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Why some people like ‘sad’ music

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Music has amazing potential to inspire, motivate and bring people together across cultures. But new studies from experts in our highly rated Department of Music have revealed just how much our cultural background affects our musical tastes.


To the Western ear, major chords – which a Western listener would describe as ‘happy’, are pleasing and produce a positive response. However, the Pakistani listeners disliked the same sound – preferring the minor or ‘sad’ chords more common in their own local music.

A liking for ‘sad’ music

One of our research team members visited a remote village in North-West Pakistan to explore how Western and Pakistani listeners respond to music and sound.

To the Western ear, major chords – which a Western listener would describe as ‘happy’, are pleasing and produce a positive response. However, the Pakistani listeners disliked the same sound – preferring the minor or ‘sad’ chords more common in their own local music.

The Pakistani listeners taking part in the research were part of two isolated tribes, who had little to no knowledge of Western music or its chords system. Their preference towards sad music chords indicates the strong influence of such music in their culture.

Some common tastes…

The researchers did find some things in common between the two groups of listeners: both disliked the most jarring or dissonant chords played for them. This suggests that dissonant chords are universally unpleasant.

What’s your musical taste?

Want to know how you respond to different chords? Our researchers have created a game to test your tastes, and compare your results to the finding of their study.

Our Music Department ranks 3rd in the UK in the 2022 Complete University Guide.

Find out more

Read the full article in New York Academy of Sciences.

Play the chord preferences game.

Learn more about the work of Dr Imre Lahdelma, Dr Georgios Athanasopoulos and Prof Tuomas Eerola.

 

 

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