Has listening to a song ever given you goosebumps? Have you experienced a strong emotional response to a piece of music? If so, then you’re already at least somewhat familiar with the psychological effects of music or music psychology.
In fact, music psychology is an actual discipline that many music writers and producers master over time. If you’re interested in a career in music, it is in your best interest to understand the emotional impact of music and the music production techniques you can use to evoke certain emotions from listeners.
Understanding the Basics of Music Psychology
Before we dive into the specific production techniques and other practices that shape the emotional impact of music, it’s essential to understand the science and history behind music psychology as a field of study.
The Science of Sound and Emotion
Music, including both lyrics and instrumentals, can have major impacts on listeners’ emotions—but how and why? Consider, for example, that the very act of listening to music can release certain chemicals in the brain (such as dopamine) that directly affect emotions. In the case of dopamine, this neurotransmitter causes feelings of pleasure and happiness. In some cases, it might even cause the listener to get the chills or feel overwhelmed with emotion.
In other instances, the emotional response doesn’t come directly from the music but instead from anticipation of what’s to come. For example, some studies have found that unexpected changes in rhythm or tempo can evoke a strong emotional response in listeners. These are just a couple of the many ways in which science, sound and emotion are linked.
Historical Perspectives on Music and Emotion
The field of music psychology hasn’t always been as widely accepted as it is today. However, as scientific advancements have led to a better understanding of psychology and neuropsychology, the field has gained steam.
Still, even as early as the 1800s, scientists were recording how different pitches and tones could be perceived by others. By the mid-1900s, music psychology was an established field that was developing closely alongside the cognitive science discipline. During this time, concepts such as music therapy and the connection between melody and mood were beginning to be explored.
Today, the field of music psychology is more robust than ever, with subfields like psychoacoustics breaking off to seek an even deeper understanding of the human connection with music and sound.
Production Techniques That Shape Emotional Impact
Music producers yield a great deal of power and influence, especially when it comes to shaping the emotional impact of music listeners. Specifically, they rely on a variety of techniques that range from tempo and rhythm to harmonics and melody to achieve their desired results.
The Role of Tempo and Rhythm
Tempo and rhythm are arguably two of the most critical production components that can affect a person’s emotional response to music. Tempo refers to the speed at which music is played, whereas rhythm refers to repeated patterns of sound in music.
Throughout music psychology research, it has been proven time and time again that tempo in music can result in different moods and emotions. Typically, faster tempos are more likely to evoke energized and upbeat feelings, whereas slower-tempo music may cause feelings of relaxation and calmness.
Rhythm can also be used in a similar manner to either excite or relax. Faster rhythmic patterns, particularly when paired with a higher tempo, can increase excitement and movement—whereas gentler rhythms may make a listener feel more relaxed.
Harmonics and Melody
In addition, the use of harmonics and melody can be effective in evoking a desired emotional response in music production. Harmonics is a method of playing a combination of notes (or chords) to purposefully produce a specific sound on a string or wind instrument. Melody, on the other hand, refers to a mix of both rhythm and pitch where a series of sounds are played together or in a particular order.
As it relates to emotional response, studies have found that harmonic progressions in minor keys can lead to feelings of introspection or even sadness. On the other hand, more intense harmonic progressions can build suspense and create excitement among listeners.
The Influence of Modern Technology on Music Emotion
As more musical production tools and technologies continue to emerge, music producers have more techniques and resources at their disposal than ever before. When producers know how to use these modern technologies to their full potential, they can create tracks that evoke emotional responses more readily.
Digital Tools and Emotional Manipulation
Today, digital tools in the form of music editing and production software can change the pitch, tone and other aspects of a track in a matter of seconds. This, combined with the ability to easily edit and rearrange song elements, leads to limitless possibilities for music producers to influence the emotions of listeners without the need for expensive equipment.
The concept of psychoacoustics is one lens through which to explore the interaction of human psychology and interpretations of sound. Leveraging a combination of basic to advanced music mixing and recording techniques, producers can master the art of manipulating soundwaves to affect emotional responses to music by experimenting with dynamics, equalization, panning, reverb and much more.
Some of the most popular and user-friendly music production programs on the market currently include:
- Ableton Live
- Audacity
- GarageBand
- Logic Pro
- Pro Tools
- REAPER
Virtual and Augmented Reality in Music
Likewise, as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technology continues to evolve and grow, so do its potential applications in music. Specifically, VR and AR technologies are now being used to enhance the listening experience and evoke more emotional responses to music by immersing listeners in sound spaces. In some cases, AR platforms can even allow users to interact with musical elements in real time.
Case Studies: Songs That Mastered Emotional Influence
When you think about a song that evokes an emotional response when you listen to it, which track comes to mind? Over the years, some incredible and iconic tracks have devastated, excited and even transformed listeners’ ways of thinking about the world around them.
Iconic Tracks and Their Production Secrets
In exploring examples of iconic music tracks and the emotions they have evoked, it can be helpful to look at a “feel-good” song in contrast with a track that may stir up a more melancholy response.
For the former, consider Mötley Crüe’s “Kickstart My Heart,” a song released in 1989 that continues to motivate and energize listeners today. What makes this song evoke such feelings of motivation, power and energy? A quick listen will reveal an incredibly fast tempo that begins from the very first second of the track and never fades. This, combined with its heart-pumping lyrics (“When I’m enraged or hitting the stage / Adrenaline rushing through my veins”), capture listeners’ attention from start to finish.
On the other end of the emotional spectrum, consider REM’s hit “Everybody Hurts.” This song is known not just for its length (clocking in at around five minutes) but also for its slow tempo and profound lyrics that beg the listener to hold on even when things are tough. This track and its slower tempo evoke mixed feelings of contemplation, perseverance and sadness.
Practical Tips for Musicians and Producers
Clearly, different production techniques can have serious impacts on listeners’ emotions in music. Those interested in music production may be wondering what tips and best practices you can follow to master emotional manipulation in music. Ultimately, much of this boils down to trial and error, as well as accumulating as much experience as possible. Still, there are some techniques worth keeping in mind as you start experimenting with music technology and psychology.
Implementing Psychological Techniques in Music Production
One of the most useful abilities music producers (and aspiring music producers) can focus on is building active listening skills. This technique requires producers to really engage with and pay attention to different aspects of music, including tempo and melody. In doing so, they can better understand how these varying musical elements can be used to evoke emotional responses in listeners.
Meanwhile, using the latest music production tools can make all the difference in achieving the desired tempo, tone or texture on a track. Make sure you’re up to speed on the best production tools and resources to build upon your skills.
Evaluating the Emotional Effectiveness of Music
At the end of the day, the most successful music producers are those who are able to step back from their own work and evaluate the emotional effectiveness of a track in its current form. This can be done using not only active listening but also experimenting with variations, seeking feedback and other techniques to pinpoint areas of strength or weakness in a given track.
Learn More About Music Production at RMCAD!
It’s no secret that music and emotional response are closely linked. If a song has ever made you cry or given you the chills, then you know this from firsthand experience. If this intersection between music and psychology is compelling to you, consider advancing your studies with a formal degree that covers topics such as music psychology studies, psychoacoustics , and more.
At Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, we’re proud to offer a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Production that explores these topics and so much more while exploring the digital music tools you can use to evoke a response from your listeners. Plus, this program is offered entirely online, so you can pursue your degree on your own time without putting other parts of your life on hold.
Want to learn more about our online bachelor’s in music production degree program? Get in touch to request information today, or get the ball rolling with your online application for enrollment.
