A form of electronic music that has spiralled out from other forms such as techno and house. Essentially, trance combines a powerful "4-to-the-floor" (or occasionally breakbeat) drumtrack with a strong melodic hookline.

Trance is indisputably one of the most emotional genres that actually exists, because it is all self-interpretation. There are no instrumental or musical limits to trance, and rather than listening to some random guy screaming about his life, associating with a trance progression or hookline is much more deep, and much more personal.

Like other genres, trance has many subgenres, some of which have become very commercialised to the extent where the musical merit of some tracks must be questioned (eg. Flip'n'Fill, Scooter etc.)

At the higher end of the more uplifting, melodic (and relatively popular) styles of trance are DJs such as Tiesto, Armin van Buuren, and Ferry Corsten. These DJs in particular can make beautifully structured mixes their own music, and the music of others, building it into a euphoric collage which spans multiple energy levels, in order to provide the listener with peak/trough feelings, and carry them through numerous emotions and mental states.

The creation and spread of trance music is mainly down to machinery such as the Roland JP-8000 (providing the prominently manipulated supersaw wave), and experimental DJs such as Sasha & John Digweed.
I want to listen to a melodic, energetic form of music that emotionally affects my state of mind. Therefore, I will listen to trance.
by Col April 20, 2004
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The most sublime, divine, advanced music genre known to man, representing a quantum leap in artistic creativity analogous to the development of the frontal lobe in the human brain. Having an IQ below 130 renders one incapable of apreciating, let alone enjoying trance. Being a connoisseur of trance bespeaks of extremely high intelligence and impeccable level of personal sophistication. On the other hand, those who despise trance can uniformly be characterized as primtive troglodytes, closer to ape than man.
OMFG, this Tunnel Trance Force compilation pwnz!
by Professor chaos April 15, 2005
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By far the best form of music that exists. A recent study showed that if a population is divided into musical preference, those who claim a strong allegiance to trance have the highest average IQ.
Trance is the music of the genius-generation.
by Champ October 8, 2003
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A type of electronic dance music characterised by a moderately fast tempo (typically 140-155 bpm) and "steady 4" rhythm (as opposed to the more syncopated rhythms commonly found in house, breakbeats, etc.)

Trance has a strong influence from early Detroit techno, but tends to be more dramatic or "emotional" than the minimalism of earlier techno. Common elements in trance include heavy, compressed kick drums, dramatic sweeping pads, and cascading synth arpeggios.

As with any kind of music, there are a billion sub-classifications possible -- hard trance, psytrance, acid trance, goa trance, etc. Trance has been one of the most popular forms of club music over the past few years, and has arguably produced more mainstream appeal (Oakenfold, Van Dyk, etc.) than most other electronic sub-genres.
"She spun a sick trance set in the big room last night; lots of distorted 909s and squelchy basslines, none of this shite that sounds like a car commercial."
by h_double August 7, 2003
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The ultimate music for improving your concentration. Great for studying, writing papers, reading long books, ect. Has a great beat to drown out all distractions but no words to distract you.
Fuck the mozart effect, i'm gonna listen to some trance while I write my report.
by agentsteve November 26, 2005
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A genre of music suited for the more advanced and sophisticated personality. For people who like to engage in intellectual thought and experince thier own emotions in a way that exceeds traditional writting or music. Music that can relax a busy mind or inspire one to excel and achieve great things emotionaly and spritialy.

Girls like to dance. So if you want to meet girls, go to a trance club. Thats how I met my wife.
Song:Im not fooled - by: John 00 Fleming - Album: Creamfields. I was lsitening to this song when I was re-united with my wife after spending 1 year in Afgan and 1 year in Iraq. It was also the same song I listened to when I had to leave to go to war and cryed like a baby. Trance music can enhance your true emotions and adapt to any situation.
by DJ Smoke July 18, 2006
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Trance music is experimental electronic (opposite to instrumental) dance music which orients around harmonious sound textures (a.k.a. melody textures).

It originated back in late 80's but became an official genre in 1993. Since then trance producers started to form definition in various ways, what led to creation of many trance sub-genres.. Some of the most known are:

(1) Progressive trance - lowers ratio between melody progression and melody texturing to some solid level..
(2) Epic & Anthem trance - emphasizes sound melody more than melody texturing. This trance-sellout led to big disappointment for original-trance listeners
(3) Psychedelic trance - changed the sound texturing dimension.. original trance tried to make a repetitive sound by combining complex layers of melody textures.. psy-trance tried to make it more progressive in time - by making it more complex in gating

Opposite to trance is techno - which orients around non-harmonic (percussive) textures.
Trance music is experimental electronic (opposite to instrumental) dance music which orients around harmonious sound textures (a.k.a. melody textures).

It originated back in late 80's but became an official genre in 1993. Since then trance producers started to form definition in various ways, what led to creation of many trance sub-genres.. Some of the most known are:

(1) Progressive trance - lowers ratio between melody progression and melody texturing to some solid level..
(2) Epic & Anthem trance - emphasizes sound melody more than melody texturing. This trance-sellout led to big disappointment for original-trance listeners
(3) Psychedelic trance - changed the sound texturing dimension.. original trance tried to make a repetitive sound by combining complex layers of melody textures.. psy-trance tried to make it more progressive in time - by making it more complex in gating

Opposite to trance is techno - which orients around non-harmonic (percussive) textures.
Age Of Love - Age Of Love (classic trance)
Energy 52 - Cafe Del Mar (progressive trance)
L.S.G. - Netherworld (dark-progressive trance)
Paul Van Dyk - For An Angel (epic trance)
Infected Mushroom - Acid Killer (psy-trance)
Astral Projection - Mahadeva (goa trance)
by Miroslav Malesevic November 20, 2006
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