This article is about Musical Key Characteristics and emotions
It can help you choose a key that is associated with specific feelings before you create music.
This key-emotion theory was standard before the 20th century.
It was part of the music culture.
Both the creator and the audience knew the emotion’s intentions when the creator used a specific key.
John Mattheson had written about this theory in Germany in 1713.
Later on, Rita Steblin translated his work in her book “A History of Key Characteristics in the 18th and Early 19th Centuries in 1983.”
There is no black and white here, before choosing a key try some keys and make your decision.
Keep reading to find the key you need
#1- C Major
Innocence, pure, simple, happiness, naivety, unadorned, natural, religious.
#2- C Minor
Innocence, sadness, evokes yearning, lost love, love-sick soul.
#3- C# Minor
Grief, Despair, deep, passionate , sorrow, self-punishment.
#4- D♭ Major
grief and despair, leering , unusual feelings, joker style.
#5- D Major
Victory, joyful, victory-rejoicing, militant, grandeur, holiday songs.
#6- D Minor
Melancholy, concerned ,Serious, feminine, and watching things through bad light.
#7- D# Minor
Deep, anxious, distress, hesitation, darkness,shuddering, ghosts.
#8- E♭ Major
Love, devotion, honesty, intimacy, cruelty.
#9- E Major
Noisy, joy, delightfulness, ready to fight.
#10- E Minor
Love in feminet way, naive, restless, grief
#11- F Major
Deep anger masked in controlled calmness, complaisance.
#12- F Minor
deep depression, death, misery, Harrowing, funereal.
#13- F# Major
Relief, triumph, clarity, after overcoming an obstacle.
#14- F# Minor
Gloomy, resentment, discontent, lamentation.
#15 – G Major
Rustic, Poetic, gentle and peaceful
#16- G Minor
Uneasiness,concern, struggle, Worry .
#17- A♭ Major
Death, judgment, eternity.
#18- A♭ Minor
difficult struggle, suffocation,Grumbling.
#19- A Major
Satisfaction, joy, trust, innocent love.
#20- A Minor
Tender, womanliness.
#21- B♭ Major
clear conscience, Optimistic, hope, peace.
#22- B♭ Minor
Suicide, Night, Mocking,death, creature. Frankenstein
#23- B Major
Strong, colorful, wild, passion, jealousy, anger.
#24- B Minor
Patience, calm, loneliness, destiny, acceptance.
What next?
As written above the song’s emotions come mainly from the key you choose.
To read more about music production basics.
