Film music

Turn the sound off during a scary film and it is not nearly so scary. Film music tells you how to feel.

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What film music does

Film music sets the mood, builds tension, shows what characters feel, links scenes and makes action more exciting.
Early 'silent' films were often accompanied live by a pianist or organist.
Music the characters can hear (for example a radio in the scene) is diegetic. Music only the audience hears is non-diegetic (or underscore).
Mickey-mousing is when the music matches the on-screen action exactly, as in cartoons.

Leitmotifs in film

Film composers often use leitmotifs: short themes for a character, place or object, like Wagner did in his operas.
John Williams wrote the scores for Jaws (1975) and Star Wars (1977), using leitmotifs throughout. The Jaws shark theme alternates two low notes a semitone apart, getting faster and louder as the shark approaches.
Bernard Herrmann scored Psycho (1960) for strings only; its shower scene uses screeching, high, repeated violin notes.

Tools for mood

Composers change the elements to create a mood:
Silence can also be very powerful.
MoodPossible musical features
Tension or dangerLow pitch, minor key, dissonance, ostinato, tremolo strings, crescendo, a pedal note
HeroicMajor key, brass fanfares, rising leaps, strong march rhythm
Romantic or sadStrings, legato, slow tempo, minor key for sadness, expressive melody
Action or chaseFast tempo, loud dynamics, driving ostinatos, percussion, short accented notes
Worked example

Describe three ways a composer could make music for a monster approaching sound tense.

  1. Pitch and harmony: low notes, a minor key and dissonant chords.
  2. Rhythm: a repeating ostinato that gets faster (accelerando).
  3. Dynamics: a gradual crescendo as the monster gets closer, with tremolo strings.

Answer: Low, dissonant minor harmony; a quickening ostinato; and a crescendo with tremolo strings.

Key idea

Film music sets mood, builds tension and links scenes. Diegetic music is heard by characters; non-diegetic (underscore) only by the audience. Leitmotifs represent characters. Mickey-mousing matches the action exactly. Composers include John Williams and Bernard Herrmann.

Key words
Diegetic music
Music in a film that the characters can hear, such as a radio playing in the scene.
Semitone
The smallest step on a keyboard, from one key to the very next.

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Extra practice

2 more questions

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  1. Scary music plays as a character walks down a dark corridor, but the character cannot hear it. What kind of music is this?

    1. Diegetic
    2. Non-diegetic
    3. Mickey-mousing
    4. Source music
    Show the answer

    Answer: Non-diegetic

    It is added for the audience.

  2. A cartoon cat tiptoes and each step has a plucked note. What technique is this?

    1. A leitmotif
    2. Mickey-mousing
    3. Diegetic music
    4. A drone
    Show the answer

    Answer: Mickey-mousing

    Music matches each movement.

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Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.

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