Creating a sad song by: David from piano-play-it.com
Hi Tim,
What an interesting question you ask here. It deals with the process of creating music based on your style and inspiration.
There is no one clear answer on this subject but there a few tips that helps.
In order to create a song that sound like a mood you heared on a different song you should be able to listen to that song and analyze what created that sound you like.
It can be the way the piano players lays the chords on the piano softly. It has to do with the Tempo - paste of the song. And with the way the melody is built and how it is harmonized chordwise. It has also to do with the color of voice of the singer. Now another thing I want to tell you is that it is great to be inspired and explore influences but don't forget that at the end you are YOU! You have you own character and style and maybe now you're in your happy period and you don't have the sad flow in you. Maybe you don't except that you have a different kind of sad in you. Maybe it's authentic and it is worth to stay with it a bit.
But you mentioned an interesting excerise. Copy the chord progression from that song you like or just parts of it you like and try to change the tempo a bit, and the feeling of the song, then try composing a new melody to it.
There are many more way to deal with this question but I think you should take a composing teacher or consult a singersong writer for I can't answer fully this curious question.