what exactly is the difference between dance, techno and trance music?

Trance is usually just music and no words, right?

Just wanted to know the difference. Thanks

Trance is a style of electronic dance music that developed in the 1990s. Trance music is generally characterized by a tempo of between 130 and 160 bpm, featuring repeating melodic synthesizer phrases, and a musical form that builds up and down throughout a track, often crescendoing or featuring a breakdown. Sometimes vocals are also utilised. The style is arguably derived from a combination of largely techno and house. 'Trance' received its name from the repetitious morphing beats, and the throbbing melodies which would presumably put the listener into a trance-like state. As this music is almost always played in nightclubs at popular vacation spots and in inner cities, trance can be understood as a form of club music. - Wikipedia

First, they're all styles of electronica, the overall term for electronic music. There are a handful of other styles and a number of them often have songs without words.

I find it most helpful to hear the differences.

Trance:
Acperience by Hardfloor

Techno:
Go by Moby

Trance's patterns are brief and have minimal rhythmic changes and occasional synthesizer atmospherics to distinguish themselves from other songs. Techno is more complex and evolves more noticably. Also, songs with words exist for both styles.

Dance is a broader term that includes pretty much anything dancable but that is much more a distinct song than trance, something distinct enough for it to be found on the radio and possibly become popular. Think Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) by C + C Music Factory. Certain songs by singers like Britney Spears or Backstreet Boys fit here, too.

Anything unclear?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: jusork,

DG- Thanks for your response. I wish I understood more about tempo and bpm though.

Jusrok- No, nothing unclear. Really... Thanks

My fiance loves techno and trance. But it seems that whenever I think a certain song is techno, or even a group for that matter, he says it isn't.

Like I thought RealMcoy was techno but he says they're more like R'n'B. Or Eiffel 65. He says those aren't really classified as techno either.

That is why I ask this question. Sorry, I get confused easily and I hope my response here didn't confuse you any.

Thanks

Nah, confusion is understandable. I find that it takes being familiar with the music to easily see the difference. I haven't heard of Real McCoy (looked it up), but Eiffel 65 definitely falls into dance. You can also tell that dance generally focuses on vocals more than trance or techno. Keep listening and maybe you'll surprise him one day.

Anytime.

GO is a poor example of techno. try ritchie hawtin for techno

Thanks, Stomper. I took a listen. It's good to have someone knowledgeable about electronica here.