Why do minor chords sound so sad?

June 9, 2009 at 6:31 pm | Posted in blogging, writing | 17 Comments
Tags: writing

Lots of what happens in good writing in easily explainable. Momentum carries the reader through the piece as result of the visual, acoustic and thought rhythms. Images work by providing a context for abstract meaning. Someone more patient than I could write an entire text book about these things. Hopefully it would contain an explanation of why it is important not to dangle a participle. Sentences should contain thoughts, not let them trickle out.

But the most fascinating thing about good writing for me is the inexplicable. Somehow emotion can be conjured without being directly described. And sometimes that emotion, or tone, is very particular and doesn’t belong in a category like ‘sad’ or ‘whimsical’ or ‘bright’. Some pieces of writing are so unique and their effect on the reader so inexplicable, they can only be described as magical.

Here are two examples. A very short story by Chris Lacour which despite its apparent simplicity evokes a very particular but unnameable tone and a poem by Tipota that is a painting whose colours are tastes made entirely of letters.

An observation of two men working to save a life by Chris Lacour

SBT 155 by Tipota

“Why do minor chords sound so sad?” he ponderates scratching his baldy head with his quill.

17 Comments »

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Great post, Paul. Thanks for sharing these two gems with us. The flash story does have a unique tone. I do like Chris’s stuff because of this talent! The poem is fluid and beautiful.

Comment by Simonne — June 9, 2009 #
Ah Paul, i see the purist in you is rising … and i quote “someplace else some lid opens and eyes peek out”

Comment by Mental Mist — June 9, 2009 #
Hey Paul~ thanks for sharing the short story and poem. They were both good reads. I especially liked the short story. And, it sounds like you’re thinking deeply about writing in general. Sign of a great writer, I believe. Have a great day.

Comment by Michelle Johnson — June 9, 2009 #
I love your reflections on writing Paul.

I found myself reading the first paragraph (and agreeing with you completely), and then I found myself saying…but what about…(and I was thinking to myself about that ‘unexplained’ element of good writing)… a point which of course you go on to raise in your second paragraph. I could not agree with your thoughts more – it’s always nice to be shadowing you on a very similar wavelength.

Comment by Tracey — June 9, 2009 #
oh Paul, so full of surprises, thanks for the wonderful writing about writing, and like having a slice of key lime pie, the treat, the little sweet, topped off after the grande multicourse banquet of exquisiteness that u r.

Comment by tipota — June 10, 2009 #
a painting whose colours are tastes made entirely of letters—-only an artist would understand what this is. Chris LaCour’s fiction was wonderful and profound. The verse by Tipota was fascinating in the way it was cronstructed with so many differing sounds and feelings and visuals. Thanks for these reading treats.

Comment by valbrussell — June 10, 2009 #
Thanks for the introduction. I enjoyed both pieces and as well your thoughtful post.

Comment by cocoyea — June 10, 2009 #
the touch of magic… affected, rejected, taken in and mulled over… the emotion of writing in the abstract… good stuff, paul, thank you for the links… two wonderful examples spoken in silence

Comment by pieceofpie — June 10, 2009 #
I love the title came up with a couple of answers
1)beaus they have to
2)because they where specially made for that
3)just because
4)because they where asked to

Comment by Mariana — June 10, 2009 #
There is so much that could be talked about with this topic and I think there are text books, or at least articles covering what could be said.

But one of the best lines I have read recently is when you say “Images work by providing a context for abstract meaning. ” Spot on, my man, spot on!

Comment by jessiecarty — June 11, 2009 #
MMmmmm love this topic. Sentences are mysterious vessels where worlds are born. Positively ineffable.

Comment by Vesper de Vil — June 11, 2009 #
Oh wow Paul – that short story – I don’t often read them (I’m too lazy, sadly) but that one, it’s damn good. Thanks for the link.

Comment by poeticgrin — June 11, 2009 #
The minor chords are off the beaten down, well worn path, perhaps rustic and haunted by wayward souls of poets and strangers wandering through the mists of illusion to sing minstrel tunes to a crying king.My guitar resonates the lonliness that moves through the longing in my soul and rolls like a lazy river but churning whitewater towards the horizon of falls.I really couldn’t do without the minor chords. They have a major place in poetry, music and mood.

Comment by fgfranklin — June 12, 2009 #
I’ve always found the best haiku achieves that magic: conjuring emotion, a concrete reaction to the abstraction of words producing a context for abstract meaning.

Comment by art predator — June 12, 2009 #
Hmmm. I will have to come back to this after work, but I would say that something has been extracted from the minor chord; and its loss is being mourned. I could be reading too much out of this though.

Comment by Brad — June 12, 2009 #
Paul…Yes. Words that don’t/can’t describe what’s inside of us somehow is translated in writing, but as you say, the tone and the feeling are indescribeable (sp?). And there are no “how to” books on that.

Comment by medicatedlady — June 13, 2009 #
Thanks for these links, Paul. The story is one of the most amazing short pieces I’ve read, and the poem is a delight.

And I love your question, why do minor chords sound so sad? They do. But sometimes a sad song can be written in a major key.

Comment by Thomma Lyn — June 14, 2009 #