TranceAddict Forums (www.tranceaddict.com/forums)
- Music Discussion
-- Beginner's Guide to Trance.
Pages (3): [1] 2 3 »

Beginner's Guide to Trance.

The Tranceaddict Forums say upon entry: "You'll find the people in our forums are friendly and willing to help you out to further develop your musical knowledge", so it may a good idea to have a thread that can turn a total newbie into a trance snob in a few simple pages.


Point 1: A signature to most trance tracks is the introduction of new effects in the song every 16 beats. Tap your hand to the beat and you'll soon figure out where each phase begins and ends just by counting to 16.


Your tips might be musical, they might be outlining the stars and DJs of trance new and old, they might be obscure, they might be obvious, they might be arguable, they might be relating to individual songs, they might be about years and trends, they might be about why you like trance, its up to you...

'Bout time. How bout a sticky?

...

So, where did it come from? How long has it been around?

Begin with a Small History of Trance.

You'll find examples of producers and music as well.

So, what are all those terms people are using? eg. "riff", "build-up", etc.

Check out the Trance Dictionary Project.

Point 2: Trance is an atmosphere creating form of electronic dance music, that usually includes a unique melodic and/or vocal hook over a kicking bassline. Sometimes snare and/or kick drum rolls are included and often quality trance tracks have one or more aural or melodic elements to provide greater depth and enhance the music.

Point 3: Open to serious argument, Psychic TV's 1989 album Towards Thee Infinite Beat is considered by some to be the first ever trance album.

Point 4: Trance songs often become 'anthems'.

quote:

Originally posted by t�bias Point 4: Good Trance songs often become 'anthems'.

welldone, nice idea for a thread. suggestion: recommended artists, songs for the average person to check out if they are new to the scene?

quote:

Originally posted by t�bias Point 3: Open to serious argument, Psychic TV's 1989 album Towards Thee Infinite Beat is considered by some to be the first ever trance album.

From Wikipedia: Psychic TV's 1989 album Towards Thee Infinite Beat, featuring drawn out and monotonous patterns with short but repeating voice samples, is considered by some to be the first trance album. The intent was to make sound that was hypnotic to its listeners.

quote:

Point 4: Trance songs often become 'anthems'.

From Wikipedia: An anthem is a choral composition to an English religious text sung in church services. The term has evolved to mean a song of celebration, usually acting as a symbol for a certain group of people...

I would also add that popular club tracks become anthems. Not all of them are necessarily good (but are 'good enough' to appeal to the masses).

Note: let's not confuse "anthem" with "anthemic". Trance tracks can have "anthemic" qualities (see definition above), but not all trance tracks are "anthems".

...

- Ishkur's Guide to Electronic Music is not a definitive or even accurate resource on EDM.

Another point: Some connoisseurs of electronic dance music criticise trance because they feel that not only did it start as a mix between house music and techno, but they call it 'cheesy' and lacks the musical integrity of other genres, and is designed to simply get the crowd motivated.


------

Apologies to eRRaTiK, the English nazi, for my incorrect use of the world 'anthem', although I want my money back on a cd I recently purchased called 'trance anthems' because of the pointed out error.

If Mr eRRaTiK would be so kind to offer his opinions and not just criticise mine that would be appreciated by all



------

It appears that even with a forum filled with so many knowledgable people a few tips on trance is so difficult...

Re: Beginner's Guide to Trance.

quote:

Originally posted by t�bias The Tranceaddict Forums say upon entry: "You'll find the people in our forums are friendly and willing to help you out to further develop your musical knowledge",

rofl, although there are a few

I'm a new member of the forum, I'm a "beginner" and I will present myself here in this topic. I'm sorry if this post is a bit off thread, but I didn't find an ideal section to do this and this section is for "beginners"

I'm Italian, my real name is Andrea. Here in Italy there is an horrible dance music culture...
most songs are similar to happy melodies over simple (very simple) kicking bassline. It's a SIMPLE music to do. Many songs have also stupid lyrics and they are all similar each other! I don't know if you ever listened to it, but I can tell you that very much people hate it! It's considered (often rightly) as a music genre for idiot people.
I think you call it as "Italodance"... the only one kind of dance music that is diffused here in italy is House music.
It's a drammatic situation here in Italy. I like trance so much that I can tell you that I LOVE IT, but as you surely know trance music is quite unknown in Italy, and it's very difficult to find trance CD's for me.
My favourite trancer is Dj tiesto. As I told you before it's difficult to know trancers, trance situation and find CD's... the result is that I only know a few of trancers... I like songs of Armin van Buuren, Motorcycle, Andain, Ferry corsten, Thrillseekers, Paul van Dik, Paul Oakenfold, Dj tatana. I like trance very much but I don't have a trance-culture...
I'm sorry for my bad english-speaking, for this reason I found it hard to explain what I want to tell you.
I hope that I will find some help in this forum!

