What makes a horror soundtrack?
A horror soundtrack doesn’t just need music – it should also be packed with spooky sound effects that heighten the action on screen. Whether it’s the creepy ambience of an abandoned mineshaft, a twisted monster voice, or a shocking “jumpscare” moment, these effects will make your soundtrack complete. Read on to learn about the tools and techniques you’ll need to create them.
How can I make my music scarier?
To make your horror movie music more scary, try adding ghostly effects such as reversed reverb, deep ominous drones, or “jumpscare” impacts. You should also make sure to write chords and melodies in a minor key – or depart from the key entirely by creating piercing dissonant clusters. There are numerous tried and tested techniques for giving music an extra shock factor. We’ll explore some of them in detail below.
How to make 5 scary sound effects for scoring horror films
Ghostly voice
Is your dialogue not sounding spooky enough? Or maybe you want to add ethereal whispers to the background of a scene? You can use this simple sound design trick to turn a spoken vocal into a creepy transmission from another plane. All you need to do is add reverb – in reverse.
Here’s how it works. This is our dry vocal.
