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Tricks to writing "emotional" music

Emotional passages are a big part of my songs, or at least I try to make them that way, though I never really learned what exactly makes music sound expressive and emotional. I know harmony plays a big part in it, but for the most part I just toy around until I get something that I think sounds good.

Does anyone have any tricks to giving melodies or progressions an extra emotional/expressive impact? Are there even any?

One of the tricks I use a lot is arranging the main chord progression so the first two chords have at least one note in common, which I use as the bass note. When I want to give the progression more impact as the song progresses, I'll drop that common note to a lower note in the second chord, ideally the tonic. That usually gives that second chord a lot more power.

Using 7th chords properly also seems to give music a bit more expression but the same rule of "whatever sounds good" applies to that was well for me.

Big jumps or drops in a melody can create a lot of emotion if done right. Giving a melody a general "direction" (up or down) can also help convey emotion.

Emotion to me is directly tied to the tension of the music. If you can add in stuff that increases tension that can add a lot to the emotional impact of the song.

Then again it depends on what sort of emotion you are vying for here...

Obviously lots of powerful minor chords and progressions, especially in a lower register with very thick instruments, like pads and strings will give you a darker more somber emotion. Quick arping minor or even major progressions in a higher register convey a more playful happy tone, at least to me.

Also sustaining a lower note in a chord while playing the progression on top of it, and varying the held note. I love doing that.


Not sure how well that would work outside of ambient music though..

Everybody's going to have a different emotional response to the same passage. But for the most part, "expressiveness" is a combination of:

1. Dynamics
2. Timing (i.e. rhythmic "inaccuracies", don't over-quantize)
3. Tonality. With a live instrument this would be tuning, vibrato, etc. In a synth it could be those, or other "moving" effects like filters, flangers, etc.

Really, expressive means that it doesn't sound robotic, and not robotic means not repetitive. You have to make subtle changes not just from one 4-bar "section" to the next, but really treat every individual note and rhythm.

The trick to writing emotional music is to listen to emotional music.

Manual automations can be very effective, also good use of the modwheel.

quote:

Originally posted by Joss Weatherby Also sustaining a lower note in a chord while playing the progression on top of it, and varying the held note. I love doing that. Not sure how well that would work outside of ambient music though..

works very well!
just needs to be done right

I listen to
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dsL...feature=related
Then i try to think of a melody.

And you have to have it within you to write emotional music. I don't know if a rule book will get you there. Bring out from within.

Or if you want to express an emotion based off an image you see, then i'd say you have to learn your craft and find a way to translate, perhaps again using your own emotions yet also using paint from the image. At this point you are a narrarator of emotion and imagery, which is often where I find myself.

quote:

Originally posted by Stef I listen to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dsL...feature=related Then i try to think of a melody.

Or this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qsk8QQj5Nrc

.. or this?

quote:

Originally posted by Stef I listen to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dsL...feature=related Then i try to think of a melody.

I love how that Whiteroom track made such good use of the BT - Remember acapella.

Bit far afield, but very emotional tune IMO:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyBJMPDzyA4&fmt=18

quote:

Originally posted by Eric J I love how that Whiteroom track made such good use of the BT - Remember acapella.

I love that track!!

Also, this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWXLDtgCZP8&fmt=18

quote:

Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles Also, this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWXLDtgCZP8&fmt=18

Hah wow... this sounds exactly like my old roommate Alan's work.

http://www.myspace.com/alanexclamationpoint

quote:

Originally posted by Subtle I love that track!!

Yeah, I loved both of them. BT - Remember was one of my staples back in the day. Give it up for Jan Johnston who was one of the first female vocalists in trance. Her along with Kirsty Hawkshaw were pretty much the standard female vocalists for trance back then. Kirsty's discography goes WAY back to the Opus III days. Opus III was some really dope old school trance, back before it was even called trance. Mindfruit is still a gorgeous album to this day.

Emotional eh?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQm8GZI8TB4

quote:

Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles Also, this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWXLDtgCZP8&fmt=18

That whole album is genius

quote:

Originally posted by Stef I listen to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dsL...feature=related Then i try to think of a melody.

That was the fluffiest, gayest and most truly un-emotional song I've ever listened to. I used to own an album by Aqua too.

There should be no "trick" to writing emotional music. The emotion comes from you.

quote:

Originally posted by Mr.Mystery There should be no "trick" to writing emotional music. The emotion comes from you.

THIS.

its simply, i make emotional tracks (in general my best tracks) when im under very emotonal influence.

Smoke some weed, drink some beer and take a long look at the vagina you can't have. Now go and write.

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