Do you feel the tension?
- Oct 20
- 3 min read
One of the most common traits that makes a track boring is the lack of tension.
Tension is a core element of all music genres, but it’s used very differently across the spectrum of music.
When it comes to techno, this genre heavily depends on repetition and rhythm, so adding a subtle amount of tension into the combination allows that repetition to stay engaging for much longer.
That subtle feeling of unresolvedness within a particular sound, phrase, or section is what makes our brain crave resolution. It creates a constant sense of curiosity and anticipation throughout the track.
That tension can then be built up and intensified at the right time to create a moment of satisfying resolution.
This tension doesn’t have to be intense. In fact, the most intriguing tension in techno often comes from subtlety.
It could be as simple as the tone of a hi-hat that gives it a sense of anticipation, or a synth sequence that feels like it’s missing the final note to resolve the loop.
It can also come from a single syncopated drum hit that goes slightly against the groove. It sounds a bit off at first, but that’s exactly what gives the rhythm its spice and character.
Or maybe it’s a constant single note that turns into a droning layer of tension. The movement of modulation might give it that edge, or the opposite of lack of movement might make it feel even more tense.
There are principles you can apply across most tracks, but there are also moments where tension is created in unique or unconventional ways.
Sometimes, the tension of a sound depends entirely on the relationship it has with another sound.
The point here is that without tension, your music can sound flat, boring or like it’s missing something.
Now, if you really want to understand what I mean, I need you to dedicate just three minutes of your time.
Pick one of your favourite tracks and play it right now for a minute or two. This applies to any genre, not just techno.
Pay attention to what gives you any sense of tension, unresolvedness, anticipation, or urgency.
As you listen, zoom out your attention and hear the track as a whole, as if you’re listening to rain outside.
Then zoom in on each individual element, as if it’s a person speaking, and try to understand what it’s saying.
Do you notice some elements creating tension, either obvious or subtle?
Notice when and how that tension is maintained, when and why it’s resolved, and how that contributes to the overall impact of the track.
I listened to Fresko - Arena (YouTube), which is a great example.
There’s a sense of tension, urgency, and anticipation across every sound, the loop and especially the arrangement.
I played this track in my Loone Berlin stream last week. The whole concept for that set was weirdness and tension. You can listen to it on YouTube here if you want to hear how I approached it.
Once you notice how important tension is in music, you can take that awareness into your production process and start tuning into that feeling.
You can sprinkle a bit of it across your sounds, loops, and arrangements. You can make more deliberate creative decisions that inject tension and anticipation in just the right places.
Now go make some tension <3
Big love
Eryk Kabay
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