[Sakamoto, Hisaishi, et. al.] - Common Japanese Chord Progressions

This is a bit of a video “literature review” of modern Japanese music that I like to find out what chord progressions are common in this music. Hopefully you can use them to access the modern Japanese sound in your next composition.

これは現代の日本の音楽のしたビデオの「文学レビュー」で、私はこの音楽でどのようなコードが普通であるかを知りたいのです。皆さんは次の作曲で現代の日本の音にアクセスするためにそれらを使用することができます。

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Songs in this video, in order of appearance:

Chon - Suda
Chon - Waterslide
Chon - Sleepy Tea

Elis Regina & Antonio Carlos Jobim - Triste

Approaching Aphelion - Mint Chip

Typical anime themes:
Gintama - Sakura Mistusuki
Tora Dora - Orange
Sword Art Online Theme Ignite:

Examples for device 1:
Ryuichi Sakamoto - Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence

Uchu Conbini - Pyramid

Examples for device 2:
Seal - Kiss From a Rose
Joe Hisaishi - The Legend of Ashitaka (Ending)
ORANGE RANGE - *Asterisk
Ryuichi Sakamoto - Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence

Examples for device 3
Koji Kondo - The Nocturne of Shadow
Koji Kondo - Minuet of the Forest
Koji Kondo - Serenade of Water
Koji Kondo - Borelo of Fire

Fox Capture Plan - Butterfly Effect

Examples for device 4
Joe Hisaishi - The Legend of Ashitaka (Ending)
Fox Capture Plan - The Last Story of Myth

[tyraeide]

When he started playing I was like "WAIT ISN'T THAT THE INTRO FOR [insert every anime I've ever seen]"

[axlh.]

Japanese composers LOVE using secondary dominants in their progressions, it sounds so colorful

[collinbryson]

I’ve been looking for something exactly like this for such a long time

[albieprandi]

Finally found an answer to japanese songs

[RazorEdge]

Modern Japanese chord progressions can trace their roots to the pentatonic scale used in traditional Japanese music. Modern Japanese chord progressions are essentially an evolution of the traditional Japanese pentatonic scale. Japanese musicians combined that with Western instruments and blues, classical, jazz and rock influences along with modern Japanese electronic synths. And the result is modern Japanese music.

[Yoshinator]

I grew up listening to Western and Japanese music and learned these chords by ear by playing music from my childhood on guitar. I started to see patterns and I started gravitating toward “Japanese chord progressions.” Although I never learned music theory, it’s super interesting to see what is going on. I’ve heard people call the Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” or Franki Valli’s “ Can’t Take My Eye’s Off of You” chord progression the “Royal Road” progression. I’ve also noticed lots of Japanese songs use Pachelbel’s “Canon in D” progressions as well. I think Jpop was heavily influenced by Eurobeat, especially in the late 80s through the 90s, and they pulled influences from 60s rock bands like the Beatles, as well as jazz.

[shibuyajin_music]

"I'm only 4 on the weeb scale" proceeds to ja-ne peace sign his way out of the video

[odangoatama]

having grown up listening to so much modern japanese music, my ear naturally tends to lead me to these kinds of musical devices when composing, and i’m very thankful for that because they’re absolutely breathtaking.

[FirstLast-ujud]

For future reference, I suggest analysing these in minor keys, rather than major. The progressions IV - V - vi and IV - III - i should really be VI - VII - i and VI - V - i respectively — it makes much more harmonic sense that way. Otherwise, great video!

[RaynP]

J pop chorus chord progressions 101
(Uppercase letters are Major chords, Lowercase letters are Minor chords. Each line represents one bar)


I
V, III
vi,
v, I
IV, V
III, vi
II
V

[rabbitguy]

I'm very glad I clicked on this as I am not an anime fan, but everything in this video gave me a lot to work with in my "midwest emo" mathrock in 4/4 guitar playing.

[kohai-kun]

*hears the first bits of the "Orange" ED from Toradora*


*begins crying*

[justayoutubeuser]

Japanese chord progression sound so freaking awesome, relaxing, sad, happy and more

[Scooter_Alice]

As a jazz musician, I've always been so fascinated by this particular style of Japanese music composition. It makes you wonder how much of it is based on jazz music and how much of it is the other way around.

[louciferLGS]

dude establishes an admiration for nintendo music, studio ghibli, AND chon in the first thirty seconds of the video. fastest sub ever ;3

[callmefox]

THis is really exactly what I wanted to learn! I'm not sure if I'm at the stage of composing my own music, but I'm learning music theory on my own to try and grasp the basics of music composing.

[indejcriptible]

"one cadence to weeb them all"
thx!!

[renatokobashigawa]

Although I am brazilian, I also grew around japanese stuff since I'm half japanese myself. I always had this ease of improvising bossa nova by accident, even if I didn't really listen to it at all, now I realise there's a reason for everything.

[bidensciownworidbroughttoy]

Toe is one of the greatest bands ever. The drummer, the electric guitars and bass, the acoustic, the keys, every little thing about their sound is done so well.

[DigiAloe]

Finally! a video where there is someone that is concentrated on “music theory” Instead of cringy video edits made for a quick laugh and cheap thrills

Bravo! for your work and studying the chord progressions, I was actually thinking of doing a video myself discussing the music theory behind it