Tech Trance – Trance Styles Guide

• Tweet
• Pin It

Like most genres, there’s a lot of different styles of trance. Wikipedia has a decent list of these styles, but it’s a bit light on examples. Instead of going through the history of each subgenre (as this is probably documented elsewhere) I’ll dive into the basic characteristics that define each of these styles, and provide a whole bunch of examples so that you can identify them.

I’ll be covering such subgenres as Uplifting, Vocal, Acid, Euro, Psychedelic, Hard, Balearic and Trouse. To kick it off, I’m going to cover my personal favourite, tech trance.

Tech Trance, as the name hints at, is the fusion of techno and trance. It rose to prominence in the early-mid 00′s. Compared to uplifting or other popular styles of trance, tech trance focuses less on layering and melodies, and more on percussion and the manipulation of a small number of mostly synthesized sounds. It is often based on a single, simple motif that is used throughout the length of the track.

It is interesting to note that producers that were heavily involved in tech trance in the mid – late 00′s are now some of the major players in the recent big room house movement. Some of these artists, and the pioneers of tech trance are Sander Van Doorn, Marcel Woods and Marco V.

This guide does not cover everything, and is meant to serve as a basic style guide.

If you feel I’m missing a seminal track that should be included, feel free to get in touch.

Click on the years below to toggle tracks from that era.

• Tweet
• Pin It