How Music Shapes Emotion

How Music Evokes Happiness and Sadness

The tone of a song or poem plays a significant role in conveying emotions, with the choice of words, rhythm, and melody working together to evoke a specific emotional response. Happy songs tend to be faster and more upbeat. This can be accomplished with the use of faster tempos, major keys, and rhythmic patterns that tend to be more energetic. The lyrics, of course, play the most important role in conveying the tone of a song, with happy songs usually being set around celebrations, love, or excitement, using positive language to carry out the story. The lighter rhythms add a sense of bliss, which makes a listener feel optimistic. People also have a natural habit to mimic their surroundings as well, which is why an uplifting sound can positively effect the mood of an individual.

In contrast, sad songs tend to have a more somber or melancholic tone. They use the exact opposite of what happy songs use, with slower tempos, minor keys, and down casted rhythms being the typical elements included. These sounds can create a sense of longing or sadness. The lyrics often discuss themes of heartbreak, loneliness, grief, and even anger; the singer can even express these emotions with different vocal techniques. For example, if a singer is trying to express anger, they can add sections to the song where they are shouting (Olivia Rodrigo often does this). Gentler tones are more often used, however, and music with a slow-drawn melody and lyrics can bring an almost haunting imagery that connects deeply to an individual's emotions.