Keys and Emotional Impact

Hey guys. I was recently doing a bit of research into the music I actually like, and particular songs which have an emotional impact on me.

I was discounting songs which I link to events (for example songs which are special because they remind me of someone) and focusing on songs which just made me feel emotional on their own, and songs with chord progressions I just love.

I noticed a huge proportion of the songs were in major scales, and furthermore a lot of these were D major, A major and D# major.

First of all, I read once that a large proportion of why we like particular songs is due to the notes and chords rather than the sounds. (That may be absolute rubbish but it seems to fit with my point). Is it normal for me to naturally feel emotional listening to songs in the same key? Am I always going to have a slight tendency to prefer songs in these keys?

And also, would you recommend I started to write in these keys, since they have a larger emotional impact on me and I would therefore be more pleased with my work?

My music theory isn't great, so maybe i'm missing something very obvious, but i'd love your guys' input on this :)

It's perfectly normal. The emotion of a song is made up of the scale, the progression, and the harmonies involved. An instrument may be playing 4 notes of a major scale and it seems happy, but the bass may play a note or 2, utilizing the same notes the first instrument used, but adding a minor note, changing the entire feel of the music.

I think its a little odd that major D does it for you though. Normally the music that brings a tear to my eye or causes goose bumps to run up my arms is nearly always minor scales.

This kind of goes back to our discussion on words VS music and the importance of them on us. The words can be swapped out with rubbish and the music still makes an emotional impact. Take Weird Al Yankovich for example. He can take the exact words of a song that was originally depressing and by singing them in a major scale with a faster tempo the words lose all influence and the music takes over, making you feel happy, up beat, etc.

Yes I think i've realised this more now that progressions and chords are what really drive a certain emotion. I've been analysing scales I like and it's making more sense to me now.

I think perhaps I'm not so much about getting "chills" like you, but feeling nostalgia. I know a lot of video game music I used to like is in major scales, so perhaps that has something to do with it? I don't get chills, I just get a sense of pride and an uplifting feeling.

I actually cover a lot of older video game music. Simon's Quest, Zelda, Doom, Pokemon, etc. Most of these are all in Minor scales though. Only major scale in a video game song that comes to mind that had an uplifting proud kind of vibe for me was this one. Especially right at 1:36

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYidb1LvMs8

Nevermind lol. I just realized it's a minor scale as well.

I didn't mean many of those games, but anyways whatever the reason I'm not too sure why exactly I prefer these major scales whether it is to do with video games or not.

Oh, I was just naming the one's I covered.

Do you have a song in particular that has the scale you like? Maybe I can put a name to it.

Its not video game music, but i'm correct in saying most of Porter Robinson's "Worlds" album is major aren't I? That by far has had the greatest emotional impact on me as an album.

Also a lot of M83's music from "Hurry Up, We're Dreaming," which I believe are in major.

I did some research and found it was major, then learnt some of the melodies for myself as well and I was playing in major scales.

I've not completely misunderstood or just missed something really obvious have I? They are major scales right? :')

I listened to a few different parts and it did sound major to me. I found this on a forum about his music, I think a particular song.

"Abmaj7 - Cm7 - Fm11 Abmaj7 = Ab C Eb G Cm7 = C Eb G Bb Fm11 = F C Eb G Ab Bb The chords are often revoiced and may be inverted in other parts of the song to create tension, such as the harp arpeggios in the first chorus. The hook melody contains the notes Eb, F, G, Bb, and C. I won't tell you which order, I'd rather find out that you used your ears and got the hang of it."

That M83 song is in minor scale. TABS HERE not sure if accurate

The song "Goodbye To A World" is in minor though. Anything that sounds sad, melancholy, creepy, etc is usually a minor scale but you can trick the ear sometimes with what progression you use it with.

Thanks :)

I didn't mean that particular song by M83; it's the name of an album. I particularly meant the song Outro. But thanks anyways :)