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It has been suggested that this article be split into articles entitled epic trance and anthem trance. (Discuss)

Uplifting Trance, is a term to describe several different (but very close) music styles, all subgenre of trance music. In general, "Uplifting Trance" is a style of Trance music that is much lighter in tone than other Trance genres (such as Progressive, or Goa).

Goa, as an example, tends to rely on melodic arpeggios played in minor scales. This gives Goa a very dark and sinister tone compared to other styles of Trance. Progressive Trance as another example, although mostly played on a major scale, tends to use mostly minor chords and progressions in its style. This gives the music a natural sad and melancholy tone (although not as dark as Goa). Uplifting trance will build on progressive trance by using similar chord progressions as progressive trance, with the difference that it will attempt to rest its progression on a major chord (therefore making it sound "happier") and some uplifting trance will have more major than minor chords. The balance between major and minor chords in a progression will determine how "happy" or "sad" the progression sounds.

As for the actual name, the first use of the term, emerged in the wake of progressive trance in the late 1990s. Characterized by longer chord progression in all elements (lead synth, bass chords, treble chords) with more major chords. It also contains extended breakdowns, and relegation of arpeggiation (the melodic part of the song, usually consisting of "Saw Synths/Square Lead" type sounds) to the background while bringing wash effects to the fore (the harmonic element of the music, or "background fill", usually consisting of synth choir/voice/string chord progressions). The term "uplifting trance" used to describe what most other people call epic trance to the UK's trance scene. This has created some confusion in terminology and the efforts of classification of the styles.

During the 00s, the term used in Europe to describe some non UK-based commercial trance acts, like Brooklyn Bounce, Darude, etc. Many UK fans call those acts "Uplifting House" (when really these artists are closer to progressive house/trance than uplifting trance). Also in the UK, the term used to market European imports of commercial hardtrance acts, when they had attitude on the music videos and any kind of vocals in a non vocal trance way.

The term is also used on the psy trance/goa trance scene, although as explained earlier in this article, these styles are not really meant to sound uplifting (It's possible that some people may be thinking of the term "uplifting" in this case to mean "euphoric", two states that are not synonymous to each other).

There is a close relation between Uplifting Trance and Uplifting House. Faster BPM is trance, less is house.

Uplifting trance, used on the UK to commonly refer to "anthem trance" or "epic trance" productions, while in Europe used to describe a more aggressive form of progressive trance. It is a subgenre of trance forming in the late 90's. It is commonly accepted that Uplifting trance is derived partially from progressive trance but is characterized by its own unique chord progressions. Uplifting trance songs usually have longer breakdowns than progressive trance, and contain melodies that are similar to that of happy hardcore, giving it the nickname "happy trance" (happy hardcore tends to balance the major/minor chords in a similar way, but obviously the music is quite a bit faster). They tend to keep a steady beat around 140 Beats per minute throughout the song (excluding occasional breakdown breakbeats). Many uplifting trance DJs seek to be independent of epic and anthem trance, relying solely on the more joyous progressions of underground trance songs. Since the uplifting trance scene was mostly popular in the late 1990s-early 2000s, today's uplifting DJs have little club exposure especially in the western hemisphere, and thus uplifting trance has become more and more underground in recent years. It remains strong in Poland and some others Eastern European countries, but in a very commercial form. This has led to a strong decrease in the number of famous uplifting DJs, though some still exist. Ironically, most of the 1999-2003 uplifting trance hits, still (2007) have a notable airplay on the UKs music channels, especially MTV Dance and Rapture TV. Viva Polska and 4fun TV in Poland also broadcast older and later Uplifting trance hits.

The crossover of uplifting trance with Goa trance is named Nitzhonot.

In the UK, during the 2000s, a crossover of Uplifting Trance and Happy Hardcore appeared, called by the British Scouse house. Those hits are called by the majority of the Europeans "Uplifting" (without the "house")

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