50 ICONIC Depeche Mode Riffs/Melodies 1981 to 1993

[@VaughnGeorge]

50 Iconic Depeche Mode riffs and melodies demonstrated on the keyboards, using the original sound banks where possible.

[@victormarchenko819]

This is great staff!!!

[@VaughnGeorge]

@@victormarchenko819 thank you Sir!! VG :-)

[@gobiobi5030]

Thank you very very much! So sentimental, but valuable

[@VaughnGeorge]

@@gobiobi5030 you are welcome brother !! VG 🎹👍😎

[@dalidamezine5219]

Hey VG my idols FOREVER on KZbin 📺🎹🎧🎤 talking to Depeche Mode 💟♥️Wooooooooow🙀😱🤗🥱😁😄🙆🤦 It's really amazing, impressive, talent 👌👍💪 It's so the total top with you and the magnificent music of Depeche Mode 🎇🎆🌌🌠⭐🌟 Too Cooooooooool with shine 🎉🎊💥🔥😻🥳🤩😍🥰😘 WELL DONE 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 Perfect perfectly perfect 👊👊👊👊👊👊👊✊✊✊✋✋🤜🤛🤜🤜🤛🤜🤛 Wonderfull 🤓🤓🤠💯❤️♥️💖💝 Thank you very much talking to Depeche Mode 💟❤️♥️ You are the Best for us FOREVER 🥳🥳 Especially VG never changes anything and never even 😺😸😽😼😉😘🧡❤️

[@germangarbarini4463]

The riff of Tora Tora Tora! is underrated

[@KerlixxChannel]

Fr😭

[@gabemcknight8933]

Love it especially Rush a very underrated song

[@d_andrik]

It’s so inspiring to hear how their sound developed through that period of their career. I still wonder how Alan and Flood made the sound at 14:40. It’s so beautiful, melancholic and catchy at the same time.

[@davidzip873]

It reminds me of a similar sound and note sequence used on an Alan Parsons Project song.

[@lovepulse]

This one isolated from the track blew me away too, the little flourishes etc As I told Alan when meeting him as a sound designer his later sounds are the only ones I listen to and am completely stumped as to how they were created. Just wow.

[@apricot84]

Alan said on his website about it: “…the sound is derived from a guitar. Each chord was sampled individually and then double-tracked with a second but different guitar sound. There is also a string/choir pad (another backwards sound) playing the same chords in the background.”

[@moonflick]

My uncle was a musician in the 60s, and he overheard me listening to Some Great Reward back when it was a relatively new release. He commented that if he had come up with the symphonic assault that is Master and Servant he would be a millionaire. Such a strange comment coming from an old hippie, but there you had it. My favorite riffs are in Shake the Disease and am glad you highlighted several. Such a sophisticated, stood-the-test-of-time track. Many iconic riffs for sure! Great idea for a video.

[@VaughnGeorge]

Great story Greg and thank you for your kind words!! VG :-)

[@mattbelinski7760]

It definitely helped them become millionaires! Lol

[@RetroMuseumTV]

Isn't "Nothing" such an underrated song. Amazing to listen to that and "Sacred" with some top quality headphones

[@nocturnalmix]

100% agree. I consider those the two most underrated songs on the album. Never heard anyone else zero in on those two like that!

[@TerraMarique007]

I could listen to the guitar loop for Never Let Me Down @ 10:00 for ever. It never gets old.

[@MonsieurMerci]

It's kind of you to refresh Alan's memory! After seeing your video, he's now ready for the next DM tour 😁 🤚👋🐔

[@Electromozart]

It's worth noticing how each of these samples is a masterpiece by itself in terms of sound design.

[@VaughnGeorge]

Right you are !!

[@vincent8833]

Pimpf: what a great concert intro it was !!

[@VaughnGeorge]

Yes !! The ULTIMATE INTRO!!

