Non-Lyrical Music and Emotions

Thus far, we've have concluded that music affects people's emotions. How different types/genres of music can change one's current feelings just by listening to them. We also have learned a little about how our brain process music, and how fascinating it is that listening to music is not processed like other auditory stimuli. Even the Oxford dictionary defines music as 'vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion.'.

In the definition, the term music itself is said to represent vocal, instrumental sounds or even both combined. Music that has lyrics is more understandable to influence someone's emotions because the words chosen by the lyricist backed up by the rhythm and melody made by the producer can easily affect people who are listening to it. But what if the songs are non-lyrical? What if you have to depend on your own interpretation on how you perceive the music and its influence towards your emotions?

One of the most common genres, when we think about non-lyrical music, is Classical music. And in western classical music, a piano is one of the included instrument in a western orchestra setting. And according to a friend of mine who is musically knowledged, she said that sometimes human's emotions could be represented by piano scales.

Honestly speaking, I'm not musically knowledged in any way. I can't play musical instruments, and I have bare minimum singing skill. However, I'm very interested in the idea of music. I've always thought that people who could create music and or play musical instruments, especially if it has anything to do with psychology, is fascinating.

So I researched about what piano scales are and which scale represent what emotions.

According to this article I found, it explains the main idea of which piano scale represents what type of emotions. There are a lot of piano scales, but I'm going to discuss some general ones.

C Major

• Innocently Happy Vibe
• Ex: Pure, Innocent, Simplicity, The Key of Children Full of Imagination

C Minor

• Innocently Sad and Love-Sick
• Ex: Declaration of love and lamenting lost love or Unhappy Relationships

D Major

• Triumphant, Victorious War-Cries
• Ex: Screaming Hallelujahs, War Marches, Holiday Songs

D Minor

• Serious, Devoutly Religious, Contemplating
• Ex: Melancholy, Feminine, Brooding Worries, Contemplation of Negativity

E Major

• Quarrelsome, Rambunctious, Incomplete Pleasure
• Ex: Shouts of Joy, Complete Delight, Short-fused, Ready to Fight

E Minor

• Effeminate/Womanish, Amorous, Restless
• Ex: Can Carry Grief, Mournfulness, Agitation

F Major

• Furious, Quick Tempered, Passing Regrets
• Ex: Controlled Calmness over the Readiness to Explode. Deeply Angry but Composed and Still Sociable

F Minor

• Obscure, Plaintive, Funeral
• Ex: Deepest Depression, Lament Over Death & Loss, Groans of Misery, Melancholic

G Major

• Serious, Magnificent, Fantasy
• Ex: Rustic, Idylic, Poetic, Lyrical, Calm & Satisfied

G Minor

• Discontent and Uneasiness
• Ex: Worry about the future, Of a Failed Plan, Concern Over A Failed Plan, Struggling with Dislike & Malcontent

A Major

• Joyful, Pastoral, Declaration of Love
• Ex: Innocent Love, Satisfaction with The Current & Reuniting with Lost Loved Ones. Youthful and Cheerful

A Minor

• Tender, Sorrowful, Righteous
• Ex: Womanly, Graceful in Character, Capable of Soothing

B Major

• Harsh, Strong, Wild, Rage
• Ex: Uncontrolled passions, Angry, Jealous, Fury

B Minor

• Solitary, Melancholic, Patience
• Ex: Calmly Waiting for Fate, Destiny, and The Submission to Providence & Karma

Tracks are found from youtube provided by these channels:

Tom Bailey Backing Tracks - C Major, C Minor, D Major, E Major, E Minor, A Minor, B Major, B Minor

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - D Minor

Rod DeGeorge - F Major

Mega Backing Tracks - F Minor

Quist - G Major

New Backing Tracks Every Friday - G Minor

Nick Neblo - A Major