Congratulations, you’ve managed to take a somewhat interesting topic and make it excruciatingly dull. Let me know when your “normie wife” starts her own channel.
@@VARVIS_ it’s OK since you were never able to establish a commercially successful band and go on world tour you made a UA-cam channel I guess that’s sort of a consolation prize?
And what Irons do with them? They are using the same exact 3 chord sequence (only in different keys and tempos) in more than 50% of their repertoire. Tell me what's the better measure of repetetiveness than utilizing the same riff over and over again in your songs?
@@lucasjankowski7117 It's not a riff, but a chord progression. During the chorus, where you might already have backing vocals and a busy rhythm section, super tech-y, Locrian-mode finger gymnastics is the last thing you need. Instead, you want something that gets the crowd chanting! Look at the Ramones or AC/DC - they played the same three chords their entire careers, with far less complexity than Maiden, and were hugely influential!
@@ericv7720 Yes, but those riffs are either build on mentioned chord progressions or (in many cases) are just chords progressions themselves (with variations in pace and rhytmic structures). I don't deny the infleunce of those bands, that you mentioned. I just claim that a great deal of IM songs is based on the same three chords pattern, which often make their material sound predictable. Solos are usuaully very sophisticated and technically brilliant (and that's a different story), but underlying chord progressions are often generic.
Most artists songs, especially if they stick to one genre, sound somewhat alike. That is not a bad thing, it just means there are particular elements of compostion, sound and style that are recognizeable. When a band is successful and has been around for a long time, they are obviously giving their fans what they want and the fans usually want "more of the same", essentially.
The trick is that each song is so different lyrically, structurally and rhythmically unique you don't realize they're using the same chords unless you're specifically looking for it. I don't know how that makes you bored.
@@gabeagoado7412 Chords in music are like colors for a painter. Everyone uses pretty much the same ones from the limited sets anyway. Because it works.
A lot so sound similar I do agree but I can see why they use it soo much and to be honest the songs that do have this chord progression sound sick and awesome
I remember back in high school I had an argument with a guy more into punk/rock and roll. He argued that Iron Maiden just uses the same three chords in all songs. Teenage me could only come up with: "NO! Or, no? I mean... What?" So when I came home I played the songs I could on guitar only to find out he was pretty much right. As a more adult person now, I can appreciate a lot of their songs are in those chords, but it's amazing how different Iron Maiden make those three chords sound. Still, screw that guy. I was right. Just don't tell him.
I’m a big Iron Maiden fan and they got me into playing guitar, but as I was learning their songs I noticed the same thing. But honestly the fact that they found over 80 ways to use the same three chords is pretty impressive in itself haha
They still somehow manage to crank out unique songs with their own vibes and groove despite using a very similar song structure, which is honestly just impressive. For some reason no iron maiden album sounds samey or feel incredibly inspired by the predecessors and each have their own vibe. The Number of the Beast sounds completely different from Fear of the Dark and so on. Hell even Brave New World has a unique sound, and Out of the Silent Planet is one of the most underrated songs in their catalog.
I don't think the chord progression is identical to the song structure. Iron Maiden's Songs do often have much more parts than just verse and chorus (and pre chorus), they often have additional parts, quite a lot of them instrumental, which lets them stand out from many other Heavy Metal bands of the 80's and show that they were also influenced by the Prog Rock of the 70's (they even covered songs by Jethro Tull and Nektar on some of their singles). And this video only shows, how many songs use that chord progression at some point. In some it is just one passage, in others, the song is kinda built around it. And even songs that use that progression are in many cases extremely different. I mean, you can't say, that repetitive, AC/DC like happy Hardrocker "From Here To Eternity" is that similar to the dark and atmospheric, quite "proggy" Metal epic "Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son". The structure is very different, the mood/atmosphere is very different, the amount of different parts in the song is very different, they only use the same chord progression at some moment.
I hate when people say that a band sounds the same every song. For bands like AC/DC, yeah, that’s kinda true. But for bands like Iron Maiden and Saxon… that’s just their sound. They all sound very different, it’s just a matter of when an Iron Maiden song is playing, you KNOW it’s Iron Maiden. It’s not “sounding the same”, it’s called having a defined sound. Edit: I am not referring to this video, but simply making a general statement.
@@WhoDaF0ok1sThatGuy I could use the same argument regarding AC/DC - "that's just their sound". The problem is not that every band has their own distinctive sound, but how much you utilize the same riffs over and over again in your songs, and Irons are using the exact same power chord sequence (with only different rhytm patterns and tempos) in more than 50 percent of their repertoire.
Sounding the same is a good thing. I buy an album to hear that sound, whatever sound that is. If a band constantly changes their sound, they have no identity. Kind of like picking up a glass of apple juice thinking it's tea.
It’s like Slayer, Dream Theater, AC/DC, Lamb of God, beastial black metal, or Amon Amarth. Those bands found their exact sound, it worked, and they went with it
Aaaahhh, that's the reason why i'm bored, since decades...all the bands you mentioned, didn't stand the test of time for me. I thought it was the galopping drumming...thanks 😉 Lizzy still great. Maybe lucky that they didn't have enough time to deconstruct their legend...
