The psychological effects of music have an incredible ability to affect our emotions, often in ways we don’t fully realize.

When paired with video, it shapes how we interpret stories, amplifying tension, joy, or nostalgia.

Studies show that viewers are far more likely to remember content with music compared to visuals alone.

This psychological connection transforms simple videos into unforgettable experiences.

Check out Music in Videos: The Power of Storytelling for insights into how music enhances storytelling.

Psycho Without Music Just Isn’t The Same

The best way I can think of to illustrate the importance of music in bringing out emotions is the movie Psycho.

We all remember the powerful “Shower Scene”. Watch it below WITH the sound on. Then watch it again with the sound OFF!

How Music Shapes Emotional Responses in Videos

When paired with visuals, music can uniquely guide our emotions.

Whether we are captivated by a suspenseful movie scene or moved by an emotional ad, the soundtrack often sets the tone.

It connects deeply psychologically, enhancing the narrative and elevating the entire experience.

The movie Psycho is an excellent example of how specific musical elements shape our feelings when we watch a video.

 

Now granted, it is not a pleasant scene even without music, but the impact is just NOT the same, is it?

This illustrates how important music is and how it elicits specific emotions in us depending upon the type of music we are listening to.

Other Examples of the Psychological Effects of Music

When we hear a song by the Beach Boys, many of us are reminded of our youth and, of course, the beach.

We all have specific associations with certain kinds of music. We like to listen to relaxing music if we are in a mellow mood.

Nightclubs don’t play Moonlight Sonata or Clair de Lune because people want to boogie in a nightclub, right?

Careful selection of music is imperative when creating videos for your business. The music’s mood must match the video’s intended tone.

Selecting just the “right” music for my and my clients’ videos takes almost as long as creating the video itself. It is THAT important.

I created a video book trailer for the book Walking With Jason, written by Jason’s father.

The story is about a young man named Jason and his struggles to be an effective wilderness educator.

He worked with teens on wilderness expeditions, helping them learn to believe in themselves.

Jason tragically lost his life while on a climbing vacation in British Columbia.

When selecting the music for this video, I wanted to capture the emotional depth of the content and the writer.

Jason’s father sent me a message asking if I chose my music by listening to which one would make him cry the most.

He was very pleased with my selection. Finding the proper music for any project takes time.

When creating my dad’s video book trailer, I needed to find something upbeat and funny, as the book I compiled of his stories is extremely funny.

I knew I wanted something bouncy and fun, like the Little Rascals’ music, but I couldn’t use the actual Little Rascals’ music because of stringent copyright laws. I searched until I found the “right” emotional message I wanted to convey.

What Are The Psychological Effects of Music in Videos?

When paired with visuals, music can uniquely guide our emotions.

Whether we are captivated by a suspenseful movie scene or moved by an emotional ad, the soundtrack often sets the tone.

It connects deeply psychologically, enhancing the narrative and elevating the entire experience.

The Role of Tempo and Rhythm In The Psychological Effects of Music

The tempo of a piece of music can dramatically change how we perceive a scene.

Fast-paced tracks, with their quick beats and high energy, often heighten feelings of excitement or urgency.

You see this in action during action sequences in films or in high-energy commercials aiming to grab attention.

On the other hand, slow-tempo music, with its drawn-out rhythms, sets a mood of calm or sadness.

A poignant example is the use of slow, melancholic piano pieces in dramatic movie endings, helping viewers process grief or reflection.

Think of tempos as the heartbeat of your video: a faster tempo speeds things up, creating excitement, while a slower one ushers viewers into moments of thoughtfulness.

Knowing this, it’s no surprise that video creators strategically select music to match the emotions they want to evoke.

Check out DIY Video Creation Tools: Empowering Content Creators to learn more about infusing creativity into video creation and choosing the right music tempo.

Creating Tension or Relief Show The Psychological Effects of Music

Music also manipulates emotional tension through harmony and dissonance. Dissonant chords—those that clash—create unease, stress, or even fear.

For example, horror movies frequently use dissonance to keep viewers unsettled.

As scenes build toward a climax, dramatic dissonance often conveys rising stress or imminent danger.

In contrast, harmony—when notes blend beautifully—brings emotional relief. It signals resolution or moments of peace.

Consider how romantic comedies use harmonious strings to underline happy endings.

The transition from dissonance to harmony mirrors the release of tension in the narrative, guiding viewers’ emotions toward comfort and fulfillment.

