Musicians use specific scales to compose different emotions because each scale creates a particular musical atmosphere thanks to its intervals and the combination of notes that make it up, which directly influences the feelings and emotions experienced by the listener.
The relationship between musical scales and emotions largely relies on the specific intervals between the notes. Certain combinations trigger precise feelings in the listener. For example, the major scale often sounds joyful, bright, or optimistic, while the minor scale generally creates a nostalgic, sad, or dramatic impression. This phenomenon partly stems from our cultural habits, but it also has a biological basis, as our brains naturally respond to certain sound associations. Furthermore, the way these notes are played enhances these emotional sensations even more: playing a minor scale slowly accentuates the contemplative and melancholic aspect, while a fast tempo in a major scale reinforces a feeling of euphoria or liveliness. Musicians use this particularity to communicate directly and intuitively with the listener.
Our brain perceives sounds differently depending on the scales used, leading to specific emotional responses. For example, a major scale often activates brain regions associated with pleasure and joy, thereby releasing dopamine, the neurotransmitter linked to well-being. In contrast, minor scales frequently stimulate parts of the brain related to melancholy or sadness, creating a completely different atmosphere. These reactions involve connections between our auditory cortex, responsible for processing sounds, and our limbic system, which is involved in managing emotions and memory. Thus, our brain does not just hear music: it deeply feels it through these neurological mechanisms.
In every region of the world, certain scales naturally convey a specific emotional color. For example, in the West, the minor scale often evokes sadness or melancholy, while major scales tend to suggest feelings of joy and serenity. In contrast, in other musical traditions such as those from Asian or Arab countries, the same scales do not always carry these emotional associations: there, scales that may sound unusual to our Western ears will express the sought-after emotion very differently. Music is therefore largely a matter of cultural education. From childhood, our ears get accustomed to certain sounds, creating a particular emotional bond with them, directly influencing how we interpret the emotions conveyed by musicians.
When a musician composes a joyful or energetic melody, they often draw from a major scale, as it creates a bright and positive atmosphere. In contrast, to convey deep sadness or a melancholic feeling, composers generally prefer to use minor scales. Some musical styles like jazz or blues often use pentatonic or blues scales, which are ideal because their musical color naturally conveys a nostalgic or expressive sensation. To create suspense, tension, or an exotic ambiance, many turn to particular scales, such as modal scales, which break our auditory habits and pleasantly surprise the ear. In fact, choosing the right scale is a bit like choosing spices in cooking: it sets the emotion and flavor of the result in advance!
Some composers deliberately use unusual scales, such as octatonic scales, to evoke a strange or fantastical atmosphere. Igor Stravinsky, for example, frequently employed these scales in his works to create an impression of strangeness and mystery.
The famous soundtrack of the film 'Jaws' by John Williams uses a particular scale called the locrian mode. This musical mode, rarely used in Western popular music, creates a feeling of discomfort and tension in the listener.
Scientific studies show that even individuals with no musical knowledge can intuitively perceive the emotions conveyed by different musical scales. This suggests that there are universal aspects in the emotional perception of sounds.
In traditional Indian music, each musical scale called 'raga' is associated with a specific emotion or time of day. Some ragas should even be played only at particular times to fully convey their emotional impact.
Composers rely on theoretical principles (such as harmony, intervals, and modes) associated with typical emotional reactions, as well as on their own experience, intuition, and artistic sensitivity. They often use their cultural knowledge to adapt the scale to their emotional intent.
Even though no scale evokes exactly the same emotions in all people around the world, the major scale is generally considered in the West to evoke feelings of joy, optimism, or excitement.
Musical nostalgia often relies on a combination of the scales used, rhythmic patterns, execution speed, and personal associations with lived memories. Certain scales, such as the Dorian mode or the natural minor scale, have a tonality that naturally encourages reflection and reminiscence.
Not necessarily. Although the minor scale is often associated with melancholic or sad emotions in Western cultures, its creative use by composers can evoke various effects: tension, mystery, or introspection, for example.
No, the emotional association of certain scales strongly depends on cultural influences and musical context. Some scales common in the West may evoke very different emotions in Eastern or African cultures, for example.
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