Why are certain chords considered “happy” or “sad”? Are those moods universal? Like do all cultures from around the world consider the same chords happy/sad/etc, or is it just from learned association?

Question

I know very little about music theory. I’ve tried to learn piano, guitar, other instruments… but always failed because I don’t understand what makes a good chord or bad one. I know a happy song or sad song based on context, but listening to a single chord doesn’t strike me as having any mood.

So it got me thinking: am I missing out on a universal experience, or am I just not in sync with the culture I was raised in? If you played the chords from “Walkin On Sunshine” to someone in, say, 5th century Korea — would it make them feel happy & peppy?

Also: could you write a sad song with happy chords? A peppy song with somber chords? etc

Please make explanations really for a 5 year old — I really don’t understand music, I don’t get what major/minor keys are, or even why certain notes make a chord while others don’t. Keep it simple, please!

Thanks!

In: Other

Answer 1

One aspect of chords that is more universal is consonance, which in simple terms is how “neatly” the different frequencies fit into each other (e.g low whole-number fractions). Less consonant chords (dissonant ones) have more complex interaction cycles that make them sound “clashy”.

Western classical music is essentially set up around creating tension with specific patterns of clashes and then “resolving” them with nearby consonances. After you’ve heard this for a while, your mind starts to predict where things are headed and the resolution feels “complete,” but this is learned, like how you can detect the end of a sentence in your native language.

Dissonance is not very common in traditional music around the world, so in your awesome 5th century Korea example, I expect locals would feel confused and overwhelmed by “Walking on sunshine.” Sort of like eating kimchi if you’ve only ever had iceberg lettuce with salt.