For a deep dive into using musical techniques like these in your projects, explore Leverage the Psychological Effects of Music in Your Video.

The Cognitive Effects of Music in Video Production

Music doesn’t just play a supporting role in video production—it’s a psychological powerhouse.

Carefully selected music can make videos stick in memory, sync effortlessly with visuals, and stimulate unique brain responses.

Below are some examples of how these effects work and shape how we experience videos.

Music as a Tool for Memorability

Have you ever hummed a jingle days after hearing it in a commercial? That’s not a coincidence. It’s science.

Music has the natural ability to make information more memorable.

Advertisers and filmmakers use this to their advantage, embedding catchy tunes or thematic music into their content.

For example, consider the melodies accompanying iconic brand slogans or movie scores like “The Imperial March” from Star Wars.

These soundtracks aren’t just background noise; they become part of the story itself, helping audiences recall the music and the emotions and visuals tied to it.

Whether creating ads or narrative films, adding carefully composed music can help cement your video in viewers’ minds.

For tips on tools to enhance your video creations, check out How to Use Pictory.AI to Create a YouTube Video Short.

The Science Behind Music and Brain Activity

Music doesn’t just sit on the surface of our experience—it works deep in our brains.

Research shows that listening to music triggers the release of dopamine, the “feel-good” chemical that drives focus and enjoyment.

Furthermore, studies highlight that music boosts cognitive performance by improving memory recall and emotional association.

From a neuroscientific perspective, music simultaneously engages multiple brain areas, including the hippocampus (linked to memory) and the amygdala (which processes emotions).

Studies have found that pairing visuals with music increases attention levels, enhancing mental engagement.

If you’re intrigued by how music influences visual attention, this study offers fascinating insights.

By choosing music that aligns with your video’s theme, you activate the brain’s capacity to process more effectively and retain more vividly.

It’s like giving your audience an emotional and cognitive booster shot.

Music and Visual Harmony

Music and visuals are the ultimate partners in storytelling.

Synching the rhythm, tempo, and tone of music with video content creates an effortless harmony that’s hard to ignore.

This synchronization amplifies the intended message—whether the goal is to evoke joy, suspense, or serenity.

Think of a breathtaking sunrise captured in slow motion, underscored by soft piano notes.

The calming visuals and relaxing music tempo create a seamless experience that stays with viewers.

Similarly, fast drumbeats paired with an action-packed chase scene heighten adrenaline and excitement.

Matching the mood of your music with your video’s visuals doesn’t just make the content enjoyable.

It ensures that the message is delivered more effectively.

When music and visuals are in sync, the effect is more than additive synergistic.

Carefully crafted videos use this to their full advantage, blending sight and sound to make their message unforgettable.

By understanding the cognitive effects of music, you can take your video production game to the next level.

Music isn’t just a background feature; it’s a key player in memory, emotional engagement, and message delivery.

Cultural and Personal Influences of Music

Music is deeply personal yet universal. It’s remarkable how a single melody can strike a chord with millions while resonating uniquely with everyone.

This duality—its ability to unify and differentiate—makes music a powerful tool in video storytelling.

How do cultural and personal contexts shape our understanding and connection to music in videos?

Unified Global Impact vs. Personal Resonances

Music has an almost magical ability to connect people on a global scale.

Think of globally recognized anthems like Queen’s “We Will Rock You” or Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.”

These pieces transcend cultural and linguistic boundaries, evoking emotion almost universally.

Yet, our personal experiences often color how we interpret the same musical piece.

For instance, a lullaby might evoke nostalgia and comfort for someone who associates it with their childhood, while it might not affect others who lack that connection.

This is why choosing music for video projects is more than finding a catchy tune.

It’s about aligning the music with universal emotions and audience-specific nuances.

How Audience Demographics Affect Choices

When selecting music for videos, it’s essential to consider the target audience’s background.

Age, ethnicity, and personal preferences often dictate how music will be received.

• Age: Younger audiences might appreciate trending pop tracks, while older demographics might connect better with classic rock or traditional genres.
• Ethnicity: Cultural roots influence music preferences. A filmmaker targeting a Latinx audience might incorporate reggaeton or salsa rhythms, while a video for an East Asian audience might feature traditional instruments like the guzheng.
• Preferences: Individual tastes vary even within cultural or age groups. That’s why understanding your specific audience is crucial.

