Most of us like music. Many people go way beyond that. In my case, I loved it such a lot that I changed into a musician. I have been one now for over 45 years.
But I regularly wonder why I love music so much. I even think about what it is about music that connects with me. I have studied the inside workings of great music to attempt to identify just what it is about it that connects with not only myself but many billions of other music lovers in the world.
I've decided it is about Tension and Resolution
What the heck is he talking about you are saying?
Well if you look closely at why a musical arrangement moves us it's because it's making tension, and resolving that tension, continually thru the piece of music.
Take something similar to Beethoven's 5th symphony, or any great symphony in fact. The coolest ones are full of drama and emotion.
There's high volume passages and softer passages.
There's parts when just the flutes and woodwinds are playing some sweet tune.
In the next minute the horns and kettle drums come in and all heck breaks lose.
Probably one of the best examples of a musical piece that creates tension is Ravel's Bolero. Everyone knows the piece because it's so dramatic. If you've forgotten the piece, you may remember it from the bedroom scene in that great movie "10" with Dudley Moore and Bo Derek.
Now you remember.
Anyhow this symphony slowly builds tension by getting louder and louder as it repeats the basic tune continually. By the end of the track the volume and tension is so high we can't help but want it to stop... Well perhaps not actually stop but at least change. And that is the genius of Ravel after all. We can't stop listening.
How Tension and Resolution Is Created
In music the player has many tactics at his or her disposal to make this tension and resolution.
First there's the harmonic tendencies of the song.
If you know a little music theory, you know that in any particular key there are eight notes... At least there are eight chromatic notes. These notes are mixed into what are called chords. So there are a possible 8 chords that may be made in any particular key (actually there are a lot more but stay with me for a second).
Each of these chords "moves" us thru various levels of tension and resolution in a musical arrangement. With the chord built around the first note of the scale creating the resolution. It's called the tonic chord.
The chord built round the 5th note of the scale creates the most tension and practically begs to go back to the tonic chord to resolve the emotion.
The other chords all add to the various levels of tension and resolution created by the composer of the track.
Other Ways To Make Tension and Resolution
Besides harmonic systems the volume, or loudness, of the diverse parts of a song can often be used to create tension and resolution. From the Bolero example above, you can see volume can have a strong dramatic and emotional effect on your reactions to the composition.
So a great writer or composer uses these and other musical strategies to move us. And, it's these potent feelings that we feel due to the tension and resolution made in the music that makes it pleasing to us.
OK now you know why you love music so much. Aren't you glad you asked?
But I regularly wonder why I love music so much. I even think about what it is about music that connects with me. I have studied the inside workings of great music to attempt to identify just what it is about it that connects with not only myself but many billions of other music lovers in the world.
I've decided it is about Tension and Resolution
What the heck is he talking about you are saying?
Well if you look closely at why a musical arrangement moves us it's because it's making tension, and resolving that tension, continually thru the piece of music.
Take something similar to Beethoven's 5th symphony, or any great symphony in fact. The coolest ones are full of drama and emotion.
There's high volume passages and softer passages.
There's parts when just the flutes and woodwinds are playing some sweet tune.
In the next minute the horns and kettle drums come in and all heck breaks lose.
Probably one of the best examples of a musical piece that creates tension is Ravel's Bolero. Everyone knows the piece because it's so dramatic. If you've forgotten the piece, you may remember it from the bedroom scene in that great movie "10" with Dudley Moore and Bo Derek.
Now you remember.
Anyhow this symphony slowly builds tension by getting louder and louder as it repeats the basic tune continually. By the end of the track the volume and tension is so high we can't help but want it to stop... Well perhaps not actually stop but at least change. And that is the genius of Ravel after all. We can't stop listening.
How Tension and Resolution Is Created
In music the player has many tactics at his or her disposal to make this tension and resolution.
First there's the harmonic tendencies of the song.
If you know a little music theory, you know that in any particular key there are eight notes... At least there are eight chromatic notes. These notes are mixed into what are called chords. So there are a possible 8 chords that may be made in any particular key (actually there are a lot more but stay with me for a second).
Each of these chords "moves" us thru various levels of tension and resolution in a musical arrangement. With the chord built around the first note of the scale creating the resolution. It's called the tonic chord.
The chord built round the 5th note of the scale creates the most tension and practically begs to go back to the tonic chord to resolve the emotion.
The other chords all add to the various levels of tension and resolution created by the composer of the track.
Other Ways To Make Tension and Resolution
Besides harmonic systems the volume, or loudness, of the diverse parts of a song can often be used to create tension and resolution. From the Bolero example above, you can see volume can have a strong dramatic and emotional effect on your reactions to the composition.
So a great writer or composer uses these and other musical strategies to move us. And, it's these potent feelings that we feel due to the tension and resolution made in the music that makes it pleasing to us.
OK now you know why you love music so much. Aren't you glad you asked?
About the Author:
Rick Honeyboy Hart is a seasoned blues guitar player. He's played in many bands over the years and now teaches other guitarists learn about tension and resolution on his internet site www.BluesGuitarInsider.com
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