The Trance Library

Start with the genre guides if you are new to the sound, then follow the artist and record guides to hear how individual producers interpret it. The library is organised for exploration rather than as a definitive canon.

Explore further

Browse our guides to uplifting trance, progressive trance, vocal trance, psytrance and the classic records that connect them. Each page offers a listening direction and a way to hear the differences.

Browse all guides

• A guide to Balearic trance
• A guide to classic trance
• A guide to dream house
• A guide to Goa trance
• A guide to hard trance
• A guide to progressive trance
• A guide to psytrance
• A guide to tech trance
• A guide to trance albums
• A guide to uplifting trance
• A guide to vocal trance
• A listener’s guide to Above & Beyond
• A listener’s guide to Armin van Buuren
• A listener’s guide to Astral Projection
• A listener’s guide to BT
• A listener’s guide to Chicane
• A listener’s guide to Cosmic Gate
• A listener’s guide to Delerium
• A listener’s guide to Faithless
• A listener’s guide to Ferry Corsten
• A listener’s guide to Hallucinogen
• A listener’s guide to Infected Mushroom
• A listener’s guide to OceanLab
• A listener’s guide to Paul van Dyk
• A listener’s guide to Rank 1
• A listener’s guide to Robert Miles
• A listener’s guide to Solarstone
• A listener’s guide to The Thrillseekers
• A listener’s guide to Tiësto
• A short history of trance
• An introduction to Anjunabeats
• An introduction to Armada Music
• An introduction to Black Hole Recordings
• Build your first trance playlist
• Finding original mixes and remixes
• How to explore a music catalogue
• How to listen to a DJ set
• Listening to trance on headphones
• Reading a trance track credit
• The role of melody in trance
• The role of the bass line
• Trance and the wider electronic family
• Trance for a long journey
• Understanding a trance breakdown
• Understanding record labels in trance
• What is an extended mix?
• What is trance music?
• Why remixes matter