UPDATE: This video's title has been changed to better reflect its content. In the opinion of myself and others the previous title was inappropriately giving people the impression I was suggesting a 456 and its variations are somehow exclusive to anison and Japanese music in general (or that they're the only common progressions in those fields). Both of those arguments would be ridiculous notions to be sure. The actual content of this video never purports those claims so nothing in the video has been changed. This chord progression and its variations are however still relevant to fans of Japanese music and the music featured in anime because of the enormous frequency with which they've appeared in the last few decades. This conclusion was the result of a handful of years worth of transcription by myself and three other composers. For some anecdotal proof concerning their frequency please read the comments below. For something more quantitative please watch this video or search "The Royal Road Progression". Happy watching, folks!
I just saw this video now and honestly I loved all of it. And seeing this comment was typed down just an hour ago... I can definitely see you're recently getting activity from this video.
at 10:15 there is a mixing error between III-(ACE in the video instead of EGB) and VI-(EGB instead of ACE). Just to not confuse the newbies learning harmony.
As a Japanese musician, I have to say the fact:Half of what you call “anime songs” are not made for each anime (especially from middle of 1990s to early 2000s, most of them are not). They are made by Japanese musicians first, and then “tied-up” with anime by companies for promotion of the musician and song themselves. In other words, not only anime songs but also much of Japanese pop songs have that feature:Ⅳ-Ⅴ-Ⅵm chord progression and/or transformation of that. I also use that usually.
Yes! I've been presenting panel presentations on just this fact for many years. I'll be making a video about it soon. "The anime chord progression" is just a term I use light heartedly because my target demographic is anime fans. I do reference the word "anison" though, which is (as you know) a word Japanese anime fans use. But as you mentioned, it often obscures the song's true history.
@@ANIMYZE Okay, you don’t seem the one of shallow guys who call EVERY Japanese things like “Anime brah-brah-brah“ or “Hentai brah-brah-brah” (BTW “hentai” means “sexual pervert” originally. That’s so weird, so cringy). Well, if you’re gonna talk about “anime chord progression” more, how about to feature what we call “fractional augment” or “blackadder chord”? From early 2010s (or maybe a few years earlier), the chord got to frequently appears on anime themes (Ex:“SSSS.GRIDMAN”, “Kemono Friends”, “Idolm@ster Cinderella Girls” and more). One of example of that is A#aug/G#. It could make boring chord progressions better. Like this. ||:GMaj7(9) A6 |Bm7 F#m7 | |GMaj7(9) A6 |Bm7 F#/A# Am7 A#aug/G# :|| They’re very useful as passing chords.
that probably ties to when I run across a jpop song I've never heard before, wonder what anime it's from and then find it's never been an anime song XD I imagine there's also got to be an aspect where producers pick songs that "sound like anime songs", whether consciously or unconsciously
@@kuroageha1096 ok, wow, so i've heard of JAM project before (I think the only songs of theirs I really recognize are Little Wing and Hero), but I never knew JAM was an acronym, let alone standing for Japan Animationsong Makers. my mind is being blown here.
please highlight the chord number as it appears in the song example when you play it. this really helps show the chord changes and demonstrates your points. great video. thanks!
Easiest way (at least for me) to listen for the chord changes is to listen to the bass, since that's almost always going to be playing the root of the chord
4 5 6- 1 is one of the mainstream progression in any pop musics The original is what i called "The Half Cannon progession" 1 5 6- 4 other frequently used in pop music 6- 1 5 4 Add 3, it will be the "Full Cannon Progression" 1 5 6- 3- 4 1 4 5 There is no harm in flipping the chords as long as it is connected with the root chord Today lots of J-pop groups are playing around with Jazz and Hiphop sauces which make the progression kinda jazzy
Subbed instantly. I suck at music theory but this was really well explained and I could comfortably follow along. Personally I don’t mind cliche chords cause I mean, people kinda just gravitate to the kind of music that makes them comfortable. I grew up in egypt and our music has maqaam scales with microtonals, it has so much unexplored potential for cool harmonic stuff but sadly it may sound unfamiliar and uncomfortable to most.
Curious to know if you've ever listened to King Gizzard. They're an Australian band that has done three albums using microtonal guitars. If you have, I'd be interested to know your thoughts.
I would say that it isn‘t overused because people still enjoy and listen to the openings with a lot of joy. Simplicity is what makes pop to pop and it‘s nice to have a good working formular. The chordprogression may be the same in a lot of songs but many other aspects like speed, instrumentalization, rhythm and so on gives you the chance to still make something unique about it 😊 it‘s a GREAT video!!! Keep on doing that great stuff 🙏
@@rizzakbeats ANIMYZE has a Soundcloud with some composition we did for Anime Conventions. There's a link on our banner here on UA-cam. I'm also a presenter for Impact Soundworks so you can find compositions I do for them here on UA-cam!
@@ANIMYZE "If it ain't broke don't fix it" That is a very Japanese way of thinking. G_d forbid thinking outside of the box when it comes to composition. It is overused to the point that all OPs and EDs feel the same regardless of variations in tempo, instrumentation, and rhythm.I would love to hear some extended chords. I would love to be surprised by an anisong.
i have been searching for so long about anime chord progressions because anime songs are so cool and melodic. Now i know. Thank you for the lesson. Very much appreciated. ❤
As a composer, i really love those chords because there are so many melodies that can fit into it and also i am a fan of that anime vibe. Sure i could've make tons of songs with only those chords. But i really try to refrain myself from using it too much or even try to at least make it less obvious to make my song sound less cliche while still keeping the anime vibes. It's like a challenge.
I'm near illiterate when it comes to music theory, but man thanks so much for this video. It put into words something I've observed about anime music for years, but didn't have the vocabulary to explain easily. Your explanation is so good at dissecting it and making it digestible.
It’s as overused as the I IV V in Blues and swing jazz. It’s not overused, as there are many textures and themes being communicated. There are also many creative options for composers to offer new takes on the progression.
If I remember correctly somebody mentioned that Jazz did inspire pretty much how the Japanese music progression. Since knowing this, I tried to listen to Jazz and I understand why I like many Japanese music, and now I even started listening Jazz as well. Basically broaden my horizon.
@@pentexsucks43 "It’s as overused as the I IV V in Blues and swing jazz" = it's not overused, just used a lot. It's the same kind of "framework" that still allows for creativity.
@@pentexsucks43 saying that the IV-V-vi chord progression “is as overused as I-IV-V” just means that both are commonly used and are on the same level. If one progression is “overused” then both of them are, and vice versa
Thanks so much for all of the love this video has gotten! It means the world to me. Just wanted to respond to some of your comments here: Because the target audience of this channel is anime fans, I am light-heartedly using the term "anime music" and "the anime chord progression". Objectively, these terms have a complicated existence and colloquially I myself wouldn't use them outside of a very specific bubble (which this video is clearly in). My next video or the one after that will be discussing the complicated nature of these terms. Until then, keep a few things in mind: 1) The majority of the music used in anime is by Japanese artists, usually outside of the anison-exclusive space. 2) These chord progressions, while commonly employed within anime (thus making them characteristic of anime and Japanese music in general), are frequently employed by musicians all over the world in various fields.
@@nopurposeposting1548 i was also thinkin the same For me 2:53 sounded like Ain't no way that i can leave you stranded 'Cause you ain't ever left me empty-handed .... (Song: stay)
@@nopurposeposting1548 flat 6, flat 7, 1 minor which as described at the 1 minute point of the video is extremely common in heavy metal (e.g. lots of Iron Maiden songs). Its 4,5,6 but thinking of it in a minor scale instead of major.
Dude thank you so much for the video it's amazing that you can explain the chord harmonic function in lest then 2 minutes, I been searching the anime chord progressions for quite a some time and I finally found your video so thank you and best of luck Oh btw for those of you who don't know what are "tonic" "subdominant" and " dominant" are The tonic function as the home, sense of rest or the beginning of the journey the subdominant are the bridge between the tonic and dominant The journey it's self The dominant Point back to home(ie tonic) or the end of the journey
As someone who has played guitar on and off for 20 years (only as a hobby, I don't consider myself a musician really), this was a very fascinating and eye opening video. It has given me some inspiration and a starting point for possibly writing my own songs. Very informative, and it just blows my mind sometimes that musical theory has such depth to it. Also you have a great speaking voice, will definitely be checking out more videos. Was a great watch
Honestly, as someone who craves novelty, I want to say it's overused. But, given the examples you put, it's clear that this progression is being properly explored -- I had no idea it was even in some of those songs.
If you think in terms of chord progression originality, then everything becomes overused. Even the most beautiful Chopin ballade or the most complex Bach fugue start to feel mundane after you analyze it that way. In fact a lot of pop songs you hear today use the exact same chord progression that several Lizst pieces do. It's not so much about chord progression in itself but more about what you do with it
It happens a lot on youtube where you can watch videos made to specifically explain theories all day and have it all go over your head but then you go get high and watch the anime chord progression video for quick plagiarism lifehacks and it all suddenly makes sense, really good video
I've been using these variations for songs I've written for my band, great to see there's legitimate proof/evidence of what makes a song "anime"-like. Kudos!
The charts at the end of this video were literally what I've been looking for for ages. I've always really wanted to compose music, and I've had a few bangers that I've made (purely through feeling) but what always flabbergasted me was chord progressions. No matter how much I tried to study it or look it up, the information never stuck. But that simple chart and explanation has helped me so much and made everything click into place. This was a great video, thank you so much!
This is a really nice explanation. From the title I would have picked "IV V iii vi" as the most anime-esque progression of all, but the way you analyze it as a variant of "IV V vi" feels right (since the latter is simpler because of only having 3 chords). I disagree with one point of analysis though. At 11:06, you analyze the "iii" in "IV V iii vi" as having tonic function, but I think it's virtually always dominant function (which makes the progression sound like it's sitting on the dominant for an extra measure before resolving). Consider the voice leading. On a chord progression "F G Em7 Am", a pretty natural way to voice the right hand on a keyboard is as "CFA DGB DGB EAC". The leading tone doesn't resolve until the final chord, and because it's in the top voice, it really stands out too.
" IV V III- VI- " is generally THE chord prog I think of when I think of anime. I personally find the prog a little monotonous at this point, but there's no denying that it's iconic. " IV V VI- III- " is honestly a solid chord prog and can still sound fresh. " IV V VI- I/3rd " can be a tear-jerker. I/3rd in general is a great technique. It's amazing how changing the formula even slightly can make a world of difference.
I just found your channe. You don't know how Important this channel is, as a musician, anime lover and English learner this content is so useful ❤❤❤❤ Thanks a bunch
Another variation I especially love is the IV V III vi - where III is actually the dominant V of vi - it creates an even more dramatic effect because we have the tritone in there pulling it towards the resolution, which is the minor vi. It's almost jarring to have two dominant chords one after another, but extremely satisfying when we get to the vi. The example I remember is Starlog by ChouCho. The chorus starts with B (IV), goes to C# (V), then A#7 (III) and resolves to D#m (vi). On top of it they play the chords for two bars each and (to add insult to the injury) they put a lot of emphasis on the D note (actually C double sharp in the A# chord), which doubles as a passing chromatic tone into the D#m (C# - D - D#). It's ingenious and it fascinated me for years - the tension buildup is just crazy - but it works perfectly. I wonder if it's easier to think of it as Gb instead, but then the chorus starts with Cb haha I think I picked a terrible example 🤣 Great vid! Thanks
Humming a melody is pretty much a chord progression, think of it as a set of notes. Although chords are just multiple bits stacked on top of each other to create a note. Stacking the notes allows you to create a minor or major feel, a note on its own is neutral but when you put multiple notes together, it creates a feeling. A chord progression is just multiple chords put together in a specific order to create a sound. The feeling (minor major) and order of the chords creates the feeling of the chord progression. Or in simpler terms, you know what the guitar plays at the beginning of smells like teen spirit by nirvana? That’s a chord progression. I’m not good at explaining things but I try.
IV, V, vi is an incredibly popular progression everywhere (just look at any of the Disney musicals). What tends to really solidify something as very anime/j-pop in my ears is what I like to call the Japanese ii-V, in which after the IV V vi you would play the V7/IV and its related ii. For example in the key of C - Fmaj, Gmaj, Amin, Gmin C7, Fmaj. This combo is very popular in RnB also, but I always catch it in anime
That was really interesting! I'm a pianist, but maybe because I haven't touched the keys much over the past three years, I actually had trouble hearing some of the chord progressions in the examples, especially when the the bass line wasn't obvious. For future videos like this, maybe it would be a good idea to highlight the chord being played at each point in the examples? I felt you really made an effort to make this accessible to everyone, but doing this might make it easier for non-specialists (and people out of practice like me) to follow along. Just a suggestion. Thanks again for the video! 🙂
It's a pianist thing (or at least a classical training thing). We aren't really taught to play music in terms of chords, so it's not an automatic way to approach listening to it.
@@dominiccasts I guess it might be, but I know chords are covered in music theory classes, and when I can hear an accompaniment (e.g. a guitar backing up vocals), I do tend to listen out for the notes that sound the most prominent when chords are played. However, yeah, it's not natural for me to hear chords when notes are played individually in a melody line. I don't think of them that way.
@@dominiccasts Wait. So how are pianists typically taught in a classical way then? I just kinda played it knowing some Jazz theory first and learned in the form of chords first. Maybe that's why I've reached a point where I'm struggling to make the type of music that I want to make.
@@ivansoto9723 Notes first, and intervals. Chords exist and are taught, but almost always starting with basic major/minor triads and sticking to that for years, and even those are taught as a set of notes. Later on you get into diminished chords, and learn a bit more about diminished and augmented intervals, but not really things like what a sus chord is, or (at least in the performance side of it) how to think in terms of harmonic motion, rather than just "here's some sheet music, all the notes are there"
As many commenters here have mentioned, C - D - Em is a standard 80s metal chord progression. Which is why "Hallowed Be Thy Name / Ninja Scroll" is still the best AMV of all time.
I play rock/metal music. It's pretty straight forward for me: Iron maiden->x japan->j rock->anime. 80-90s J-metal were greatly influenced by the western power metal/glam metal scene, which then influenced modern J-rock. You can find the 4-5-6 almost in every Iron Maiden song. I am not sure who started this, most likely some guitarists moving the same chord shape up and down the guitar neck and thought "wow it sounds good", accidentally created the subdominant-dominant-tonic cadence lol.
Huh, I didn't see that connection. To me the chord progression immediately makes me think of "I Want to Break Free" by Queen (who is also apparently popular in Japan).
Im so glad charles showed us this video. It was sooo cool and there is so many really epic commentaries that brings us cool info, good to read all of this
I've always heard that chord progression as some kind of twist on the bVI, bVII, I progression, aka the "Super Mario cadence". It's a very common cadence in japanese music, and the anime progression makes you feel like it's going there, but then it hits you with the I- and that triumphant and resolved feeling of the original is replaced by a darker and ambiguous tone. The contrast that it creates makes it sound somewhat bittersweet and nostalgic, giving the same effect as the I, V, VI-, IV progression, which can also be seen as a variation of it, with the chords rearranged in a different order.
@@recursiv I know. I never said it's the same cadence. I said that it makes you feel like it's going to be that, but then it takes a dark twist with the minor chord.
Fantastic video, really helps contextualise these progressions and well presented. As you mentioned you can get creative with these by changing the chord quality. Common one I heard is IV V VIsus4 VI; where the vi was originally minor, it becomes major, typically at the end of chorus sections. This is a good tool for modulation - you could now consider that VI to be a I in a different major key, or even make that VI into a VI7, then consider that to be a V7 to launch into a completely different major/minor key.
Animyze, you forgot to mention some examples of chord progressions with ii and/or vii°. ii-V-iii-vi and IV-vii°-iii-vi sound quite anime-ish to me (ex. Dm-G-Em-Am and F-Bdim-Em-Am) Also, at 10:15 you have the notes for the iii and vi chords the wrong way around.
Yes! Those are indeed common. However, I was only focusing on 456 progressions in this video. But I hope others see this comment. Some good sounds for sure.
I, iii, and vi are tonics (T). ii and IV are subdominants (S). V and vii° are dominants (D). IV-V-vi is S-D-T. IV-V-iii-vi is S-D-T-T. IV-V-vi-iii is S-D-T-T as well. ii-V-iii-vi is S-D-T-T. IV-vii°-iii-vi is also S-D-T-T. Furthermore, IV-V-I is S-D-T. ii-V-I is S-D-T. IV-vii°-I is S-D-T. IV-V-I-vi is S-D-T-T. IV-V-I-iii is S-D-T-T. To take this to the extreme, IV-vii°-iii-vi-ii-V-I is S-D-T-T-S-D-T.
You have a minor (no pun intended lol) error at 10:06 -- you switched the chord notes for III and VI. III is EGB, VI is ACE in C Major. Still works for Harmonic Functions in regards to tonic, but just a note :) great video! I enjoyed it a lot.
Absolutely perfect video until the last ten seconds. Didn't need the "does this progression actually SUCK?" engagement-bait at the end, hahah. The video was already good enough to comment on! Thanks so much for posting. This is seriously one of the best theory videos I've ever come across. Explaining why the chords in each chord family are so closely related and how these chord progressions all evolved and share the same functions was fantastic. Subscribed, thanks again!
Amazing video!!!thank you for making these, I saw almost all the shows op and ending in the examples and listening and reconignsing all was great!! Thank you for this!!
As someone who always subconsciously ends up improvising in what others describe as "Japanese-like" (referencing j-pop, anime, and video game musical conventions and chord progs), this was a really interesting video!
You called it the "Anime Chord Progression", but it's actually just as prevalent in American Pop and 80s music, so much so that it was taught to me as the "Pop chord progression". American pop and Anime OP use the same chord progression, more proof that chords are simply a foundation for extended harmony, timbre, rhythm, and all the other things that make a song truly unique. Chords get way too much attention :/
to me its the "emo chord progression" because its not uncommon to find those three chords in post hardcore/emo music (they tend to be a variation but yk) this is technically something like metalcore but you can find it in Another Life by Motionless in White
@@DisturbedVette Yes! 100 percent. You're actually the first person to mention that here I think. I grew up (and still play) those genres. Very close to my heart.
Thank you! I was happily surprised when you went into the functional harmony section at the end. Really helps to give context to why those chords are used 🙂
I hope you become successful. Seeing how you respond to critiques and adjusted is something to be desired. Great video but also you seem like a great person who is open to feedback and listening. Thank you
Bruhh. Finally someone had to make a video on it! As a musician, I always thought that this was a thing after listening to a lot of anime OP's and ED's but I never put it into words or even thought of giving it a name. Its bizarre to see how common this chord progression is in a lot of anime music though.
I dont kow an inch about music theory but after getting into guitar, I came to this idea and finally thought I wasnt crazy that most anime ops and eds sound similar. Really an eye opener for a beginner like me, great video!
Alright, so I've been composing music for more than ten years but I have been watching anime just recently, and after some animes I noticed this I am so glad to find the video talking about what I felt when watching these animes, I mean their songs have their unique touch, but yeahmost of the use this progressions, I am happy not to be the only one who noticed this, great video and amazing explanation!
Really eye opening! I had heard the 4 5 3 6- progression before (not covered in this video) in many anime, and thought to myself upon seeing this video's thumbnail, "Yes! Someone finally made a video on that!", but to think that there was so much more to it...
Thank you so much for this fantastic video! This is the best music theoretical explanation about the IV V VI- chord progression I ever heared! Great job 😀
Really great and concise video, deserves a lot more views and subs! It's a bit more editing work, but something that can be really useful for viewers whose ears aren't quite tuned to harmonic changes is to highlight each chord as it's being heard when playing the examples 🙂 Keep up the good work!
Algorithm be praised, great video! I know next to nothing about music theory so it was great to learn about some of it in context with anime. Amazing work, keep it up!
Great video man!! As a musician and weeb, I’ve always complained that there’s not enough video essays about the music in anime so I hope you make more of these types of vids! To answer your last question, the diversity of genres helps keep the chord progressions from feeling overused. Since anime OPs are everything from bubble gum pop for Shojo series to hard rock for Shonen series, the ED’s often ~feel~ different even if they have the same musical foundation. Whereas the “overused chord progression” discussion is usually said about a specific genre like pop music.
I actually like switching the 6 and 3 to make IV V vii iii way better. Appreciate the video. I'm someone who HAS to know why and how a chord sounds the way it does since I've only learned Music theory a year ago. thumbs up 👍🏼
bVI - bVII - I for natural minor scale is widely used in rock/metal, especially if the key is in the 4th fret when in dropped tunings. For example: F# minor in Drop D where bVI - bVII - I is 0 - 2 - 4 in the lowest 6th string.
UPDATE: This video's title has been changed to better reflect its content. In the opinion of myself and others the previous title was inappropriately giving people the impression I was suggesting a 456 and its variations are somehow exclusive to anison and Japanese music in general (or that they're the only common progressions in those fields). Both of those arguments would be ridiculous notions to be sure. The actual content of this video never purports those claims so nothing in the video has been changed. This chord progression and its variations are however still relevant to fans of Japanese music and the music featured in anime because of the enormous frequency with which they've appeared in the last few decades. This conclusion was the result of a handful of years worth of transcription by myself and three other composers. For some anecdotal proof concerning their frequency please read the comments below. For something more quantitative please watch this video or search "The Royal Road Progression". Happy watching, folks!
I just saw this video now and honestly I loved all of it. And seeing this comment was typed down just an hour ago... I can definitely see you're recently getting activity from this video.
Good thing you did. Charles Cornell just referenced and linked your video. Hi from Charles's audience.
Beautiful video❤
at 10:15 there is a mixing error between III-(ACE in the video instead of EGB) and VI-(EGB instead of ACE). Just to not confuse the newbies learning harmony.
There is a mistake in the video at 10:12 you swapped the tones for the 3rd and 6th chords.
As a Japanese musician, I have to say the fact:Half of what you call “anime songs” are not made for each anime (especially from middle of 1990s to early 2000s, most of them are not). They are made by Japanese musicians first, and then “tied-up” with anime by companies for promotion of the musician and song themselves.
In other words, not only anime songs but also much of Japanese pop songs have that feature:Ⅳ-Ⅴ-Ⅵm chord progression and/or transformation of that.
I also use that usually.
Yes! I've been presenting panel presentations on just this fact for many years. I'll be making a video about it soon. "The anime chord progression" is just a term I use light heartedly because my target demographic is anime fans. I do reference the word "anison" though, which is (as you know) a word Japanese anime fans use. But as you mentioned, it often obscures the song's true history.
@@ANIMYZE Okay, you don’t seem the one of shallow guys who call EVERY Japanese things like “Anime brah-brah-brah“ or “Hentai brah-brah-brah” (BTW “hentai” means “sexual pervert” originally. That’s so weird, so cringy).
Well, if you’re gonna talk about “anime chord progression” more, how about to feature what we call “fractional augment” or “blackadder chord”?
From early 2010s (or maybe a few years earlier), the chord got to frequently appears on anime themes (Ex:“SSSS.GRIDMAN”, “Kemono Friends”, “Idolm@ster Cinderella Girls” and more).
One of example of that is A#aug/G#.
It could make boring chord progressions better.
Like this.
||:GMaj7(9) A6 |Bm7 F#m7 |
|GMaj7(9) A6 |Bm7 F#/A# Am7 A#aug/G# :||
They’re very useful as passing chords.
that probably ties to when I run across a jpop song I've never heard before, wonder what anime it's from and then find it's never been an anime song XD I imagine there's also got to be an aspect where producers pick songs that "sound like anime songs", whether consciously or unconsciously
@@theonlymegumegu If you’re curious, research why “JAM Project” were raised and know what was going between anime productions and record productions.
@@kuroageha1096 ok, wow, so i've heard of JAM project before (I think the only songs of theirs I really recognize are Little Wing and Hero), but I never knew JAM was an acronym, let alone standing for Japan Animationsong Makers. my mind is being blown here.
Rick Astley's Never Gonna Give You Up uses the IV-V-iii-vi progression and so does his other hit song Together Forever.
Never Gonna Give You Up, jpop anime opening confirmed
Thanks bro you don't know for how long I've been searching for this lol
And it shares it with Bakamitai from Yakuza.
Yeah I was about to say when he first played the chord progression it sounded a lot like the beginning of never gonna give you up
IV-V-iii-vi
IV-V-iii-I
Complete chord progression
please highlight the chord number as it appears in the song example when you play it. this really helps show the chord changes and demonstrates your points. great video. thanks!
It makes me realize that my hearing is not as sharp as it was back in the academy...
No chance I’m able to hear where the cords appear in the music without him highlighting.
facts, some are a ton easier to hear than others
How can i practice hearing the chords in the song examples?
Easiest way (at least for me) to listen for the chord changes is to listen to the bass, since that's almost always going to be playing the root of the chord
4 5 6- 1 is one of the mainstream progression in any pop musics
The original is what i called "The Half Cannon progession"
1 5 6- 4
other frequently used in pop music
6- 1 5 4
Add 3, it will be the "Full Cannon Progression"
1 5 6- 3- 4 1 4 5
There is no harm in flipping the chords as long as it is connected with the root chord
Today lots of J-pop groups are playing around with Jazz and Hiphop sauces which make the progression kinda jazzy
Subbed instantly. I suck at music theory but this was really well explained and I could comfortably follow along. Personally I don’t mind cliche chords cause I mean, people kinda just gravitate to the kind of music that makes them comfortable. I grew up in egypt and our music has maqaam scales with microtonals, it has so much unexplored potential for cool harmonic stuff but sadly it may sound unfamiliar and uncomfortable to most.
The maqaams are beautiful. I play in a group that plays a lot Iranian and Arabic music and our oud and tar player will often play them.
hey its discord ping guy
Curious to know if you've ever listened to King Gizzard. They're an Australian band that has done three albums using microtonal guitars. If you have, I'd be interested to know your thoughts.
Ah yes the "every single iron maiden song" chord progression
well that was fuckin excellent. Great video!
hello eurobeat legend twank u for remixes(●'◡'●)
Turbo
This is such a cool video I never thought music theory behind anime openings could be so interesting but this is fascinating
I would say that it isn‘t overused because people still enjoy and listen to the openings with a lot of joy. Simplicity is what makes pop to pop and it‘s nice to have a good working formular. The chordprogression may be the same in a lot of songs but many other aspects like speed, instrumentalization, rhythm and so on gives you the chance to still make something unique about it 😊 it‘s a GREAT video!!! Keep on doing that great stuff 🙏
I agree with you, Rizzak! If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. I personally write with this progression all the time. Thanks for the kind words!
@@ANIMYZE do you have some songs online where i could check out your stuff?
@@rizzakbeats ANIMYZE has a Soundcloud with some composition we did for Anime Conventions. There's a link on our banner here on UA-cam. I'm also a presenter for Impact Soundworks so you can find compositions I do for them here on UA-cam!
@@ANIMYZE "If it ain't broke don't fix it"
That is a very Japanese way of thinking. G_d forbid thinking outside of the box when it comes to composition. It is overused to the point that all OPs and EDs feel the same regardless of variations in tempo, instrumentation, and rhythm.I would love to hear some extended chords. I would love to be surprised by an anisong.
@@Inspadave So you think Mili, Sawano Hiroyuki, RADWIMPS, MYTH&ROID, Ryan Greaves and Yuiko Ohara all 'feel the same'?
i have been searching for so long about anime chord progressions because anime songs are so cool and melodic. Now i know. Thank you for the lesson. Very much appreciated. ❤
As a composer, i really love those chords because there are so many melodies that can fit into it and also i am a fan of that anime vibe. Sure i could've make tons of songs with only those chords. But i really try to refrain myself from using it too much or even try to at least make it less obvious to make my song sound less cliche while still keeping the anime vibes. It's like a challenge.
Harry Warren and Mack Gordon were also anime song writers. Chet baker popularized their best anime song in there will never be another you.
I'm near illiterate when it comes to music theory, but man thanks so much for this video.
It put into words something I've observed about anime music for years, but didn't have the vocabulary to explain easily.
Your explanation is so good at dissecting it and making it digestible.
It’s as overused as the I IV V in Blues and swing jazz. It’s not overused, as there are many textures and themes being communicated. There are also many creative options for composers to offer new takes on the progression.
Only educated response to the question.
If I remember correctly somebody mentioned that Jazz did inspire pretty much how the Japanese music progression. Since knowing this, I tried to listen to Jazz and I understand why I like many Japanese music, and now I even started listening Jazz as well. Basically broaden my horizon.
"its as overused as"
"its not overused"
?????????
@@pentexsucks43 "It’s as overused as the I IV V in Blues and swing jazz" = it's not overused, just used a lot. It's the same kind of "framework" that still allows for creativity.
@@pentexsucks43 saying that the IV-V-vi chord progression “is as overused as I-IV-V” just means that both are commonly used and are on the same level. If one progression is “overused” then both of them are, and vice versa
Thanks so much for all of the love this video has gotten! It means the world to me. Just wanted to respond to some of your comments here: Because the target audience of this channel is anime fans, I am light-heartedly using the term "anime music" and "the anime chord progression". Objectively, these terms have a complicated existence and colloquially I myself wouldn't use them outside of a very specific bubble (which this video is clearly in). My next video or the one after that will be discussing the complicated nature of these terms. Until then, keep a few things in mind: 1) The majority of the music used in anime is by Japanese artists, usually outside of the anison-exclusive space. 2) These chord progressions, while commonly employed within anime (thus making them characteristic of anime and Japanese music in general), are frequently employed by musicians all over the world in various fields.
is this chord progression only unique to anime or is it actually common everywhere else?
@@nopurposeposting1548 i was also thinkin the same
For me 2:53 sounded like
Ain't no way that i can leave you stranded
'Cause you ain't ever left me empty-handed ....
(Song: stay)
@@nopurposeposting1548 flat 6, flat 7, 1 minor which as described at the 1 minute point of the video is extremely common in heavy metal (e.g. lots of Iron Maiden songs). Its 4,5,6 but thinking of it in a minor scale instead of major.
Dude thank you so much for the video it's amazing that you can explain the chord harmonic function in lest then 2 minutes, I been searching the anime chord progressions for quite a some time and I finally found your video so thank you and best of luck
Oh btw for those of you who don't know what are "tonic" "subdominant" and " dominant" are
The tonic function as the home, sense of rest or the beginning of the journey
the subdominant are the bridge between the tonic and dominant
The journey it's self
The dominant Point back to home(ie tonic) or the end of the journey
Isn't it a bit sensational to call this the "anime chord progression"? I feel like every song since Pachebel's canon has used a variation of it
I've been using this for years now but I have never seen a video on that topic. Great job at summarising it!
As someone who has played guitar on and off for 20 years (only as a hobby, I don't consider myself a musician really), this was a very fascinating and eye opening video. It has given me some inspiration and a starting point for possibly writing my own songs. Very informative, and it just blows my mind sometimes that musical theory has such depth to it.
Also you have a great speaking voice, will definitely be checking out more videos. Was a great watch
Honestly, as someone who craves novelty, I want to say it's overused. But, given the examples you put, it's clear that this progression is being properly explored -- I had no idea it was even in some of those songs.
If you think in terms of chord progression originality, then everything becomes overused. Even the most beautiful Chopin ballade or the most complex Bach fugue start to feel mundane after you analyze it that way. In fact a lot of pop songs you hear today use the exact same chord progression that several Lizst pieces do. It's not so much about chord progression in itself but more about what you do with it
The part at 10:23 where you explain chord families blew my mind. Great video
Thanks! Yeah, it's a super helpful way of thinking about harmony and how you can reharm.
It's not just anime opening. That was the best music theory lesson I've ever heard.
Charles Cornell sent me here, thank you.
It happens a lot on youtube where you can watch videos made to specifically explain theories all day and have it all go over your head but then you go get high and watch the anime chord progression video for quick plagiarism lifehacks and it all suddenly makes sense, really good video
I've been using these variations for songs I've written for my band, great to see there's legitimate proof/evidence of what makes a song "anime"-like. Kudos!
The charts at the end of this video were literally what I've been looking for for ages. I've always really wanted to compose music, and I've had a few bangers that I've made (purely through feeling) but what always flabbergasted me was chord progressions. No matter how much I tried to study it or look it up, the information never stuck. But that simple chart and explanation has helped me so much and made everything click into place. This was a great video, thank you so much!
This is a really nice explanation. From the title I would have picked "IV V iii vi" as the most anime-esque progression of all, but the way you analyze it as a variant of "IV V vi" feels right (since the latter is simpler because of only having 3 chords).
I disagree with one point of analysis though. At 11:06, you analyze the "iii" in "IV V iii vi" as having tonic function, but I think it's virtually always dominant function (which makes the progression sound like it's sitting on the dominant for an extra measure before resolving). Consider the voice leading. On a chord progression "F G Em7 Am", a pretty natural way to voice the right hand on a keyboard is as "CFA DGB DGB EAC". The leading tone doesn't resolve until the final chord, and because it's in the top voice, it really stands out too.
" IV V III- VI- " is generally THE chord prog I think of when I think of anime. I personally find the prog a little monotonous at this point, but there's no denying that it's iconic.
" IV V VI- III- " is honestly a solid chord prog and can still sound fresh.
" IV V VI- I/3rd " can be a tear-jerker. I/3rd in general is a great technique.
It's amazing how changing the formula even slightly can make a world of difference.
I miight be a year late but what exactly is a I/3rd? I'm trying to get into music theory but I still don't have all the terminology lol
@@FoxatrotI 1st inversion
ohh thanks@@Kyubiwan
I was like wow this is really well made then I saw your subs. That an actual felony. keep up the good stuff
I just found your channe.
You don't know how Important this channel is, as a musician, anime lover and English learner this content is so useful ❤❤❤❤
Thanks a bunch
Another variation I especially love is the IV V III vi - where III is actually the dominant V of vi - it creates an even more dramatic effect because we have the tritone in there pulling it towards the resolution, which is the minor vi. It's almost jarring to have two dominant chords one after another, but extremely satisfying when we get to the vi.
The example I remember is Starlog by ChouCho. The chorus starts with B (IV), goes to C# (V), then A#7 (III) and resolves to D#m (vi). On top of it they play the chords for two bars each and (to add insult to the injury) they put a lot of emphasis on the D note (actually C double sharp in the A# chord), which doubles as a passing chromatic tone into the D#m (C# - D - D#). It's ingenious and it fascinated me for years - the tension buildup is just crazy - but it works perfectly.
I wonder if it's easier to think of it as Gb instead, but then the chorus starts with Cb haha
I think I picked a terrible example 🤣
Great vid! Thanks
Awesome! What's a chord progression?
Edit: Oh my God, am I the most liked comment on this video?
Same lol
Easy! Just chords that sound good together when played.
It’s a set of chords played one after another
Why the hell are you here roflol
Humming a melody is pretty much a chord progression, think of it as a set of notes. Although chords are just multiple bits stacked on top of each other to create a note. Stacking the notes allows you to create a minor or major feel, a note on its own is neutral but when you put multiple notes together, it creates a feeling. A chord progression is just multiple chords put together in a specific order to create a sound. The feeling (minor major) and order of the chords creates the feeling of the chord progression. Or in simpler terms, you know what the guitar plays at the beginning of smells like teen spirit by nirvana? That’s a chord progression. I’m not good at explaining things but I try.
Incredible content. I`m learning harmony and the I-IV-V in my guitar classes and this video was perfect!
Thank you so much for this awesome video!
IV, V, vi is an incredibly popular progression everywhere (just look at any of the Disney musicals). What tends to really solidify something as very anime/j-pop in my ears is what I like to call the Japanese ii-V, in which after the IV V vi you would play the V7/IV and its related ii. For example in the key of C - Fmaj, Gmaj, Amin, Gmin C7, Fmaj. This combo is very popular in RnB also, but I always catch it in anime
Absolutely!
You made me understand functional harmony in a video that i watched with no intention to learn about functional harmony, now thats dope
That was really interesting! I'm a pianist, but maybe because I haven't touched the keys much over the past three years, I actually had trouble hearing some of the chord progressions in the examples, especially when the the bass line wasn't obvious. For future videos like this, maybe it would be a good idea to highlight the chord being played at each point in the examples? I felt you really made an effort to make this accessible to everyone, but doing this might make it easier for non-specialists (and people out of practice like me) to follow along. Just a suggestion. Thanks again for the video! 🙂
It's a pianist thing (or at least a classical training thing). We aren't really taught to play music in terms of chords, so it's not an automatic way to approach listening to it.
@@dominiccasts I guess it might be, but I know chords are covered in music theory classes, and when I can hear an accompaniment (e.g. a guitar backing up vocals), I do tend to listen out for the notes that sound the most prominent when chords are played. However, yeah, it's not natural for me to hear chords when notes are played individually in a melody line. I don't think of them that way.
@@dominiccasts Wait. So how are pianists typically taught in a classical way then? I just kinda played it knowing some Jazz theory first and learned in the form of chords first. Maybe that's why I've reached a point where I'm struggling to make the type of music that I want to make.
@@ivansoto9723 Notes first, and intervals. Chords exist and are taught, but almost always starting with basic major/minor triads and sticking to that for years, and even those are taught as a set of notes. Later on you get into diminished chords, and learn a bit more about diminished and augmented intervals, but not really things like what a sus chord is, or (at least in the performance side of it) how to think in terms of harmonic motion, rather than just "here's some sheet music, all the notes are there"
As many commenters here have mentioned, C - D - Em is a standard 80s metal chord progression. Which is why "Hallowed Be Thy Name / Ninja Scroll" is still the best AMV of all time.
I was just looking for common chord progressions in anime to make meme songs and now I've learned something vital in music theory thanks great video
I play rock/metal music. It's pretty straight forward for me: Iron maiden->x japan->j rock->anime.
80-90s J-metal were greatly influenced by the western power metal/glam metal scene, which then influenced modern J-rock. You can find the 4-5-6 almost in every Iron Maiden song.
I am not sure who started this, most likely some guitarists moving the same chord shape up and down the guitar neck and thought "wow it sounds good", accidentally created the subdominant-dominant-tonic cadence lol.
Huh, I didn't see that connection. To me the chord progression immediately makes me think of "I Want to Break Free" by Queen (who is also apparently popular in Japan).
facts
This chord progression is also very very heavily used in video game music. For example, the SMB level clear jingle is based on this chord progression.
Im so glad charles showed us this video. It was sooo cool and there is so many really epic commentaries that brings us cool info, good to read all of this
When UA-cam finds out you are interested in music theory and anime:
I've always heard that chord progression as some kind of twist on the bVI, bVII, I progression, aka the "Super Mario cadence".
It's a very common cadence in japanese music, and the anime progression makes you feel like it's going there, but then it hits you with the I- and that triumphant and resolved feeling of the original is replaced by a darker and ambiguous tone.
The contrast that it creates makes it sound somewhat bittersweet and nostalgic, giving the same effect as the I, V, VI-, IV progression, which can also be seen as a variation of it, with the chords rearranged in a different order.
The third chord is major in the "Mario Cadence". That's a different sound.
@@recursiv I know. I never said it's the same cadence. I said that it makes you feel like it's going to be that, but then it takes a dark twist with the minor chord.
Fantastic video, really helps contextualise these progressions and well presented. As you mentioned you can get creative with these by changing the chord quality. Common one I heard is IV V VIsus4 VI; where the vi was originally minor, it becomes major, typically at the end of chorus sections.
This is a good tool for modulation - you could now consider that VI to be a I in a different major key, or even make that VI into a VI7, then consider that to be a V7 to launch into a completely different major/minor key.
Yeah! Tried to include the VI Minor becoming Major originally but I cut it for time. Glad you mentioned it.
@@ANIMYZE You covered a lot in a digestible form so good call. Perhaps a follow up video?
@@alexjevincent New one on the way!
All those years of music theory, searching for the secret of music... And anime contained the truth all along.
As a beginniner, 8:30 onwards was very helpful. Great video dude. Keep on keepin' on
Animyze, you forgot to mention some examples of chord progressions with ii and/or vii°.
ii-V-iii-vi and IV-vii°-iii-vi sound quite anime-ish to me (ex. Dm-G-Em-Am and F-Bdim-Em-Am)
Also, at 10:15 you have the notes for the iii and vi chords the wrong way around.
Yes! Those are indeed common. However, I was only focusing on 456 progressions in this video. But I hope others see this comment. Some good sounds for sure.
@@ANIMYZE Can you upload a video involving anime progressions involving ii and vii° chords, please?
@@ANIMYZE Because I'm pretty sure ii-V-iii-vi and IV-vii°-iii-vi are still 456 in SOME way.
I, iii, and vi are tonics (T). ii and IV are subdominants (S). V and vii° are dominants (D).
IV-V-vi is S-D-T. IV-V-iii-vi is S-D-T-T. IV-V-vi-iii is S-D-T-T as well.
ii-V-iii-vi is S-D-T-T. IV-vii°-iii-vi is also S-D-T-T. Furthermore, IV-V-I is S-D-T. ii-V-I is S-D-T. IV-vii°-I is S-D-T. IV-V-I-vi is S-D-T-T. IV-V-I-iii is S-D-T-T.
To take this to the extreme, IV-vii°-iii-vi-ii-V-I is S-D-T-T-S-D-T.
Dm-G-Em-Am progression and it’s derivatives is very common indeed with anime songs as I noticed!
Possibly the most concise and useful batch of theory i’ve ever been given
IV-V-I is so comon in classical music that it actually has a name: an Italian cadence
Oh! I've never seen that terminology used before. Thanks so much. Do you know any sources that use it?
These chord progressions are a staple in my songwriting and it's very obviously because I was such a weeb in middle school
the mix between joy and melancholy that gives is unbeatable
You have a minor (no pun intended lol) error at 10:06 -- you switched the chord notes for III and VI. III is EGB, VI is ACE in C Major. Still works for Harmonic Functions in regards to tonic, but just a note :) great video! I enjoyed it a lot.
THANKS! Someone else made that comment. Forgot to fix it.
Absolutely perfect video until the last ten seconds. Didn't need the "does this progression actually SUCK?" engagement-bait at the end, hahah. The video was already good enough to comment on!
