Is the breakdown in trance more important than the bass line?

TranceAddict Forums (www.tranceaddict.com/forums)
- Music Discussion
-- Is the breakdown in trance more important than the bass line?

Posted by djb on Jul-11-2003 09:53:

Is the breakdown in trance more important than the bass line?

Hi
I am a electrohead musician(www.amphibianmusic.com) who is writing a thesis on the use of bass in trance and drumnbass music. I am an old school trance dancehead who likes everything from the original acidtracks onwards. What do you think about breakdowns in trance? are they the be all and end all? How did they come about? How did the bass get so fat and why?
Id welcome any ideas
djb
monash university
conservatorium music
melbourne Australia.

Posted by arj1o1 on Jul-11-2003 09:58:

yes the breakdown is fantastic sometimes

Posted by Streakfury on Jul-11-2003 16:46:

I'd have to agree, the breakdowns can be amazing. The bassline is important within the main tune, it adds a kind of 'depth' to the song, whereas the breakdown doesn't require many bassy sounds

Posted by cap on Jul-11-2003 18:18:

sall about the melody

bassline is generic

Posted by moncster on Jul-11-2003 18:41:

quote:
Originally posted by Streakfury
I'd have to agree, the breakdowns can be amazing. The bassline is important within the main tune, it adds a kind of 'depth' to the song, whereas the breakdown doesn't require many bassy sounds

What he said.

Posted by NiteKiD on Jul-11-2003 18:45:

sometimes the bassline is key to the breakdown

Posted by DjJade on Jul-11-2003 21:10:

most people who are used to listening to hiphop or pop or whatever think trance is broing becuase htey only listen to the bassline. most trance has a very simple bassline...its what is above the bassline...all the things that happen in the treble and midbass area and all the complexity that goes on that makes trance so amazing. sometimes bassline is important depending on the song though.

Posted by insectman on Jul-11-2003 21:54:

without the bassline the breakdown is nothing, breakdowns simply add anticipation, all you wanna hear is that bassline kick back in.

Posted by LaCasta on Jul-11-2003 22:13:

quote:
Originally posted by insectman
without the bassline the breakdown is nothing, breakdowns simply add anticipation, all you wanna hear is that bassline kick back in.

Yeah imagine a breakdown that kept on going

Posted by Wretched on Jul-11-2003 22:16:

I agree wholeheartedly that the bass provides depth in a song. Without it, or with poor usage, a song can come off as extremely dull, no matter how amazing the melody is.

Posted by Shna on Jul-12-2003 01:12:

I think that the breakdowns are the essence of a trance track... but it needs great basslines to become ART (and 4 me that is what trance is... ART!)

Posted by vtec junkie on Jul-12-2003 01:16:

the breakdown is what gets my attention but a track isnt complete w/out a bassline.

Posted by sanya02 on Jul-12-2003 02:01:

imo the breakdown is the best part of every song...on the dancefloor when the breakdown come u just go crazy and u have a certain feeling of anxiety for that kick and melody to come

Posted by shao on Jul-12-2003 02:29:

i think to sum it up... Breakdowns are boring without the return of the bassline, and without a breakdown, all you'd have is a repetitive bassline...

Posted by fcuk � on Jul-12-2003 05:11:

yeh bassline would be more important than a breakdown without a bassline i don't think you got nothin.

Posted by Veverka on Jul-12-2003 10:58:

There are much great tunes without a breakdown, while I don't even know any average tune without a bassline... Basslines are an essential element of trance!

Posted by djb on Jul-12-2003 14:46:

I also play double bass in a live electronic act that plays everything from trance through to drumnbass
( www.thebirdweb.com)
and it does not seem to matter what bassline I play, as long as the sound system is good the crowd digs it. Im starting to think that the actual sound of the bass is more important than the bassline I play.
As long as its groovin with the beats then it does not matter if it is in tune with the other instruments.

Posted by Dave Albert on Jul-12-2003 15:43:

When I think of a bassline, i think house. Most house(any type) tracks have really fat basslines. I think it is more important than the breakdown. Most breakdowns are the same(unoriginal) but when a really unique one comes along, its very satisfying but does it rival a fat bassline? Maybe, but i think not.

This is the questiion> what is MORE necessary in a track? Both are obviously neccesary but without a bassline, you have no track. If you have a bassline and no breakdown, you have a boring track.

i dunno. This all i can think of. Hope it helped.

Posted by Nell on Jul-12-2003 18:44:

notice Ferry Corsten is the only producer that seems to have mastered both of these in my eyes ;]