Wait did you seriously just throw out Dream Theater as an example of a band recycling a chord progression their whole career 😂 bro they literally have the opposite problem from what we’re talking about here
Amazing analysis and it actually helped me understand chords a bit. Even though I did know this with me being a massive Maiden nerd, I still found this incredibly entertaining. It’s amazing how many incredible riffs and melodies Maiden can make with the same three chords One thing though, I paused a lot to look at the whole list you made, and you accidentally forgot 2 songs, Dance of Death and Mother of Mercy
Thanks for the correction man! after I went back after the voice over I actually noticed that Journeyman also contains it, which I incorrectly put as not having it in the video.so they very well may have used it MORE than what I put
@@Rowlph8888 Most of the setlist was Senjutsu and Somewhere in Time interestingly enough. I thought Bruce sounded great and he still has a ton of energy
You should look at the drumming and where the crash cymbal is used. This is where Iron Maides is unique to other bands. They start the phrase an 8th note before the next measure. Similar thing, though in triplets, happens in Black Sabbath's Black Moon from the Headless Cross album. That gives their music that "swinging" notion.
Yeah sure Alexander the Great sounds like Prowler and of course these sound exactly like the songs from the Blaze era. Seriously, if you think that you haven't listened to them enough, or you have listened to them in a purely intellectual way. They didn't have a consistent style before Brave New World. The number of the beast sounds completely different from fear of the dark as it still has that youthfulness. Almost as if notb was a DiAnno Maiden album sung by Dickinson. It might just be the most unique one because of that. A lot of songs using the same chord progression doesn't change that and I would argue that those kinds of similarities exist for every songwriter. But it's a similarity that mostly exists on paper.
I always thought Fear of the Dark was the odd one out because the lyrics alternate between rock n roll lyrics and serious themes, and his voice is more gruff in places. Also it sounds darker although X Factor was as well to be fair.
Yes and no. Yes, Steve Harris often relies on the basic structure based on Em and a C and D is usually in there. But back in the 80's they managed to have very different melodies to each song. And once Dickerson joined they were far more skilled with their arrangements and gave each tune their own personality. And Adrian would add a song or two that was completly different in strucure to give even more variety. So I would highly recommened everything from Number of the Beast to 7th Son. But after that, they ran out. And they've been repeating themselves and using that same old formula, over, and over, and over again...but with weaker melodies and far less interesting arrangements. There's been maybe three decent songs on their last 10 albums. Of course, people still love them. I think they suck now. But those albums from 82-89 are masterful.
Guns 'n' Roses Appetite for Destruction comes to mind... written in one key, so I've heard. Aerosmith comes to mind in the sense that they used the same key for many of their songs. Logically, they will use a certain progression to bring in excitement, and eventually come to a resolution, e.g., V to I(i) or VI to I(i), etc. Something else that comes to mind is, if it works, don't fix it or worse, change it. Keep it
Harris, Galloping bass line coupled with the rich twin guitar parts and McBrains unusual yet musical approach to drums also contribute to this “sameness” woven into all their material. I became a fan during the Powerslave era and have recently started listening again
I think debate here should not be whether they use the same progression over and over again or not but it's more about if that specific chord progression and the elements surrounding it attracts the listener or not. Iron Maiden(and NWOBHM in general) always sounded too glorious, heroic and fun for me as I've always chosen darker themed songs and bands in the thrash and death metal domain. This is music and everyone has different tastes. That's why we are fans of different bands and some of these bands have less impact on us than some others. That's quite normal. EDIT: I forgot to mention that overall guitar, drums and vocal style and sound of course play a big role here. I can't imagine Pantera playing their songs with Iron Maiden's guitar or drums tones or Chuck Schuldiner of Death singing his lyrics in James Hetfield's style on his songs. It's the overall sound, arrangement and tone that attracts our attention first when we hear a band for the first time.
Really good research! This chord progression is used in Paranoid (Em), Come together (Bm), Stairway to heaven and Ziggy Stardust (Am), among many others. Maybe Steve Harris found its inspiration in those songs 🤔
Thats easy, as a guitarist for almost 35 years, I can give the answer. they have always had the same amp settings and are tuned to E standard all the time on every album since 1980. the only difference is their gain changed in 1982 to 6, where on the first 2 albums their gain was at 2. that's it! \m/
1 - 4 - 5 (tonic- subdominant - dominant) is the most used progression ever. 1 can be replaced by m3 and m6 because of the two note relationship and will function as tonic.
because they didn't sell out and change their sound like some who load and reload garbage. Maiden are musical geniuses being able to do sooo much with similar progressions but somehow keep them fresh and interesting for so many albums. They became so much better after they became a 6 piece. A matter of life and death is perfection and senjutsu has given us the exceptional songs like The Parchment, Hell on Earth and the Live banger Time Machine. UP THE IRONS 🤘
We have the Bonham Triplets, where in the Maiden Gallop. I'm Leaving you by the Scorpions is based around the E C D change. Vital Signs by RUSH is C Ab Bb.
This is cool. Not a music professional at all but I am an enjoyer. Now I know why every Godsmack song sounds identical. Everyone just has their own schtick I guess. Thanks for this.
1:41 I think there is 63 songs in the 1st Bruce era, not 62. - The Number of the Beast - 8 - Piece of Mind - 9 - Powerslave - 8 - Somewhere in Time - 8 - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son - 8 - No Prayer for the Dying - 10 - Fear of the Dark - 12 Great video BTW! Love your content
Grandiose - that sums up Iron Maiden - Bruce Dickinson could spin an epic from your gran stuck behind the wheel of her Sukuki Alto in heavy traffic as closing time for the local hairdresser’s approaches - all done with those chord progressions and - of course - those galloping drums and bass - not for me, I’m afraid 😧 !!!!
I think their songs started to sound more similar after 'Fear of the Dark'. For some reason that song felt like a template for a lot of future songs. Saying that, only noobs truly think all their songs sound the same, fans know exactly which song is which, even from a few second snippet. If they stopped using these chords now, they would sound like a different band. If they created them, they should be the only ones to use them.
LOL Maiden songs sound very different from one another. In fact, it is possible to distinguish the albums by how the songs sound. Clearly you don't know what you are talking about. Any band has it own sound, that is why people listen to that band and not another, because that sound is unique. Therefore it is normal for a band to have their songs sound similar in the sense they have their own signature, but that doesn't mean the songs sound the same. Iron Maiden is a band where the songs sound quite different from one another.
The first three albums had quite a bit of diversity thanks to Clive Burr's technical drumming skills. Though I also love later Maiden for their beautiful and straightforward melodies, early Maiden's more energetic output was also nice.
This video is far less derivative than I thought it would be. Nice job. i - VI - III - VII is a popular one too, as you touched on. Blood Brothers, For the Greater Good of God, Out of the Silent Planet etc.
@@VictorMaxolThat's ridiculous. Pat Benatar has three massive hits that are frequently played on classic rock radio stations and unlike Bruce, she still sounds great live.
iron maiden using just one chord progression makes you think about a lot of things you know like... what if iron maiden was set up by teachers to secretly teach people about literature and history ? what if daft punk has never been on tour and they just hire two dudes to wear their costumes while they relax at home at and let the tour money roll in? do lego people live in houses made of their own flesh? what if a nigeran prince actually needs my help? what if we used to be able to make wishes but someone wished we couldn't ? "What if their is not evil plot, conspiracy, or corruption... And our Government is genuinely unintelligent". what if the CIA invented dinosaurs to discourage time travel? what if north korea is actually a utopia and our government is censoring everything?
At least half of Rolling Stones riffs use the same chord shape:) Minor seven against the major. When you play it, you sound like Keith Richards immediately. It is funny how few artists have managed to label some chord progression or chord shape. Galloping rhythm and Em/C/D! Nobody else can not basically use that combination anymore.
Huh? Hard to pick four concecutive albums from any artist, that would sound more different from each other than Powerslave, Somewhere in Time, Sevent Son of a Seventh Son and No prayer for the dying.
@@jakubmarszaek5918 Good point with Judas Priest! Black Sabbath I'm not sure which albums you refer to and I'm not familiar enough with the rest to comment.
That is what makes the Japanese all-female metal band LOVEBITES so amazing. Iron Maiden is their most significant influence, but they play a much wider range of metal that Maiden ever did. You'll also hear clear influences from Metallica, Megadeth, Judas Priest, Motörhead, Helloween, Slayer, Anthrax and Testament (just to name a few), and they do it with a quality of songwriting and elite musicianship that is rarely seen these days. In my opinion, they are comfortably in the top three metal bands on the planet, in terms of pure musicianship, alongside Dream Theater and Symphony-X. Every fan of Iron Maiden (or 1980s and 1990s classic metal) should check out LOVEBITES. This song is LOVEBITES tribute to Iron Maiden: ua-cam.com/video/1DcY6IKh7RU/v-deo.html This is LOVEBITES showing they can do thrash as well as anyone: ua-cam.com/video/5Pc0XK0lNmU/v-deo.html
I kind of felt that if you have one Iron Maden album you have them all.I understand melodies and rhythm do matter but the feeling of this sounds too familiar is real.
Theory is theory, ok, but most people care about feeling, and Iron Maiden are one of a kind, just amazing. Like architects using almost same material (chord progression, whatever) but achieve unique constructions. At least their 5 first albums are masterpieces; Iron Maiden signature yet distinctive.
I think you'll find in jazz the ii - V - I progression is even more common than this, but you don't often find people criticising jazz in the same way. The same could also be said for the standard 12 bar blues.
That's why I prefer Paul's era, all the songs sound so different. And Bruce's era all sounded the same to me, it's like Steve lost his creativity after those first two albums and decided to use the same stuff over and over again.
Yeah. It's Steve F-ing Harris and his favorite ride is galloping C to D to E -- 😆for 50 years. There's also sort of a trademark Bruce type of vocal melody that you hear over and over again (both in Maiden and in his solos stuff). These things are sonic trademarks of Steve and Bruce as writers. The last, GREAT IM album IMO is Somewhere in Time. After that the formula got really tired and obvious (for ME). I LOVE Maiden, but Bruce Dickenson's solo albums starting with Accident of Birth through Mandrake (all great IMO) shows what's possible when you're NOT tied to Steve Harris' writing style. IMO, those Bruce albums is where IM should have gone post-Somewhere in Time. Not that Harris couldn't continue to write, but Adrian and Bruce come up with far less formulaic songs. They needed to become the primary writers.
I like Iron Maiden but agree with the 'sameness" issue. For an octane boost on Iron Maiden, try "Darkside of Aquarius" and "Accident of Birth" on the Dickinson solo album - Accident of Birth
I get bored really fast about songs sounding the same and i f i felt that way about them i would never listen all their album on repeat...and ive always been more into other subgenres than the usual heavy metal
No! They do not all sound the same. They sound similar, because Iron Maiden have a distinctive style. It's easy to break down the chord structure, but what you do with the chords is what is important. I suppose you could say the same about Motorhead, or Slayer, for example...
To me, this explanation was the equivalent of some guy spouting baseball stats. The stats don't matter, the entertainment value that comes from it is what counts. When you were a kid did you have a fight with some guy who was a Maiden fan and told you your favorite band were shit?
You do realise there is only 7 chords to a key, so if they are using a minor key, it will be pretty obvious the same chords are used. So only 3 minor, 3 major and one diminished. Also 80% of 60s songs use the same progression LOL.
Sounds like it's the Martin Burch chord progression, especially since you mentioned Dio. Most of Killers was written pre Smith & Burch. If it came from Adrian, why would it go away (for a while) right when Martin stopped?
a lot of their new era music sounds WAY too similar, half of the songs are 7+ minutes with the same meandering acoustic intro that leads to a slow/mid tempo song
It's because as we age the neural connections in our brains are edited down for efficiency, which restricts original thought. You find a formula then stick to it basically.
I think when they were younger they were not as rich, more hungry for the fame, had more anger, fire and bravado, and all that shit. It’s a bit hard to still write songs like that when you’re in your sixties sitting by your pool in a multimillion dollar house.
Proof was a couple of days ago I managed to solo over about 6 Rock backing tracks and my habds were miving by themselves over the neck. I was surorused I managed to fo that after 14 mobths self training... yes I dud have about 30 hours if classical guitar teachibg many decades agi, but never really played a electric guitar properly until this last 14 months, but A and E are easier, at least for my brain! 😂
Good breakdown man, despite the saminess in their chord structures and patterns, Adrian has alwas been the not so secret weapon. I think he bores easily and always finds a way to play 'out of the box'..be it a sneaky suspended note in a chord (take the D he holds in the Invaders intro for example, listen carefully, its there) and definitley his solo's. He knows the parameters he's got to work with, and always finds a way to bight and cut through the predictable. They have really gone hard on the repeated melodic line intro /outro which basically follows or mimics the vocal lines for many years , and havent been known for stand alone , massive sledgehammer rythym guitar riffage for a long time. I reckon Dave loses his shit when he can finally grind the pick into that fat intro to Sanctuary when and if they ever play it.
to be fair, this is a lot of bands. I remember reading an interview with Angus Young. I don't remember t6he album they were speaking of, but the interviewer said the critics said they made the same album twice. Angus responded laughing, that's not true. we made the same album over a dozen times
Congratulations, you’ve managed to take a somewhat interesting topic and make it excruciatingly dull. Let me know when your “normie wife” starts her own channel.
@@fclefjefff4041 poor bb has hurt feelings
what do expect from a dude who calls himself varvis and hawks varvis sweatshirts on his channel. Normie no doubt.
You’ve got it twisted mate, it’s an interesting video on an excruciatingly dull topic (Iron Maiden’s music).
@@daddyzhoam If you find iron maiden's music dull, how did you end up watching the video?
@@VARVIS_ it’s OK since you were never able to establish a commercially successful band and go on world tour you made a UA-cam channel I guess that’s sort of a consolation prize?
I've been listening to Maiden since '88, and never thought their songs sounded the same. It's not how many notes you use, it's what you do with them!
I feel the same, I think to a casual listener they would sound similar.
When I listen I don't hear the similarities between tracks.
And what Irons do with them? They are using the same exact 3 chord sequence (only in different keys and tempos) in more than 50% of their repertoire. Tell me what's the better measure of repetetiveness than utilizing the same riff over and over again in your songs?
@@lucasjankowski7117 It's not a riff, but a chord progression. During the chorus, where you might already have backing vocals and a busy rhythm section, super tech-y, Locrian-mode finger gymnastics is the last thing you need. Instead, you want something that gets the crowd chanting! Look at the Ramones or AC/DC - they played the same three chords their entire careers, with far less complexity than Maiden, and were hugely influential!
@@ericv7720 Yes, but those riffs are either build on mentioned chord progressions or (in many cases) are just chords progressions themselves (with variations in pace and rhytmic structures). I don't deny the infleunce of those bands, that you mentioned. I just claim that a great deal of IM songs is based on the same three chords pattern, which often make their material sound predictable. Solos are usuaully very sophisticated and technically brilliant (and that's a different story), but underlying chord progressions are often generic.
Most artists songs, especially if they stick to one genre, sound somewhat alike. That is not a bad thing, it just means there are particular elements of compostion, sound and style that are recognizeable.
When a band is successful and has been around for a long time, they are obviously giving their fans what they want and the fans usually want "more of the same", essentially.
As an aspiring songwriter, being able to make multiple bangers out of the same musical structures is like the dream.
dream of boredom and stagnation
The trick is that each song is so different lyrically, structurally and rhythmically unique you don't realize they're using the same chords unless you're specifically looking for it. I don't know how that makes you bored.
Incorrect ,that's why they are shit
@@gabeagoado7412 Chords in music are like colors for a painter.
Everyone uses pretty much the same ones from the limited sets anyway. Because it works.
Steve Harris loves that "C, D, E" chord progression way too much.
The real question is, how many thrash riffs just chug on E all day? Lol
For real LOL
Uncountable thousands
All of them
Iron Maiden are not Thrash my friend.
You mean hardcore with the drop d chugga chugga no talent??? Sorry but there is some AMAZING thrash while hardcore sucks a$$
The words “chord” and “progression” have been used 77 times in this video, which is on average, is every 8.57 seconds
@@vladot84 you mean I could have used it more?
@@VARVIS_ Iron Maiden would’ve
E-D-C-D-E rinse and repeat and nobody does it better.
E-A-D-G-B-E, as far as I know they have never tuned down on any song.
@@METALHEAD550but it was about chords, not tuning
A lot so sound similar I do agree but I can see why they use it soo much and to be honest the songs that do have this chord progression sound sick and awesome
@@vincentmomont7538 definitly agree
I remember back in high school I had an argument with a guy more into punk/rock and roll. He argued that Iron Maiden just uses the same three chords in all songs. Teenage me could only come up with: "NO! Or, no? I mean... What?" So when I came home I played the songs I could on guitar only to find out he was pretty much right.
As a more adult person now, I can appreciate a lot of their songs are in those chords, but it's amazing how different Iron Maiden make those three chords sound. Still, screw that guy. I was right. Just don't tell him.
lol
That was a bit rich coming from a fan of Punk, of all things.
The chord progressions are not the reason why the songs sound the same-it’s the galloping baselines.
yuuup
good one
It's the guitars
I mean, b6-b7-1 is one of the most common progressions in rock generally, but Maiden definitely liked it on another level.
b6-b7-1, and almost always in E minor (though sometimes switching to D for the second guitar solo).
It's actually VI-VII-i since we talk about cadence (=chords), not intervals.
I’m a big Iron Maiden fan and they got me into playing guitar, but as I was learning their songs I noticed the same thing. But honestly the fact that they found over 80 ways to use the same three chords is pretty impressive in itself haha
@@jeffreylong1478 hahaha absolutely!
They still somehow manage to crank out unique songs with their own vibes and groove despite using a very similar song structure, which is honestly just impressive. For some reason no iron maiden album sounds samey or feel incredibly inspired by the predecessors and each have their own vibe. The Number of the Beast sounds completely different from Fear of the Dark and so on. Hell even Brave New World has a unique sound, and Out of the Silent Planet is one of the most underrated songs in their catalog.
I don't think the chord progression is identical to the song structure. Iron Maiden's Songs do often have much more parts than just verse and chorus (and pre chorus), they often have additional parts, quite a lot of them instrumental, which lets them stand out from many other Heavy Metal bands of the 80's and show that they were also influenced by the Prog Rock of the 70's (they even covered songs by Jethro Tull and Nektar on some of their singles).
And this video only shows, how many songs use that chord progression at some point. In some it is just one passage, in others, the song is kinda built around it.
And even songs that use that progression are in many cases extremely different. I mean, you can't say, that repetitive, AC/DC like happy Hardrocker "From Here To Eternity" is that similar to the dark and atmospheric, quite "proggy" Metal epic "Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son". The structure is very different, the mood/atmosphere is very different, the amount of different parts in the song is very different, they only use the same chord progression at some moment.
I hate when people say that a band sounds the same every song. For bands like AC/DC, yeah, that’s kinda true. But for bands like Iron Maiden and Saxon… that’s just their sound. They all sound very different, it’s just a matter of when an Iron Maiden song is playing, you KNOW it’s Iron Maiden. It’s not “sounding the same”, it’s called having a defined sound.
Edit: I am not referring to this video, but simply making a general statement.
Did you even bother to watch the whole video?
@@lucasjankowski7117 yes, I did. I’m not talking about what HE said, I’m saying in general.
@@WhoDaF0ok1sThatGuy I could use the same argument regarding AC/DC - "that's just their sound". The problem is not that every band has their own distinctive sound, but how much you utilize the same riffs over and over again in your songs, and Irons are using the exact same power chord sequence (with only different rhytm patterns and tempos) in more than 50 percent of their repertoire.
@@lucasjankowski7117 brother, what music have you listened to from them? They do not use the same riffs
@@WhoDaF0ok1sThatGuy Everything except the few latest albums with Bruce.
Sounding the same is a good thing. I buy an album to hear that sound, whatever sound that is. If a band constantly changes their sound, they have no identity. Kind of like picking up a glass of apple juice thinking it's tea.
100% on that! \m/
It’s like Slayer, Dream Theater, AC/DC, Lamb of God, beastial black metal, or Amon Amarth. Those bands found their exact sound, it worked, and they went with it
Aaaahhh, that's the reason why i'm bored, since decades...all the bands you mentioned, didn't stand the test of time for me. I thought it was the galopping drumming...thanks 😉
Lizzy still great. Maybe lucky that they didn't have enough time to deconstruct their legend...
Wait did you seriously just throw out Dream Theater as an example of a band recycling a chord progression their whole career 😂 bro they literally have the opposite problem from what we’re talking about here
Well, compared to the music that is typically made these days, I feel like every Maiden song feels totally unique.
Amazing analysis and it actually helped me understand chords a bit. Even though I did know this with me being a massive Maiden nerd, I still found this incredibly entertaining. It’s amazing how many incredible riffs and melodies Maiden can make with the same three chords
One thing though, I paused a lot to look at the whole list you made, and you accidentally forgot 2 songs, Dance of Death and Mother of Mercy
Thanks for the correction man! after I went back after the voice over I actually noticed that Journeyman also contains it, which I incorrectly put as not having it in the video.so they very well may have used it MORE than what I put
What a coincidental video topic for me - I saw Maiden last night in Osaka
How were they? Somewhere in time is my favourite album in heavy-metal history.Bruce is struggling a bit though I think these days
@@Rowlph8888 Most of the setlist was Senjutsu and Somewhere in Time interestingly enough. I thought Bruce sounded great and he still has a ton of energy
You should look at the drumming and where the crash cymbal is used. This is where Iron Maides is unique to other bands. They start the phrase an 8th note before the next measure. Similar thing, though in triplets, happens in Black Sabbath's Black Moon from the Headless Cross album. That gives their music that "swinging" notion.
What an undertaking! Great topic for a video. Excellent job!
As a Maiden fan for decades... No Maiden songs sound the same !!!
On your theory every bands tracks will sound the same
That chord progression is like Marge simpson's Chanel dress. Used it every time modifying it a little😂
@@dennismarin2351 lmaaooo 😂
It’s the quiet intro with cymbal clinks and a guitar solo line, then a snare hit then start the galloping drum rhythm.
