Understanding Trance Music

What Trance is

 

There is no easy way to categorize trance. The genre of music we call “trance” has very few rules or patterns that must to be followed in order for it to be considered trance. This being said, trance is arguably the area of electronic dance music that has more branches and sub-genres than any other. However, in the eyes of a producer, this is a great thing. Instead of being limited by a strict pattern of conduct, the possibilities in this type of music are almost endless. This article will give the producer a greater understanding of what trance is.

Setting trance apart from other forms of EDM (Electronic Dance Music)

As we will see in most of this article, the boundaries of trance vary from person to person. So, what makes trance different from house music or techno will also vary. However, we can establish some simple guidelines to help us distinguish trance from other types of EDM. I find that three areas separate trance: the atmosphere, its use of repetition, the particular use of synthesizers, and the associated “scene” surrounding trance.

First, and probably the most nebulous way of describing trance is by the overall atmosphere established by the music. Trance is supposed to be hypnotic at times, with the repetition and atmosphere putting the listener into a meditative-like state. Unlike other music styles, it is many times the subtle changes to repeated elements along with a “windy” distant atmosphere that make trance both unique and give it this “deep” sound filled with feeling and even “simple complexity.”
Next would be the use of synthesizers in trance. It has several synthesizer sounds that are almost completely unique to its genre. One of these sounds is the supersaw. This waveform was made famous by such classic trance synthesizers as the Roland JP-8000/8080, the Novation Supernova, and the Korg MS2000. The electronic aspect of trance tends to make it more synthesizer-heavy than the (sample-heavy) comparable house genre while not sounding as dry or strictly computerized as techno.

The last area of trance that sets it apart from other forms of electronic dance music would be its associated, although somewhat stereotypical, “scene.” No other area of EDM finds itself so tied to a party movement as trance is to a rave. The history and evolution of both are intertwined, and without the rave scene, we would most likely not have trance in the form that it is today. Many artists have tried to distance themselves from the negative connotations. Many generations of trance artists and listeners alike have those negative relations with the rave scene, but a debt of gratitude must be paid to the early ravers and club kids that brought early trance to the level of popularity it has today.

The History of Trance

 

Trance has its initial roots in the late seventies from the onset of the first synthesizers and the disco to house movement. It did not really exist in a form we would begin to recognize as trance until the end of the 1980’s. As techno and then industrial music reigned supreme, the end of the decade saw the rise of trance as artists first began to experiment with layering and repeating elements. Much like industrial music at this time, early trance music was taken more as a form of post-modern art than as music to dance to. It was not until trance moved to Europe where the trance scene began to explode and later fully developed into the music we know today.

As Trance crossed the Atlantic, it fused its techno/industrial roots with elements of chicago house and first began to sound like the somewhat anthem-driven dance music. Two German DJs, Dag Lerner and Rolf Ellmer are said to have coined the term “Trance” as well as to establish the ground rules for the genre in their 1991 combined project “Dance2Trance.” (There is debate, however, that the term “Trance” actually arose from “Tantra” music of the mid-80’s [an offshoot of hip-hop at the time in LA]).

It wasn’t until the mid 1990’s that trance really began to gain popularity as the rave movement reached its “time of becoming.” Not to skirt around the issue, we must mention that trance found a perfect fit in the drug-fueled electronic music fests. As its popularity rose, so did the amount of Trance sub-genres. Deep trance, dark trance, psy-trance, and the progressive trance we know today are among the few that have their roots during this time period.

It is also important to briefly look at another path in the development of trance found in the depths of India: goa. This subset of trance, still found in numerous nightclubs today, has its roots in the late 1970’s during the waning moments of the hippie movement. As techno filtered into the goa region of India and fused with the existing music, “dance trance” music evolved. Used in yoga meditations, the New Age movement of the area and parties of the time, goa flourished. It contains many of the same elements as the trance scene found in a continental away. Today, goa is synonymous with the trance that developed in South Central Asia, and is still popular in many areas of the world.

The current major styles of Trance

  Although there are many, let’s outline some basic definitions of the popular sub-genres of trance.

 

Progressive

 

In this form of trance, many anthem qualities of earlier trance have been stripped away, but to say that progressive trance totally removes the notion of a melody goes a bit far. Many times there will be no memorable melodic line. Instead the emphasis is put on gently evolving sounds and layered parts leading to a very strong and musical sense of atmosphere.

Modern Goa or Psy (Psychedelic) Trance

 

Psy or goa is probably the area of trance most closely associated with the drug culture. Although hard to define, it is filled with rich analog sounds and psychedelic-patterned tone colors. If hippies listened to trance, this would be what they listened to. Many argue that this is the oldest original form of trance. If any differences are most noticeable, they would be that goa seems to have a more cultural and middle-eastern feel to it, while Psy holds a stronger fusion of nostalgic and energetic sound sets.

Dark or Deep Trance

 

Dark trance has a sadder, more melancholy feel to it. It tends to borrow from earlier techno elements and contains heavier, darker pads and strings. It’s often themed as “evil-Trance” but does not always have to sound that way. Some will argue that it should seem a bit scary to be classified as Dark trance.

Breaks

 

Breaks is simply a form of Trance that gets away from the standard “four on the floor” drum pattern. Instead of having a kick drum sound on every quarter note of a bar, it is often broken up into a funkier or even Pop/Hip-Hop style percussion patterns and styles. Other elements of the percussion are often mixed differently from standard Trance. Many standard Trance pieces are mixed into Breaks form and vice-versa by adding new percussion only.

Melodic/Uplifting Trance

 

Probably the most common form of trance and most often the route taken by a budding producer. This is what your Alphazone’s and Airbase’s just love to output. It will consist of a thick atmosphere, bass (commercial trance will almost always have an off-beat bass), and a phat lead playing a great melody (this is where that new $2,000 piece of hardware will REALLY come in handy). Generally it will have a percussion and bass combo in the intro and will slowly bring in a sub melody that will lead into the primary melody. The primary melody is generally brought in during a breakdown where the percussion and bass are turned off and some melodic pads are playing.

Of course, as stated earlier, trance really has no rules or set patterns so feel free to experiment to your hearts desire. Combining genres is very often the best way to get “your sound.” So now that you know all the glorious sub-genres that make up trance, and where Trance came from, go out there and produce!

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