confused about genres

[resistance]

i've been listening to trance for about a year, but im still confused regarding the classification of songs into genres....



first, what's the difference between: trance, tech-trance, cyber trance, progressive trance?




second, what genres would the following artists/groups fall into?

DJ Tiesto, Ferry Corsten / System F (and Gouryella), Armin van buuren, Paul van Dyk, Blank and Jones, Airwave

Rank 1, Push

Above and Beyond (Oceanlab, etc)





Johan Gielen, Marco V

Cosmic Gate / Dumonde / Flutlicht / S.H.O.K.K. / Nu-NRG


is the classification as simple as "trance" for the top group, and "hard trance" for the bottom?

or can they be sub-divided into smaller, more specific genres?

i realize that genres within electronic music are pretty subjective...but any help in classifying/grouping/labeling different artists and genres would be appreciated. thanks!

[RayvinAzn]

I dont like to classify too much except into these groups:

Trance
Techno
House
Drum & Bass
Breaks/Breakbeats
Progressive
Happy Hardcore
Hardcore
NRG

Even in those, there are some that get shaky...Anything beyond that is just getting nitpicky, and rather pointless in my opinion...

[djacko]

this is what i think about it:
lets start with soft and bould up 2 the more progressive styles:
clubtrance: low bpm, little melodies
trance: normal bpm, quite relaxing and just beautifoul,
uplifting trance: normal bpm, melodies that give u the feeling ur flying
progressive trance:normal bpm, kinky and wilder melodies
hardtrance: lil higher bpm, more bass
vocal: i bet u can guess that
techno: more industrial sound, i always feel it like "cubic" sounds

trance/uplifting trance/vocal: tiesto, ferry C, armin, paul van dyk
techno/trance: marco V
progressive: oakenfold, blank & jones
hardtrance/progressive: johan gielen
hardtrance/hardhouse: bas & ram, cosmic gate
hardhouse: tom harding, lady dana

[Viceroy]

Trance is the main unbrella genre of all the others. Some characteristics:

heavy bass beat, often with other, lesser beats
strong melody and main lead
typiclly has many submelodies or extra sound aside from the main melody

tech-trance- I don't know much about this genre. It's probably leaning towards techno, with not as many melodies, and with more drums and other precussion taking the lead role.

Cyber trance- no clue. I haven't even heard of it.

Other trance genres:

Hard has big beats and usually less of a melody than other sub-genres. Quite often the melody of the song is made up of different bass beats, hats and other percussion. But still often has a good melody.

Melodic or uplifting has very strong melodies. Uplifting is music that makes you feel good while melodic includes uplifting but also includes other trance with big melodies. Often the melody is repeated throughout the song. Usually has a big main lead with strong synths supported with heavy bass beats and secondary background melodies. Example artists: Ferry Corsten, DJ Tiesto, Airwave/L-Vee

Progessive - this isn't my stuff at all. It is usually slower and doesn't have as much of a melody as melodic. Softer beats too. It takes you on journeys, and the song "progesses" or changes through the song. Has few repeating melodies. Example artists: Sasha & John Digweed, James Holden

Psy/goa- This is probably the most underground of any of the sub-genres. It is psycedelic and usually has big melodies, but not happy at all, usually quite eiree. Big beats and a fast tempo, usually frantic sounding. Examples: Astral Projection, Space Cat

As to classifying different artists:

Ferry Corsten, DJ Tiesto, AvB, PvD, B&J, Airwave, Rank 1, Push/M.I.K.E/Plastic Boy, and Above and Beyond, are all mainly UPLIFTING/MELODIC trance.

Hope this helps!

[davehart]

I never worry about the different sub-genres folk make up for trance. It's all trance to me, but being the organised folk we are everything has to have its own category.

Tech, Prog etc, forget them, its all trance. I just slip it into 3, trance, techno and house as all those have distinctly different styles and sounds.

DOnt get too bogged down in categories, stick with them and your sound.

[RayvinAzn]

CyberTrance was invented back in the mid-90's by Mars & Mystre (founders of Frequency 8, one of my favorite labels). Never really got too popular outside of West Coast USA. Probably considered cheesy by todays standards. All in all, a good ride.


And Blank & Jones arent even approaching Progressive...try Deep Dish, Sasha, Digweed, Chris Fortier, or Nick Warren for your Prog needs

[Spherix]

[reQuiem4adream]

what about ATB?

what did he do with his new album?