Thanks so much for posting. This is seriously one of the best theory videos I've ever come across. Explaining why the chords in each chord family are so closely related and how these chord progressions all evolved and share the same functions was fantastic. Subscribed, thanks again!
Amazing video!!!thank you for making these, I saw almost all the shows op and ending in the examples and listening and reconignsing all was great!! Thank you for this!!
As someone who always subconsciously ends up improvising in what others describe as "Japanese-like" (referencing j-pop, anime, and video game musical conventions and chord progs), this was a really interesting video!
Cool video and I feel like I'm a step closer to understanding how chord progressions work.
Very good explanation with fitting audio and visual, great video!
Beautiful Explanation!!! Already shared it with my composer/otaku friend
You called it the "Anime Chord Progression", but it's actually just as prevalent in American Pop and 80s music, so much so that it was taught to me as the "Pop chord progression". American pop and Anime OP use the same chord progression, more proof that chords are simply a foundation for extended harmony, timbre, rhythm, and all the other things that make a song truly unique. Chords get way too much attention :/
Completely agree!
to me its the "emo chord progression" because its not uncommon to find those three chords in post hardcore/emo music
(they tend to be a variation but yk)
this is technically something like metalcore but you can find it in Another Life by Motionless in White
@@DisturbedVette Yes! 100 percent. You're actually the first person to mention that here I think. I grew up (and still play) those genres. Very close to my heart.
8:29 Well I’m sure he agrees
It’s super common in rock and metal too. I first learned it in Iron Maiden songs, so I tend to think of it as “the Maiden progression”
Thank you for this - I was looking for this information to include in some of my music
Thank you Yusef that was a great music theory lesson in any genre!
The editing tho 🤩 *chef's kiss*
Charles Cornell sent me here, and I'm glad he did.
I really like this bro keep people educated in music.
Thank you so much for this! So much music potential has been unlocked!
That was very helpful for my GCSE comp. Pls make more videos like this
You had my instant appreciation the second I heard ClariS in the video introduction xD
Thank you! I was happily surprised when you went into the functional harmony section at the end. Really helps to give context to why those chords are used 🙂
I think this deep dive/breakdown/explanation truly IS the reason why music in general evolved to use a “universal law of harmony” in my words.
“I told you I’d change, even though I knew I never could...”
I hope you become successful. Seeing how you respond to critiques and adjusted is something to be desired. Great video but also you seem like a great person who is open to feedback and listening. Thank you
That's super kind. Thanks!
Bruhh. Finally someone had to make a video on it! As a musician, I always thought that this was a thing after listening to a lot of anime OP's and ED's but I never put it into words or even thought of giving it a name. Its bizarre to see how common this chord progression is in a lot of anime music though.
I dont kow an inch about music theory but after getting into guitar, I came to this idea and finally thought I wasnt crazy that most anime ops and eds sound similar. Really an eye opener for a beginner like me, great video!
I don’t why but making the more sad/emotional with a hint of uplifting are my favorite types of chords.
Alright, so I've been composing music for more than ten years but I have been watching anime just recently, and after some animes I noticed this I am so glad to find the video talking about what I felt when watching these animes, I mean their songs have their unique touch, but yeahmost of the use this progressions, I am happy not to be the only one who noticed this, great video and amazing explanation!
Fabulous video in every way!
Really eye opening! I had heard the 4 5 3 6- progression before (not covered in this video) in many anime, and thought to myself upon seeing this video's thumbnail, "Yes! Someone finally made a video on that!", but to think that there was so much more to it...
I think
IV - iii and iii - IV
those chord changes are super popular in japanese music but no so much everywhere else
Thank you so much for this fantastic video! This is the best music theoretical explanation about the IV V VI- chord progression I ever heared! Great job 😀
loved the video man, had noticed it before but never put the work into looking in the variations, learned a lot, thanks!
Wait, I just looked at how underrated this guy is...this video was so high quality. 🤨
A bit unrelated to the video (which was lovely by the way) but I LOVE your voice, so pleasant to listen to
Everyone in comments: *writes something smart
Me as a non-musican: *feels overwhelmed...
I love them and I love the chord progressions. I've been trying to incorporate them in my songs for ages but suck at music theory/jazz.
I didn't realize just how common these chord progressions were, even though they always feel vaguely familiar when I hear them.
You definitely deserve more subs, the quality of the video is insane!
Really great and concise video, deserves a lot more views and subs!
It's a bit more editing work, but something that can be really useful for viewers whose ears aren't quite tuned to harmonic changes is to highlight each chord as it's being heard when playing the examples 🙂
Keep up the good work!
Algorithm be praised, great video! I know next to nothing about music theory so it was great to learn about some of it in context with anime. Amazing work, keep it up!
This is the best chord progression video i've ever watched
So well explained! This video was really helpful to me as a total music novice. Thank you!
A very nice succinct view of functional harmony with a great explanation. Cheers
this is freaking gold!
thanks for the great analysis
Great video man!! As a musician and weeb, I’ve always complained that there’s not enough video essays about the music in anime so I hope you make more of these types of vids!
To answer your last question, the diversity of genres helps keep the chord progressions from feeling overused. Since anime OPs are everything from bubble gum pop for Shojo series to hard rock for Shonen series, the ED’s often ~feel~ different even if they have the same musical foundation. Whereas the “overused chord progression” discussion is usually said about a specific genre like pop music.
I actually like switching the 6 and 3 to make IV V vii iii way better. Appreciate the video. I'm someone who HAS to know why and how a chord sounds the way it does since I've only learned Music theory a year ago. thumbs up 👍🏼
the iv-v-vi chord was also used in some coldplay songs
U just earned a sub.
this really amazing and it does make alot of sense, what an eye opener.
bVI - bVII - I for natural minor scale is widely used in rock/metal, especially if the key is in the 4th fret when in dropped tunings.
For example: F# minor in Drop D where bVI - bVII - I is 0 - 2 - 4 in the lowest 6th string.
The best video i've seen on this topic, and i've seen a lot! most don't mention the minor variation, for example. Thanks! subbed!
Too kind :)
excellent analysis chief, keep going
This was wonderful. If you have the time and energy I would very much like to see more content like this from you
Stay tuned, another video was filmed. More on the way!
Finally got around to watching this. Best video yet! Hope you keep making more :D