Yeah sure Alexander the Great sounds like Prowler and of course these sound exactly like the songs from the Blaze era. Seriously, if you think that you haven't listened to them enough, or you have listened to them in a purely intellectual way. They didn't have a consistent style before Brave New World. The number of the beast sounds completely different from fear of the dark as it still has that youthfulness. Almost as if notb was a DiAnno Maiden album sung by Dickinson. It might just be the most unique one because of that. A lot of songs using the same chord progression doesn't change that and I would argue that those kinds of similarities exist for every songwriter. But it's a similarity that mostly exists on paper.
I always thought Fear of the Dark was the odd one out because the lyrics alternate between rock n roll lyrics and serious themes, and his voice is more gruff in places. Also it sounds darker although X Factor was as well to be fair.
Thank you! Great work and analysis.
This is the breakdown we needed.
Yes and no. Yes, Steve Harris often relies on the basic structure based on Em and a C and D is usually in there. But back in the 80's they managed to have very different melodies to each song. And once Dickerson joined they were far more skilled with their arrangements and gave each tune their own personality. And Adrian would add a song or two that was completly different in strucure to give even more variety. So I would highly recommened everything from Number of the Beast to 7th Son. But after that, they ran out. And they've been repeating themselves and using that same old formula, over, and over, and over again...but with weaker melodies and far less interesting arrangements. There's been maybe three decent songs on their last 10 albums. Of course, people still love them. I think they suck now. But those albums from 82-89 are masterful.
Guns 'n' Roses Appetite for Destruction comes to mind... written in one key, so I've heard. Aerosmith comes to mind in the sense that they used the same key for many of their songs. Logically, they will use a certain progression to bring in excitement, and eventually come to a resolution, e.g., V to I(i) or VI to I(i), etc. Something else that comes to mind is, if it works, don't fix it or worse, change it. Keep it
With Maiden TNOTB and Power Slave are the best albums for me. I love Power Slave as it’s the perfect dose of metal in your daily diet!
Harris, Galloping bass line coupled with the rich twin guitar parts and McBrains unusual yet musical approach to drums also contribute to this “sameness” woven into all their material. I became a fan during the Powerslave era and have recently started listening again
Every band has their own style and for someone unfamiliar with the music, each song may sound the same
It's their style. Nothing wrong with that
Agreed
It's not just their style. It's a thought out formula
I think debate here should not be whether they use the same progression over and over again or not but it's more about if that specific chord progression and the elements surrounding it attracts the listener or not.
Iron Maiden(and NWOBHM in general) always sounded too glorious, heroic and fun for me as I've always chosen darker themed songs and bands in the thrash and death metal domain.
This is music and everyone has different tastes. That's why we are fans of different bands and some of these bands have less impact on us than some others. That's quite normal.
EDIT: I forgot to mention that overall guitar, drums and vocal style and sound of course play a big role here. I can't imagine Pantera playing their songs with Iron Maiden's guitar or drums tones or Chuck Schuldiner of Death singing his lyrics in James Hetfield's style on his songs. It's the overall sound, arrangement and tone that attracts our attention first when we hear a band for the first time.
Very interesting analysis. Thank you :) \m/
Really good research! This chord progression is used in Paranoid (Em), Come together (Bm), Stairway to heaven and Ziggy Stardust (Am), among many others. Maybe Steve Harris found its inspiration in those songs 🤔
Bro's making all maiden fans his opps
No, he isn't. I'm a Maiden lunatic. I knew what chords he was talking about he played them 🤣
Thats easy, as a guitarist for almost 35 years, I can give the answer. they have always had the same amp settings and are tuned to E standard all the time on every album since 1980. the only difference is their gain changed in 1982 to 6, where on the first 2 albums their gain was at 2. that's it! \m/
Interesting info thanks.
1 - 4 - 5 (tonic- subdominant - dominant) is the most used progression ever. 1 can be replaced by m3 and m6 because of the two note relationship and will function as tonic.
because they didn't sell out and change their sound like some who load and reload garbage. Maiden are musical geniuses being able to do sooo much with similar progressions but somehow keep them fresh and interesting for so many albums. They became so much better after they became a 6 piece. A matter of life and death is perfection and senjutsu has given us the exceptional songs like The Parchment, Hell on Earth and the Live banger Time Machine. UP THE IRONS 🤘
We have the Bonham Triplets, where in the Maiden Gallop.
I'm Leaving you by the Scorpions is based around the E C D change. Vital Signs by RUSH is C Ab Bb.
This is cool. Not a music professional at all but I am an enjoyer. Now I know why every Godsmack song sounds identical.
Everyone just has their own schtick I guess.
Thanks for this.
finally someone addresses this.
1:41 I think there is 63 songs in the 1st Bruce era, not 62.
- The Number of the Beast - 8
- Piece of Mind - 9
- Powerslave - 8
- Somewhere in Time - 8
- Seventh Son of a Seventh Son - 8
- No Prayer for the Dying - 10
- Fear of the Dark - 12
Great video BTW! Love your content
Trying to explain to non theory people what a major 3rd harmony is.
Cool stuff buddy!
Grandiose - that sums up Iron Maiden - Bruce Dickinson could spin an epic from your gran stuck behind the wheel of her Sukuki Alto in heavy traffic as closing time for the local hairdresser’s approaches - all done with those chord progressions and - of course - those galloping drums and bass - not for me, I’m afraid 😧 !!!!
Hey even if they sound the same , they do it so great that words can't describe how great Iron Maiden are!
