Why does Dark Souls sound like Dark Souls?

[@manracmolactrac]

I remember it hitting me hard that Dark Souls had almost no area music the first time I found Ash Lake. The sudden arrival of the music really made me feel like I'd found something really secret, ancient, and magical.

[@nilan3294]

This happened to me in Elden Ring when I got to Altus. Didn't even realize that music was missing up until that point

[@twixchexmix]

Ash Lake really is an atmospheric masterpiece, with the descending journey there, and the combination of the visuals and music all coming together in this primordial space. Makes it hard to even care that there’s not really anything else there other than that one covenant and a hydra

[@decal4707]

@@nilan3294there’s atmospheric music throughout all of Elden Ring, just not quite as instrumental and grand as Altus and beyond.

[@unrefinedmorosis5546]

@@nilan3294 There actually IS music in all the overworld areas and even the legacy dungeons. It's just very subtle and texture-focused to strike a good balance between something interesting to listen to while you explore the massive overworld without it taking up too much focus. It's only at Altus and beyond that it really picks up though.

[@majortom8688]

Gwyneveres theme is in a major key and it makes so much sense! (She is an illusion and when you break it all the sun light drains away from the world)

[@AC-hj9tv]

Amazing chest ahead 😎 👍

[@Rodrijfalves]

​@@AC-hj9tvTry holding with both hands 😎 👍

[@smartsmartie7142]

@AC-hj9tv when I played the game in German I searched for 15 minutes for invisible walls lol

[@kage_6]

That's so dark lmao

[@r0bz0rly]

congratulations on completing 9th grade!

[@katieosterchill5980]

Opening the door to Limgrave and hearing the first note of that area's theme for the first time and hearing Gwyn's theme during the Soul of Cinder fight are two of the most unforgettable musical moments ever for me. The Souls soundtracks have got to be the very definition of 'hauntingly beautiful'.

[@noahsan92]

that's funny, the final song of the 3rd game and the first song of its spiritual successor

[@geordiejones5618]

I always hear longing. A whisper for what was and can never be again.

[@TylerRayJohnson]

Plin plin plon. Tears required ahead

[@jarlwhiterun7478]

You are talking about Elden Ring but commenting on the Souls games?

[@ni9274]

@@jarlwhiterun7478elden ring is a souls game, and he talked about Elden ring in this video

[@samg3634]

Ludwig, the Accursed’s theme has to be my all time fav souls music. When the second half of the boss fight starts and the music hits I get goosebumps every damn time

[@doublebinthemorning5999]

The phase 2 music is a waltz, it's great that the battle becomes a dance half way through

[@ripdeyu]

@@doublebinthemorning5999it really does feel like a dance between you and ludwig. From fighting a beast in its raw form, to a refined swordsman who’s honed his skills over countless days. Truly one of the best, and most memorable moments in my favorite game.

[@smergthedargon8974]

3:13 Ah, but there's one absolutely amazing major chord in the Souls games - Gael's theme, the very final boss song of the Dark Souls games, has a totally out-of-nowhere super heroic major chord in his second phase that very much calls attention to itself. I think it's a dominant fifth, but I'm pretty sure it's just a plain major chord, no seventh, so it really does stand out as bright. It also has actual Latin lyrics as opposed to a "Latin-sounding" choir. It's probably my favorite boss theme in the series. Edit: Gael's theme doesn't actually have lyrics, it's just pareidolia. Woops!

[@majortom8688]

Also Gwynneveres theme is in a major key!

[@smergthedargon8974]

@@majortom8688 Sure, but she's not a boss, and more famous for something that isn't her theme.

[@Gante_Gato]

Can you substantiate that lyrics claim? I'm pretty sure the only game with latin lyrics is Bloodborne (and that one song from Elden Ring)

[@smergthedargon8974]

@@Gante_Gato I'm pretty sure I hear something like "Da me tuum cruorem atrem" once the second part of the song kicks in, which is Latin for "Give me your dark blood". They might have gotten some grammar wrong (i.e. might say "tuus" instead of "tuum", which'd be incorrect), but I do think I hear actual lyrics in at least parts of the song.

[@Junk_And_Junkets]

@@smergthedargon8974 Heyo! Sorry to be that One Annoying Guy, but this involves my pet peeve. That's a lie spread by Daniel Olmos-who speaks Latin... American Spanish, not Classical Latin, and admitted to making it all up. And the Latin he posts is all kinds of wonky. Even that one is more like (and forgive my rusty Latin) "You give! Your black gore me!" ["Me" here is accusative; it needs to be in the dative. "Do/Dare" is the origin of the word "dative"! And "Cruor" is more like spilled gore than symbolic blood. Trust me, I made that mistake in a song long ago...] If you want to see the "real" lyrics to some Elden Ring songs, and a few things that have translatable words, Antonius Tertius has the real deal. I'd post the link, but I think KZbin filters posts that do that. Have a sweet Friday/Saturday!

[@pedroscoponi4905]

Digging so deep into the Fromsoft OST without mentioning Lord of Cinder, (our beloved "plim plim plom") is a genuine _feat._ Personally, the quieter parts of the boss music never fails to add the tragic knife twist to the immediate danger you're in. You have this huge threat in front of you that is so often 2, 3 times your size and you still can't help but feel that you're either doing something terribly wrong you'll regret, or putting something pitiful out of it's misery. I also love how much music there is in Elden Ring during exploration compared to the other games. Something about that decision feels very right.

[@variousthings6470]

Gwyn's plims (or plins?) were covered in the 2017 video "How Dark Souls Turns Motifs into Music".

[@lukasgraesslin]

He's done a whole separate video on Plin Plin Plon from a couple of years ago ;)

[@duro3666]

Yeah, ER needed ambient music but I'm not sure if it'd work well for the classic souls formula; there's something very special about only hearing the sounds of the dark world around you and only hearing the crackling of a bonfire while sitting down in the only safe spaces you have. It also makes moments like discovering Ash Lake much more special. But for an open world you kind of need it or it'd get stale

[@damusaetrum6742]

Plin plin plon

[@slicknicdwyer]

Don't need genuine feats when we got genuine feets 1:30

[@forceofnature26]

Sakuraba is so interesting to me because he makes a lot of bombastic prog rock for the Tales of and Star Ocean games among others, and then jumps into deep orchestral and baroque music for the Souls games

[@verylargemandarinslice8965]

He does deep orchestral and baroque music on the tales series too tho

[@benisser]

My favorite Motoi Sakuraba tracks are the ones where he goes wild on time signatures in addition to key signature so you really have no idea what's going on the first 20 times you hear them. Fits really well for random battle themes in RPGs

[@NickOleksiakMusic]

Those are some of my favorites as well! It really shows off his prog rock chops.

[@toprak3479]

Seath the Scaleless is WILD harmonically and rhythmically. It's the Rite of Spring of Dark Souls.

[@gaobot]

Golden Sun =D

[@jb1980ist]

Yeah, I tend to find his harmonic language really static unless he's switching up the time signatures too.

[@knasigboll]

I can't unhear golden sun in his dark souls boss music anymore

[@DamesTC]

So glad you highlighted that part of the Godskin Apostle theme mentioned at 10:48. It was so memorable to me when I first heard it and I also particularly enjoy that section

[@randychristensen1028]

That part you're talking about is why ai have this song on my Spotify. It's so damn good

[@bek7562]

My husband (a huge dark souls fan) sent me this since I studied piano and musical theory for just about all of my childhood (7-17). Even being nearly 10+ years since I even touched a piano this was extremely interesting.

[@andimari9194]

Slave knight gaels theme (especially phase 3) is one of the best compositions I’ve ever heard

[@smergthedargon8974]

Oh man, when that phase 2 music hits with the out-of-nowhere super heroic major chord - it's SO good!

[@andimari9194]

@@smergthedargon8974 I know right??? I wonder if they went for a more heroic chord to signify both the player and Gael? Gael is trying to fulfill his lady’s painting, while the player is trying to stop the blood hungry beast Gael has become. Really amazing harmonies throughout the composition and those string runs are crazy

[@EighTy-yv4jw]

​@@smergthedargon8974 Phase 2 sticks out so well because of that. Unlike the themes of other bosses, which paint them as intimidating monsters you have little hope of defeating, gales phase 2 instead feels like an epic of two crazy powerful people, duking it out at the end of the world. It puts you as an equal to gael, and for that, it so incredibly unique for souls.

[@justpython4021]

Yuka Kitamura is so talented, ngl, motoi sakuraba tracks are boring, yet this video didn't covered any of Yuka's tracks, THAT'S SO SAD

[@gugg2216]

​@@andimari9194a true battle of pure ambition and the ultimate climax + finale to the souls trilogy

[@littlecloudmotif]

Awesome analysis! I feel like Elden Ring is a tad bit "brighter" (but not by much), the feel of the game feels more hopeful than just crippling depression hammering you down constantly. I also feel the tracks that Yuka Kitamura adds an ethereal contrast than the rest of the soundtracks, like "Father Ariandel & Sister Friede" and "Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon" just to name a few; would really like to see her composing style and how she achieves that very melodic and ethereal sound without pulling apart it's identity and tone from the souls series :)

[@ThommyofThenn]

I agree on Elden Ring. I think DS3 has the darkest ost while DS1 has this wonderful fantasy feel to it.

[@AltAccount-dz8rp]

It's definitely by much

[@ThommyofThenn]

@@soldjaroffortun3 That's a really good take

[@ALLMINDmercenarysupportsystem]

​@soldjaroffortun3 You could argue that Maliketh is at his lowest, with his sword weakened from the Night of Black Knives, a long time with no practice or practical usage of his skills, and seemingly some degree of self-loathing from his failure, once again at the Night of Black Knives. There's also Radahn, Rennala, Radagon, Placidusax, Fire Giant, and many others who are undeniably at their worst. But I do agree with your take, Elden Ring's world is not dying (or at least is nowhere near as close as Dark Souls) and a fair amount of it's critical characters are either at their strongest or not as weakened as equivalents in DS.

[@hackabusa]

@@ALLMINDmercenarysupportsystemit’s not so much that the world is dying in ER, another age is coming to a close; another cycle coming to completion, although Elden Ring’s cycles don’t seem to repeat themselves. From the age of dragons to the age of plenty and further, ER’s world continues to LIVE despite its inhabitants’ fates.

[@HaitaniMasayuki]

My favorite of these soundtracks in general is still the first Demon's Souls on PS3. It was performed with a very small orchestra, which gave all its tracks such a weird feeling. As if you're in a world so hostile, not even the orchestra is left fully.

[@Future_Doggo]

Dark Souls 3 is my favorite, but Demon's Souls is hella underrated.

[@colossusjak2]

That’s actually a good point never thought of that. Demon souls has a very raw sounding subdued sound as if half the orchestra didn’t show up, obviously it’s an electronic orchestra but the effect is a pretty lonely atmosphere.

[@variousthings6470]

There's one sound in Dark Souls that I've always been genuinely curious to see analysed from a music theory perspective: The "alarm" gramophone record that plays in the prison of The Duke's Archives. I don't want to dismiss it as "just noise". There must be something musically interesting going on, in order for it to be able to loop indefinitely while permanently maintaining the tension without any sense of resolution, right? What sort of intervals are involved to make it sound so unsettling, abrasive and noisy? On a similar note: what's going on with the music that plays when you look up in Ash Lake? Both of these sounds are unusual in Dark Souls, because they're two of the only pieces of music that turn up outside of boss fights and Firelink.

[@MagnoSauce]

My first thought for the alarm was a shepard's tone, since that would be the first thing I would choose to thematically emphasize the spiral staircase, or if it were descending maybe Seath's and Logan's mental descent. It doesn't really soundlike one though. But it does have a spiraling "lower seamlessly replaced by upper" and vice versa sound to it. Maybe it's a modified version

[@toprak3479]

Duke's Archives gramophone is an interesting sound imo too, I'm curious as well. Also, what happens to the music when you "look up" in Ash Lake? Never heard of tbat.

[@variousthings6470]

@@toprak3479 When you arrive in Ash Lake, you can hear a choir - but it only plays if you're looking above a certain angle; it stops playing if you look down. (Presumably they did this to make sure that it only plays to coincide with the trees being visible.)

[@ivanquish3372]

@@toprak3479 Wait a second here... You can't hear that but you criticize my opinion about the quality of the compositions in the Dark Souls II soundtrack as "least popular take ever"...? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, amateur!!

[@toprak3479]

@@ivanquish3372 Dark Souls 2's soundtrack is the least widely praised one among the community.

[@akechijubeimitsuhide]

I'm an opera fan, and these are exactly what I love :D That big, bombastic mid-late 19th century orchestra and chorus. A few pieces, like the Bell Gargoyles, Godrick or Rykard feel a bit more modern, still classical-style but have that dissonant early 20th century feel to them. Which fits the bosses really well.

[@basselfmusic]

I'm so happy to see you bring up Sinh, the Slumbering Dragon in this video! This is one of my favorites in the series ♥

[@jonathancastillo6433]

I’d love a dissection of bloodbornes sound track. I’ve listened to the whole thing (this was a while ago) and I found that boss track compositions matched lore. Ie, all tracks with vocal choirs involved magic/insight/great ones. All strings accompanied beasts ect. Idk, it’s been a while and it could be cool. Love your work btw

[@SaimoodPianoVersions]

" The First Hunter " hits so hard. What a masterpiece.

[@themightymcb7310]

I always loved Living Failure's boss theme, such a cool piece of music

[@viinaart]

I've listened to that soundtrack so often it turned up in my spotify recap this year lmao😭 I especially love bsb's theme, it's so unnerving!

[@joeywaite1365]

One thing I'd love to see you analyze is the flamenco music in "Blasphemous". It inspired me to begin to learn Spanish guitar and I think it's such a unique style of music!

[@jaefellow9010]

realest comment EVER

[@jasonhunter2819]

Dark Souls 3 has perhaps my favorite soundtrack of games OR film of the last 20 years. It is just so evocative and purposeful and tells you so much the boss you're fighting at any given moment.

[@mynona9020]

Dark Souls 3 main theme and Ludwigs Theme are two of the most epic pieces of music i ever heard, especially with the memories of the games connected to it

[@foxglovelove8379]

I'm so happy you made this video. I love these soundtracks and I feel like they don't get enough love and attention. It's great to get more insight from someone with a deeper understanding of music.

[@shadowcub5751]

I’m recording the boss fights on my current and first run through DSIII and the first thing I immediately noticed is how little I pay attention to the music while actually playing… because I am far too busy trying to not get my hide shredded. I’ve found myself rewatching these fights much less for the nostalgic glory or reviewing failures, but to just listen to and watch everything I missed while doing them. I really wish I had done the same when I ran through DS the first time.

[@mr.mephitis2492]

This series has such an excellent sound to it; it's nice to see an analysis of it.

[@blankface911]

Yet again you've covered a game series that I adore and yet seemingly overlooked musically and now am going to listen to on the way to work. Thank you!

[@Bemwidood]

Oh man I’ve always wanted you to do a deep dive into bloodborne music! This is so awesome that you touched on a variety of fromsoftware soulsborne games 🤘🏽Thank you so much!

[@ScarHydreigon87]

I have absolutely no knowledge of music theory or how to read music, but your videos are always fun to watch

[@beansnrice321]

Glad you started with the lack of music. In many ways I feel like the sound of the game is the real music. Your broken footsteps, your confident march forward. Your cautious tiptoeing around scary or distracted foes. The sound of your sword swings follow by the clang of swords bouncing off shields. These all are little rhythms and motifs all their own. The orchestral music then kicks in for bosses or the Firelink shrine and that's about it, stressing the importance of those places. In fact stress is a key part of the music, Gwyn and Firelink being calm and somber songs and every other song being stressful and anxiety inducing. (In fact, if you want a simple if not odd hack for the boss fights, especially for Bloodborne, try turning the music off entirely to see how much easier the fights are without it.) Music and sound are key aspects of these games and in ways must games do not consider using. Thanks you for covering so many video game compositions but extra thank you for covering Dark Souls. =)

[@GameDevYal]

And not to forget the most important, most relieving sound effect in the entire game: the "enemy death" sound. Especially when it just cuts off a boss track when you land the final hit and you can feel all the tension evaporate as you finally get to stop holding your breath.

[@ferenc_l]

I was waiting for this video since forever! I could never pin down what makes Souls music the way it is. Thank you!

[@Mr.Nichan]

For anyone who doesn't know, the music he's playing from 5:46 to 6:30 is from Mozart's Requiem (probably the most famous part), and thus probably not from a Dark Soul's game. I actually sang this part in choir once (not that anyone cares).

[@mareco7854]

I FUCKING CARE I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR THIS SONG FOR FUCKING EVER THANK YOU

[@Mr.Nichan]

@@mareco7854 Wow, thanks for validating the things I do. I just added this comment out a perfectionist desire to correct the video's vagueness about it. I wasn't expecting anyone to be so happy about it!

[@andiche1706]

thank you! was looking for this badly

[@rootfifthoctave5336]

these videos seem like such hard work! and always extremely educational, thank you so much

[@leaphan6141]

So funny this came into my feed! Im going through DS3 for the first time and just defeated Deacons. "Souls of Fire" from DS1 and the title screen score for DS2 will always hold a place in my heart. 200% a crying shame DS2 Title Screen isn't listed in the official soundtrack.

[@Kithara1117]

A long overdue Sakuraba video! I'm especially fond of his work in the Tales series.

[@kudosensei]

I like how you tend to skirt around the obvious fan favourite picks (plin plin plon in both forms) and just go into dissecting the sound over all. I gotta say that I was so ready for the Burnt Ivory King theme when I saw the video footage.

[@robTCGZ]

I love this series so much! I cannot even put it into words.

[@xpendabull]

I haven't experienced every boss fight or bit of music in the Fromsoft games, but my favorite so far is probably the Ancestor Sprit from Elden Ring. Something about the setting and the music truly makes it feel like you are in the presence of something so ancient and primordial but now is just a withered husk hiding in a dark corner of the world. It feels like once you defeat it you erased something that witnessed the creation of the world, and the world is lesser for it.

[@joehickmanmusic1504]

I did this same topic for my final dissertation at uni! I’m quite relieved that I’ve seen you catch on to the same things I did because I was worried it was all just coincidence - must’ve been the lack of sleep!

[@lebannerfan65]

Any chance to read your thesis? Would love to dig into deeper harmonic analysis

[@joehickmanmusic1504]

@@lebannerfan65 honestly I’m really not proud of it and it didn’t do too well either so I don’t think it would be worth your time :( If I had the chance to do it again and could really get the best out of my potential then I’d probably feel more willing to!

[@LegendaryBrah]

The music will always be in synergy with the lore of the boss. The most impactful feel of the lore of its bosses are: Abyss Watchers, Pontiff Sulyvahn, Lorian and Lothric, Demon Prince, Slave Knight Gael, Godfrey, Morgott, Malenia, and of course, Soul of Cinder. Example: in the Abyss Watchers OST, you can hear multiple voices that are not in synergy with the main lead and you can hear bells. The multiple voices symbolizes that the Abyss Watchers are broken and out to kill each other but when phase 2 starts, there’s only one voice because they all pooled together, to be in synergy one last time. And the bells you hear are the Bells of Awakening because the Abyss Watchers are an undead legion that will keep reviving to continue to fight.

[@Gnurklesquimp2]

I'd love a video just for the Dark Souls 1 music, especially the more (internally) typical boss themes. Taurus, Gargoyles and O&S especially, those are so weirdly iconic, just unmistakeable. Even something as iconic in it's own right as Firelink... I could EASILY see that in another game and plenty have had music along those lines, but these boss themes? Put something that sounds remotely like them in another game and I'd be distracted by how much it sounds like Dark Souls. The way they use chromaticiscm in such discordant yet catchy ways over huge raging percussion, SO many dramatic jumps in the harmony and melody, it's just such a consistent style.

[@lownotez8501]

Would LOVE LOVE LOVE to see this video type on “Slave Knight Gael” from dark souls 3 as I see it as one of the greatest orchestral pieces of all time

[@ExpertDual]

I wish you mentioned the composer of each piece because they all do things differently. One example I know is that the Lord of cinder theme is played with only the white keys on the keyboard while the ds3 soul of cinder boss forgets that rule. Ornstein and smough really rocks though

[@diegobastiani]

in my beginner experience in music I was like "uugh ugly" for the different tradicional chord progressions, today I noticed how underestimated they are. thanks for the video!

[@hitlord]

I've no idea why I clicked this video, other than a curiosity to understand why so many games try to emulate the Souls feeling through music and fail, considering I don't understand music theory that much, but I'm glad I did. Even with what little knowledge I have of theory and sheet music reading I have, this did end up answering me. Which in turn leads me to say that this is a fantastic video, considering I managed to learn what I wanted while not being that good in the subject to begin with. You're a good teacher, and please do more of these. Added bonus of the whole video for me though, listening to the OSTs of my favourite games again.

[@THEPurpleEgg]

I've never played a souls game before, but I can now TOTALLY hear Christopher Larkin's (and way more) inspiration for his boss themes in each of these epically futile-sounding songs, especially in Godskin Apostle's theme

[@Lishtenbird]

Yeap - haven't played them either, but pretty quickly thought of stylistic similarities in Hollow Knight.

[@person3362]

Godskin Apostles was released and presumably composed waaaay after all of the Hollow Knight music had come out. Still there is definitely a lot of similarities between the two games and not just musically.

[@MoD1510]

Christopher Larkin hasn't composed anything for a released game since Elden Ring (the game with the Godskin Apostle) came out, so I'm not sure I follow what you mean here

[@balladin9200]

I was begging for this in my head actual perfect timing

[@Delano777]

i need a video on the majula theme for how hopeless it makes me feel while also having the most hopeful feeling in every hub in these games

[@snubabubba2745]

Everyone likes to bring up plin plin plon when talking about final boss themes but for me Radagon's theme hitting you in the face like a truck when his boss fight begins (along with it having very heavy influences from the title menu music) will always be my favorite musical moment in From games. That theme is so good, especially after your very first playthrough of that game.

[@nataliem4434]

this video has been a long time coming, thrilled to see it!

[@iagocampus4818]

OMG finally some love for Sinh's theme, such an underrated track

[@Radahntheconqueror]

We’ve been waiting for the Music Lore of Souls-games. Thank you for going into the depths of this!

[@bencetakacs1049]

Just realised how smooth is the voice leading in Firelink Shrine. The second chord, the Am(add4) contains a D note, the b7 of the scale. That means, the 2nd, 3rd and 4th chords in the progression containa a b7 - 7 - 1 melody that is so exciting and heartbreaking to hear. I love it! The V works wonderfully here, because the accompanying chords perfectly utilize it's uniqueness. Thanks for writing it down, these videos giving me new ideas to play with all the time!

[@hibiscusman]

17:00 I always thought O&S's theme was super appropriate, given that it sounds like two different pieces of music being played one phrase at a time back and forth. Take the phrase ending triumphantly on a Cmajor sus resolution, only to immediately skip a tritone to F# minor, then back to a heroic E major - it really feels like the music just does something totally different for four bars before getting back to its previous thought. Really appropriate writing given the fight, love it. I've always been fascinated with the Lothric/Lorian theme. What I would consider the main section of the piece just feels like a never-ending cadence, constantly teasing a resolution but always shifting the progression into a totally new idea without completing the last one. Yuka Kitamura's music always stands out to me in every game she works on. Loved hearing your thoughts on the series, so many cool insights. Thanks for the video!

[@qwertymesa]

been waiting for a video on the souls franchise for years now!

[@user-ec2ms4ct2z]

Glad you noted the lack of music at the beginning, it was something that always stood out to me in dark souls games. If you've ever played dragon age origins you should totally make a video on how it really reinforces the dark/epic fantasy aspect of the game, I always find the main theme that plays on the titlescreen to be very romantic & epic. The Grey Warden theme is another one off the soundtrack that always enchanted me with it's sound. (They use a variety of languages in it with some interesting instrument choices for what is essentially a marching theme!)

[@ryangattini862]

Thank you so much for the work and analysis of these games incredible soundtracks, i was sad when it wrapped up lol

[@lukasgraesslin]

A video about Dark Souls? Oh boy count me in!

[@thebigcheeze6430]

"And Harp, when you're in one of the few truly safe places in the game" Pictures Medula *FLASHBACK OF THE LIL PIGS MURDERING MANY NEW PLAYERS*

[@capainsharp1447]

Dear sir, I have watched so many videos of yours when ever I read a book I hear your voice narrating it.

[@thegothaunt]

my soul left my body I got so excited to see Dark Souls on my feed today 😂 this was fantastic

[@jamesminer4472]

This vid went by so fast. I love the whole souls series music

[@gugg2216]

Nobody talks enough about the Burnt Ivory King theme. DS2s dlcs really took the step forward into the style the composition ds3s music has.

[@jessetoews2446]

This vid is awesome, love that F chord in the Godskin music

[@grahamwalker2168]

Didn't know how much I wanted this video till I saw it.

[@Overqualification]

To someone who only somewhat understands music theory, the “key” gists I get from this is that the music in souls games switches keys frequently in order to not all sound similar and are easily differentiated by the pattern in which the keys are played. I also got that the music is often representative of the fight itself, which was always obvious, but cool to see how MUCH it’s represents.

[@nunobarbosa77]

Gehrman's theme is... the best sound track in a videogame! Bloodborne in general has the best soundtrack of all videogames, it's so powerful. Actually the game become much more easy if you turn off the music, because the soundtrack alone makes your blood pump like crazy... that is genius!

[@Kamer.Sounds]

salivating at these chord progressions

[@Mr.Nichan]

14:21 Resolving a fully diminished chord down instead of up can be thought of a negative harmony, rather than just deceptive.

[@SomethingWellesian]

I’ve never played a Souls game, but I have been writing the soundtrack for the D&D horror game I’ve been running recently, and I’ve been struggling to get the right vibe for battle music. I think this video may have finally got me there. Thanks.

[@marcindzamroga8945]

I find the lack of inclusion of the armor spider theme downright criminal! :P

[@HaydenKinsmanMusic]

This was fantastic, really well explained. Might show this to a couple of my piano students!

[@ArthurGanjei]

I’ve been waiting so long for a video like this

[@Deioth]

Been playing Risk of Rain Returns and realized that seemingly the entire sound track is one giant leitmotif (the walk up/down dah-dat dah-dah). Since RoR and RoR2 haven't been covered, I hope we get something from the series one day. Also, Sinh has the best opening phrase of any Souls series boss theme, change my mind.

[@-EndlessHorizon]

Great wolf sifs theme is simply incredible.

[@armouredrabbit]

Thanks for the upload! Been binge watching all of your videos and now I got even more!

[@SmashFace777]

Awesome video, New subscriber unlocked

[@jacobg1796]

I like that the Gwyn fight isn't accompanied by any drums or choir, it's just a lone piano. It takes away the drama in a way that is very thematically appropriate for DS. It feels as though the music was composed less for a fight and more for an ending.

[@DingleberryProductions]

Been on both a dark souls and music learning kick so this is hittin

[@Adan__bg]

Anytime souls Bourne music is dissected it will always be an amazing video

[@SeanScorpion]

Demons Souls has my favorite soundtrack. I find it much more creative and daring than the subsequent games. It having mostly synth instruments gives it more of a video game than a Hollywood feel.

[@matiasgago]

The sound of souls music will never be beaten. Thank you for the great video \[T]/

[@J-MLindeMusic]

I love how Hunter's Dream from Bloodborne features a viola as the main focus of the piece. Doesn't have the weight of the cello or brightness of a violin. A perfect choice for a hub area in such a depressing world.

[@mattiatosi8350]

There should have been something about Ludwig's theme, great video btw

[@svartulf5916]

Seeing Goodest Girl Sif start to limp never fails to kick me right in the feels. You monster. Excellent video.

[@viethoang308]

Gwyn - Lord of Cinder, I'm pretty sure this theme is the favorite one of the most Chosen Ones

[@LastProtagonist]

Hey man, I really enjoyed the video, but the audio transitions between your voice and the music felt a bit too abrupt and that the bgm was waaay louder. This also made it more difficult to understand what you were saying. Other than that, great job, it was interesting, but I'm also curious if the DS sound was more limited to specific composers. I know you mentioned Sakuraba, but were these kinds of sounds more limited to just his work, or were they found throughout all of the composers' work?

[@MichaelMan2000]

The thumbnail is very clever

[@Cue-Ball.]

Sad you didn't tackle any of the more threatening less melodic stuff from Dark Souls like Four Kings, Bed of Chaos, Cursed-rotted Greatwood n all that or like the genius way Seath the Scaleless's theme is composed in such a chaotic way. Missed opportunity to see what kind of music theory is going on behind all the chaos! The not-so-melodic pieces are a huge part of the Souls sound and Elden Ring did well bringing that back for the midboss themes. Motoi Sakuraba's classical inspired theory really set the tone for how the music in games to come with be and I love it being an example of classical structures and theory enduring in present day music. PS: You should check out FromSoftware's Armored Core music next! Would be nice to see you tackle electronic stuff.

[@toprak3479]

Seath's theme is truly ingenious.

[@LILUGOINDABUILDING]

This is actually helpful to me as i am recreating the OST's with a kazoo for fun

[@-42-47]

Bloodbornes Hypogean Gaol is a personal favorite with its aptly named theme Hail the Nightmare (though it clearly belongs in Bloodborne and not Dark Souls). It sets the scene of a dark and terrible ritual and a very strong feeling of impending doom.

[@andreasp1596]

Everyone: talks about music Me: I like your funny words magic mans

[@r0bz0rly]

i didn't realise how hard sinh's theme went

[@thekeeper1287]

Fun fact, bloodborne is the only game in their catalog that ACTUALLY has official lyrics for their songs. It's not accurate translation but the youtuber Antonius tertius actually gave an accurate translation on what the Latin words are supposed to be. Fromsoft though used translations on what sounded best with the instrumental

[@martinperez9968]

Ive been waiting for this video for so long

[@Jynx215]

Pontif Sulyvhan and nights cavalry are 2 of my favorites

[@Martinarroyou]

great video and analysis

[@Bardic_Knowledge]

I was somewhat expecting a similar theme (heh) to Austin Hourigan's video on Dark Souls, which was specifically about how the reason the Dancer of the Boreal Valley is so much harder than most bosses is because she fights in 3/4 time when the rest tend towards 4/4. Not sure why.

[@theazranger6327]

It's funny that the music isn't even there half the time, because when I hear the fire link theme I remember my entire first playthrough of dark souls one, like I played it all last night and it's a little fuzuy due to lack of sleep.

[@racefrazier7998]

Surprised you didn't talk about the Blood starved beast theme. Her theme is 5/4 and how getting in time with the music helps with the fight. Or Gwen, "Lord of Light" is only played on the white keys.

[@Cestariarts]

While it was interesting not having ambient music in the whole Souls series, I was deeply grateful for the existence of it in Elden Ring

[@josejuancerdabarraza3544]

NGL in DS1 I turned down the music for the bosses because I got too excited due to how good the music is and proceeded to get greedy and die multiple times, Loved Taurus demon Song specially while performing the plunge attack

[@arctother5176]

One thing I haven’t seen anyone talk about yet is that the Demon’s Souls intro song’s melody is used again or “quoted” in the Elden Ring title song. I had theories as to why that was the first time I heard it, but after playing it I realized that maybe it was just a nod to Demons Souls. Still, it makes it even more confusing as to why they would make that choice.