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Melancholy

Musical

Example

Melancholy

Secret

Score

Melancholy

Animated

Score

Secret Composer Synopsis

1 – To express melancholy in music, use a slow tempo to create sad melodies and harmonies. Create a repetitive pattern for either the melody, counter melody or harmony (or all three).

2 –  Choose any natural minor scale and only use the notes of that scale to compose your melodies and harmonies. Use harmonies that are made up of 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th intervals to create an unresolved sound. This applies not just to the notes within the harmony, but from the harmony to the melody. Emphasize harmonies that express dissonance such as the tritone, the major 7th and the flat 9.

3 – Keep the orchestration simple so that more attention is drawn to the individual notes of the harmony and melody. Use instruments that are well suited for this fragile emotion such as the cellos and the oboe. When using the cellos for the melody, keep the range to approximately a fifth below Middle C up to a fifth above Middle C.

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