Key Signatures' Emotions

Feb 4, 2013 at 8:47 AM
TheoryOfNekomata
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Feb 4, 2013 at 8:53 AM
GIRakaCHEEZER
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I don't think any particular key sounds sad or happy by itself, but rather, specific chord structures/patterns are what give emotion to a song. The key the chords are in doesn't matter too much, even if you were to transpose it you should still get the same emotional impact. And I think that while chord structures give the base for an emotion a song carries, it's the melody that will truly bring it out in the end.
 
Feb 4, 2013 at 9:23 AM
TheoryOfNekomata
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There is a chance that sometimes musical structures like chord patterns and melodies are interpreted differently depending on the listener. As for me, I still believe that in order to express using to music, a suitable key signature can either make or break the emotions one wants to convey in the music. For example, using higher keys imply having more expressive emotions, while the lower ones sound dull and isolated.
 
Feb 4, 2013 at 12:23 PM
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I think we are all stuck with the 12 semitones and "root 12 of something" issue that all Western ears tend to listen to...

This is a very nonsensical way to partition different musical notes. Twelve? Really?
 
Feb 5, 2013 at 10:39 AM
TheoryOfNekomata
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I think we are all stuck with the 12 semitones and "root 12 of something" issue that all Western ears tend to listen to...

This is a very nonsensical way to partition different musical notes. Twelve? Really?
Click to expand...
Try looking at microtonal music. Most noticeable is Indian and Arabic music. Sure, Western music prefers limiting tones to twelve, but from about 20 Hz to above Nyquist just think how many frequencies Man is able to hear.
 
Feb 5, 2013 at 5:14 PM
GIRakaCHEEZER
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Sort of off topic, but one thing I find interesting is when songs are just offkey, like when the whole song is shifted by half a semitone. It makes the song harder to reproduce, but it gives the song a unique sound sometimes.

The only one I know off of the top of my head that does it is this one:
 
Feb 6, 2013 at 4:02 AM
TheoryOfNekomata
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Yeah, that happens. Also when a song's key is lowered by a quarter tone, it looks kinda old. It is mostly noticeable in piano music. Shift them down by a quarter tone, and optionally applying some effects, makes the song seem like it was recorded in the (far) past.

On the other hand, raising the pitch by a quarter tone makes the song sound "faster".
 
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