How to Affect Emotions With Music

Music affects people's emotions in different ways. Certain types evoke sadness or anger while other types induce feelings of well being or happiness. Music is used in various settings to help set the mood of an environment or to enhance an experience; it is also used to deliver messages in media and entertainment. The power of music continually affects the emotions of people and motivates them toward change or unity.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Understand that upbeat music (pop or dance music—using major chords) tends to affect people's emotions in an uplifting way, whereas downbeat music (death metal or rap music—using minor chords) tends to affect people's emotions in an excitable or dark way.
2. Decide how you would like to use music to affect the emotions of others. Select music matching the environment or experience you want to create for them.
3. Listen to the type of music you're thinking about using and analyze your own response to it and how it affects your own emotions. Think about whether or not the music will affect other's emotions in the same way.
4. Select a CD or put together a compilation of music which is in the same genre as the music that evoked in you your selected emotion. This music should evoke the same, or at least similar, emotions in other people that listen to it.
5. Try your selected music out on a few friends. Ask them for their responses and determine whether your music is affecting their emotions in the way you were expecting.
6. Make a final decision on music and set up quality sound equipment. Make sure your music is continuous and plays when needed in order to maximize affecting the emotions of others.