Why Your Chord Progressions Feel Bland
- Stephen Berkemeier
- May 20
- 3 min read
And how to turn them into emotional storytelling tools
TL; DR
Music theory can help you build technically correct chord progressions — but if your harmony lacks an emotional or narrative arc, it'll sound fine...and forgettable. Function alone isn't enough. You need story!
The Truth Behind "Functional But Flat" Harmony
If you've studied music theory for any amount of time, you've probably learned about diatonic harmony, voice leading, maybe even modal interchange and chromaticism (if not, check out the free classes in my academy!)
You've likely written dozens of musically "correct" progressions.
So why do they still feel...bland?
The answer is simple:
Function ≠ Feeling
Music theory can teach you how harmony works — but now how to use it as a storytelling tool. That part is up to you!
Think Like a Storyteller, Not a Technician!
Media composers (like film and game composers) aren't just musicians — we're storytellers.
When you sit down to write a progression, don't just ask: "What's the most functional chord that fits next in this key?"
Instead, start by asking:
"What emotion/story am I trying to portray, & how can my harmony reflect that?"
Your chord progressions should rise, fall, and evolve like a scene in a film.
All the music theory in the world won't help if you're not starting from a clear emotional or narrative image.
3 Ways to Write Chords That Tell a Story
Once you know what you're trying to express, here are three powerful tools to help your harmony come alive:
Treat Progressions Like Self-Contained Stories
Bars 1-2: Beginning
Set the tone. What is the emotional foundation of the scene or cue?
Bars 3-6: Middle/Development
Shift the energy. What direction is your story moving in? Is there rising tension? Melancholy? Conflict? Expansion?
Bars 7-8: End/Cadence
Resolve or resist resolution. Will you use a strong V-I cadence, a deceptive move, or something more stylized (Like a Romantic IV-iv-I or Heroic Isus4-Isus2-I)?
| Working with a 4-bar loop? Same idea — just condense each section into or 2 bars.
Use Harmony's Building Blocks for Personality
With your story structure in place, now shape each section using harmonic tools like:
Chord Quality (Major, minor, 7th, etc.) & Mode
Inversions & Basslines
Harmonic Rhythm (How many chords per measure)
Voice Leading (or lack of voice leading)
Borrowed Chords or Modal Inflection
Ask yourself:
"How can I use these tools to reinforce the emotion I want in each section?"
Some Examples:
Use inversions in your development section to add subtle motion
Use a sudden borrowed chord to trigger emotional surprise
Add a chromatic mediant shift to inject tension or bittersweetness
Gradually increase Harmonic Rhythm to build energy.
| Trust your instincts. If an idea feels like it expresses the emotion you're aiming for — try it!
Match the Texture to the Scene
The type of progression you use also influences how the harmony feels
Pads & Sustained Chords
Low energy, neutral or contemplative
Great for underscoring or emotional ambiguity
Arpeggios
Add motion and lyricism
feels more internal or nostalgic
Rhythmic Chords
High energy, clear momentum
Can add bold personality or urgency (especially with repetition)
| Same chords, different delivery = totally different emotional results
Don't Confuse Structure With Story
A progression can be perfectly "correct" and still fail to serve the story.
Think about the difference between writing a chord progression for a theory class...versus writing for a funeral scene in Full Metal Alchemist or a battle scene in The Lord of the Rings.
In the first case, correctness is the goal.
In the second, it's about emotional truth.
That's where music becomes storytelling.
Want to Learn Even More About Musical Storytelling (with specific examples)?
If this resonated with you, you'll love my textbook The Musical Storyteller
It's a step-by-step guide to using harmony, melody, and orchestration to score real emotional moments — with specific tools, exercises, and break downs.
Or, start with my free eBook — The Composer's Roadmap
Final Thoughts
Functional harmony is a tool — not the goal.
Your real job as a composer is to take that tool and use it to build something meaningful.
Start with the story, the chords will follow.
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