What qualities constitute 'good' music???

Release · December 21, 2014, 01:46:21 PM

likewise, what qualities does 'bad' music lack or express poorly?

IMO, I think labeling any composition as good or bad isn't doing anyone any good. However, I do believe some compositions are inferior/superior in quality to other compositions. Does this extend into comparisons between different genres of music? What's your opinion? <.<

challengerX · December 21, 2014, 01:47:38 PM

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Verbatim · December 21, 2014, 01:48:58 PM

I ask questions like this all the time, and I don't think there is an answer.

What makes sad music sad?
Why makes upbeat music sound happy?

And it's a universal language, too. You listen to a horror movie soundtrack, no matter who you are, you can tell that the music is designed to elicit fear.

It's astounding.

More Than Mortal · December 21, 2014, 01:49:38 PM

A melody is a good start.

R o c k e t · December 21, 2014, 01:54:57 PM

It has unity in what it's trying to communicate.
The message sonically and lyrically go together, they compliment each other.
Some organization, structure, is needed too. Otherwise the song will just be all over the place.

And for goodness sake, make the lyrics less cringeworthy!

Also OP, do you want this thread to be moved to Serious, or remain in The Flood?

challengerX · December 21, 2014, 01:56:41 PM

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Release · December 21, 2014, 01:58:25 PM

Quote from: challengerX on December 21, 2014, 01:47:38 PM

-It can't be made by OP.

actually, now that you mention it, if I got back into exploring Ableton, who knows what bizarre things I could create..

Release · December 21, 2014, 01:59:53 PM

Quote from: Rocketman287 on December 21, 2014, 01:54:57 PM

Also OP, do you want this thread to be moved to Serious, or remain in The Flood?

uhm yup pls move to serious thanks

rC · December 21, 2014, 02:01:18 PM

-unpopular
-obscure
-whiny voice
-quintuple entendre
-minimalist

BaconShelf · December 21, 2014, 02:01:54 PM

For me? Made by real people playing real instruments and actually using their voice, rather than automatically generated auto tuned shit.

rC · December 21, 2014, 02:02:17 PM

Quote from: ßå¢øñŠħëłƒ on December 21, 2014, 02:01:54 PM

For me? Made by real people playing real instruments and actually using their voice, rather than automatically generated auto tuned shit.

someone's never used autotune

Verbatim · December 21, 2014, 02:03:27 PM

I'll never understand the "real instruments" thing.

More Than Mortal · December 21, 2014, 02:04:01 PM

This should've stayed in the Flood.

R o c k e t · December 21, 2014, 02:04:38 PM

Quote from: ßå¢øñŠħëłƒ on December 21, 2014, 02:01:54 PM

For me? Made by real people playing real instruments and actually using their voice, rather than automatically generated auto tuned shit.

I would say "Pitch-Correction" instead of Auto-Tune. Programs like Melodyne can make an average sounding group of people sound like a professional choir. That's why on these albums people never miss a pitch, yet live they can't keep one.

R o c k e t · December 21, 2014, 02:06:05 PM

Quote from: Meta Cognition on December 21, 2014, 02:04:01 PM

This should've stayed in the Flood.

The OP wanted it moved here

Dopameme · December 21, 2014, 02:07:42 PM

Music is so subjective that there's really no point in discussing it

Verbatim · December 21, 2014, 02:09:26 PM

Quote from: Officer Big Dick Dave on December 21, 2014, 02:07:42 PM

Music is so subjective that there's really no point in discussing it

Well, that's just silly. The more subjective something is, the more worthy of discussion it is. If someone likes Justin Bieber, like... legitimately? I wanna know why. I want to get into that person's head.

R o c k e t · December 21, 2014, 02:12:25 PM

Quote from: Verbatim on December 21, 2014, 02:09:26 PM

Quote from: Officer Big Dick Dave on December 21, 2014, 02:07:42 PM
Music is so subjective that there's really no point in discussing it
Well, that's just silly. The more subjective something is, the more worthy of discussion it is. If someone likes Justin Bieber, like... legitimately? I wanna know why. I want to get into that person's head.

They are teenage girls. So it will be about the singer's appearance as well as the music.

Verbatim · December 21, 2014, 02:13:37 PM

I didn't know you were a teenage girl.

It was a rhetorical question, sir. Point is, just because something is subjective... that's all the MORE reason to discuss it.

Dopameme · December 21, 2014, 02:14:02 PM

Quote from: Verbatim on December 21, 2014, 02:09:26 PM

Quote from: Officer Big Dick Dave on December 21, 2014, 02:07:42 PM
Music is so subjective that there's really no point in discussing it
Well, that's just silly. The more subjective something is, the more worthy of discussion it is. If someone likes Justin Bieber, like... legitimately? I wanna know why. I want to get into that person's head.

