The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Skyrim's score is arguably the most iconic fantasy game soundtrack of the 2010s. Jeremy Soule created a sound world that blends Nordic folk music with modern cinematic orchestration.
Track: Explorative
Scale — Am
The Why
Soule uses a natural minor (Aeolian) with a harmonic minor inflection at the cadence (E7→Am). The descending bass (A→G→F→E) is the core melancholic figure. The C major chord (bIII) provides a fleeting moment of "hope" before returning to minor. The open-fifth drone underneath much of the track creates the vast, open-world feeling — the harmony never "closes in" on you.
About the Score
Soule's approach to Skyrim was to avoid "Hollywood epic" in favor of something more ancient and raw. He used modal harmony (Phrygian, Dorian, Aeolian) rather than functional tonality, giving the music a timeless, pre-modern quality. Open-fifth drones simulate the sound of ancient folk instruments (nyckelharpa, tagelharpa). The famous "Dragonborn" theme uses a Phrygian chant over a drone — a technique that dates back to Gregorian chant, perfectly matching the game's ancient Nordic setting.