What is Progressive House Music?

Progressive House is a subgenre of House music. It is characterized by a tempo between 128 and 140 BPM, and often has a “rolling” feel to it.

Origins of Progressive House

Progressive house is a type of electronic dance music that originated in the early 1990s. The genre was developed by DJs and producers who were influenced by house music, techno, and acid house. The sound of progressive house is typically characterized by a driving, hypnotic bassline, layered with sweeping pads and melodies.

UK club culture in the late 1980s and early 1990s

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the UK club culture was thriving and there was a strong appetite for new and innovative music. One of the most popular genres at the time was acid house, which was characterized by its distinctive sound and use of Richie Hawtin’s “Three Pheenth” Roland TB-303 bass line. However, by the early 1990s, many clubgoers were becoming tired of the repetitive nature of acid house and were looking for something new.

Progressive house emerged as a response to this, with DJs and producers such as Sasha, Digweed, and Nick Muir creating a sound that was both fresh and exciting. Progressive house tracks often had a more complex structure than their acid house counterparts, with longer build-ups and breakdowns and a greater emphasis on melody. This new style quickly gained popularity in the UK club scene and soon spread to the rest of Europe and North America.

The birth of the rave scene

Progressive house is a style of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 1990s. It is characterized by a slower tempo than other dance music genres, and often has complex, layered melodies.

The genre developed out of the acid house and techno scenes in the UK in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was initially popularized by DJs such as Sasha, Digweed, and Danny Rampling. In the mid-1990s, progressive house began to be overshadowed by more commercial styles of house music. However, it made a comeback in the early 2000s, thanks to DJs such as Eric Prydz and Steve Angello.

Progressive house is sometimes confused with trance music, but it is distinct in its use of heavily syncopated rhythms and melodic elements. It is also distinct from various subgenres of house music that emerged in the same period, such as deep house and tech house.

Characteristics of Progressive House

Progressive house is a subgenre of house music that fuses elements of classical music and pop music. It is characterized by a strong bassline, a four-on-the-floor beat, and a tempo around 130 beats per minute.

A fusion of styles

Progressive house is a fusion of styles, blending elements of traditional house music with different genres such as trance, techno and even acid house. The result is a sound that is both familiar and new, with a pounding 4/4 beat underpinning more intricate melodies and harmonies.

One of the defining features of progressive house is the build-up and release of tension throughout a track. This can be achieved in many ways, but often includes a gradual increase in tempo and energy, leading to a climax where all the elements come together for an explosive finish.

While progressive house can be quite commercial and accessible, at its core it is still underground dance music. This means that it has a strong connection to club culture, and many tracks are designed to work their magic on a big sound system with a dancefloor full of people.

Longer, more complex tracks

Progressive house is a subgenre of house music characterized by a longer proteinaceous musical form and musical elements that create a more hypnotic feeling. Tracks are often much longer than other house genres, ranging from 7 minutes to 13 minutes, and having a slower tempo around 115–135 BPM.

Progressive house tracks often have complex melodic structures withmultiple breakdowns and buildups. These tracks typically have at leasttwo different hook elements, which can include different melody lines,different vocal hooks, or sound effects. These elements are often layeredover each other to create a more complex sound.

Progressive house tracks also often have extended breakdowns where thebeat disappears and the track becomes more atmospheric. This giveslisteners a chance to catch their breath and prepare for the next drop.

While progressive house sharesmany characteristics with other subgenres of house music, it is distinguished by its longer track length, complex melodic structures, and extended breakdowns.

Melodic elements

Progressive house is a subgenre of house music characterized by a smooth blend of hi-hat cymbals, syncopated snare drum Claps, deep basslinekick drums, and off-beat piano chords. The genre’s sound is generally atmospheric and often has a feeling of forward momentum. These characteristics are usually achieved through the use of reverb-drenched synth pads, arpeggios, and filtered chord progressions played over a simple 4/4 beat.

The Progressive House Sound Today

Progressive house is a style of house music. The genre developed in the early 1990s, in the United Kingdom. It is characterized by a tempo around 130 beats per minute, Fat basslines, trance-like synthesizer pads, chords, and vocals.

The rise of EDM

The progressive house sound has undergone a major transformation in recent years, with the rise of EDM and the popularity of festivals like Tomorrowland. At its core, progressive house is still a fusion of house and techno, but the sound has become more aggressive and bass-heavy. The biggest names in the genre today include Deadmau5, Avicii, Hardwell and Tiesto.

The influence of pop music

Progressive house is a style of house music that developed in the early 1990s. The term “progressive” refers to the experimental and expressive nature of the music. It is characterized by a build-up-and-release structure, with a strong focus on melody and emotions.

Progressive house has its roots in the psychedelic trance and acid techno scenes of the early 1990s. The style emerged from the work of British producers such as Pete Tong, Sasha, Paul Oakenfold, Danny Rampling, and Steve Lawler. These producers fused elements of techno, acid house, and disco to create a new sound that was both melodic and driving.

The progressive house sound today is largely influenced by pop music. Many progressive house tracks feature catchy melodies and sing-along vocals. The genre has also been embraced by the mainstream Electronic Dance Music (EDM) scene. Major festivals such as Tomorrowland and Ultra Music Festival often feature progressive house stages.

The new generation of producers

The new generation of progressive house producers have taken the sound in a variety of different directions. While some have stayed true to the original sound, others have borrowed from other genres to create their own unique take on the style. No matter what direction they’ve gone in, one thing is for sure – progressive house is still one of the most popular genres in dance music today.

One of the most notable new additions to the progressive house sound is the incorporation of elements from other genres. For example, many producers have begun to experiment with trap and dubstep, two genres that were once considered to be relatively niche. By borrowing from these genres, producers have been able to create a new sound that is both familiar and fresh. This has helped to broaden the appeal of progressive house and make it more accessible to a wider range of fans.

In terms of pure technical ability, the new generation of progressive house producers are light years ahead of their predecessors. Thanks to advances in technology, they have access to a much wider range of sounds and textures. This has allowed them to create tracks that are more intricate and detailed than ever before. As a result, many modern progressive house tracks are able to stand up alongside the best work of other genres.

The bottom line is that progressive house is still evolving and growing as a genre. Thanks to the efforts of talented new producers, it shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.