Listen to a wide range of different techno and trance songs, including different genres like hardcore techno and progressive trance. This will help you get an emotional feel for the type of music you want to create.
Select your music creation software. You can choose from free or paid versions; however, you should compare the software packages before making your decision. If possible, especially for paid software, try to test out the software before you buy. See if the software developer offers a limited trial version.
Load your music creation software and create a few tracks for your new techno or trance song. The primary sound in any dance, techno or trance song is the kick drum. Your first track should contain only the kick drum, spaced out rhythmically to your preference.
Place each new sound on an individual track. When using tracker-based music creation software this is the easiest technique to organize your music. Most music software allows you to create unlimited tracks.
Add in other sounds to your preference, including a hi-hat, electronic noises, vocal clips and other drums. One trait of progressive trance is that it builds up emotionally, meaning the musical notes and timbres change appropriately with the feel of the overall mix.
Test out changing notes on your different tracks, individually adjusting a drum kick from middle C to a G sharp. Once you find the notes you like, make a pattern with two, three or four different notes. Follow this technique for each track you would like to sound different.
Save your techno or trance song to an MP3 or your preferred digital music file format.