[@log0log]

Never let me down again - it was long time my main ringtone theme

[@VaughnGeorge]

Good choice!! VG :-)

[@mjg1544]

Yeah, Shake the Disease was my midi ringtone back in 1999-2003.

[@FredrikAndersson597]

Love those fateful bell sounds(#47) in "in your room".

[@caleidoscopioliterario9851]

Wonderful Iconic Masterpieces Memories

[@jazzthief81]

Who knew that the opening riff to Never Let Me Down Again was just a low G?! Jokes aside, this was very insightful. Stellar job! 💯

[@VaughnGeorge]

BLESS YOU Lars !! Glad you enjoyed it !! VG :-)

[@debwhyley4251]

Got goosebumps listening to these, absolutely amazing 👏

[@sandracole5265]

Everytime i hear SOMEBODY I melt! Vaughn you got to play that whole song for us one day and post it. ❤

[@nsford7651]

What a fabulous video :D I especially liked Pipeline, Shake the Disease, Nothing and Rush.

[@MartinidM]

Thank you for the great ringtones library 😁

[@junebaby166]

Such a fun video, full of surprises! Never let me down again is my all-time favourite Depeche song and I especially LOVE that opening riff. I once heard Alan Wilder ❤️ explain in an interview how they created that which was very interesting. I was gobsmacked to see that the whole thing is programmed onto just one key!

[@deondewit3175]

Aha takes me back, in my youth I could sit for hours with a depeche mode casette tape in a casette player and a yamaha pss toy keyboard going Play Pause Play Pause trying to work out their melodies and riffs. Their music just had a magical even spiritual essence for me. Thanks I enjoyed that.

[@petersenyk101]

This is just brilliant, made an old guy feel 21 again, god bless you for this video 🤩👋👋💚

[@VaughnGeorge]

I am glad to hear that brother!! VG :-)

[@tokyoskyline1752]

I find it very soothing to play the 'riffs and hooks' from Sun & The Rainfall, Nothing, Bkack Celebration, Fly On The Windscreen, Lie to Me, Things You Said. Plus many more. And I heard a rumour a press conference is planned in Berlin for 4th October. Fingers crossed 🤞

[@alexcisotto3007]

Awesome!!! So many memorable riffs to relish back in DM's heyday. Now, as George fittingly remarked about Spirit, where's the melody gone Martin???

[@VaughnGeorge]

Bless you man ! Glad you enjoyed the video and yes I agree that over the years DM's music lacks that distinct melodic identity. VG :-)

[@pacificbuildingcare]

The Emu emax synthesizer the same synthesizer used during the Violator tour. Great video thank you

[@gigiwilson9124]

It's amazing how they merge major and minor that gives the songs 🎵 a kinda sad/ darkness about them, also demonstrates how a simple riff can make a wonderful song, I remember Martin's demo of 'Silence' so simple yet complicated at the same time (do you know what I mean) and also hat's off to yourself for demonstrating 50 riffs perhaps beginners or people who have a synth but find it difficult you've gave them some great ways to play some Depeche tunes, stay safe, Mr VG.

[@lovepulse]

Man, once you get to Violator and SFAD the layering and attention to detail is breathtaking. AW is King.

[@VaughnGeorge]

Indeed !!VG :-)

[@petrovanbiljon1344]

This made me very happy...thank you👌💓👌

[@VaughnGeorge]

You're welcome !! VG 🎹😎👍

[@manuelthewiseguy]

Wonderful, video Vaughn. I would really enjoy seeing you do a concert event playing your music, DM, and other songs you enjoy playing.

[@scottcoolidge2364]

This is brilliant!! Thanks for sharing! This should be the setlist for the next DM tour.

[@NostalKeys]

This is just great! I watched three times in a row. Tks for sharing it with us, Vaughn.

[@VaughnGeorge]

You are welcome !! VG

[@RobinPM100]

PERFECT, I say it again and again, these days their songs are missing those bold melodic riffs, which were the best, 80' s and first half of 90's were full of these, strong melodies are everything for me

[@Electromozart]

I always thought the same. I wonder if Martin perceives this lack of melodies as an evolution of his own music, or it's due to Alan absence, or it's just the level of inspiration degrading over decades.