I think that this is a very interesting thread, I will follow it to learn some about the born and the grown of trance music.

Thank you all!
You're great!

Ciao!

quote:

Originally posted by naxus my real name is Andrea.

in Iceland, Andrea is a girls name

(welcome to TA by the way.. )

quote:

Originally posted by benni in Iceland, Andrea is a girls name (welcome to TA by the way.. )

Yes, I know it!

I'm not sure but i know that also in GB and in Germany and other european countries "Andrea" is a female name! Here in Italy it's a male name and it's one of the more diffused names!

Andrea = Greek name
and
W e l c o m e

quote:

Originally posted by t�bias Apologies to eRRaTiK, the English nazi, for my incorrect use of the world 'anthem', although I want my money back on a cd I recently purchased called 'trance anthems' because of the pointed out error. If Mr eRRaTiK would be so kind to offer his opinions and not just criticise mine that would be appreciated by all

Hey dude, I was not criticising anything. I was responding to your notes. As per my post, the definition was "From Wikipedia". Btw, I believe I did offer my opinion.

If you haven't realised yet, I am in full support of this thread idea and encourage others to contribute.

I know when I started out, a single thread like this would have been very useful and saved countless search queries.

quote:

Originally posted by GtR Andrea = Greek name and W e l c o m e

Yes! I think it's derivation is: "Andreia" that means braveness, is it right?

TOBIAS - totally off topic, and you've definitely heard this before - AWESOME fuckin' avatar!

Some additional facts about trance music:

Different types of Trance Music

Acid Trance
Goa trance
Psychedelic trance
Minimalist trance
Progressive trance
NU-NRG
Hard Trance
Dream Trance

The Best Trance Artists of all time

Paul Van Dyk, Brian Transeau (BT), Ferry Corsten, Sven V�th and Underworld.

The Best Trance DJs of all time

DJ Ti�sto, Sasha, Digweed, Oakenfold.

The Best Compilation Trance CD Series

Global Underground.

The Best Live Trance Sets

The DJ Ti�sto Majik Series.

Defining Trance Stereotypes

Nightclubs, Ibiza, Drugs and Rave Culture.

Homes of Trance

Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.

Cheese

One must understand the concept of 'cheese' to understanf Trance.

Cheesy tracks are designed to appeal to the masses with cheap effects, a lack of mucical integrity and often really embarrassing female vocals. The sort of songs that people like but 6 or 12 months later they won't admit to ever listening to, or buying for that matter.

For further information see artists like DJ Sammy and Scooter.

Trance is the Superior EDM Genre for Parties

Although the popularity of Trance has been volatile in recent years you will find that the majority of the TOP10 DJs in the world have their roots in Trance and form an integral part of their sets when they travel the world.

For getting the crowd to dance and the atmosphere to be electric there is no better music.

The Music They Play in Heaven

Just to see if you are still reading, Trance has been verified by scientists to tbe music played in heaven, and this is little suprise to Trance fans.

....to be continued.

---------------

eRRaTiK - tis all cool then.

Buddhistics - that sweetheart trancebrat provided my lovely avatar.

naxus - welcome.

I'm not exactly sure why people claim trance is a less evolved perversion of dance music. The only difference between trance and house is that trance is based on the melody and house is based on the groove.

Here's my input:

Many people will agree (atleast those I have met) that Paul Oakenfold's album 'Tranceport' was the very first album that got them hooked on trance music. Many of these people are proud to admit it because, in their honet opinion, it fscking rules! It may be a compilation, not even songs BY Oakenfold, himself, but it's a GREAT introduction into Trance music nevertheless.

It also helps that you can buy it on CD at places such as Wal-Mart. So if you're looking for an introduction into Trance, definitely check out Oakenfold's Tranceport.

