To create a happy song, Dr. Bonshor believes that a combination of a major key, seventh chords, 137 BPM, strong rhythm, four beats to each measure, and a verse-chorus-verse-chorus structure is a surefire way to produce one.
It should also have a short intro, repeating riffs, loud volume, bright tone, and a mix of predictability and surprise.
Other tracks that follow this formula include James Brown’s I Got You (I Feel Good), Madness’s House of Fun and P!nk’s Get the Party Started.
The happy formula has also been turned into a pitch-perfect track, called The Lighter Note, featuring upbeat notes, bouncy chords and feel-good musical breaks, which has been produced by Jamie P and Oliver Price, and is now available on soundcloud.
The track was commissioned by Müllerlight, who partnered with Dr. Bonshor, and also conducted research of 2,000 adults that found that 32 percent turn to music every day to improve their mood.
Dr Bonshor said: “Previous studies have found that songs are perceived as happy if they are in a major key, with a sweet spot of approximately 137 beats per minute.
“We like ‘seventh chords’ as they add interest: regular chords use three notes, while ‘seventh chords’ add an extra note that provides a sense of musical ‘tension’ and ‘relief’.
“On top of this, upbeat songs often have a strong 1-2-1-2 beat, so you can dance, and a short intro means the song starts banging right away, and there’s no long buildup. .
“We like it loud when it comes to making our songs upbeat, with notes being played brightly and buoyed by instruments like trumpets or electric guitars, rather than softer instruments.
“Finally, a repetitive beat or guitar riff that people can latch onto and become memorable is the icing on the cake.”
The research also found that nearly half (46 percent) of adults said that singing along to their favorite songs is a great way to boost their mood.
And of the ones that have specific tunes they call upon to get them pumped up, on average, they have eight numbers in rotation that do the trick.
Nearly six in ten (58 percent) said these songs have an upbeat feeling to them, and the same percentage said they remind them of fond memories that put a smile on their face.
And 38 percent said their happy tracks were usually released during their teen years.
It has also been revealed that these songs take an average of just 14 seconds to start working their magic.
Pop, rock and dance ranked as the top three most joyful music genres, while 71 percent feel music is one of the most powerful influences in changing or boosting their mood.
And half believe the power of music is actually underestimated, with 38 percent acknowledging that it can bring incredible ups and downs.
Reflecting on why music is important to them, 48 percent attribute it to the powerful memories it can evoke, and 29 percent like the fact that they can share it with others.
And 36 percent have even played uplifting music around their loved ones when they’re feeling down to try to lift their spirits.
The survey, conducted via OnePoll, also explored the nation’s general listening habits, with the average Brit listening to more than 20 tracks each day.
Half of those who tune in regularly do so from the comfort of their home, while one in four (26 percent) consume more when driving.
“I know a good playlist energizes me when I’m putting off going for a run when it’s cold and rainy outside.
“We go a step further by looking at exactly what makes us happy about music, so we can create the best feel-good track.
“We hope everyone gets excited to walk when they hear The Lighter Note.”
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