But the OP is asking what makes music 'good.' I don't know, whenever I get into conversations like that they usually don't end well. Clashing opinions come into play.

Mad Max · December 21, 2014, 02:15:21 PM

Quote from: Verbatim on December 21, 2014, 01:48:58 PM

What makes sad music sad?
Why makes upbeat music sound happy?

Keys and chord progressions, mostly.

The 1-3-5 of a major chord is satisfying because of the lack of dissonance, thus happy.
The mild dissonance created when you use a minor chord is what creates the sad, unpleasant, or angry feelings.

Verbatim · December 21, 2014, 02:17:46 PM

Quote from: Mad Max on December 21, 2014, 02:15:21 PM

The 1-3-5 of a major chord is satisfying because of the lack of dissonance, thus happy.
The mild dissonance created when you use a minor chord is what creates the sad, unpleasant, or angry feelings.

...But why? You're giving me the "how", but not the "why".

Mad Max · December 21, 2014, 02:19:05 PM

Quote from: Verbatim on December 21, 2014, 02:17:46 PM

Quote from: Mad Max on December 21, 2014, 02:15:21 PM
The 1-3-5 of a major chord is satisfying because of the lack of dissonance, thus happy.
The mild dissonance created when you use a minor chord is what creates the sad, unpleasant, or angry feelings.
...But why? You're giving me the "how", but not the "why".

Because there's some combinations of sounds that the human ear finds pleasing. I'm sure there is some deeper explanation, but that isn't something I studied.

Verbatim · December 21, 2014, 02:20:00 PM

Quote from: Mad Max on December 21, 2014, 02:19:05 PM

Because there's some combinations of sounds that the human ear finds pleasing. I'm sure there is some deeper explanation, but that isn't something I studied.

Yeah, and I'm asking why we find them pleasing. I don't think there IS an answer for that, really.

R o c k e t · December 21, 2014, 02:21:39 PM

Quote from: Mad Max on December 21, 2014, 02:19:05 PM

Quote from: Verbatim on December 21, 2014, 02:17:46 PM
Quote from: Mad Max on December 21, 2014, 02:15:21 PM
The 1-3-5 of a major chord is satisfying because of the lack of dissonance, thus happy.
The mild dissonance created when you use a minor chord is what creates the sad, unpleasant, or angry feelings.
...But why? You're giving me the "how", but not the "why".
Because there's some combinations of sounds that the human ear finds pleasing. I'm sure there is some deeper explanation, but that isn't something I studied.

That's where "Music therapy" comes from. They specialize in making tones and melodies that soothe people. Some people meditate to it, stuff like that.

A friend of mine in the Music Production Program is going into that field. Take a look into it if you're intrigued. Interesting stuff.

A good way to view it is: the whole world, everything is giving off a frequency. We're all making music in some way. Some clash and some don't. Some soothe and some cause dissonance.

Mad Max · December 21, 2014, 02:22:53 PM

Quote from: Verbatim on December 21, 2014, 02:20:00 PM

Quote from: Mad Max on December 21, 2014, 02:19:05 PM
Because there's some combinations of sounds that the human ear finds pleasing. I'm sure there is some deeper explanation, but that isn't something I studied.
Yeah, and I'm asking why we find them pleasing. I don't think there IS an answer for that, really.

I'm sure a lot of it is culturally based, too.

Eastern music, historically speaking, sounds weird to us because of the intervals and scales they use. Just imagine the stereotypical Indian sitar music you hear in movies/tv shows. It sounds odd to use because we're used to [or conditioned, perhaps?] hearing the intervals and scales of western music.

Mr. Psychologist · December 21, 2014, 02:25:19 PM

Quote from: Verbatim on December 21, 2014, 02:20:00 PM

Quote from: Mad Max on December 21, 2014, 02:19:05 PM
Because there's some combinations of sounds that the human ear finds pleasing. I'm sure there is some deeper explanation, but that isn't something I studied.
Yeah, and I'm asking why we find them pleasing. I don't think there IS an answer for that, really.

I think there is, but not one that I know. Hell we might not actually know yet (as a species that is) but I would wager it is to do with certain wavelengths of sound registering with different parts of the brain's circuitry.

I don't really study music psychology/neurology at all, but I do recall reading something about the sound frequency around 17Hz that causes feelings of fear to appear. Now I think that this is to do with an evolutionary adaptation to the sounds predators make but that could be wrong >.>
So it stands to reason that if you have a frequency that causes fear, there are frequencies that can induce other emotions too <.<

aREALgod · December 21, 2014, 04:00:42 PM

Quote from: Verbatim on December 21, 2014, 01:48:58 PM

What makes sad music sad?

Minor chords.

Quote

Why makes upbeat music sound happy?

Major chords.

And the mix of them and chord progressions.

Jim · December 21, 2014, 05:03:44 PM

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Jim · December 21, 2014, 05:13:15 PM

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