[@RobinPM100]

@@Electromozart I feel like they became afraid of bold melodies and they started to prefer chord changes only - because they started to think (wrongly), that melodic riffs are too "naive" or something like that :D like less melodies = more mature music, which is total nonsense in my book, look at movie soundtracks, lots of them are full of endless melodic lines, f.e. Conan by Basil Poledouris, which I believe is the most advanced production on this planet - melody wise, absolutely incredible main melodies and lots of sub-layer melodies running in harmony. As I said, melodies are EVERYTHING, the more DM realize this, the better their music becomes - again

[@Electromozart]

@@RobinPM100 Getting rid of the melodies seems more generally like a modern trend. Unfortunately, I believe that we have already witnessed their best. We are missing the enthusiasm and the willingness to explore new paths and experiment an innovative sound of the 80s albums, thanks to Gareth Jones. We are missing the internal contrasts and the bands' members self--destruction path, which led to albums like SOFAD, which to me represents their most intense and communicative album. And, of course, we are missing Alan, his work, his soundscapes, and his brilliance.

[@RobinPM100]

@@Electromozart well, not all is lost it seems, judging by the song teaser from the press conference, it had cool melody riff of old DM! they are back in form

[@antoniabermudezann4233]

@@RobinPM100 I honestly hope you are right 👌🏻 cause that's what I felt the minute I heard the first notes and the way they both blended with their beautiful ❤️ Voices!!!

[@agentblue52]

Great compilation Vaughn! I played this 3 times. I miss songs from A Broken Frame though. My Secret Garden, Nothing To Fear, See You and The Sun and The Rainfall has some great keyboard melodies. Maybe another time. 😊

[@pulsarsonico]

Porque no estaba wilder. Es un canal que rinde pleistesia a Alan. Por eso son los riffs hasta el 93. Cuando el creador de casi todas las melodias siempre ha sido el genio Martin.

[@nashf5925]

Thank you for these. Halo was my fave, lol. But seriously, these riffs make you realise how deep and layered those DM tracks are. One could make full ambient soundscape albums just based on each track.

[@VaughnGeorge]

Right you are my friend !! There is such depth and complexity in these sounds. VG :-)

[@michaelweinman9051]

Great work. Could you possibly do a 2nd Depeche riff vid of their newer stuff? THANK YOU! ; )

[@natx2008]

amazing, exciting…thank you very much!

[@VaughnGeorge]

You are very Welcome!! VG 🎹👍😎

[@MattHalpain]

These riffs are like food to my soul

[@andyry1269]

Really nice, Sir. Thank you for this. -Andy Ry Denmark.

[@DemoniacYouth]

This reverse engineer job is incredible George!

[@VaughnGeorge]

@@DemoniacYouth thank you 🙏

[@dianebrown2131]

Thank you for sharing your story

[@tylerhellums9823]

Yes, I did enjoy this!

[@VaughnGeorge]

Thank you Tyler!! VG 😎👍🎹

[@focimer]

Many thanks to you for this upload! Very inspirating. I think the most memorable part in the song of Shake the disease is "Understand me" part. That's what I missed a little bit. I wish you a succesful life in the music you love.

[@civicmindedjimthehonest6389]

I never get bored of this stuff, my playlist is funnily enough 101 tracks (It's true 😂) but that does include concerts as well. I only have music pre 2000, not a lot suits me after that. Between depeche mode, Duran Duran, ultravox and crowded house, not much goes through my earholes. That era for me is like baked beans, never get tired of them and it makes me think of my younger years. Hope you're well Vaughn, how's the long covid?.............. Alan Wilder

[@VaughnGeorge]

Always goof to hear from you mu friend !! Thank you !! VG ;-)

[@civicmindedjimthehonest6389]

@@VaughnGeorge I listen to depeche mode at least once every week, I never get bored and I'm never disappointed. You've got it, same as me and most on this channel. It's in your blood, it's in your soul. I'm sure this channel proves to you that you're not alone, we've got the bug. Everything you do is relevant, interesting, and informative. I thank my lucky stars you're not analysing coldplan, I think that's how you spell it 🤔......... Alan Wilder

[@manugahan1965]

1981/1993 il periodo di massimo splendore dei Depeche Mode che però arriva anche al '97 con l'album "Ultra" secondo me! Ma li amo ugualmente anche oggi!!! Depechemodiano a vita!

[@jamesroney1874]

Every video I've ever wanted in one! 😂 Well, you nearly lost me at #1 and #43 but definitely a fave vid from a self tuition perspective.... 👍🏼👍🏼

[@conradgibbons2438]

Thanks for sharing these! They sound great!

[@VaughnGeorge]

Conrad you are very welcome my friend!! VG :-)

[@conradgibbons2438]

@@VaughnGeorge You are welcome. You have an email from me! ;-)

[@atari1040]

The best notes on the planet!!!!

[@MFAGameplay]

Such a good video idea Vaughn - i’ve seen (and searched for) some type of top 50 like this on KZbin, but you’re the first one to hit it just right! Love how you did this, especially teasing us with those sounds from 1993.. CAN’T WAIT FOR THE NEXT REVIEW SERIES!!

[@fabfab2769]

Great video. Very pleasant to get so close to the original sounds. Thank you for the 50 demonstrations (Pimpf so great). A lot of futur work for me on my piano with this video as tutorial. Thx Vaughn

[@VaughnGeorge]

My pleasure! VG :-)

[@manuelulrich663]

Dear Vaughn, Every time I see a new video of yours I am happy like a little boy 😀 because I love to listen to you and I find your thoughts and analyses about Depeche Mode so interesting. Greetings from Germany, Manu

[@VaughnGeorge]

Thank you so much Manuel!! VG :-)

[@niclasrundkvist]

Great video! So much knowledge and inspiration to get from these when it comes to melody and harmony.

[@Hsheuievvak]

Which band has 50 such good songs? Incredibele.

[@PerAnkh418]

Excellent work x

[@tafur101]

Great selection my friend

[@VaughnGeorge]

Thank you kindly!! VG :-)

[@aneinthedark5008]

Superb video Vaughn! Any chance you would make another video like this from the modern DM records?

[@harald-bosh]

Great video!

[@yavuzmuradoglu1577]

You deserve to be watched more

[@VaughnGeorge]

Bless you my friend !! I really appreciate that ! VG 🎹👍😎❤️

[@yavuzmuradoglu1577]

@@VaughnGeorge really u r the best in the videos i watched about DM. Hi from amazing city İstanbul

[@rikkycraft4045]

The impact of Depeche Mode music on a person is simply amazing. Even a short fragment of a melody you played evokes such feelings as if I listened to the whole song. Incredible! My favorite riffs are in Shake the Disease, Stripped, Master and Servant, Never Let Me Down Again, Behind The Wheel and many more! Probably almost everything! Thanks for the great video, you are gorgeous as always, Vaughn!

[@nagashtheforsaken]

So many great songs from that era. After Alan left, their music was never the same.

[@syracusemusic1539]

Awesome 😎

[@heroesofwar]

really good video ... one of your best!

[@VaughnGeorge]

Wow, thanks! VG :-)

[@tompogson9755]

It really shows off the layers and complexity of each sound. A bass teacher I had was Rick May who also is a session player and worked briefly with Depeche during the Only When I Lose Myself period. He mentioned they sampled him playing and then did all kinds of work on the sound. Not sure which track but it might be like these just one part of a layered sound.

[@VaughnGeorge]

Hi Tom!! That is a very interesting story !! Thank you for sharing it my friend!! VG :-)

[@juancarloscontrerasdeleon3540]

So enjoyable!, I can play these rifts as well, but we shockingly didn't here their #1 rift, enjoy the silence!, Was it forgotten?

[@DeanMachine85]

I love this video!

[@VaughnGeorge]

Thank you Wesley !! VG :-)

[@stevel.2759]

I've listened to these 1000's of times

[@modsleix6]

Great video upload here! It was really cool to see and hear all these part demonstrations. You really nailed the tones, in my opinion. As a fan of Gary Numan, could you *_MAYBE_* do something like this for some of his songs? Last, are you a fan of bands like Asylum Party, Clan Of Xymox, A Flock Of Seagulls, The Fixx, Severed Heads? If so, could you make a video/videos on them sometime? I would love to hear your views and opinions on their music _(maybe even some keyboard demos like this on their music, as well.. please?)!_ P.S. Awesome studio setup! Looks like the cockpit of some cool starfighter, haha!

[@atari1040]

Vaugh... please put this recording on YT in version 2 with better angle at keyboard - just like you did with Pimpf. Some (like me... ) could use your video for learning these riffs but with the current angle all these black keys are barely visible. Thanks for video - I'll be looping this few time per day for sure :D:D:D

[@Gonzzysound]

Great, thanks! It is amazing watching how the sounds I have for decades deep inside my mind and heart are played. BTW, where can we get this sound bank. I know it was spreat after AW's auction. Thnx.

[@majesticfloors]

Dm forever! Magic to the ears

[@albertomaldonado5195]

In your room sounds perfect !!!

[@ninawildr4207]

Cool!!!!

[@VaughnGeorge]

Cheers Nina!! VG :-)

[@MattHalpain]

Riff 46 is like a dreamy video game Castlevania sound and I love it.

[@RajeSharm]

Thnx @Vaughn ❤️

[@anderslarsson6149]

What to you mean, keyboard beginner? This is where I am at, at 52 🤪 Great vid 🖤🌹

[@VaughnGeorge]

Rock on! Cheers Anders !! VG :-)

[@Mengesss]

Nice video! Love Depeche Mode. Now i get it! The resemblance between Puppets and Robots from Kraftwerk. 🎉 also a simular title😅

[@VaughnGeorge]

Thank you my friend! Glad you enjoyed it!! VG :-)

[@carlosmodegahan4455]

This is great! But what happened to post Alan era??? Will we see a part II with 50 riffs from 1994-2017???

[@VaughnGeorge]

I think "50 riffs" is a god start. Impossible to please everyone with such a huge catalogue!! VG :-) :-)

[@alexdbf2281]

What a work again, it's a pleasure to discover ur videos, I'm a devout from france and I play synth's. I'm looking for list of preset u used, do you have this somewhere?

[@RogerBond007]

Evenin’ Vaughn As usual, you “nailed it again with your finger tips💯👌🏻 So interesting to hear these riffs without the voice content. Riff Nothing #31, does this not sound so similar to Save A Prayer by Duran Duran? On a different note, I’ve meaning to ask this special request & hoping a lot of your subscribers agree to my sentiment. Some time in the future, would it be possible to discuss the instrumentals that DM produced over the years? l feel they played such an important role & part to their albums & B side tracks to the 7” & 12” singles they released.

[@jimbotron70]

Save a Prayer's riff was made with Roland SH-2, square and triangular waves combined for that distinct synthetic sound.

[@SuperCartmanlp]

These sounds, so lovely to hear cannot wait for your SOFAD review videos, will devotional be one of them? :)

[@VaughnGeorge]

Yes I will cover "Devotional" too!! VG :-)

[@SuperCartmanlp]

@@VaughnGeorge Awesome can't wait to see that

[@ToHaveAndToHold]

A different video compared to the others. But also a very nice surprise 🙂

[@VaughnGeorge]

Glad you liked it! Thank you , VG :-)

[@JayTando]

NICE!

[@VaughnGeorge]

Thanks Jay!! VG :-)

[@nilsdettweiler5876]

Nice!!🖤🌹 Could you do 1997-2017? Thx🙏

[@sasaninfo1]

Bravo Bravo Bravo Bravo

[@sadmacuser]

I know these are iconic so not many b-sides but you did include "I sometimes wish I was dead'. So, if you go there, you have to do Fools.

[@duranduran287]

Nice choice, I think get the balance right and nothing to fear also deserve to be at that list. I have a question to you - how do get this iconic Policy of Truth sample? If you recreate it, is it slide from F to C? Or it’s other notes? Great video as usual

[@alexaselstyne]

These samples are lifted from Martin's Devotional bank for Policy Of Truth.

[@neilsun2521]

DM, masters of the melancholy earworm.

[@millenia94]

Clean also has its good riffs

[@grach4358]

Oh my, it a fire

[@FLH3official]

About Pipeline: I clearly remember I tried to recreate the sound of the pingpong ball (for me it sounded like a pingpong ball) with my brand new Ensoniq EPS... My EPS isn't new anymore. Me neither.😉 I don't define myself as a "fan" but actualy I know by heart all those pieces you partialy played, I know the following notes and sound effects, the next verse, the lyrics, all... Maydbe I'm a DM fan, after all! 😁

[@ToHaveAndToHold]

or "just" a person with a good taste ;-)

[@antoniabermudezann4233]

@@ToHaveAndToHold I should say both 👌🏻💯% Definitely is a Fan and has a great taste in music 🎶🎵🎶❣️❣️

[@august_math1604]

Can you make a tutorial for your keyboard sound ?

[@damian2779]

Vaughn where is The sun and the rainfall melody?! 😲 That's one of the best they have ever made! EDIT: where is Walking In My Shoes main melody? 😲

[@alejoag1]

Hi dear friend. Is there any chance to get the Rush samples? Thank you.

[@AlexStaveley]

Great. Are you using samples or patches? Anymore info would be great.

[@roseburgranger]

Can you buy those samples? I am hoping to purchase an E-Max II soon and would love to get those samples!

[@MrKavimaz]

where can I download them?

[@alexmancunian7774]

That was interesting. Please show us next time Higher Love, Enjoy the Silence and Personal Jesus.

[@westernsect5773]

I love the fact in the title of this of 1981-1993 (disregarding everything after Alan Wilder left) Admittedly after Alan Wilder left so did Depeche die for me. Amazingly I didn't buy anything from the Violator era (I know I will be flogged and stoned in the streets by the die hard (Work Hard) fans).. It didn't appeal to me (the analogue side) Erasure were funnily doing the same at the same time. I don't know.. Maybe from the heavily sampled and digital days of The Berlin Trilogy and Music For The Masses.. I had got used to that. But when Songs Of Faith And Devotion came out .. Jings .... Now that was something else.. Brilliant...The sound of Depeche Mode without Wilder production post Wilder to me (my opinion) is pish

[@ptifur]

Most of the riffs are instructive save for In Your Room, which could be a bit misleading! When you play ascending keys and you can hear descending chromatic scale. That 's some Through The Looking Glass disorienting moment there 🐇🎹!

[@VaughnGeorge]

Believe it or not but that is the sounds are mapped on the keyboard. You can blame Alan Wilder for that if you like. VG :-) :-)

[@ptifur]

@@VaughnGeorge I wouldn't dare :-) Emax layout, I get it 🎹🔧

[@VaughnGeorge]

@@ptifur hahaha!! Yes! I too was baffled when I saw how they were mapped. I guess it makes it easier to perform live although the way it's mapped is musically incorrect but then again who am I to question Depeche Mode ? VG 🙏🙏👍😎

[@DaxHamel]

Thanks and Moar! PS: Did you buy Alan's Emu with the patches still in it that he auctioned off?

[@lesimprosdulezardvert1342]

I think the bass lines are far more iconic, I miss them

[@millenia94]

15:23 that rif is in the next eighth 😅 (you missed many)