This article is about musical key characteristics and emotions
It can help you choose a key that is associated with specific feelings before you create music.
This key-emotion theory was standard before the 20th century.
It was part of the music culture.
Both the creator and the audience knew the emotion’s intentions when the creator used a specific key.
John Mattheson had written about this theory in Germany in 1713.
Later on, Rita Steblin translated his work in her book “A History of Key Characteristics in the 18th and Early 19th Centuries.”
There is no black and white here, before choosing a key try some keys and make your decision.
Keep reading to find the key you need 🙂
#1- C Major
![](https://musicriser.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/xc-major-1024x576.png.pagespeed.ic.UpsfwdrOgc.png)
Innocence, pure, simple, happiness, naivety, unadorned, natural, religious.
#2- C Minor
![](https://musicriser.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/845x475xC-Minor-1024x576.png.pagespeed.ic.3g6gAGHy5R.png)
Innocence, sadness, evokes yearning, lost love, love-sick soul.
#3- C# Minor
![](https://musicriser.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/xC-Minor-1-1024x576.png.pagespeed.ic.WGQoLbJn7W.png)
Grief, Despair, deep, passionate , sorrow, self-punishment.
#4- D♭ Major
![](https://musicriser.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/D♭-Major-1024x576.png)
grief and despair, leering , unusual feelings, joker style.
#5- D Major
![](https://musicriser.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/xD-Major-1024x576.png.pagespeed.ic.tHhco6QlVM.png)
Victory, joyful, victory-rejoicing, militant, grandeur, holiday songs.
#6- D Minor
![](https://musicriser.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/xD-Minor-1024x576.png.pagespeed.ic.-HtE0JN9gs.png)
Melancholy, concerned ,Serious, feminine, and watching things through bad light.
#7- D# Minor
![](https://musicriser.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/xD-Minor-1-1024x576.png.pagespeed.ic.aPDhDoYsy_.png)
Deep, anxious, distress, hesitation, darkness,shuddering, ghosts.
#8- E♭ Major
![](https://musicriser.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/E♭-Major-1024x576.png)
Love, devotion, honesty, intimacy, cruelty.
#9- E Major
![](https://musicriser.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/xE-Major-1024x576.png.pagespeed.ic.dMGEh_BM_I.png)
Noisy, joy, delightfulness, ready to fight.
#10- E Minor
![](https://musicriser.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/xE-Minor-1024x576.png.pagespeed.ic.Oko4RDxdXr.png)
Love in feminet way, naive, restless, grief
#11- F Major
![](https://musicriser.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/xF-Major-1024x576.png.pagespeed.ic.9CD8rLhJ-C.png)
Deep anger masked in controlled calmness, complaisance.
#12- F Minor
![](https://musicriser.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/xF-Minor-1024x576.png.pagespeed.ic.kOgsihK9AV.png)
deep depression, death, misery, Harrowing, funereal.
#13- F# Major
![](https://musicriser.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/xF-Minor-2-1024x576.png.pagespeed.ic.EQmtWppwHX.png)
Relief, triumph, clarity, after overcoming an obstacle.
#14- F# Minor
![](https://musicriser.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/xF-Minor-1-1024x576.png.pagespeed.ic.Vwk3Ic0fDN.png)
Gloomy, resentment, discontent, lamentation.
#15 – G Major
![](https://musicriser.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/xG-Major-1024x576.png.pagespeed.ic.KauCjjJOdy.png)
Rustic, Poetic, gentle and peaceful
#16- G Minor
![](https://musicriser.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/xG-Minor-1024x576.png.pagespeed.ic.tm9Nl1CDrS.png)
Uneasiness,concern, struggle, Worry .
#17- A♭ Major
![](https://musicriser.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/A♭-Major-1024x576.png)
Death, judgment, eternity.
#18- A♭ Minor
![](https://musicriser.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/A♭-Minor-1024x576.png)
difficult struggle, suffocation,Grumbling.
#19- A Major
![](https://musicriser.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/xA-Major-1024x576.png.pagespeed.ic.mHfzrKvKO2.png)
Satisfaction, joy, trust, innocent love.
#20- A Minor
![](https://musicriser.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/xA-Minor-1024x576.png.pagespeed.ic.YtTpZSjWnh.png)
Tender, womanliness.
#21- B♭ Major
![](https://musicriser.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/B♭-Major--1024x576.png)
clear conscience, Optimistic, hope, peace.
#22- B♭ Minor
![](https://musicriser.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/B♭-Minor-1024x576.png)
Suicide, Night, Mocking,death, creature. Frankenstein
#23- B Major
![](https://musicriser.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/xB-Major-1024x576.png.pagespeed.ic.kjwPcjKDqV.png)
Strong, colorful, wild, passion, jealousy, anger.
#24- B Minor
![](https://musicriser.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/xB-Minor-1024x576.png.pagespeed.ic.FS50wMmI_7.png)
Patience, calm, loneliness, destiny, acceptance.
What next?
As written above the song’s emotions come mainly from the key you choose.
To read more about music production basics.
Are there any scales good for begginers?