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-- what are the main characteristics that make what we call trance?

what are the main characteristics that make what we call trance?

if you listen to above and beyonds cant sleep or cosmic gates not enough time ,both of these songs could be any style ,but when when we think of trance as we know it being dark and melodic and more progressive more energy ,we dont really think of these 2 tunes as trance. but ive heard people tell me that they are trance . so my question what characteristics do both of these song share that give them that trance title i know everyone has there own style of trance and theres so many classifications nowadays.

The term Trance is now as vague as what we would call Dance music.

Its a dead term which means nothing anymore.

i dont think trance is dead(its still alive in a lot of underground clubs in nyc) but i agree that these 2 songs are not trance ,but yes trance is so vague that it now has so many classifications.

quote:

Originally posted by crazedonee i dont think trance is dead(its still alive in a lot of underground clubs in nyc) but i agree that these 2 songs are not trance ,but yes trance is so vague that it now has so many classifications.

Trance is definitely not dead, its just been labeled to death.

you could say anything with a hypnotic element or elements is trance
this can cover almost any type of music and is so often the case in todays edm world.

hence so many debates on these types of music forums.

-16th note percussion
-16th note lead
-16th note bassline
-use of sustained elements for background tracks
-Plucky Lead
-wall of sound mix
-Chopped Vocals

Overblown synths, 5 minute breakdowns, unicorns.

Trance has a longer phrase length than techno, is higher BPM than house, tends to use straighter basslines than house. Also uses more synthesised elements than either.

Thats my opinion anyway. I'm a bit over genres, don't think they're very helpful.

quote:

Originally posted by kitphillips I'm a bit over genres, don't think they're very helpful.

Agreed; I think they can only limit people as an artist.

quote:

Originally posted by mfitterer1 Agreed; I think they can only limit people as an artist.

That's complete bullshit, categorizing your music based on what similarities it bears to already defined genres doesn't inhibit experimentation within those genres at all. Unless you're creating music specifically to fit those categories, but who does that?

I think genres are fine as long as people treat their conventions as suggestions rather than as a rulebook.

I think categorisation is a good thing, but it falls apart when you start trying to talk about YOUR categories to someone else. Because they have a completely different idea of what trance is, or prog is, or techno is. It just causes more confusion.

I can see the benefit of making tracks that fit certain genres though. Its good to have a basis of what the standard production techniques are for a generic track in a genre before you start taking those techniques and mashing them together to create a new fusion of genres.

repeatative long enough for you to start hearing things thats not there (aka the ghosts in a track). then its trance. i havent heard any for ages.

quote:

Originally posted by Mr.Mystery Overblown synths, 5 minute breakdowns, unicorns.

don't forget seagulls

To me, and pardon the most basic of explanations, trance plays more of an emphasis to synthetic sound sources in conjunction with classical melody patterns. To point to an illustrative comparison, I tend to think House music tends towards more traditional rhythm & blues sounds fused with jazz musical elements. It's not that both don't use synthetic and organic instruments such as vocals or pianos. It is in the placement of these interchangeable parts within the musical composition, that the distinction is made with, once again, classical or jazz/RnB modalities influencing such placement regarding trance or house respectively.

EDIT: Untowards

quote:

Originally posted by Kysora Unless you're creating music specifically to fit those categories, but who does that?

Quite a lot of people, actually.

a lot of the pop,r&b,and rock bands agree to have there song remixed in a trance or techno style of there songs because they know thats how people hear there stuff.

like neos closer

kelly clarkson since u been gone
lady gaga paparazi

etc.

and trance is not dead

imo trance as we know it is dark and ,progressive

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