Become a part of the TranceAddict community!Frequently Asked Questions - Please read this if you haven'tSearch the forums
TranceAddict Forums > DJing / Production / Promotion > Production Studio > Proper phrase construction
  Last Thread   Next Thread
Share
Author
Thread    Post A Reply
FuzzyGreen
Music Addict



Registered: May 2001
Location: Bay Area, Ca USA
Proper phrase construction

Since everyone in my previous post went apeshit when I tried to talk structure in Trance, I'm going to start a new thread but change the subject a little. Lets talk phrase matching and construction.

In order for a track to be playable by a DJ it must follow certain phrase matching rules.

A phrase is a section of 32 beats. 4 phrases make up an intro. So it would look like this:

* | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | * (FYI this = 32 measures)

Usually at each phrase something will be added. After the first 4 phrases a major event should occur, this is where the DJ is going to switch over the emphasis of the old track to the new track. Lots of times this is when the bass comes in (prog tracks). In epic/melodic tracks this is usually when an arp or other high end verse starts in. Usually phrases are marked with a cymbol hit or some other effect to let the listener feel the new phrase hit. You can add dancable energy to a track by making a buildup at a phrase hit.

An outtro is the same thing but in reverse.

Feel free to add any comments or corrections, lets make this a usefull discussion.

Here is a reference link if you need more explanation:
Recesses DJ'ing hints and tips

Old Post Jan-13-2004 19:33  United States
Click Here to See the Profile for FuzzyGreen Click here to Send FuzzyGreen a Private Message Visit FuzzyGreen's homepage! Add FuzzyGreen to your buddy list Report this Post Reply w/Quote Edit/Delete Message
Damie Mckeown
Supreme tranceaddict



Registered: Jul 2003
Location: England, Liverpool

Yeah Im interested now but, ermm

We mostly use 4/4 anyway and bring in something every for or 8 bars, can you add some more detail in 'Bars' and something new?

anything? a crash?

Old Post Jan-13-2004 19:39  United Kingdom
Click Here to See the Profile for Damie Mckeown Click here to Send Damie Mckeown a Private Message Add Damie Mckeown to your buddy list Report this Post Reply w/Quote Edit/Delete Message
J.L.
Never gonna give you up.



Registered: Aug 2002
Location: Toronto, Canada

basically, I don't believe that there is no "set structure" bla bla bla...

However, I try to give the illusion of the track getting bigger and bigger all the time... For example, at every new phrase, I add another layer of synths, percussion, melody, bass, whatever...

Naturally, there is only a certain limit of how many things you can try to fit in the whole track so that's why you need to try to learn how to take things out of the track without making it feel like it has lost any energy...

Generally, if a track has the illusion that it keeps adding on more and more, it will build up the tension, energy, and excitement... I've noticed that this has worked well in my own track and in many "professional" tracks I've noticed the thing that make them exciting is because it always feels like it's building up... even during the outro...

Just my 2 cents... don't have to agree or anything...

Old Post Jan-13-2004 19:58 
Click Here to See the Profile for J.L. Click here to Send J.L. a Private Message Add J.L. to your buddy list Report this Post Reply w/Quote Edit/Delete Message
Dj Thy
Deckhead



Registered: May 2001
Location: Belgium, Earth

Well, that's also the reason why it is said that most electronic 4/4 music (and trance in particular) is formulaïc. It's easier for dj's to mix, but if you heard 100 of tunes that roughly follow that rule, most tunes will sound the same to you, as you know what will be coming next.

But, I don't remember which wise man or woman once said : "you can only break the rules, if you know them..."

Old Post Jan-13-2004 21:54  Belgium
Click Here to See the Profile for Dj Thy Click here to Send Dj Thy a Private Message Add Dj Thy to your buddy list Report this Post Reply w/Quote Edit/Delete Message
ManTrance
Supreme tranceaddict



Registered: Oct 2003
Location: Bracknell,England

Am sort of understanding what has been said here.

Structure is important, but not rule bound.

*DJ THY* - Ure dead right!! Know the rules, then break em, thats how you get your original sound!!!

Liking this thread!!!

Old Post Jan-13-2004 22:17  United Kingdom
Click Here to See the Profile for ManTrance Click here to Send ManTrance a Private Message Visit ManTrance's homepage! Add ManTrance to your buddy list Report this Post Reply w/Quote Edit/Delete Message
TranceMuzik02
yeh...



Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Manchester, England

As long as it follows multiples of 4 then does it really matter?

Old Post Jan-13-2004 23:13  England
Click Here to See the Profile for TranceMuzik02 Click here to Send TranceMuzik02 a Private Message Add TranceMuzik02 to your buddy list Report this Post Reply w/Quote Edit/Delete Message
hey cheggy
like a tiger



Registered: Aug 2002
Location: Sydney, Australia

As long as changes only happen on a multiple of 8 bars, then everything is sweet in my book. I don't know about this crap that if you want dj's to play your song, you have to follow a set rule. Maybe if you want crap dj's to play your track who can't mix, but anyone with some decent skills should be able to mix a well made track.


