Tension

I'm very new to composing and need a part with lots of tension in it. I have the basic idea, but I would like to know chords that give the impression of tension.

So what chords, (or groups of notes) create tension?

Thanks

Like a tone cluster?

or you might want a dmiminished 7 chord. like.... d# f# a c

Be very carful about writing based on 'which chords so-and-so used'. Having said that, diminished chords work well, dischords etc. Building up from small chords and adding more notes that clash etc. (Make sure you're not just putting random notes on but you actually know what you're doing). Strings work particulary well with this.

Feel the music. Sing it through in your head. Experiment!

-Chris

Don't forget: non-chord tones can create a lot of tension. Suspensions, or pedal tones...

And don't forget augmented chords too! Personally, I'm trying to do soemthing with augmented sixths. Its pretty neat. If you move two of the notes in an augmented sixth a half of step then you can resolve the chord (tension-release).

We did augmented sixths my sophomore year. That was some obscure stuff, that was... but I'd like to try experiments with some of them sometime, I remember them being very interesting-sounding, especially the French.

Ravel! Debussy! Faure?!

To show you how little I know about theory, What exactly is an augmented sixth?

There are three kids of Augmented Sixth chords. Italian, French and German. Here's a useful site which has examples of chords etc.

http://www.teoria.com/reference/chords/17.htm

-Chris

thanks hurn that was helpful

Also chords don't make a piece, people make pieces not chords.