The relationship between physical tension and it's release is potentially an integral part of all of our human endeavors and as such, often plays an important role in all of the art forms we create and enjoy. In music, the ability of the artist to create tension and control the "when and how" of its release becomes a source of tremendous joy for both the players and listeners. Likewise, knowledge of this tension / release dynamic allows for the artist to create art that eliminates the tension creating energies to create soothing music that is seamless, soft and emotionally caressing.
The elements provided by the equal tempered system create a vast musical palette of sounds to be mixed and matched to create this important artistic dynamic of tension and release. So how is it done? Well, potentially in as many ways as there are artists who create music. Momentarily excluding the rhythmic aspects of the music, the basic gist of the aural tension / release dynamic is motion away from then back to the tonic of the key we are creating in. Oftentimes composers will purposefully avoid resolution back to the tonic pitch or chord to create their tension. This "avoidance of the tonic" can create some wonderful tension and cool surprises in the music. How?
Well, each of the 12 major and 12 minor keys created within equal temper contain this tension / release dynamic. For example, the following melodic idea simply seeks resolution to the tonic pitch of the key of C major. Example 1.
Do you sense the "need" to resolve the line up one more pitch? If so, that is the nature of the tension / release dynamic and the power of the tonic pitch to be the tonal center and provide a sense of "rest" and closure to the melodic line. Is this tension also part of the idea of tonal gravity? Yep. Here is the above idea resolved. Example 1a.
Cool with that? Here is the same idea resolved in a new way, one that releases the tension in such a way as to soften the tension yet still not completely resolve, leaving the artistic door open to continue in perhaps a new direction. Example 2.
We can create a similar effect with triads, using only the diatonic pitches to create tension within one key center. Example 3.
Feel the need to resolve? Here is the above triadic harmony resolved to the tonic chord. Example 3a.
Adding the seventh degree to the three note triad opens up the discussion of chord type. The following idea adds the seventh to each of the diatonic triads, the 6th is added to the last chord to improve the release of the line. Example 3a.
The essential tritone tension of dominant chords is created by the interval between the major 3rd and minor 7th of the of the V 7 chord. Here the release of the tritone tension in the lead of the following idea. First in the major, then minor environment. Example 4.
| G 7 | C major | G 7 | C minor 7 |
The blue notes can create some important tensions for the creative artist and are the essential pitches that the blues artist uses to tell their story. In the following example we use a V 7#9 blues chord to climax the tension and begs its release. Example 5.
Another age old way to create tension is through repetition of a musical idea. Using pitches, chords or rhythms, repeating one idea many times can oftentimes bring the musical tension to a climax. Example 6.
Modulating an idea up a half step as created in example 6 is also a good way to raise expectations in the music. Simple, but very cool, common and powerful. Example 6a.
Using the above idea and gradually increasing the volume of the music is another simple way to build emotional and artistic tension. Players call this musical dynamics or simply dynamics. A different degree of tension is created through the quiet repetition of one idea. This becomes perhaps a more meditative state than one of excitement. We hear a lot of this in the "new age" music of the last 10 years or so.
Mixing the elements in this repetitive fashion can have a powerful calming effect on the soul, relieving the everyday stress of our day to day, modern urban style of living. Perhaps in one sense, this style of music seeks to resemble the sound of the ocean, or the sounds of a brook and the sounds of nature, which can have a calming effect on those that will listen.
Many common chord progressions outline "tried and true" formulas for motion away from the tonic, creating tension, then motion back and resolving, releasing the tension and coming to a sense of rest. Click chord progressions to explore common harmonic motions found in the various styles of American music.
So, is the need to create tension and control its release potentially an important aspect of your music? Go back and listen to your favorite recordings and actively listen to how the players create and release the tension in the music. Perhaps also find some "new age" material and listen for how the music flows along without creating any obvious tension, but builds an underlying, electrifying current. Pat Metheny's way cool "Are You Going With Me" from his "Offramp" project, contains many of the above ideas in regards to creating musical tension and it's release using various musical elements.
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Other artistic concepts in this section? How about artistic techniques?
A wise person will make more opportunities than they find. Francis Bacon