___________________
1 out of every 4 people in this country are mentally disturbed. Look at your 3 closest friends. If they seem okay, then you're the one.

Old Post Jan-14-2004 04:54  Australia
Click Here to See the Profile for hey cheggy Click here to Send hey cheggy a Private Message Add hey cheggy to your buddy list Report this Post Reply w/Quote Edit/Delete Message
State of Matter
Mashed Potatoes



Registered: Aug 2003
Location: Maryland, USA

As long as the phrases are multiples of 16 it doesn't matter.

Once again, need to be more careful in the way you say things. Listen to some anjuna-beats stuff, they very often will bring in melodies after 16 bars, and then after 32, and then again after 16. It's just whatever suits the track.


___________________

Most recent tracks:
1) Ilan Bluestone - Spheres (State of Matter Eleventh Hour Mix)
2) MK-S - Illuminate (State of Matter Revival Mix)
3) Scarab - Vagabond (State of Matter Revival Mix)
4) Ferry Corsten & The Thrillseekers - Sublime (State of Matter Revival Mix)
5) State of Matter - Saving Icarus (Original Mix)

https://soundcloud.com/stateofmattermusic

Old Post Jan-14-2004 19:38  United States
Click Here to See the Profile for State of Matter Click here to Send State of Matter a Private Message Visit State of Matter's homepage! Add State of Matter to your buddy list Report this Post Reply w/Quote Edit/Delete Message
FuzzyGreen
Music Addict



Registered: May 2001
Location: Bay Area, Ca USA

Well I'm happy to read that you guys value originality in your productions, it's ideas like that, that will evolve trance and keep it fresh.

But I still think you guys miss the point of this thread. Maybe it is how I'm presenting it.

It has nothing to do with being inovative or original, it has to do with making something that is fun and sounds great in a DJ mix set. Something that a DJ would want to use to add to his mix set that adds to the story he is telling in his mix. Something that adds just the right energy and *feel* to a mix. Yeah, you can make a track that is a great opener, but I want to discuss and create tracks that seamlessly mix into a DJ set and get the audience to go crazy, cry, trip out, or throw their hands in the air and scream. Whatever the intended feeling is.

If a track has any loud melodies or strong chords within the first 32 measures it will be hard to fit it into a set without finding a similar key matched record.

Go listen to your trance mp3 collection. I bet you that 90% of the songs have no strong chords or melodies within the first 32 measures.

Maybe I only think in this way because I've been dj'ing for a few years now and my mind is thinking in that way, who knows.

Old Post Jan-14-2004 21:29  United States
Click Here to See the Profile for FuzzyGreen Click here to Send FuzzyGreen a Private Message Visit FuzzyGreen's homepage! Add FuzzyGreen to your buddy list Report this Post Reply w/Quote Edit/Delete Message
Damie Mckeown
Supreme tranceaddict



Registered: Jul 2003
Location: England, Liverpool

Yes, you take out most things musical for the first set of bars and have mainly only the beat and soundeffects/vocal bits, then bring in the bassline after about 32 beats and basicly for the outro do the same backwards.
The shit in the middle shouldnt have any rules

Old Post Jan-14-2004 22:44  United Kingdom
Click Here to See the Profile for Damie Mckeown Click here to Send Damie Mckeown a Private Message Add Damie Mckeown to your buddy list Report this Post Reply w/Quote Edit/Delete Message
Luke Terry
tranceaddict oldskool



Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Cool

difference is the key, as long as it follows the 4/4 rule and something happens at least every 16 bars during a mix it's all good, mixing a tune that kicks in every 32 into another 32, etc. sounds somewhat predictable in my experience.


___________________

w: www.luketerry.com

Old Post Jan-15-2004 00:39 
Click Here to See the Profile for Luke Terry Click here to Send Luke Terry a Private Message Visit Luke Terry's homepage! Add Luke Terry to your buddy list Report this Post Reply w/Quote Edit/Delete Message

TranceAddict Forums > DJing / Production / Promotion > Production Studio > Proper phrase construction
Post New Thread    Post A Reply

 
Last Thread   Next Thread
Click here to listen to the sample!Pause playbackTrack in John Digweed Kiss Set (23.11.01) [2002] [0]

Click here to listen to the sample!Pause playbackMembers of Mayday - "10IN01" (Paul Van Dyk Club Mix) [2003]

Show Printable Version | Subscribe to this Thread
Forum Jump:

All times are GMT. The time now is 08:55.

Forum Rules:
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is ON
vB code is ON
[IMG] code is ON
 
Search this Thread:

 
Contact Us - return to tranceaddict

Powered by: Trance Music & vBulletin Forums
Copyright ©2000-2026, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Privacy Statement / DMCA
Support TA!