Does All Anime Music Use These Chord Changes?

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[MegaShinobi]

Honestly, an analysis on Hiroyuki Sawano's work (the main composer for Attack on Titan, Guilty Crown, etc) would be amazing. I feel like you'd like how he has such a broad style but his sound is pretty recognizable

Edit: Also...the Nier Gestalt and Replicant Soundtrack and Piano collections would DEFINITELY be right up your alley

[HF-rrkt]

All of the Attack on Titan openings are honestly masterpeices and I'd love for him to make a video on them

[richardlu]

9:09 I always loved this particular chord progression in anime (minor 2-5-1 to minor 6, then 2-5-1 to the 4), and never knew it was called the bird blues in jazz. Thanks for finally giving a name to this sound I've been holding in my head

[altairch.]

One of the largest things in Japanese music and anime music in general that I think wasn't touched on, yet mentioned in your video about Pokemon's music, was when you're playing that IV-V-iii-vi, during the V chord, the bass note is playing the 4th, which in my opinion is what makes that specific progression more "anime" than simply playing the four chords as they are

[CrabCake]

Attempt 12: *Please* listen to the Hollow Knight soundtrack!! It’s gorgeous and unique, *PLEASE*

[kcbray]

I would love to see a breakdown of all of Attack on Titan's openings. They're all very different stylistically but are all absolute bangers.

[randommodnar]

Yeah, that secondary dominant/“blues for alice” progression is so common. I love it every time. I’d love to see you do another of these!
edit: here are some anime songs I find particularly musically interesting
- Nichijou OP 1
- Jujutsu Kaisen OP 1
- Rakugo Shinju OP 1 and 2
- Steins;gate OP
- Attack on Titan ED 3
- Spy x Family OP
- Land of the Lustrous OP and ED
- Cardcaptor Sakura OP 3
- Bunny Girl Senpai ED
- Ousama Ranking OP 1
- Higurashi Sotsu ED
- Angel Beats OP
- Space Dandy OP

[jacobgranger]

Blows my mind how quickly you can just recognise what the music is doing. Unreal talent and ability

[MackenziiRivers]

This chord progression was picked up from a chord progression you'd hear a bit in 70's/80s music- most notable example is Never Gonna Give you up By Rick Astley. This chord progression has been around longer though as it had its routs in jazz then rock music before pop picked it up.
For some reason that era of music became very influential in the Japanese music scene and this very chord progression is seen across genres, not just in anime op's specifically. Rock, jazz, experimental, pop, you name it. It even has it's own nickname, the Royal Road/Koakuma chord progression due to how commonly it's heard everywhere. Our closes equivalent would be the 4 chord progression heard in almost all of pop music.

[lettersnstuff]

I love the minor third up key change in the AoT theme cause it’s like “you already know this is gonna be dramatic, but we’re gonna make shit even even more dramatic”

[KatzRool]

There is just something so nostalgic to me and probably many others who grew up on the internet about the bVI-bVII-i progression, seeing as it's used in pretty much every Touhou piece, which is the basis for the majority of YTPMV or mashup type things. It was also one of Toby Fox's main inspirations for Undertale.
For those unfamiliar, Bad Apple!! and Night of Nights are two of the most well known.

[bunce]

A lot of these anime-esque progressions are built on jazz progressions which I end up using quite a bit when I play gospel for church😂. Modulation up or down a minor 3rd is super common in gospel. Anime love the major 3 and major 2 also the 736 to minor 5 then 4 is the go-to in a lot of gospel music as well. Also flat 6 7 1 is a great finisher. Great analysis Charles!

[justpanda]

One of my favorite composers is Kevin Penkin, especially his work on "Made In Abyss" and "Tower of God." If you ever have the time, I strongly recommend you check him out, maybe even analyze a few songs if you think its good enough.

[waveyan]

samurai champloo would have been really interesting!
I think in terms of anime music in general its pretty unique, especially its opening.
Sounds really hypnotic.

[shotarojoestar]

The Bird Blues portion was very eye opening for me. I had heard this kind of progression before, especially in anime, but I never knew it had a term for it.

[Lord_Vertice]

My reaction to the AOT intro was very similar lol. The entire AOT soundtrack is actually really really good with great utilization of leitmotifs, you should check it out

[dauddimasprasetyo]

Now that you have stepped yourself in Japanese world of music, I'd love you to explain about the Japanese City Pop since even if it was also from Japan decades before, the harmony structure of Anime Soundtracks and Jpop in general deviate too much from City Pop. It's almost as City Pop was an Atlantis of Japanese music history.

[jaycook]

As a former music student studying guitar, I wanted to have a guitar ensemble piece based off both the MHA and AoT themes, but was sadly cancelled due to COVID.

Now, I’m studying for law school hoping to change how musicians/people think of music attorneys, and after a long ass day of studying, getting to hear literally ALL of my favorite anime openings analyzed in music, similar to how I would do so in my apartment during undergrad, absolutely makes my day.
FOREVER a supporter of this awesome channel 👏🏻❤️🍺

[falaghsepehr]

It's 2 AM and I was watching your video on the Incredibles theme, figuring out the chords you played at 11:27. You are one of the reasons I got interested in Jazz and started learning music theory. Just wanted to say thank you for being you and I wish you the best!

[thefutureblues]

Something to note : there's an example of this in the Love is hard for Otaku opening, there's a motion you overlooked that is also very common in japanese pop-music in general and gives what I think is one of its most distinct chord motion : the V - bVI° - VI- (in a major key). It's still basically the IV V VI- but that passing chord (bVI°) is EVERYWHERE when you pay attention, and an easy way to emulate the anime sound.
Fantastic video ! Cheers

Edit : I think that chord movement is closer to the original than the Bird Blues progression, even if it is still similar, but again, Bird Blues is absolutely fantastic thanks for showing that !