Item #: SCP-XXXX
Object Class: Keter
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XXXX-1 is to be kept in a standard anomalous item safe, housed in site-44. All instances of SCP-XXXX-2 are to be incinerated/erased, including those created by the foundation. For containment purposes, one physical copy of SCP-XXXX-2 is to be kept in a safe in Dr. Boulez's office. All modern music written for any and all chordophones is to be monitored for instances of SCP-XXXX-2 and subtly changed if found.
Description: SCP-XXXX is a passage of music, which when played to completion on plucked chordophones uninterrupted causes discomfort in listeners. This discomfort will grow and wane over an approximately 12 hour period of time, as detailed below.
| Hours after exposure to SCP-XXXX |
Effects shown in subject |
| +0 hours |
Subject shows mild distaste for SCP-XXXX |
| +2 hours |
Subject begins to feel 'dirty' and will often try to wash themselves |
| +4 hours |
Subject prone to emotional outbursts, often verbally abusing those around them |
| +6 hours |
Subject is most dangerous at this stage, and will exhibit signs of depression. Suicide is sometimes attempted at this stage, especially if alone. |
| +8 hours |
Effects of SCP-XXXX begin to wane, however subject still exhibits anger and, in some cases, depression. |
| +10 hours |
Subject displays distaste for music in general, often destroying CDs and other physical forms of music. |
| +12 hours |
Effects of SCP-XXXX fade fully at this stage, however the timescale varies - taking as little as 30 minutes or 4 hours before subject returns to normal. |
It is unknown if this effect is a natural reaction of humans to an anomalous melody, or a non-anomalous melody which humans anomalously react to
The contents of SCP-XXXX are a combination of normal notes of the western musical system, and quarter-tones. This, combined with the disjointed and non-melodic nature of SCP-XXXX is theorized as to why instances of SCP-XXXX had not been produced until recently.
SCP-XXXX-1 refers to a music box (6cm x 3.5cm x 4 cm) with steel strings, which when played, will produce SCP-XXXX, despite proclaiming to play 'Moon River'. SCP-XXXX-1 shows no brand or manufacturing facility, but does have 'made in the USA' printed on the underside. It is unknown whether SCP-XXXX-1 was produced with malicious intent or simply an accident of production.
SCP-XXXX-2 refers to any transcription, physical or digital, that depicts the notes that comprise SCP-XXXX. Dr. Boulez has forbidden the creation of digital versions of SCP-XXXX-2, citing the difficulty in true deletion in the digital format. Physical copies are permitted to be created for testing if approved by Dr. Boulez.
Addendum XXXX.1
Incident Report: Unintentional Creation of SCP-XXXX-2
On ██/██/20██, contemporary classical composer K████ S███████, while writing since discontinued musical work 'concerto for microtonal guitar and string quartet' (which used quarter tones in conjunction with unusual melodies), unintentionally wrote a copy of SCP-XXXX-2 in the part for guitar. While playing through the work, K████ S███████ played SCP-XXXX, causing the effect in themselves. This incident became public knowledge after K████ S███████ attempted suicide, but the role of SCP-XXXX was unknown to both public and police. K████ S███████ came to the attention of the foundation after a police interview of their husband showed extreme similarities of K████ S███████'s behavior to the observed effects of SCP-XXXX. These included:
- Taking an hour long bath
- Episodes of crying
- Evidence of self harm on thighs
- attempted suicide by the slitting of wrists
K████ S███████'s husband had been absent during K████ S███████'s attempted suicide, as just prior, K████ S███████ had verbally abused him, causing him to take a walk outside. When he returned to find K████ S███████ in the bath with open wrists, he called the ambulance, allowing K████ S███████ to survive and recover from the effects of SCP-XXXX
After foundation intervention of the police investigation, the story offered to the public was that K████ S███████ was suffering from depression and was admitted to a mental hospital. The manuscript for 'concerto for microtonal guitar and string quartet' was seized and incinerated, leading to its discontinuation.
Addendum XXXX.2
Incident XXXX-A, recorded on ██/██/20██ saw an change in SCP-XXXX's object class from safe to keter. Previous to Incident XXXX-A, SCP-XXXX was thought to be only SCP-XXXX-1. Incident XXXX-A proved that the effect of SCP-XXXX could be produced outside of SCP-XXXX-1. This led to testing to find the parameters of SCP-XXXX
Test S1gA4-1
Aim: To find the instrumentation required to produce the effect caused by SCP-XXXX
Method: Each subject was placed in a soundproof cell, with a speaker that played a recording of SCP-XXXX on a different instrument. Researchers observed if the effect was displayed, and if so, have the subject isolated until the effect subsided. The recordings were immediately erased even if they did not produce the effect.
| Subject |
Instrument |
Effect Observed? |
| D-6245 |
Synthesized Sine wave |
No |
| D-4431 |
Cello |
No |
| D-5247 |
Trombone |
No |
| D-7740 |
Cello (plucked) |
Yes |
| D-5024 |
Viola (plucked) |
Yes |
| D-6046 |
Viola (Bowed) |
No |
From this and subsequent re-tests, SCP-XXXX's effect was concluded to be caused by a combination of the notes of SCP-XXXX and the use of plucked chordophones to produce these notes.
Per 
