpose myself but go ahead and try, I'm not stopping you.

[Viceroy]

In my opinion, progressive trance is progressive music that is mostly prog, but definately trancy. You can't tell me that some of Holden's stuff isn't trancy. It follows in the spirit of trance, the same idea, has a strong melody like trance but is proggy.
I don't claim to be an expert but that's why I consider the artists I picked to be prog producers. I'm not into the genre too much myself which is why I had a hard time writing that bit.

[DJLifeAndDeath]

The problem with writing a guide about something as diverse as trance, which is constantly involving is a hard task. Certainly. Music is forever changing with Sub genres popping up almost everyday. Eg. Pop Trance, Tech Trance, Progresive Trance, Bubblegum Trance, Club Trance, Euro Trance and on and on....

It would be fool hardy to believe you can cover every area of the genre, but I think Sam's done a good job here. Lying down the ground rules for people starting out in the trance world. (To a lot of people new to the idea of Trance, it's not Trance at all. But one large genre called Dance. It isn't until you get into the scene that you start to recognise genres and even then, these genres are split up by your own personal beliefs to what your listening to. Eg Some say Armin is Uplifting, some Progressive. I rather believe that he is Trance, covering the spectrum. But again that is my beliefs)

Maybe Andy and Sam could get together with other people like Dreej (Tech trance) and pool the ideas together. Bring all the aspects of trance together.

I quite like the pages I popped up a few months ago.
This is the link, maybe it can help you Sam? (But keep it up mate, it sounds great!)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trance_music

[newtorontotrancegirl]

Viceroy, have you ever heard of the history of tribal house or of the history of progressive? There are really cool history handbooks that explain where the different kinds of electronic music emerged from.

[Viceroy]

[Oren]

[newtorontotrancegirl]

Yes! Viceroy, there are actual books that outline the history on the different genres in electronic music. Andy P, actually is quite knowledgeable in this area while being knowledgeable in most areas. Having communicated quite heavily with Andy P about this, acutally, I have seen the books. Anyway, they can be quite helpful when learning to appreciate trance and how to fully disguinish it from other musical styles.

[GrimReaper]

[Andy P]

grimmy....that's my g.f talking about me...lol

seriously the rough guide series can be bought at your local barnes and noble, chapters or ordered thru amazon.ca or .com. They are not your one stop shop about music history but nothing is these days but it gives a decent introspective on artists and how they shaped music. I don't know everything but those books made me want to learn more about music, the techno book does include trance but not the tiesto-ferry but more of oliver lieb, sven vath (before he went agro) and others.

[GrimReaper]