You Are Reading the First 6 FREE Chapters (470 pages)
6.17.2 Creating Emotional Chord Progressions: Chords and Associated Emotions
Creating emotional chord progressions means knowing which chord types and chords are associated with which emotions.Table 52 below summarizes some emotional effects associated with various chord types. Emotional effects vary for a given chord, depending on the musical context.
TABLE 52 Emotional Effects of Chords
Chord Type |
Associated Emotions |
|---|---|
| Major(e.g., C) | Happiness, cheerfulness,confidence, brightness,satisfaction |
| Minor(e.g., Cm) | Sadness, darkness, sullenness,apprehension, melancholy,depression, mystery |
| Seventh(e.g., C7) | Funkiness, soulfulness,moderate edginess |
| Major Seventh(e.g., CM7) | Romance, softness, jazziness,serenity, tranquillity,exhilaration |
| Minor Seventh(e.g., Cm7) | Mellowness, moodiness,jazziness |
| Ninth(e.g., C9) | Openness, optimism |
| Diminished(e.g., Cº) | Fear, shock, spookiness,suspense |
| Suspended Fourth(e.g., Csus4) | Delightful tension |
| Seventh, Minor Ninth(e.g., C7♭9) | Creepiness, ominousness, feardarkness |
| Added Ninth(e. g., Cadd9) | Steeliness, austerity |