Major attributes of a given sound. These attributes can be classified into seven categories: Rhythm, Intensity, Pitch, Timbre, Speed, Shape and Organisation.
| Categories | Extremes and potential meaning |
|
Rhythm |
Rhythmic: Predictable, tranquillity, assuredness, oppression, etc…
Irregular: Alert, frightened, confused, fits for laughter, etc…
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Intensity |
Soft: Soothing, tranquillity, anticipation, etc…
Loud: Alert, danger, euphoria, etc…
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Pitch |
Low: Heavy, clumsy, serious, etc…
High: Light, agile, naïve, etc…
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Timbre |
Tonal: Harmonious, full, etc…
Noisy: Unordered, incomplete, etc…
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Speed |
Slow: Lethargic, blurry, patience, etc…
Fast: Incomprehensible, impatience, ease, etc… |
|
Shape |
Impulsive: Close, confident, careless, etc…
Reverberant: Far, careful, warm, etc…
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Organisation |
Ordered: Intelligible, consonance, etc…
Chaotic: Unintelligible, dissonant, etc…
|
Characteristics:
- All expected categories can be altered; the spectators’ perception in relation to her/his memory can reveal incoherence which can finally result in an aesthetic appreciation.
Related effects: Anempathetic sound
Related induced effect: Emotional inventory
(Sonnenschein, 2001)