Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!wuarchive!uunet!munnari.oz.au!basser!metro!sunaus.oz!softway!peg!calamari
From: calamari@peg.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.music
Subject: Addictive Keys??!??
Message-ID: <136000003@peg>
Date: 31 Dec 89 01:06:00 GMT
Lines: 45
Nf-ID: #N:peg:136000003:000:1797
Nf-From: peg.UUCP!calamari    Dec 30 20:06:00 1989


	This was just an idea I had late at night at the console and I 
wondered if anyone knows any more about it. 

	What would be  the psychological effect, if any, of 
one key from another. OK that sounds pretty dumb, I know, but think 
about it. I'm sure that studies have shown that any human ear can
recognise specific frequencies (sort of a universal perfect pitch if 
you like :-) and also it's been shown that certain frequencies like 
high sine waves can sedate parts of the mind , even at low volume.

	Advertising uses that above effect, as do some TV shows. Often the
"feedback hum" of the microphones they use are very sedative on the viewer
and I wonder if this high frequency isn't being used almost as a drug?
Consider the addictive qualities of soap operas. Perhaps it's this brain-
numbing pitch that's driving everyone to drug-deprived desperation :-)

Oh no Neighbours is harder to kick than Heroin! :-)


	Music has long used the idea of a constant pedal point. 
In modern music some very popular songs have a high "whine". Listen
to U2's desire , or (dare I say it) Bette Midlers Wind beneath my wings.
They are there, and they must be there for a purpose. In both cases they 
are an Eb or something like that. 


	So therefore can certain keys be used to have different psychological 
effects on the listener?


	For example. Let's say that Eb can be sedative. 

		Eb major would be an "addictive" key

		Or a piece in F# (Eb minor) (semantics aside) would have
a different effect, as would C minor or any other key. 

		So maybe G major turns you on, E major puts you off, and 
C# minor makes you want to kill your mother? :-)

	Anyway I thought I'd see if anyone else has thought about it. I guess
you'll probably flame me to death like the piano guy, but WTF!

	J. Calamari.