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Light Comedy

Musical

Example

Light Comedy

Secret

Score

Light Comedy

Animated

Score

Introduction

By far the most common device employed by composers to convey light comedy and fun times is the prominent use of the raised 4th. In the key of C Major, the fourth note is F. The raised 4th would be an F#:

The raised 4th can be used in the melody, the harmony and counter lines. If you can successfully use it in all three, it will help convey a feeling of fun and humor. Prime examples of the use of the raised 4th in the melody would be the theme from The Simpsons, the theme from the Jetsons and some of the songs from West Side Story.

Using the Raised 4th

In the following example, we immediately establish the sound of the raised 4th in bar 1:

We are in the key of C Major or, to be more precise, C Lydian.

Here the low string pizzicatos and the bassoon waste no time in using the F# in an ostinato that acts almost as a counter line.

This provides a continual reminder of the raised 4th.