Trance Production .com - Understanding Basic Trance Structure - “basic” sections of a standard/ general trance composition. As much as the history of trance is up for debate, as is the definition of the musical form we call “trance”, so are the parts that define it.

Understanding Basic Trance Structure

The Basics

In this article, we will go over the basic, and I emphasize “basic” sections of a standard/ general trance composition. As much as the history of trance is up for debate, as is the definition of the musical form we call “trance”, so are the parts that define it. I will give what I consider, as well as many others, to be the fundamental components of trance. However, depending on the song or sub-genre you are listening to, there is always room for exceptions.

With that said, we can move on to the meat of the issue. A trance composition can be divided into four major parts: the intro, the breakdown, the release, and the outro. These parts don’t necessarily have to come exactly as I listed them, but nine times out of ten they will. It is common, however, to have more than one breakdown with transitional sections in between the breakdowns. It is also common to have another major part after the breakdown (the climax) where in epic or uplifting trance the composition musically hits a peak of energy and what follows is the release and the outro (many other combinations exist around all of this, of course).

The Intro

In its simplest form, the intro is the first part of the song you hear. It gives the DJ time to mix out of the song he was previously playing and into the one he wants to play next. For the most part, it will have a fairly well defined beat, but (usually) there is not much going on melodically. You may have some chords or harmonies in place to set the mood, but too much in the terms of melody and chord changes increases the chance that what the DJ is mixing out of will clash with what he is mixing into. First impressions are important, and a strong intro that is both driving and unique are important to keep a listener hooked throughout the song. Along the same lines of first impressions, it’s best to make trance that is DJ friendly. Then again, you could also just make a “club mix” of your work to make it more DJ friendly which would have a longer intro and outro and more bass to pound the sound system.

The Breakdown

Following the intro, after the DJ has had ample time to mix fully into your song, we usually form some sort of breakdown or break. By break I mean the amount and intensity of the percussion and other elements drop sharply. This is used to create anticipation as well as tension. The anticipation part is easy. Even the most casual trance listener will know that following the break, the song will once again “kick in” and the intensity will be at a level that is hopefully above that of the intro. In aiming to please crowds, one should aim to make the intensity of the song at a level that induces dancing, but that has more to do with your style of production. The tension part of the break is what is generally more difficult.

Creating tension in the breakdown is a balance act. The more of a contrast you can build throughout the break, the more tension you will also create in anticipation of the release. However, if you build your break too quickly, it will feel rushed and the release will occur too soon. If you build too slowly the listener looses interest.
Although some will disagree, I believe it is the break that makes trance as amazing as it is. Without a good break, even the most brilliant of releases will seem dull. Don’t get me wrong, the melodic elements and percussion must also be there, but without anything to setup your release, you’re just listening to pop-dance music. This tension is best created by using low pass filters and volume drops on instruments. Creating the contrast has to do with making dynamic changes in levels so that the listener almost forgets how huge and loud the powerful part of the track could be. This surprise and difference in energy is what people tend to love so much about trance music (although they think of it as far less complex than that).

The Release

The release is the part of the track that people will probably remember the most. It is also the part that DJs look to in order to get the crowd going crazy. It has the highest amount of energy and is in direct contrast to the beginning of the break. It will have the melody or hook line, as well as the incorporation of elements found in the intro and breakdown.

Creating a release that does not disappoint is a challenge. It is possible to create intensity by piling layers of percussion, bass lines, and melodic elements into the release. But, this tends to make it sound muddy and hard to listen to. It is also possible to go the other direction and not have enough elements occurring during the release to create the kind of energy trance is known for. When you do this, the listener is left feeling that the buildup of the break section led to a level of intensity not in line with their expectations. It is a very fine line between these two extremes and takes practice and skill to find. The worst thing to end up with is a release that disappoints and does not live up to the expectations that your breakdown created.

The Outro

The outro exists primarily as a tool for DJ mixing. After the release has hit its plateu, it will fall to a level fairly consistent with that of the intro. Remnants of the melody may still be in place, as well as parts of the bass line and usually scaled down versions of the percussion. The elements of the track will gradually taper out, usually leaving only percussion until that too fades out. As a help to DJs, the outro will have occasional builds, cymbal crashes, or sweeps in order to give places in which the DJ can fully cut out from the track. As a last resort for the DJ, the very end of the track also generally contains one final build or splash of some sort to give the track a last means of smooth exit. Those of us who don’t DJ may not be able to relate to the sheer need for such elements, but listen closely and you’ll realize how they assist in mixing tracks.