This trance style is also known as psychedelic and is full of analog sounds that create a rich, heady atmosphere. The style was born in India, in the southwestern coastal region of the same name, and is associated with clubbing as well as recreational drug use. The Goa style is influenced by psychedelic music, as well as by a Western understanding of Indian mysticism. Traditional Indian musical instruments, including the sitar, have been used by Goa trance producers to enhance the sound.
This trance subgenre has a melancholic atmosphere, and, to those uninitiated in trance music, it may sound frightening or even evil thanks to its deep sounds. Inspired by techno music, dark trance features strings, erratic pulses and heavy sounds, creating a cold, cynical effect that stands in contrast to the blissful nature of other trance styles.
Hard trance has its roots in two other dance subgenres, techno and hard house, and even uses some of the samples often present in these styles. A reaction to the gradual commercialization of much trance music, hard trance features a minimalist approach to the genre and uses synthesizers to create heavy sounds.
A trance subgenre that gained particular popularity in the mid-2000s, tech trance sounds like a quickened version of the stereotypical trance track, but is not as fast as some trance styles such as hard trance. Tech trance uses synthesizers to play complicated rhythms. The style tends to eschew many traditional musical instruments, but does make use of kick drums and electric guitars.
Employing a smooth sound, progressive trance is sometimes associated with genres such as Eurodance, which aim to crack the charts, and thus is a form of trance likely to be heard in a mainstream dance club. The term "progressive trance" is actually something of a misnomer, since, as noted by the Techno.org website, the style actually contains little that is innovative. Instead, it concentrates on familiar breakdowns and pop-length tracks.
This style aims to provide an uplifting soundtrack for its listeners. The style incorporates catchy melodies, typically introduced via a musical breakdown after a sub-melody, along with off-beat bass and percussion.