Have you ever wondered what makes a song sound happy or sad? While this does involve the tempo and lyrics of a song, there are other musical factors at play.

You might have heard of chords. Chords are a combination of three or more notes. They are based on one single note, which is called the root note. Although there are many different types of chords, the most basic ones are the major and minor chords. Major chords are usually the chords that are associated with happiness, or a light feeling.

A sequence of chords makes up a song. Different orders and variations of chords give each its unique feel. “Surfin’ USA” by The Beach Boys is a catchy, upbeat tune that makes people smile. Why? One of the reasons is that the song is made up of all major chords.

A basic major chord is made up of three notes. It has a root note, a major third, and a perfect fifth. A major third is four half steps away from the root, and a perfect fifth is three half steps away from the major third. The picture below is a C major chord on a piano so it is easier to visualize. The letters highlighted are the notes that form the C major chord.

Remember, major chords usually are associated with joy, and minor chords are associated with more gloomy tones. Take “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley, known for its bouncy and cheery air. It has a total of three chords: A major, D major, and E major. Notice how this song doesn’t have any minor chords.

A basic minor chord is also made up of three notes. It has a root note, a minor third, and a perfect fifth. A minor third is three half steps away from the root, and a perfect fifth is four half steps away from the minor third. The picture below is a C minor chord. Again, the letters highlighted are the notes that form the C minor chord.

So, what are minor chords good for? Of course, besides music puns, like this one: C, E-flat, and G walk into a bar. The bartender shows them the door and says, “Sorry, we don’t serve minors.”

“The Sound of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkel has only four main chords, which are D♯ minor, C♯ major, B major, and F♯ major. The singular minor chord is consistently placed at the end of each verse when the word “silence” is sung. This placement, along with the thoughtful lyrics, is the reason the song leaves you feeling melancholy.

Overall, there are many reasons why a song might leave you happy or sad; major and minor chords are just one basic component that contribute in various ways.