Composing a Suspense cue

Putting Template to Test - Composing Live

Here, we will see how Marc composes a suspense track using the template.

SUSPENSE STYLE DEFINITON

TEMPO AND RHYTHM

Slow and moderate with rhythmic subdivisions not faster than 260 per minute
Commonly utilizes ostinatos and steady pulses, but can also be non existen
Tempo would range from 65 to 110 BPM

HARMONY

Plays a central role to set tone/mood of the scene
Usually in minor modes
Moves Slowly. Sustained pedals and slow chord changes are common
Triads with added notes are frequent
Dissonances and clusters are welcomed

MELODY

Can be either short and fragmented - sometimes non existent
If not present, the dissonant harmonic textures will drive the music
Long sutained notes are frequent
Mostly use dissonant intervals
Mostly use foreign or non traditional modes.
Chromatism is frequent

ORCHESTRATION

Emphasizes darker tones and textures
Pedal notes played by the Double bass and low Woodwinds are frequent
Ostinatos are often supported with light percussions
Low tone percussion can be added to the ostinato or be used for dramatic hits
Long sustained notes are tipically played by the high strings with the support of woodwinds

Step by Step

Before you start - you may wanna start by recording or writing down a quick melody/harmony sketch.

For this, it is advisable to have at least one piano and a string ensemble. These instruments will enable you to establish a solid foundation for developing the final orchestration.

Once this is done, let's go to the step by step.

Combine Direction and Movement to come up with the thematic material that creates the Suspense feel
Create the Background - keep it simple
Bass - add low end enhancements for dramatic moments

Tips and Tricks

Can use non-conventional minor scales for the melody
Twist triadic minor chords with dissonance for the harmony
Suspense is more motivic and less melodic than Sadness

Typical Instrumentation (Orchestration)

In general… piano and strings will do it.

SOFT

Piano (motivic/repetitive melody)
Soft sustain strings
Harp to add movement (optional)

BIGGER

Melodic (motivic) High Strings (maybe add woods for color)
Mid Strings for support/background
Low Strings when we need more weight (more “serious” mood)
Piano/harp for movement
High Strings (or harmonic strings) for more tension

A bit of pulsing (motor)... Same as above...But Also Add

LIGHT OSTINATOS

Subtle stacc strings
Low pulsing synth
Subtle stacc woods

MOMENTUM AND INSPIRATION

Any musical passage can have up to five elements. These are not layers. They are more like musical components. They can either be combined or not. The five elements are:

DIRECTION

Anything that creates a tendency. Something that leads from point A to point B (a melody, a harmonic progression that creates more tension as it progresses, increasing/decreasing orchestration density or thickness, etc).

This element makes the listener feel like the music is progressing from one point to another.

MOVEMENT

An aspect of the music that creates flow or action (a rhythmic pattern, ostinato, harmonic progression

that repeats/modulates, call and response between instruments or families, etc).

This element creates motion and also aids in creating direction.

BACKGROUND (Glue)

Anything that sits behind in the mix. It will usually be something that is not obvious, but it is there, and you can tell when it is missing.

This element fills in the gaps and helps join the different musical ideas together.

ENHANCER

Something that intensifies, augments or develops a musical idea, helps connect sections, or adds sparkle and “ear candy” (textural flourishes like runs, scales, and trills, woodwinds fluttering around behind a soaring melody, cymbal or timpani roll swells, etc).