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. :)

Exactly. While it's still good to learn these things, you should never get to the point where you're saying "Ok I'm trying to create tension so i'll use an augmented 6th". You should really think about what you're wanting to create, and write it from YOU. Not from a theory book.

-Chris

Thanks for the site, it will really help me. I know what everyone means when they say don't just write something because a book said to. However, in a part that I am writing I've tried lots of note clusters, but have not found the sound I want, so I figured maybe there was a chord that I didn't know about that could help me. Thanks everyone who helped me with my problem.

I use to think that clusters could get everything that I wanted, then I found intervals :thumbsup: