A Framework for Basic Rhythmic Analysis feat. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

[@razbuten]

thank you

[@chipsnegativeharmonyrips7187]

Glad to see you on this channel continuing your music theory journey!

[@nshady16]

I don't think I've ever seen someone break down the rhythmic purpose of individual beats in a bar before. It may well be simple but I found it rather revelatory to have things I'd taken for granted made explicit.

[@KairuHakubi]

it especially helped hearing the alternate versions. I realized I've been deliberately doing that in my head sometimes, as if just to rebel against the complex rhythm and see what happens.

[@Josh_Fredman]

I had the same reaction. I've never seen music analyzed like this. Quite "revelatory" as you put it!

[@morganlak4337]

As someone who doesn't have much intuition for music but still tries really hard to write it, I basically had no clue how rhythm worked before this, I would always just guess and check and randomly fill things in until I liked it. Having an explicit way to describe things and think about them is revolutionary for me and I think will vastly improve how I write melodies

[@kurichan142]

*I literally just woke up and I'm so glad.*

[@PedroKrebs]

same :)

[@mihailmilev9909]

Basically same

[@mihailmilev9909]

@@PedroKrebs same

[@darb_meister2372]

Same

[@BinaryBard64]

Hope yall live in the Hawaii timezone

[@aloysiuskurnia7643]

"You may have heard this called a..." "tresillo?" "...half clave or a pop clave"

[@benjaminshields9421]

I feel like I'm so far removed from the core/intended audience. I still barely understand music theory (and dont study it), but I love hearing someone speak passionately on something. And you have this amazing ability to explain it simply and keep me waiting for each new video.

[@bjp4869]

That was me too when I first watched this channel, though I've grown to understand it more over time.

[@607]

I used to be when this channel was created, and now I'm sometimes struggling to get anything new out of a video! They're still fun to watch, though. :) Not least because they often introduce to me soundtracks that I didn't know of before!

[@moctawolf]

How the hell did he manage to make a *dominant **#9th** chord* with *only three sounds* ? This guy is a *GOD* !

[@L3ver]

@matteo magnaterra I mean, maybe, but it's also because the chord is already defined as a D7 the bar before very clearly with the F# (which is an octave lower than the #9 played). Our ears take the path of least resistance and decide that the quality carries over, just becoming more colourful rather than changing quality randomly

[@FernieCanto]

You have severely low standards for a "god".

[@lightyagami1058]

It's notated as an altered chord, so you only need the root, third, and the specified extension.

[@lightyagami1058]

@@L3ver Yeah the D7 carries over until otherwise specified, that's how lead sheet works. What I don't get is why 8bit notates the extensions at 16:59 as if they're being drawn from the VM9 which doesn't exist in the minor scale and F natural is not the #9 in a D7 chord. Edit: I think it's pulling from the D major scale, still find that kind of confusing. Must be a jazz thing.

[@pieterzegers7788]

@@lightyagami1058 ??? - F natural is the #9 of D. An augmented second above D is F after all.

[@8bitdee]

Me nodding, knowing absolutely nothing about music writing: "Yes, yes, of course."

[@thackeryscroggins9947]

Saaaaame

[@chrones56]

Zelda II's OST is one of the most underrated imo. Glad it's featured here!

[@SwiWasTaken]

It's great to finally have rhythm get some time in the sun for music analysis! It's easily the least studied part of music, despite it being one of the largest parts of music

[@GameDevYal]

It's not just the OST of Zelda II that's underrated, it's the whole game. Can we just take a moment to appreciate that Zelda II released half a year before Castlevania II: Simon's Quest. Zelda became a metroidvania before CASTLEVANIA, one of the two series that coined the term.

[@pequalsa]

Nice point. There is of course also the Zelda II Clone category, Battle of Olympus being my favorite from back in the day.

[@Redhollow]

Definitely needed this video. Writing countermelodies is my life but focusing on rhythms/percussion gives me anxiety. .__.

[@IanWagner94]

Same

[@pumodi]

8-bit Music Theory: Rhythm is one of the hardest parts of music to talk about. Drumline Kids: Sigga dugga dugga sigga dugga buzz buzz shot buzz buzz paradiddle buzz EDIT: Apologies if this came of disparaging, was just trying to be a little silly

[@aubreyh1930]

When you learn an instrument that focuses on rhythm ofc you’ll understand it better

[@pumodi]

@@aubreyh1930 yeah of course, I was just trying to make a joke. Not trying to be disparaging or anything

[@ThePinnacleSFA]

I think every instrument focuses on rhythm! You can play any combination of notes on the planet but if they’re out of time people are gonna look at you funny lol

[@matthewfera2954]

As a guy who started music with drumline.. Your comment made me laugh out loud!

