The Psychology of Sound: How Background Music Influences Viewer Perception

The right music can make a piece of visual content all the more memorable. Just the other night, I was watching the hit Hulu show Shōgun, and one of the scenes came up when the main character, Lord Yoshii Toranaga, was walking through the halls of the kingdom of Osaka to meet his rival. During that scene, the composer filled the background with these soaring and bending string runs, which made the tension in the scene far more palpable.

The experience of watching that scene was just one of the many reminders of how important background music can be when it comes to your audience’s emotional reaction. Unfortunately, it’s also a variable many creators overlook relative to lighting, editing, or camera angles.

You're missing out on a powerful tool if you’re not paying attention to how your music affects your viewers.

In this article, I want to break down the importance of background music, how it can impact viewer perception, and why it might be time to prioritize the soundtracks in your projects.

What Is Background Music?

In the context of video production, background music is exactly what it sounds like—the music that plays in the background.

Video creators use it to enhance the mood or fill in gaps where there isn’t any dialogue. It isn’t meant to be the main focus but rather helps the audience find a greater emotional connection with whatever occurs on screen.

In the 2024 thriller Longlegs scene below, we can hear this eerie, slow-building background score that ramps up the moment when the protagonist and antagonist meet. Now, even though nothing necessarily dramatic is happening on screen at the time, it keeps the audience at the edge of their seats in anticipation:

On the flip side, an inspirational, orchestral rollout can represent a moment of success or triumph. Listen to the background music at the beginning of this scene from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty:

The point here is that music uniquely triggers specific emotions and guides our feelings in a way that nothing else can, whether it's excitement, sadness, or joy.

That’s why it’s important to think of background music as more than an accessory. Often, your audience won’t even realize how much the music affects them.

The Psychology Behind Sound

So, we know that music is a powerful force that shapes how we feel.

And if we look at music on a micro scale, we see that it’s just composed of bits and pieces of sound, which we can think of as the cells that impact our emotional responses.

Think of your favorite horror film music. You’ll typically hear some slow, creeping pads or strings melody paired with subtle, oftentimes discordant, and anxiety-inducing sounds that are great for getting the heart rate up. This is the opposite of your average Hallmark rom-com, in which you’ll probably hear a lighter, more upbeat “feel-good” track that primes us for that ooey-gooey feeling.

But why does our brain process all of this the way it does?

Well, our brains are wired to respond to sound in very specific ways.

When we hear certain types of music, the brain interprets the emotional content based on patterns learned over time. This is why significant keys tend to be associated with happiness and calm, while minor keys are often linked to sadness or tension. By the way, this isn’t a bunch of esoteric hippie-dippie theory. It’s been scientifically proven.

We can even link our emotions to tempo. Faster tempos usually signal excitement or danger, while slow, drawn-out tempos offer a space to reflect or mourn.

These patterns become ingrained over time, and the more and more we watch films or videos, the more often our brains make these associations.

A Deeper Look at Our Neurons

This connection between sound and emotion is closely tied to something called mirror neurons.

These brain cells fire when we perform an action and when we observe someone else performing that action. Essentially, they help us understand and empathize with others’ emotions.

Music has the power to activate these neurons, so when we hear a soundtrack that mirrors the emotion on screen, such as the tense, slow-moving strings from my Long Legs example above, we can almost “feel” the suspense that character is feeling, even if we don’t consciously realize it.

What’s even more fascinating is how music can trigger memory recall. Our brains are like a series of Post-it notes.

We’ve all had the experience of hearing a song and immediately being transported back to a specific moment in time. That’s because music has a unique ability to create lasting associations with experiences.

For me, that memory recall appears when I hear background music from Star Wars or The Godfather. After watching and being fascinated by those movies when I was young, I developed a strong connection between sound and memory.

Not only did the music in those films help me create new memories, but it also helped me retrieve them once they were stored away.

As a video creator, when you understand the psychological power of sound, you can harness its full potential.

Choosing the Right Type of Background Music for your Project

Before I get into this section, I think it’s important to note that there are no rules for pairing your visuals with music.

