Play between minor and major can pull heartstrings, like switching between scales with a major third and a minor third at key moments.
Nobuo Uematsu's "Another World of Beasts" from Final Fantasy 6 is a prime example of eerie but beautiful. It achieves its otherworldly sound by defying convention and therefore the expectations of the ear: it's written in 7/8 and its tonic chord is a minor-major seven, a chord rarely employed by anyone. And yet, it manages to be beautiful. Another technique used in this piece is a very wide range of pitches, low bass and high treble together.
Diminished chords and scales can be pretty spooky.
Don't be afraid to borrow chords from different keys.
EDIT: One last tip: listen to music that you think is spooky or sad. Figure out what it does. Learn from it! For example, why do you think "Forever Rachel" from Final Fantasy 6 is so sad?
@thedstring - Feb. 5, 2013, 4:03 p.m.
If you're really new to composing, you're gonna be very frustrated...a lot. Just keep at it, you'll notice things to tweak that make your songs fit better.
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