This is just what I have gathered from observing people's 'best of anthems' lists.

quote:

Originally posted by t�bias Different types of Trance Music Acid Trance Goa trance Psychedelic trance Minimalist trance Progressive trance NU-NRG Hard Trance Dream Trance

Also...other terms to describe trance:
Epic trance
Anthemic trance
Ambient trance
Techno trance

quote:

Originally posted by t�bias The Best Live Trance Sets The DJ Ti�sto Majik Series.

Sasha - Live @ The Eclipse, Coventry, England 05/12/1992
Carl Cox - Live @ Colours, Glasgow, Scotland 19/05/1996
Sasha - Live @ Alexandria Palace, London, England 31/12/1998
Sasha - Live @ Portrush, Ireland 14/02/1999
Paul Oakenfold - Live @ Gatecrasher, Sheffield, England 20/06/1999
Paul Oakenfold - Live at Home @ Space, Ibiza 25/07/1999
Paul Oakenfold - Live @ Creamfields, Liverpool, England 29/08/1999
Paul Van Dyk - Live @ The Loveparade, Berlin, Germany 07/07/2000
Sasha - Live @ Privilege Manumission, Ibiza 04/08/2002
James Zabiela - Live on The Essential Mix 22/02/2004

quote:

Originally posted by t�bias Some additional facts about trance music: The Best Trance DJs of all time DJ Ti�sto, Sasha, Digweed, Oakenfold.

U're on fire...

quote:

Originally posted by Plastick U're on fire...

It is so much easier, and requires much smaller testicles, to simply knock someone else's opinion rather than offer your own isn't it?

quote:

Originally posted by t�bias It is so much easier, and requires much smaller testicles, to simply knock someone else's opinion rather than offer your own isn't it?

'The Best Trance DJs of all time' ?! Heading is so wrong! BEST? Trance DJs? All time? WTF.

quote:

Originally posted by Plastick 'The Best Trance DJs of all time' ?! Heading is so wrong! BEST? Trance DJs? All time? WTF.

For fucks sake, I'm not writing the bible where people are going to follow what I write and go to heaven when they die.

I'll hit you with a really innovative and possibly dangerous concept: Why not offer an opinion of your own?

Now I now that might be a little difficult to follow and a little different to what you are used to, and it might actually involve you using your brain (you know that thing between your ears and not your nose), but why not give it a try?

You can even invent you own heading which will now doubt be far superior due to your advanced knowledge of trance.

One can seriously question the intellect of someone that chooses to get caught up such a trivial thing where the idea is to help new trance listeners.

tbh has the right idea...you may not agree with tobias or someone else's opinion here, you don't have to, but offer up a few of your own ideas...isn't that the point of a thread like this???

btw, tbh, all of the sets you listed are top notch. I happen to be a big Sasha fan, although it's not for everyone, as people will freely say here on TA...the three Oakenfold sets from 1999 are all amazing...those are great examples of what trance is all about. You could include Oakey's 1999 set Live from Rojam Shanghai China BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix 26/9/1999 in that list as well.

quote:

Originally posted by tbh Sasha - Live @ The Eclipse, Coventry, England 05/12/1992 Carl Cox - Live @ Colours, Glasgow, Scotland 19/05/1996 Sasha - Live @ Alexandria Palace, London, England 31/12/1998 Sasha - Live @ Portrush, Ireland 14/02/1999 Paul Oakenfold - Live @ Gatecrasher, Sheffield, England 20/06/1999 Paul Oakenfold - Live at Home @ Space, Ibiza 25/07/1999 Paul Oakenfold - Live @ Creamfields, Liverpool, England 29/08/1999 Paul Van Dyk - Live @ The Loveparade, Berlin, Germany 07/07/2000 Sasha - Live @ Privilege Manumission, Ibiza 04/08/2002 James Zabiela - Live on The Essential Mix 22/02/2004

quote:

Originally posted by Nou when u use the word FACT and say something that is usually an opinion of people... it tends to draw criticsm...

The backbone of any decent debate or discussion is a strong opinion.

To be truthful, I don't mind if people criticise my opinion if they don't agree with it, however its easy to play the critic without putting your own opinion up for scrutiny, and this is a little spineless imo. This is a quite common practise around here though I've noticed I might add.

Got any trance tips to add by the way?

Powered by: vBulletin
Copyright © 2000-2021, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.