Stanley Kubrick famously used Beethoven’s 9th Symphony in A Clockwork Orange, which is a dark and violent film about control and free will. It was an odd choice considering that music is often used for grand or elegant scenes, though strangely enough, the stark contrast made it so memorable.

With that said, knowing the “standards” can help guide you on the right path if you’re struggling to choose background music for your video. Let’s take a look at how different types of music can shape the tone of your content:

Classical Music

I’m a big fan of classical music in film, as it’s incredibly versatile. Depending on the score, it can be just as sad and introspective as large and triumphant.

A sweeping orchestral piece can be the perfect catalyst for the start of an epic adventure like it is in the opening sequence of The Lord of the Rings. On a contrasting note, a piece from a composer like Bach or Chopin can add depth to the sadness or devastation a character feels on screen.

Electronic or Synth-Based Music

Electronic music can offer its services if you’re working on something futuristic or action-packed. Think The Matrix or Blade Runner 2049.

You hear a symphony of growling, reverb-drenched synths, and rolling electronic drums in the scene above. Not only does it get your heart rate up, but it also helps a scene feel faster and more immersive.

Indie/Folk Music:

For a more personal, heartfelt vibe, indie and folk music work wonders. I could think of a thousand independent dramas or comedies that use this kind of music. It often makes scenes feel simple and authentic.

Check out the clip below from Garden State:

We hear an intimate folk track that helps us relate to the main character’s sense of oneness. I’m a major fan of using these styles of music when I want to tell a story that’s more personal or emotionally grounded.

The Science of Music Synchronization

While many variables play a role in how a scene feels when you watch it, tempo and rhythm are two of the most important.

In a spotting session, a director and composer will often sit and watch the movie to determine its pace to create or choose the right score with a similar tempo. That’s why you often hear fast-paced, energetic background music in action-packed sequences, such as car chases or gun fights.

However, sometimes filmmakers choose to intentionally mismatch the tempo of the music with the visuals to create a more complex emotional response. You might have a scene where the main character is taking slow, cautious steps with driving background music. It can be quite unsettling, but that’s often the point.

With that said, an intentional mismatch must feel just that — intentional. Otherwise, when the visuals and music clash, it can feel uncomfortable, and not in a good way.

Case Studies: Music in Action

If I haven’t made it clear enough by this point, music has the power to elevate a film’s emotional impact in the same way the visuals do. Some movies have even become iconic because of their use of background music.

Take Jaws (1975), for instance. Everyone knows that legendary two-note motif composed by John Williams. With just those simple, repetitive notes, Williams created an intense sense of foreboding and fear, building tension every time the shark was about to appear.

YouTube or Social Media Creators:

Now, does that mean you must create films that use background music?

Absolutely not!

For smaller-scale creators, music can be equally powerful for better engagement.

Take popular YouTuber Joshua Chang, who uses minimalistic, electronic-focused background music in many of his videos to match his laid-back, tech-review content.

On the other hand, we have bigger Youtubers like Jonna Jinton, a filmmaker who lives in the woods in the North of Sweden. She creates cinematic, vlog-style content with soft orchestral music that provides a bed for her to balance her voiceover.

The same can be said for many TikTok creators, who often use trending songs or quirky background music to add personality to their videos and stay in tune with current trends. In fact, music on these platforms can actually help videos go viral.

ProTunes One: Your Secret Weapon for Perfect Background Music

You’ve made it this far, and by now, you probably see just how powerful background music for videos can be.

But where do you find the right tracks to match the content you’re creating?

That’s where ProTunes One comes in. We offer creators a massive library of background music designed to fit every genre and mood. No matter what kind of content you make, we can provide you with the perfect background music to elevate it. Whether you're looking for something upbeat, dramatic, or relaxed, ProTunes One has you covered.

Thanks to our AI-driven search feature, you’ll never have to waste hours hunting for the right sound again. The system helps you quickly find the perfect match, saving you time and hassle.

Don’t settle for average. Get started with ProTunes One today and transform your video content with music that speaks volumes!