Відео

I remember we talk in Chicago after a Todd Rundgren concert the next day That is book signing at a record shop in Chicago. We were walking around and we bumped into you somewhere at a coffee house we talked. You seem very familiar.

You really deserve more subscribers 🙋 Very well explained. I was a teenager in the 70s, yet only discovered Todd Rundgren recently. When I listened to his Healer, I vaguely remembered this song, one of my favourites. Also found out how he loves teaching kids in schools, how he tries to fill the void in their education where music and sports are losing investment. That's his purpose. Yours, it seems, is revealing us the wonders of music 🙋

Todd Today's Stravinsky!

Well done! Any Todd cover is awesome. Saw him in Atlantic City recently.

Ari, thank you so much for this breakdown. I've been a Todd fan since high school in the 70s. His music is part of the soundtrack of my life! I'm a visual artist not a musician so I have zero knowledge of musical structure or terms but I've always felt something special about Todd's music. It's so interesting to know a little bit about how he composed the songs I grew up with thanks to you; hybrid chords, tonicization (hope I spelled that right), etc. btw, we just saw him in Atlantic City (with Kasim on bass), great show!

I hear those G over C etc chords as major7 9 chords, great video. One of my favourite songs. I can't think of another artist that has a style of using chords that almost defines their music. 👍

First of all, it's in the key of E (not F). And second of all, you play the intro chords incorrectly. And, on the verse, the bass line is NOT descending on the second chord. I am a huge Todd fan and I love when folks cover his tunes, but the chords you play are not faithful to the original. If you like, I'm happy to teach you the tune -- note for note. :)

Ok, so I just watched all 3 parts of your Todd thing. WTH took me so long to stumble onto this? Many, many moons ago, I had high school theory and harmony training (in spite of primarily being a drummer). Thank the gods that I did because when I nosedove into a deep adoration of Todd’s writing, I could never have figured out the chords, otherwise, and some still took me forever, embarrassingly. In fact, he’s such a strong harmonic influence in my own writing, possibly/probably to a fault. Lol For instance, my body rejects NOT playing a V11th for a turnaround, IVmaj and Vmaj triads make me cringe, and I’m positive that it’s all Todd’s fault. Anyway, after all that unsolicited, boring who-gives-a-shit stuff about me, I’m actually writing to say that my hats off to ya! So many times, you had me beating my fist on the table, yelling, “YES! YES! YES!” because finally, someone else appreciates and has taken the time to dig in, break it down, and articulate it. (No pun intended) So bless ya , ma’am, and I SO applaud your excellent taste.

Blessed to see this.

❤

Reminder. Joni Mitchell used modal and "hybrid" chords in her early compositions.

Cool to see this girl, at least a generation or more younger than him, be such a big fan of his.

Nice! 👍🙂

I felt alone in my awe and love for the compositional complexity of Todd Rundgren's music. I feel validated, after watching your videos. Thank you very, very much.

Love this, and I'm not a musician!

Thank you! I'm not a musician, but I always thought he was unique just by listening!

Love your TR videos ! 2 questions..... I see the last time you uploaded one of these was four years ago. Do you ever plan on doing any more episodes in the near future ? My second question.... Is the song played in the intro to this video, an original composition ? I would love to hear the complete song, so I was wondering if you could tell me where to find it ? My friend Wendy has spoken highly of you so many times, so it was great to finally see these videos. Thanks and Take Care.

One time I went to Todd's hotel room to ask him to show me how he plays these voicings on guitar. He basically kicked me out! Lol

If you like this sort of skilled analysis, you will also appreciate ixi, who loves breaking down 9-inch nails works. ua-cam.com/users/iximusic

Thanks for that. I really like Todd;s harmonies, and you have really helped me understand what he is doing.

A real musician. Nice job...Am7 over F..love it!

i can't think of another artist with his range of abilities. he is a great singer, composer, guitarist, and producer. he has been an innovator in the field of music video. his knowledge of chords is very advanced. todd is one of the greats and it is a shame that it took so long for him to get into the rock and roll hall of fame.

Leftist

And bonus - Todd's lyrics involve poetic conceit, the colloquial, interior rhymes - take a dive from your ivory tower - & would justify equal analysis - at this standard!

next up, Just One Victory - or how about In My Mouth which sounds like Kurt Weill ate a mushroom? great great video and the Emrson to thoreau analogy is deft - Laura Byro name-checked - wow you go girl

The series on Todd Rundgren is a huge help to me in understanding jazz composition. Can you take a look at the Brazilian Ivan Lins? Also Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays?

