The sensation of groove is affected by the interaction of rhythmic and harmonic complexity

Abstract

Groove is defined as the pleasurable desire to move to music. Research has shown that rhythmic complexity modulates the sensation of groove but how other musical features, such as harmony, influence groove is less clear. To address this, we asked people with a range of musical experience to rate stimuli that varied in both rhythmic and harmonic complexity. Rhythm showed an inverted U-shaped relationship with ratings of pleasure and wanting to move, whereas medium and low complexity chords were rated similarly. Pleasure mediated the effect of harmony on wanting to move and high complexity chords attenuated the effect of rhythm. While rhythmic complexity is the primary driver, harmony both modulates the effect of rhythm and makes a unique contribution via its effect on pleasure. These results may be accounted for by predictive processes based on rhythmic and harmonic expectancies that are known to contribute to musical pleasure or reward.