Basic Trope: A crescendo of noise or music is used to startle the audience when a sudden movement occurs.
- Straight: Bob and Alice peer into a dark cave. Suddenly, a swarm of bats flies out, accompanied by a sharp chord in the soundtrack.
- Exaggerated: A sharp chord accompanies every sudden movement in the movie.
- Downplayed: The music suddenly builds in tension as things happen, but more gradually.
- Justified: A cat nearby was walking on an old piano in the darkest corner of the cave, creating the sharp chord.
- Inverted: Pleasing, melodic chords are used to soothe the audience during uneventful scenes.
- Subverted: Bob and Alice peer into a dark cave, with subtle "spooky music" orchestration. Suddenly, as a swarm of bats flies out, the music stops.
- Double Subverted: ...until Charles unexpectedly taps Alice on the shoulder, and a sharp note plays.
- Parodied:
- Bob and Alice peer into a dark cave. Suddenly, a swarm of bats flies out, and Bob creates his own soundtrack by yelling "Dun DUH dun!"
- The chord is what alerts Alice and Bob to danger.
- The chord merely leaves Alice and Bob confused.
- An overly long, dramatic scare chord is played for a mild scare moment.
- Zig Zagged: The work at times features scare chords and at other times does not use them.
- Averted: Bob and Alice peer into a dark cave. Suddenly, a swarm of bats flies out, but no unusual sounds are placed in the soundtrack.
- Enforced:
- The creators planned to not have a chord, but Executive Meddling caused one to be added.
- The creators wanted to Jump Scare their audience.
- Lampshaded: "Where did that sound come from?!"
- Invoked: Emperor Evulz put his cat on a piano nearby and ordered it to walk along the piano, so it could create a chord that would scare Alice and Bob.
- Exploited: ???
- Defied: Before approaching the cave, Alice says that her head hurts and she doesn't want to risk having to hear any sudden loud noises, so she and Bob leave.
- Discussed: "What a spooky cave. It's like some bats are about to fly out as some horrible noise gets played."
- Conversed: "Oh my god! That noise made me jump out of my seat!"
- Deconstructed: The audience becomes so used to every scene containing a scare chord that additional scare chords cause no reaction.
- Reconstructed: ...however, at times when no scare chord is used, those audience members who pick up on the subtle visual cues feel more fulfilled for having noticed them.
Back to Scare Chord
