Creating a Tired and Drawn-Out Chord Sequence for Your Audio Only Scene

When creating an audio-only scene for a movie or album, there's a lot to consider, especially when depicting a character struggling to come up with a full track. In the scene you're working on, a character is playing chords but is having difficulty finding a fitting fourth chord. How can you visually and aurally convey the feeling of striving and struggle? Let’s explore a few techniques that can help achieve this emotional resonance.

Visualizing the Struggle

One way to make your scene more impactful is to visualize the character's struggle through their performance. Show a sequence of three chords being played, followed by their attempts to find a fourth chord that fits. You can highlight moments of:

Out of key wrong alterations: The character could play a note that clearly doesn't fit the current chord, creating a dissonant or jarring sound. Self doubt, irritation, and frustration: Add close-up shots of the character’s face showing signs of frustration, such as tight lips or furrowed brows. Pauses: Insert awkward pauses between chords, indicating the character's hesitation or doubt.

Each musician has endured moments when they struggle to create a full track. Capturing these scenarios can help your audience connect with the character’s journey, making the scene more relatable and emotionally engaging.

Employing Slow Harmonic Rhythm

Another technique involves leveraging slow harmonic rhythm. In music, harmonic rhythm refers to the rate of harmonic change. Typically, the faster the harmonic rhythm, the more dynamic and active the music feels. Conversely, a slower harmonic rhythm can create a sense of stagnation or fatigue.

Consider the following steps:

Stall your harmonic rhythm: Instead of moving from one chord to the next quickly, repeat one chord and stretch out the duration. This repetition can make the music feel like it has stalled, giving the impression that the character is finding it difficult to move forward. Repeat chord changes: Play the same chord progression repeatedly, but with varying durations, to create a sense of monotony and struggle. Use silence: Incorporate short periods of silence to emphasize the character's frustration or doubt.

Employing these techniques can make the chord sequence feel more drawn out and intended, highlighting the character's struggle. This approach not only showcases the character's emotional state but also provides a visually and aurally compelling moment for your audience.

Random Thoughts and Recommendations

Cameron’s insights on harmonic rhythm provide an interesting angle to explore. For instance:

Rapid harmonic rhythm (Bach chorale): Although rapid changes might be too dynamic for the scene, understanding how they work can inspire more subtle, gradual changes. Stalled harmony: By purposely creating a slow harmonic rhythm, you can emphasize the character's fatigue and frustration. For example, repeat a chord for an extended period to create a sense of stagnation.

By combining visual elements with musical techniques, you can create a powerful and relatable scene that captures the essence of a musician’s struggle. This approach can help your audience feel more connected to the character and the challenges they face.