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Trance standards and rules
90% of trance songs follow certain rules, standards, and song structure in order to be properly used by DJs and be classified as trance.
Melodic/epic trance - bpm ~133-145
Two breaks, small break, large break
trippy background sound effects (for drug users to notice)
slam in parts usually with snare or drum rolls
Progressive - bpm ~125-135 One break
LOTS of trippy background sound effects
Tons of delays
multiple slam in parts with no snare or drum rolls
psytrance - bpm ~135-147
high pitched 909 kick sample
trippy background sound effects
sometimes one break if even that
1 beat, at 3/4 measure full song rests
What are the standard intro's and outtro's in beats/meausres?
What other things am I missing?
I've Noticed for the most part.
1-32 Beat/Few Sounds, mostly the beat/bass
32-64 start to bring in a few more elements..
64-? 72,80. Small Break
Bring it back a bit.
and then outtra pretty much same. AFter the Climax, and Removal of the Climax Sounds, outtro 32-64 Measures.. This is my assumption.
Woops, that is just for Epic Trance Styles, that I see, does it work for the other styles?
Re: Trance standards and rules
| quote: |
| Originally posted by FuzzyGreen trippy background sound effects (for drug users to notice) |
i don't see any meaning with this post really...
do whatever you want.... do it your own way... why do it like everyone else... and who says that a melodic/epic trance tune must have 2 breaks????
i know there isn't anything about that you MUST have it like this.. only 90% use it.....
but anyway.... no meaning with this post imo
Well, if you don't follow the standards then the song wont be trance, just like if you don't have a blue note then your song wont be jazz.
Of course you have to be creative within these standards. Look at James Holden's Balance 005 CD, completely different original sounding trance, yet it follows all the trance rules and conventions.
I'm just trying to point out what the standards are. Yeah, some songs ocasionally break them, but some songs also end up becoming techno, ambient, or down-tempo.
You also need a proper intro and outro otherwise most DJ's wont touch it.
| quote: |
| Originally posted by FuzzyGreen You also need a proper intro and outro otherwise most DJ's wont touch it. |
ehhh, I never really take to notice in other songs, i try to stick to what i feel is right in the song im creating. but im so used to playing rock n roll (11 years now, and been producing for only 1 year) so i dont think like an electronica producer as much as i try to.
ill try to notice some of this in some songs. 
THIS THREAD IS COCK
Some of the most epic trance songs ever made had only one break. You concentrate everything you have into building it up one time, have everything crash down, and then begin peeling off layers.
A lot of what you said just isn't true tbh.
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Damie Mckeown THIS THREAD IS COCK |
eeheh Fuzzy
welcome to TrancEaddict.com lol.
| quote: |
| Originally posted by State of Matter A lot of what you said just isn't true tbh. |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by FuzzyGreen I guess I figured that I was in a forum with musically educated people, I guess things here haven't improved. Geeze you guys don't even know what a standard is. Ever heard of a fifth? After you guys have taken some music thery classes maybe we can start discussing production, until then have fun turning your knobs on your software synths. |
Triple COCK
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Damie Mckeown Triple COCK |
Quadruple COC.......well, on second thought i guess it isn't that mature of a thing to say.
But really, I can't see how any good could come out of this thread. What did you think was going to happen, we would all chip in and agree to some kind of a standard on what comprises trance? That seems pointless. Also, it is something that most producers do not like to talk about, even if most of them do unconsciously follow this standard. I think many of them are of the opinion that trance needs to be diversified, rather than standardized.
On the other hand, there were some good laughs, including the use of "cock" as an adjective (I guess it's a british thing) and the insult "slack-jawed islander".
Wow..this isn't just a bad thread for a newbie to read, it's a bad thread for everyone to read. Well, anyone that would actually follow these proposed standards and guidelines.
You want to be noticed and become the next big trance name? It's not gonna happen following typical, boring standards that everyone else uses. Big time producers and record labels have heard that all before - they're looking for something new, fresh, and exciting (such as new structures, techniques, sounds, rhythms etc etc).
Don't get me wrong though, there are guidelines to this type of music, but they're nothing like what's been said. They're more like a trance track must consist of: a kick, a bassline, cymbals (some type of percussion) a melody, and be in some form of natural time signature (as is the case with techno, house, trance, breaks, etc)
I guess what I'm saying is you gotta have something different to be noticed. Something that sets you apart. Using a template to create your own trance tunes isn't gonna do that for ya!
And ya, FuzzyGreen...I wouldn't be saying "You don't even know what a fifth is" when 1, a 5th interval doesn't have anything to do with what's been said, and 2, you use terms like "a BLUE note" is standard for jazz.
A blue note?
(just my two cents )
of course you can follow the standards you just wrote but let's just face it...you will stay at the amateur-stage as long as you follow the structure that's already made (-blake- explained it perfectly why)
the only structure you really need to follow to call it trance is to build it on a 4/4 beat and to use synths, that's the only requirements I can come to think of that's really needed in a trance-track
the important thing isn't what techniques you use, it's how you use the techniques...
and for all of you flaming this guy just because he was trying to start a conversation, shut the fuck up or write something constructive instead you naughty little postcount-loving spammers 
[edit]
okay that last thing wasn't really serious but please try to answer constructive or not at all okay
First of all, I knew this thread would turn into a conflagratory flame fest. That aside, what if your boss told you to design a car that had never been created before? He tells you the goal is to be completely original. How could you be completely original in creating your car if you know nothing about current automobiles? In this way, this thread COULD be useful.
Also, everything is derivative. Contemporary writers draw from Shakespeare and Lord Byron, those guys got some of their ideas from Homer. Chuck Palahniuk gets his ideas from DonDeLillo. The point is, none of these authors had the exact same ideas and they created seminal literature that will resonate with readers for decades, but their ideas did depend on the ideas before them. So, in this second way, this thread COULD be useful.
But so far, it isn't. Let's make it that way. For instance, post something to the effect of "Well, typically a snare roll is used before a breakdown.......but, to be original _____ could be used instead." You see how that's actually helpful?
I'll try to post something that I notice in a typical Trancer that I think could be done differently tonight.
Im saying giving a list of STANDARDS is not a good idea. How can it be a standard if many tracks don't follow them? Do what you want to do to suit your track, there's no point to this thread at all really. The only thing that I've heard in all tracks is an intro and an outro for mixing.
And I studied piano for 5 years, I know a little bit about music theory. 
EDIT: And no offence intended to the above post, but if you know nothing about current automobiles, why in the hell are you designing them?
struck a sensitive chord
Looks like a lot of you have taken offence to the whole idea being presented.
I gotta say, I noticed RIGHT away that there was a certain formula in trance music creation. 'Course there's always the exception, but nonetheless, threadstarter is right.
It doesn't demean the music at all -- heck, all music follows patterns...country, blues, rock -- they all play by different rules. And the biggest genre for following the formula? ---> Classical.
I mean all symphonies (up until Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique OP.14) consisted of 4 scenes or sections at a certain speed with a certain expected feel. A common theme or motif ran through each section.
I say all this to point out that without a "template" music would be chaotic in most degrees of the term. Don't get bugged out--after all, lookit RAP... formula : nice beat, add explitives that rhyme, throw in token white chick and hummer and play (with bass turned up).
There's always trends in music, yes. But posting and calling them standards is very misleading, listen to a lot of epic melodic trance and there are plenty of tracks that follow trends without following rules.
More useful advice for epic melodic trnace would be saying have nice percussion, a flowing bassline, dramatic break, beautiful harmonies, etc. Rules are things like have 2 breaks, bring in your synths after 32 bars, etc that make everything sound cookie cutter.
| quote: |
| Originally posted by State of Matter There's always trends in music, yes. But posting and calling them standards is very misleading, listen to a lot of epic melodic trance and there are plenty of tracks that follow trends without following rules. More useful advice for epic melodic trnace would be saying have nice percussion, a flowing bassline, dramatic break, beautiful harmonies, etc. Rules are things like have 2 breaks, bring in your synths after 32 bars, etc that make everything sound cookie cutter. |
Why is it everytime someone tries to stimulate conversation, spreading ideas, helping educate, certain individuals have to come in with negativity and general bullshit? I mean come on, its the damn internet - if you don't like the topic for a post, DON'T REPLY. Its almost a psychological red flag that someone would actually go OUT of their way to undo the usefullness of something like this. Honestly, rather than looking at the thread and saying, "yeah but I don't do it that way", you actually took the time to start an argument. Such a lower level of thinking.
Golden Rule - Positive comments or STFU.
YES, we all know you have to be original, but NO, not every newbie is capable of turning a bunch of knobs randomly and coming up with something good. Music and Art IS derivitive, and you MUST know what has come before you if you ever want to be successful in a certain genre. Its actually an essential part of building knowledge, from which you will then be able to branch out and start ignoring the rules. Anyone reading this thread and getting angry is only proving 1 thing - they themselves are too insecure to accept the idea that other people will do things differently from them. Hell, maybe its just hoping that if you say, "everything has to be original, learn nothing", music will seem to hard and magical for normal people to do and you'll get your dick sucked more or something. And NO, you do not have the authority to decide where the invisible line is for learning too much or not learning enough theory/structure/etc.
Also,
| quote: |
And no offence intended to the above post, but if you know nothing about current automobiles, why in the hell are you designing them? |
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