[@ArkhBaegor]

Same as a drummer, although you drumline kids freak me out sometimes

[@dissinyosandwich7548]

Holy shit, you have no idea how conveniently timed this video is. I've been trying to study wonky rhythm ideas and syncopation for awhile now as it was one of the few musical ideas I couldn't for the life of me wrap my head around. You've helped me understand music better then you may ever know. Godspeed, you amazing man.

[@esteventorres4884]

I just wait for the day when 8-bit analyzes Professor Layton's OST

[@drakoz254]

Yo this would be so sick

[@vendel8007]

Now I want this to happen

[@esteventorres4884]

@@vendel8007 One day, hopefully

[@lellymapommscymbillnos336]

YES

[@jameslabs1]

I still have trouble sight reading rhythm. This helped. Thanks

[@Faygris]

I've always been a huge fan of Zelda 2 and its soundtrack. I'm happy to see it getting some love ❤️

[@ChugMugs]

As a percussionist who deals with rhythm theory all of the time, I like to see other people s interpretations of rhythm theory. The way he explains it in this video is very well how rhythm theory and syncapation works together in the context of a chord progression. A very well done video indeed!

[@moogamooga2100]

I would literally take a college course on this stuff. You do an EXCELLENT job with your examples, 8-Bit!

[@607]

I recommend it, if you're paying tuiton.

[@Scheater5]

Getting my masters, basically anytime I wanted to talk about rhythm in a tune, I had to make up a framework for discussing it. The only reason we don't talk about it is that we don't talk about it. The common language doesn't exist, and won't so long as no one champions a framework - here's to this one!

[@YoungTheFish]

The animations and the rearrange mock-ups are getting so good!

[@JoeDaveycrockettsoundlabs]

Yes!!! Been waiting for a breakdown on the music for this particular Zelda. The Dungeon Theme is metal AF!

[@tojiko6868]

If you never have, you should **definitely** listen to Duane & Brando's rap/metal cover of Zelda II (warning: explicit) kzbin.info/www/bejne/pp20mpuXh7Z1nKs

[@fernandobanda5734]

Funny that you say that because I hear that 3-3-2 time division in metal all the freaking time.

[@JoeDaveycrockettsoundlabs]

@@fernandobanda5734 Oh for sure. I mean that rhythm is all over music from across the globe to honest. I would love to see a video about it's extensive usage and origins. Maybe Adam Neely has something.

[@SarahMaeBea]

This is so incredibly helpful. I'm taking music lessons and learning about tonal harmony. Something I've struggled with when trying to write melodies is knowing where to put silence! It often feels like trial and error until something sounds ok. I'm definitely going to be referring back to this video. You've given me tools to actually make intentional choices with my rhythm! Thank you!!

[@morganlak4337]

I have a friend who's an excellent musician, but struggles to explain concepts and is mostly self taught. They've been telling me for a while that I need to understand rhythm better and that it's a clear weakness in my music, I agree but we've both struggled to articulate why or what exactly is wrong or how to improve it. This video gave me a really clear picture as to why, it's pretty random which beats I choose to emphasize and I often leave things floating on an off beat with no resolution in a context that just feels weird to do that, or I'll only emphasize one beat over and over and it gets very stale even if I'm not emphasizing beat 1. Thank you so much for the video, now time to see if I can learn more!

[@WaterMusic34]

Zelda II's ost has always impressed me! Such a wide variety of fun tunes that have stayed with me for years.

[@toucanadian]

Dude that jam at 15:10 is actually dope. It was just a quick example but I could listen to that for hours.

[@VieShaphiel]

12:10 I thought you're gonna rap the whole segment here

[@TheViolaBuddy]

_The same kind of idea works melodically, too_ _The notes can give a big burst of energy to you_ _The Title Theme bars end with anticipations_ _Broken up by approach notes that split up the duration_

[@beckst3r]

I DID NOT REALIZE THAT LMAOOOOO

[@Woodyoodyoow]

Sounds like the start of Jreg's political compass rap

[@dannyjesse3655]

I think of rhythmic tension as momentum. I found its easier to "feel it" with your ears rather than trying to "hear it" with your ears. Also using the "what if it was different" approach to analysis is (imo) the #1 way to understand music. If you change it and observe the differences, you figure out what is objectively (to your ears) the most formative elements of the music.

[@607]

The thing you did with letting people hear how something would sound without a certain rhythmic characteristic is something I do a lot too! (Although I just sing it, I don't take the time to recreate it :P)

[@ismtud1364]

I was really searching for how rhythm works in melodies. Cool how this video was put up in my time of need

[@patrickholt8782]

I have some feeling that the composers in the 80’s thought “I’m making game music that no one will remember in more than 5 years. Might aswell get funky and weird.”

[@MrAlexanderAmes]

I need more content of rhythmic analysis. I've been looking for good information on rhythm theory and it's so much harder to find than information on chords and harmonies. This video pur into words some things I'd been thinking about and it's love to go deeper into this topic.