You should also listen to Burt Bacharach and Laura Nyro. They also incorporated a lot of those diatonic minor 7s, slash chord, hybrid chord technique into much of their song writing. So did Richard Carpenter (of The Carpenters) but not always as jazzy as Bacharach and Nyro. Walk On By, I Say A Little Prayer, Stone Soul Picnic, Save The Country, Gonna Take A Miracle would be good examples. One night when you're home alone with nothing to do, dim the lights, pour a nice glass of red wine and play Reach Out, or New York Tendaberry or Eli and The 13th confession. You'll hear what I mean. F.Y.I. Shiraz is a good choice.

Todd is brilliant - plain and simple. without needing to explain - no explanation necessary. Just use your ears!

Those chords are like a brain massage...

Could you do a series on Bill Evans?! 🌹

And of course you always have to remind yourself how young he was when he wrote this stuff.

All that schooling and theory yet Todd cannot read or write music. He is truly gifted.

If you use a clean piano sound instead of a church organ, the melody would be clearer. The organ sound has so much bleed (sustain) between chords, the changes aren't defined enough. At least over the internet they aren't.

Todd is one of the most talented people around He is Absolutely oneb of the best Ever!!!!!!!!!

thank you very much I very apreciatte your passion for those compositions but how cant you make a connection to Brian wilson? :O

took me time to realize that you meant slash chords....he should really thank Brian Wilson <3 and thank you,I love'd your singing voice

Thank you for your windows of the insight of the rare genius that is Todd!

Todd is the man, without question. I first encountered his music at age 12, from my eldest sister, who had his albums. I spent countless hours listening to Something/Anything alone in her room when she was not home, but with her permission. Most often with headphones. Then, as I am still want to do at my ripe age, I went to all his previous work, and later, his subsequent work. I used to sing, occasionally professionally, mostly in musical theater, so I thought his vocals were super strong. I loved his music, mostly because there was absolutely nothing about it that one could expect. I loved that he was “genreless,” and refused to fall into any mold whatsoever. I loved that he dove in and tried everything, and did it well. Of course, he is a guitar maestro, a great piano player, and all other instruments, he explored sounds and ideas while many artists were, although good, were unwilling to color outside the box with his level of conviction. Of course, I am far away from that 12 year old now, and turning 60 in a few months, and I can state without fear of contradiction, that it is a rare day when I do not listen to some Todd! I feel a little sorry for people who only know him as the ‘Hello It’s Me’ or ‘Bang the Drum’ guy, and will express that to anyone still living with that idea. (Although I think they are classics, as well!) After following his career for what feels like my entire life, I can say, not only do I think he is a genius composer, one of the best guitar players of all time, capable of some incredible vocals, way ahead of his time, an excellent producer, and I could go on..., this is a man whom it has long been my belief, is in fact a genius-period. He managed to do so very much, and lives his life in a way that I find extremely admirable, staying true to himself. Any human can learn from the wisdom of Todd Rundgren, because he has a way of putting things into perspective that few of his contemporaries are able to, which is a great gift! All that aside, although naturally, I do not know him, but by all accounts, including his own, he is a very kind, giving and insightful man, who is entirely and completely self-made. That makes him a kind of walking piece of art! Thank you for saying what many of us have thought and known about Todd. One my biggest regret is that I have never seen him live!

thank you for your channel, all these years later and you are explaining his techniques.

Thank you from a common man. Park Service Aide, Miami. Fl. Bless

Thank you Ari, I love your passion for Todd. You reflect everything I love about music, plus you have gotten me into Laura Nyro. So as we say in England "hats off to you" and good luck in your musical career.

Hey, even the way Rundgren bangs the drum is unique. hehe :) Love your stuff on Rundgren! No one is like Todd. Thank you soooo much for showing what Rundgren somehow did and does in his special music.

So glad that there are talented and *knowledgeable* people like you showing Rundgren's ridiculous, natural talent and EAR, putting together complex notes together that seem just a tiny "off" and yet absolutely perfect. To me? His complex chords seem to carry Todd's very own inner voice of melancholy from song to song although each song is unique. Despite his talent, you just *know* that he sometimes took forever to finalize what sounded right to him. It's perfectionism, not just talent and a unique ear. And he wrote without training. Honestly, it's just silly. His listeners: lucky! Thank you for this. Ever since I was a kid in the 70s, Todd's music just resonated in me but in a gentle, even fragile way, like Debussy.

Influence of Bacharach and Sondheim and jazz composers. Todd knows his chords and composition. God bless him

You deserve a better band.

I can't even tell you how great this is for me. I'm a bass player and a 50 year fan of Todd. Thank you so much for this. Everyone has been so sad for so many months. This really lifted me up.

You'd be great on a road trip..............................

Todd’s music is sophisticated and so are you. Thanks for your wonderful insight on hybrid chords.

You are a valuable source of knowledge.

The reason Todd uses so many compound chords is to compensate for the lack of creativity from just about every other artist lol.