Are Psytrance and Techno The Same? A blog explaining the difference between Psytrance and Techno.
A lot of people ask me, “So, are psytrance and techno the same thing?” I respond with a resounding, “Absolutely not!” And then I proceed to explain why the two genres are very different from each other. I thought it would be nice to have something I could point to in order to save myself some time on that explanation.
The main differences between techno and psytrance:
– Techno is usually 128 bpm, while psytrance is usually between 140bpm and 150bpm.
– Techno uses 4/4 time signatures, while most psytrance uses 6/8 or 9/8 time signatures. This means that a bar of techno is 4 beats long, while a bar of psy trance is 6 or 9 beats long.
– While techno can be pretty dark, it’s not common for it to sound as dark as psytrance does. Even most of the darker sounding techno tracks have a section in them where there’s a little bit of light in them (usually about 2 minutes into it). In contrast, many psytrance tracks don’t have that moment of light in
Are Psytrance and Techno The Same?
It seems like a silly question, but I get asked it often.
I’m not sure why this question comes up regularly, but I think there are a few good reasons.
In the early 1990s, Goa Trance was played at many of the same events as Electronic Dance Music (EDM) in the USA and Canada. As trance music became more popular, the underground dance scene became fragmented. Some people got into psytrance and others began to prefer other styles of techno and house music.
In addition, the labels that were putting out the trance compilations were also signing techno artists. Most people weren’t aware of all of the different kinds of electronic music that existed, so they lumped it all together as “techno.”
There was another reason for this confusion: Many techno labels also released psytrance compilations that had similar artwork and track names to their techno releases. This made it even harder for people to figure out what kind of music they were listening to!
The answer is no, they are not the same thing. But the similarities are there and I have heard this debate numerous times before. In fact, I have even backed down and agreed with people that they are the same thing when in actuality, I knew that they were different.
This article will explain how Psytrance and Techno are both similar and different by showing examples of each genre, going into detail about the history of each genre, and comparing their key characteristics.
How They Are Similar
Both psytrance and techno often use a 4-4 beat with a steady kick drum. The kick drum is usually made to sound like a bassline in the song so it sounds like one consistent sound throughout the entire track. The kick drum is usually between 130-145 BPM (beats per minute).
The tempo is also very quick between 130-145 BPM as well which makes it feel like you are in a trance when listening to it or dancing to it at a festival.
They both also have a pattern to them in which the same phrase repeats over and over again until something else happens in the music. These phases can range anywhere from 8 bars to 32 bars in length which can make some songs feel repetitive but still enjoyable if you put
Psytrance and Techno are two different genres of electronic music.
Even though Psytrance and Techno can be considered siblings, they have their own unique qualities that set them apart from each other. The first time I listened to Psytrance I was in India, at a New Year’s party in Goa.
I was 18 years old and had never heard this type of music before. I was hooked instantly, but why? Why do I like this type of music? After years of listening and experiencing Psytrance, I started to see patterns in the way the music is made and performed.
I also got more interested in how it differs from Techno. When you listen to Psytrance for the first time, you might not know what it is you’re listening to… It’s hard to describe actually!
A lot of people often get confused between Psytrance and Techno. Often times I see people post music of one genre and label it as the other, or I see someone saying “this is the best psytrance I’ve ever heard!” when in fact it’s techno. So what is the difference between these two genres?
Psytrance is a sub-genre of trance music and has been around since the 1990s. It’s known for psychedelic soundscapes, which usually contain psychedelic melodies and/or effects, along with very fast rhythms (usually between 148-150 BPM). Generally, it follows a specific structure, in which there are four 16-bar sections in each 8 minute track; the main section (which is generally a buildup), the bassline section (which is where the bassline comes in), a break (which features no percussion), and then another bassline section. The main section contains either a rhythmic melody or an arpeggiated melody, while the bassline sections contain either a rhythmic or semitonal melody.
Techno, on the other hand, originated in Detroit during the late 1980s. It’s known for having complex rhythms which are played with sequencers and synthesizers. Usually ranging from 120 to
I’ve been asked many times if I listen to techno. I’m always a little perplexed by the question, because I don’t think that psytrance and techno are the same thing. Actually, there’s very little in common between the two genres, even though they are lumped together sometimes by those who aren’t familiar with electronic music. Here’s why psytrance and techno may seem to be similar at first glance, but are actually quite different.
Psytrance and techno both use synthesizers rather than traditional instruments.
Psytrance and techno both have repetitive beats.
Psytrance and techno often include heavy bass lines that can be felt physically rather than just heard.
Psytrance and techno are often played at raves or other night-time events (although this is not always true).
These similarities give some people the impression that psytrance and techno are the same genre of music, or perhaps two subgenres of an even broader category called “electronica”. In fact, these similarities are superficial. There is much more that separates psytrance from techno than unites them.
We often get asked questions like “I’m coming to an Avalon party, what should I expect? Is it techno or psytrance?” Well, it is a mix of both and more. Psychedelic trance (psytrance for short) is a style of electronic music that has its origin in Goa, India in the early 1990s. This style of music is characterised by rolling bass lines, hypnotic rhythms and psychedelic effects. It is usually between 150-180 bpm and it can be divided into different styles such as full-on and dark psytrance. Techno is a genre of electronic dance music that originally emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid-to-late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno was in 1988. Many styles of techno now exist, but Detroit techno is seen as the foundation upon which a number of subgenres have been built.