Local vs. Global Music Appeal in Videos

There’s often a delicate dance between using music with broad appeal versus culturally specific tracks. Consider these examples:

• Culturally Specific: A Bollywood movie naturally integrates Indian classical and pop music, creating an authentic feel for its target audience. Similarly, a promotional video for a local business might use region-specific folk songs to connect with its community.
• Universally Recognized: Global campaigns often use universally understood genres like orchestral music or instrumental scores to ensure relatability.

The decision depends on the story being told and the audience’s context.

Video creators can add layers of authenticity to their projects by recognizing the cultural weight of music.

Explore music’s role in world culture for more insights into the interplay between culture and music.

By balancing the global and the personal and considering cultural factors, music becomes not just a background element but a dynamic force in storytelling.

Psychological Triggers and Marketing with Music

Music is one of the most potent psychological tools in marketing. It’s not merely a background element. It profoundly influences how we feel, think, and act.

The right song or melody can trigger specific emotions, create connections, and drive consumer behaviors.

How does music transform from soundwaves into a compelling marketing force?

Using Music to Drive Consumer Behavior

It’s no secret that brands use music to influence our decisions, sometimes without us even realizing it.

Marketers can subtly influence how you perceive their product or service by selecting certain musical styles or tempos. For example:

• Fast-paced music is common in retail stores where the goal is to energize shoppers and shorten decision time.
• Ambient soft music, on the other hand, is often played in luxury environments like high-end boutiques or restaurants to promote a sense of calm and refinement, encouraging longer stays and higher spending.

Think about how gyms use upbeat tracks to evoke energy and drive determination or how coffee shops use soothing tunes to

Best Practices for Choosing Music for Your Videos

Choosing the right music for your videos isn’t just an afterthought—it’s a crucial step in shaping how your audience experiences your content.

The wrong music can distract or confuse, while the right track becomes the backbone of your story, amplifying its message.

Let’s look at best practices for selecting music that aligns with your goals and resonates with your audience.

Matching Music to Objectives

Music isn’t just background noise; it’s a storytelling partner.

Every video has a purpose: to inspire, inform, or persuade, and your music should match that goal.

Ask yourself, what emotion or action do you want to evoke? For instance:

• A corporate explainer video might need calm, neutral tones to communicate professionalism.
• An action-packed ad will benefit from high-energy tracks that excite and engage viewers.
• A heartfelt fundraising campaign might call for soft, emotional melodies to pull at the heartstrings.

Your brand identity also influences music selection.

A trendy pop or electronic track might work if your brand is youthful and edgy.

For a timeless and classic appeal, orchestral or instrumental pieces may be more fitting.

The key here is consistency—choose music that reinforces your message and aligns with your brand’s voice.

For a deeper dive into music integration with storytelling goals, read this helpful guide: How to Choose Background Music for Your Marketing Videos.

Testing Audience Reactions to See the Psychological Effects of Music

How do you know if your music is hitting the right note?

Testing it with your target audience can provide valuable insights.

Start with small sample groups to gauge their reactions.

Based on their feedback, fine-tune your music selection until it aligns with the desired emotional impact.

You can also monitor viewer retention and engagement rate metrics to determine whether your music choice works.

For instance, a sudden drop-off at specific timestamps might indicate that viewers found the music distracting or jarring.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Even great video creators can make mistakes when choosing music. Some pitfalls to watch out for include:

1. Overusing Distracting Music: Music with overpowering lyrics or busy arrangements can overshadow the voiceover or visuals, diluting your message. Avoid tracks that compete for attention unless intentional.
2. Mismatching the Tone: Imagine upbeat jazz music playing over a somber public service announcement—it would completely undermine the emotional impact. Always ensure the tone of the music complements the video’s mood and story.
3. Ignoring Licensing Rules: Using copyrighted music without permission can lead to expensive legal issues. Opt for royalty-free tracks or services that allow flexible licensing for your projects.

By aligning music with your objectives, testing audience responses, and avoiding common errors, you can ensure your video hits all the right notes—emotionally and strategically.

Final Thoughts About The Psychological Effects of Music

Music profoundly taps into our emotions, memories, and thoughts, especially in video storytelling.

It’s a potent psychological tool that can amplify any content’s emotional depth and memorability.

When creating video projects, it’s essential to thoughtfully match music to the story’s tone and the audience’s expectations.

The right soundtrack doesn’t just complement visuals—it becomes a core part of how the narrative is experienced.

Explore Emotional Triggers: The Power of Video Content to further your understanding of impactful storytelling.

Originally published December 20, 2013; Republished February 11, 2025, to update content and video.