I think their songs started to sound more similar after 'Fear of the Dark'. For some reason that song felt like a template for a lot of future songs. Saying that, only noobs truly think all their songs sound the same, fans know exactly which song is which, even from a few second snippet. If they stopped using these chords now, they would sound like a different band. If they created them, they should be the only ones to use them.
LOL Maiden songs sound very different from one another. In fact, it is possible to distinguish the albums by how the songs sound.
Clearly you don't know what you are talking about. Any band has it own sound, that is why people listen to that band and not another, because that sound is unique. Therefore it is normal for a band to have their songs sound similar in the sense they have their own signature, but that doesn't mean the songs sound the same. Iron Maiden is a band where the songs sound quite different from one another.
The do sound the same. Black sabbath has a distinct sound but Sabbath Bloody Sabbath and Heaven and Hell don't sound alike
The first three albums had quite a bit of diversity thanks to Clive Burr's technical drumming skills. Though I also love later Maiden for their beautiful and straightforward melodies, early Maiden's more energetic output was also nice.
appreciate the video bud. it was interesting.
This video is far less derivative than I thought it would be. Nice job.
i - VI - III - VII is a popular one too, as you touched on. Blood Brothers, For the Greater Good of God, Out of the Silent Planet etc.
Aka the Battle Hymn chord progression 🦾
Thanks man
No Prayer is one of their least popular, if not the least popular Dickson album and only 3 tunes use it. Coincidence? 🙂↔️
Same thing happens with every band, because this is call....style. Let us know when you find the wheel
Pat Benatar uses this progression a lot as well as Dokken. I think it's used often in rock music.
Pat Benatar only has one song.
Main riff in Breaking the chains has it 👍
@@VictorMaxolThat's ridiculous. Pat Benatar has three massive hits that are frequently played on classic rock radio stations and unlike Bruce, she still sounds great live.
iron maiden using just one chord progression makes you think about a lot of things you know like...
what if iron maiden was set up by teachers to secretly teach people about literature and history ?
what if daft punk has never been on tour and they just hire two dudes to wear their costumes while they relax at home at and let the tour money roll in?
do lego people live in houses made of their own flesh?
what if a nigeran prince actually needs my help?
what if we used to be able to make wishes but someone wished we couldn't ?
"What if their is not evil plot, conspiracy, or corruption... And our Government is genuinely unintelligent".
what if the CIA invented dinosaurs to discourage time travel?
what if north korea is actually a utopia and our government is censoring everything?
This is the best comment I've ever read in my life.
Wonderful video…thank you for the effort you put in …it’s also a great music theory intro…
Great video man....keep it up. You're going to be fucking huge!!
Cheers brother 😊
At least half of Rolling Stones riffs use the same chord shape:) Minor seven against the major. When you play it, you sound like Keith Richards immediately. It is funny how few artists have managed to label some chord progression or chord shape. Galloping rhythm and Em/C/D! Nobody else can not basically use that combination anymore.
Sonic 3 De. Eggmans theme uses this chord progression
If you want to hear the canadian version of Iron Maiden : Deaf Dealer «Journey into fear » Full album remastered 2014 on YT.
ZZTop: same 3 guys, same 2 riffs, but grand grand !!
It would interesting that you do a bonus where you give us your favorite "non Iron maiden progression" songs.
That is a good idea
Iron Maiden (the song), Die with Your Boots On, Gangland, 2 Minutes to Midnight...
Huh?
Hard to pick four concecutive albums from any artist, that would sound more different from each other than Powerslave, Somewhere in Time, Sevent Son of a Seventh Son and No prayer for the dying.
Bathory
Ulver
David Bowie
Death
Judas Priest
Paradise Lost
Mayhem
Entombed
Black Sabbath
Pink Floyd
Ghost
(...)
@@jakubmarszaek5918 Good point with Judas Priest!
Black Sabbath I'm not sure which albums you refer to and I'm not familiar enough with the rest to comment.
Make a lesson on how iron maiden uses harmonic rhythm and another lesson about guitar harmonies are either in 3rds or 6ths
That is what makes the Japanese all-female metal band LOVEBITES so amazing. Iron Maiden is their most significant influence, but they play a much wider range of metal that Maiden ever did. You'll also hear clear influences from Metallica, Megadeth, Judas Priest, Motörhead, Helloween, Slayer, Anthrax and Testament (just to name a few), and they do it with a quality of songwriting and elite musicianship that is rarely seen these days. In my opinion, they are comfortably in the top three metal bands on the planet, in terms of pure musicianship, alongside Dream Theater and Symphony-X. Every fan of Iron Maiden (or 1980s and 1990s classic metal) should check out LOVEBITES.
This song is LOVEBITES tribute to Iron Maiden: ua-cam.com/video/1DcY6IKh7RU/v-deo.html
This is LOVEBITES showing they can do thrash as well as anyone: ua-cam.com/video/5Pc0XK0lNmU/v-deo.html
Because, it's always the same singer, guitarists, bassist and drummer who are playing the songs.
Maiden songs don’t all sound the same… end of discussion
Dude I’ve always wondered this 💀
Auto thumbs down for the false claim.
Now I'm onto watching the video.
It's true
what is your point?
I kind of felt that if you have one Iron Maden album you have them all.I understand melodies and rhythm do matter but the feeling of this sounds too familiar is real.
02:21 Sounds like Running Wild - another "One song" band.
love running wild!!
Theory is theory, ok, but most people care about feeling, and Iron Maiden are one of a kind, just amazing. Like architects using almost same material (chord progression, whatever) but achieve unique constructions. At least their 5 first albums are masterpieces; Iron Maiden signature yet distinctive.
