Trance is indeed quite difficult to streamline isn't it. It's so diverse that it it’s hard to categorize and at the same time has such distinctly defining characteristics. This is where I indeed have trouble understanding it. The thin but very much defining line btwn what we have come to call ‘cheese’ and real trance or others genres and trance all together. All sub genres of trance though, are quite distinct in themselves, making each fall under various characteristics both in structure of melodic/rhythmic, instrumental and layout entities. Euphoric/Epic, Goa, Progressive all have distinct characteristics that make them what they are. Everyone’s on about how one shouldn’t give hard rules in trance, I respect that, of course to maintain individuality and character in a track, although to I, an amateur producer who’s been listening to trance ever since the days of Trevor Horn, the complexities of melodic and rhythmic structures of trance seem to be overwhelmingly difficult to understand. What theory is actually applied to a track to make it actually stand out as euphoric or uplifting?
Chord structure/sequence, layout, sounds, instruments? Any one out there doing euphoric please help...

I think alot of the 'euphoric-ness' or 'uplifting-ness' goes in the way the track is composed, for example with a very driving feel and perhaps a typically sweet main lead (which are mostly saws). I reckon alot of generic pluck sounds are used as well.

At least, that's my view of it - of course you still need the right melodic patterns. An uplifting or euphoric melody has a slightly more happy feel to it, whilst not being 'cheesy' at all.

As you said, it's hard to define. Most of the time, you can tell if a track is euphoric or uplifting, but to determine exactly why it gives this feel isn't always the same.

// Wim

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well, euphoric tracks mostly have more reverb on the leads, dont they?

i believe uplifting means that the chord progression is going up like...

hmmm

C-Dis-G being the first chords
D-Fis-A the second one and so on

if you look at it they are going a few steps up from each other...

that's what can make the uplifting feel...I think/hope/believe whatever...

it's just one of possibilities I think...-

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uplifting to me is subtle but fucking wicked chord changes

the euphoric style still has tho but does it with more balls & has massive big room leads

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Whats makes something Euphoric or Uplifting varies from person to person... For example, most of the shit that I hear people call Uplifting Trance... doesnt uplift me.

isnt trance itself meant to be uplifting or euphoric?

if it werent uplifting it would`nt be trance?

just cause some track are different than other, which obviously it has to be.. i dont see the reason to categorize it any further than what it is.. and its trance..

happy lead or not, it doesnt make it any more or less uplifting..

uplifting trance is like saying "guitarish rock" or "hard heavy metal" or something like that..

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quote:

Originally posted by Subtle isnt trance itself meant to be uplifting or euphoric? if it werent uplifting it would`nt be trance? just cause some track are different than other, which obviously it has to be.. i dont see the reason to categorize it any further than what it is.. and its trance.. happy lead or not, it doesnt make it any more or less uplifting.. uplifting trance is like saying "guitarish rock" or "hard heavy metal" or something like that..

Incorrect... Trance is supposed to be emotional. Feeling 'uplifted' is only one emotion.

quote:

Originally posted by ONION Incorrect... Trance is supposed to be emotional. Feeling 'uplifted' is only one emotion.

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so i guess anthem trance or progressive trance would not fall under uplifting or euphoric as its more considered hard trance.

You cannot define "trance" precisely in my opinion. A track may be "trance" to you, but not to someone else. But for me the true trance is full of energy waves. Maybe that's what they call emotions. Meh.. kinda hard to explain

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quote:

Originally posted by Subtle isnt trance itself meant to be uplifting or euphoric? if it werent uplifting it would`nt be trance? just cause some track are different than other, which obviously it has to be.. i dont see the reason to categorize it any further than what it is.. and its trance.. happy lead or not, it doesnt make it any more or less uplifting.. uplifting trance is like saying "guitarish rock" or "hard heavy metal" or something like that..

Trance in its original form was usually pretty dark, cold and brooding. Uplifting forms of trance only really made an appearance with the rave tunes from around 96 onwards. Psy, goa, tech, hard and dark are all alternative forms of trance and dont necessarily constitute being uplifting, although they can be and aften are.

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