What is the difference between house trance and electro music?

Answer 1

House is the most general term of the bunch, all the rest are sub-genres. There are many other sub-genres such as funky house, disco house, Latin house etc. All of these other sub-genres are typified by loops or instrumentation that heavily references or samples another style of music.

Deep house is more influenced by soul and jazz than by disco and funk. It is usually a little bit slower than other house styles (about 110-125 bpm, whereas the styles I mentioned above range from about 115-128 on average.) The percussion is usually a little quieter than in other house styles, putting the focus more on the basic groove of the song than on the beat. Sampling of other styles is less common with deep house than most house, and when sampling IS used, it is usually fairly subtle. Jazz and old soul records are the most common sound source, although disco, funk and latin are occasionally used too. Much of deep house uses synth melodies and basslines that are inspired by jazz progressions, although most of them are not inherently "jazzy" sounding. Because of the more complex Music Theory involved in deep house production, some people consider it more soulful and sophisticated than other house types. In the early days, most deep house had vocals, but most of it today is fully instrumental. Deep house originated in NY and was also very popular in London during the 90s. It is now fairly uncommon.

Progressive house is essentially the UK's answer to both US House and early German trance. In its earliest days it focused on heavy synth lines and a very computer generated sound (like trance) but often used diva vocals and had a warm sound (closer to house at the time.) Later the term was applied to Brittish artists who were essentially copying continental European trance but gave it a more complicated song structure and more intensely melodic sound. In the late 90s many of the artists fully embraced their trance heritage and it essentially became progressive trance. At that point, a new wave of UK artists started using the term to describe music that occupied a musical gray area between house, trance, and techno. Current progressive house is more synthetic sounding than house, less blatantly melodic than trance, and somewhat "cleaner" and less repetitive than techno. It still uses the constantly evolving song structure, with elements being added or removed every 2, 4 or 8 measures. It also uses a similar build-up/breakdown structure as trance, but is more subtle, with shorter breakdowns. The style typically uses strange sound effects and "trippy" vocal samples that wash through though the song at seemingly random intervals. Some of it uses pretty complex percussion. The BPM tends to range from 125-135, making it quicker than a lot of house but slower than most trance. Because of its subtlety and similarity to other styles, progressive house tracks are fairly easy to mix into house, techno or trance sets, although many artists work primarily in progressive house.

Tech house is a highly contested term and isn't really used the same way by everyone. The basic concept is that it is half house and half techno. So it will be more minimal, repetitive and mechanical than house, but have some kind of soulful or melodic element not typically found in techno. In my opinion, most tech-house basically sounds like techno, and I usually don't use the term personally.

Electro house is the newest style on this list, and is heavily inspired by Daftpunk. The sound is much more synthetic sounding than most house, relying on sawtooth waves for the melodies and bass. The basslines are usually very prominent and distorted, and some tracks sound fairly similar to a four-to-floor version of Dubstep, but electro house isn't typically as chaotic or menacing sounding as dubstep (there are definite exceptions to this rule though). Many electro-house songs feature Pop Music vocal samples in them, and some DJs rely on this kind of track, but it is hardly universal.

Sources- a lifetime of researching and listening to electronic music, several books and online sources (check out Ishkur's Guide to Electronic Music at http://techno.org/electronic-music-guide/ if you haven't yet. He hasn't updated it since electro house became popular, but the other styles are there.) I also was a house/trance/progressive/techno and jungle dj from 97-01.

Answer 2

There is a big difference between House Trance and Electro. If you are a real electronic music lover, the answer is obvious. Trance in general is a form of electronic music with many layers of loops and melodies. Its much more complicated then your regular electro styles. House is made up of a simple, but bumping beat. With usually a simpler catchy melody, usually has vocals as well. Mix that into a complicated Trance and if you really have the ear for Trance you'll know right off what it is. Electro however; is very basic. If your like the simple pounding beat with a repeating melody with usually only 1 drop then you like electro.

The main problem people have with classifying electronic music is, they don't know enough. Most people just call electronic music plain Techno, when really its Progressive Trance or House.

Dig into the music more. Do some research, ask more questions, and find out for yourself what the music really is. Trance has all sorts of sub-genres try looking into them.

Give Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren, Roger Shah, Signum, Chicane, and Aly & Fila a try.

If your really into House listen to David Guetta. hes been massive lately.

Answer 3

Ok Trance is electronic music. "Electric music" as you say isn't a classification of electronic music. Trance is in general is a form of electronic music with many layers of loops and melodies. Its much more complicated then your regular electro styles.

The main problem people have with classifying electronic music is, they don't know enough. Most people just call electronic music plain Techno, when really its Progressive Trance or House.

Dig into the music more. Do some research, ask more questions, and find out for yourself what the music really is. Trance has all sorts of sub-genres try looking into them.

Give Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren, Roger Shah, Signum, Chicane, and Aly & Fila a try.