I actually think this is genius from Maiden when you think about it….
I think you'll find in jazz the ii - V - I progression is even more common than this, but you don't often find people criticising jazz in the same way.
The same could also be said for the standard 12 bar blues.
it reminds me of 5-7-8 riffs 2000s metalcore was full of
That's why I prefer Paul's era, all the songs sound so different.
And Bruce's era all sounded the same to me, it's like Steve lost his creativity after those first two albums and decided to use the same stuff over and over again.
Yeah. It's Steve F-ing Harris and his favorite ride is galloping C to D to E -- 😆for 50 years. There's also sort of a trademark Bruce type of vocal melody that you hear over and over again (both in Maiden and in his solos stuff). These things are sonic trademarks of Steve and Bruce as writers.
The last, GREAT IM album IMO is Somewhere in Time. After that the formula got really tired and obvious (for ME). I LOVE Maiden, but Bruce Dickenson's solo albums starting with Accident of Birth through Mandrake (all great IMO) shows what's possible when you're NOT tied to Steve Harris' writing style. IMO, those Bruce albums is where IM should have gone post-Somewhere in Time. Not that Harris couldn't continue to write, but Adrian and Bruce come up with far less formulaic songs. They needed to become the primary writers.
I like Iron Maiden but agree with the 'sameness" issue. For an octane boost on Iron Maiden, try "Darkside of Aquarius" and "Accident of Birth" on the Dickinson solo album - Accident of Birth
I get bored really fast about songs sounding the same and i f i felt that way about them i would never listen all their album on repeat...and ive always been more into other subgenres than the usual heavy metal
Well, I say Up the Irons!!! \m/
What about ACDC? Every single one?
This video isnt about them though. What you are doing is called whataboutism and its a logical fallacy.
@@sole__doubt no... I am just asking about ACDC.
@@sole__doubt Is he wrong tho?
@@sole__doubtchill bro
I came here to chill out after consuming too much political content and now I have to find comments about whataboutism for fuckin... Acdc and maiden
No! They do not all sound the same. They sound similar, because Iron Maiden have a distinctive style. It's easy to break down the chord structure, but what you do with the chords is what is important. I suppose you could say the same about Motorhead, or Slayer, for example...
Wrong
@@hieinhA remarkable in-depth musical analysis from hiehahaoohoo.... 😂
To me, this explanation was the equivalent of some guy spouting baseball stats. The stats don't matter, the entertainment value that comes from it is what counts. When you were a kid did you have a fight with some guy who was a Maiden fan and told you your favorite band were shit?
@@tonytendencies4698 lol I love Iron Maiden 😂
You do realise there is only 7 chords to a key, so if they are using a minor key, it will be pretty obvious the same chords are used. So only 3 minor, 3 major and one diminished. Also 80% of 60s songs use the same progression LOL.
Except you have borrowed chords, substitutions, inversions...
Sounds like it's the Martin Burch chord progression, especially since you mentioned Dio. Most of Killers was written pre Smith & Burch. If it came from Adrian, why would it go away (for a while) right when Martin stopped?
a lot of their new era music sounds WAY too similar, half of the songs are 7+ minutes with the same meandering acoustic intro that leads to a slow/mid tempo song
It's because as we age the neural connections in our brains are edited down for efficiency, which restricts original thought. You find a formula then stick to it basically.
I think when they were younger they were not as rich, more hungry for the fame, had more anger, fire and bravado, and all that shit. It’s a bit hard to still write songs like that when you’re in your sixties sitting by your pool in a multimillion dollar house.
Kind of agree with you there even though I've listened to Maiden since the eearly 80's........the last 20+ years have been more prog rock than metal
@@richardcrook2112 I could give you plenty of examples that your statement is false
three chords and a singer who always sounds like he was hung upside down begging for his live ...
It's Steve Harris' signature.
Next do Disturbed.
Yumma,
Yumma Numma,
Yumma Yumma Num Num,
Yumma Numma Num Num Nummin Ah!
Yep all their songs sound the same
If all their songs sound the same, why is it I don't like every single song maiden have recorded?
Might I suggest applying the same analysis to AC/DC?
... E and A are usually and in my view the easiest to play chords and solos!
Proof was a couple of days ago I managed to solo over about 6 Rock backing tracks and my habds were miving by themselves over the neck.
I was surorused I managed to fo that after 14 mobths self training... yes I dud have about 30 hours if classical guitar teachibg many decades agi, but never really played a electric guitar properly until this last 14 months, but A and E are easier, at least for my brain!
😂
Good breakdown man, despite the saminess in their chord structures and patterns, Adrian has alwas been the not so secret weapon. I think he bores easily and always finds a way to play 'out of the box'..be it a sneaky suspended note in a chord (take the D he holds in the Invaders intro for example, listen carefully, its there) and definitley his solo's. He knows the parameters he's got to work with, and always finds a way to bight and cut through the predictable. They have really gone hard on the repeated melodic line intro /outro which basically follows or mimics the vocal lines for many years , and havent been known for stand alone , massive sledgehammer rythym guitar riffage for a long time. I reckon Dave loses his shit when he can finally grind the pick into that fat intro to Sanctuary when and if they ever play it.
Very interesting. That reminds me to stop being lazy and get back to studying musical theory.
They don't all sound the same...
Did you use the same ears to listen?
to be fair, this is a lot of bands. I remember reading an interview with Angus Young. I don't remember t6he album they were speaking of, but the interviewer said the critics said they made the same album twice. Angus responded laughing, that's not true. we made the same album over a dozen times
The lyrics and Bruce's singing is what makes Maiden Maiden