[@MythrilZenith]

I can't hear the opening to Great Temple without hearing the full- measure run of dispelling the barrier. To me it's a sound effect that somehow fits perfectly into the score right where it naturally happens - assuming you run directly into the barrier every time you respawn. Would love to hear your thoughts on sound effects that harmony perfectly with the music.

[@jasonpetitjean8332]

There is a band called Nerve (founded by legendary drummer Jojo Mayer) who released an album in 2019 called "Music For Sharks" and I they play around with a lot of rhythmic tension in this album. Jojo has capitalized on rhythmic tension by peppering fills with an emphasis on the second sixteenth note of his phrasing, resulting in a kind of uncomfortable, floating momentum that lends itself well to music about dangerous predators floating in a vast ocean. This concept I think is most evident in album's first track, "Goblin Shark," but you can feel this concept permeating every track. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJC6fYugfpefn6c

[@Geo37man]

This is so good! Would love to see you do more analysis on rhythm like this, maybe with some more advanced concepts :)

[@MadsterV]

Most of your videos are interesting, but this one was eye opening. There's a lot that I had a feel for, but having no formal training I could not put into paper, instead I'd do it by ear, just tapping on things and counting until I get it all down... but now it's VERY clear. Awesome! this is definitely going to be put to use, thanks!

[@guy-sl3kr]

Is no one gonna mention how skilled that gameplay is? Especially that bit near the end where the player does a quick turnaround to shield against both octorok's projectiles... couldn't've been me

[@KMArrangements]

*puts on Gordan Ramsay face* "Finally, some good video game rhythmic theory."

[@HustleMasta]

Rhythm is something I know very little. This was very helpful. After all these years, Zelda franchise is still teaching me a thing or two.!!!!

[@RyanLeach]

If you haven't read it yet, there is a book by David Huron called Sweet Anticipation: Music and the Psychology of Expectation that you will probably enjoy.

[@Deioth]

Feels like it has been quite a while since actual 8-bit music was reviewed. Glad to know Zelda 2 gets some love, I enjoyed that one thoroughly. So many NES sequels were so experimental and not many people liked them, yet they were crucial building blocks for later, better refined iterations of such breaks from established tradition (Castlevania II Simon's Quest is definitely a precursor to Symphony of the Night: open world, item acquisition, gear upgrades, and progressive story - as an example)

[@Mogri1]

I'd love to see some analysis on Ballad of the Wind Fish and how the melody doesn't happen on the downbeat.

[@tomatopotato6795]

A master teacher making music concepts simple shows you are a true master.Thanks a lot

[@douglasbradley7244]

Outstanding analysis of how rhythm is used!! This is so lacking in music theory and composition courses. Thank you for putting it together!

[@acebwatchin2777]

I watched these videos just because and after watching these videoes for a while I started to actually understand what 8-bit's talking about and am now somewhat able to read sheet music.

[@aquasystm]

I really enjoyed following along and making my own notations, showing contrast between what it would be like if these melodies had been done simpler really shows jut how good like black letting white stand out

[@infinitelyexplosive4131]

I was really able to understand and feel what you were talking about with tension and resolution a lot more than normal with this video.

[@TheSteelDialga]

I love how when you change the rhythms in your examples that you're able keep the sounds almost exactly similar. Really drives your point home!

[@BrendanCalliesComposer]

Can we talk about those LEGS for a sec? I mean link got some CAKKEEEE

[@camilobedex]

It's so insightful to see your analysis. We musician usually learn rhythm through sheer force, experience and practice, so it's very helpful to give some thought to it. Very well done! Love your channel.

[@GuilhermeCosta-bg8zq]

0:48 I mean, the noise channel kinda fills that role.

[@theEndermanMGS]

And the occasional low-fidelity DCM sample, but that was pretty rare. Mario 3 used it for a drum sample in the opening level.

[@kaiser9321]

After listening to mandelbrot sounds, it’s now time to watch rhythmic functions

[@manuelbonet]

Same!

[@drakoz254]

0_o wild that you took the same path here. The algorithm controls us all.

[@manuelbonet]

@@drakoz254 It wasn't the algorithm (directly) in my case, I've been subscribed to both channels for a while

[@Dyundu]

Happy to see some love for Z2, unironically my favorite game of all time!

[@guttsu]

I don't know if maybe my understanding is improving, but I feel like I'm getting more and more out of your videos. And the point-counterpoint examples of rhythms that you give is SUPER helpful in illustrating your point. As always, keep up the amazing work!

[@ragdollinballin]

when i subscribed yesterday i literally said "damn i wish there were more zelda videos" and im so happy rn

[@0x44_]

Such great videos dense with great information. I really have to watch them many times to let it all sink in. Thank you so much for your work and efforts!

[@Loogaroo1]

de Blob 1 & 2 might make for a very interesting topic for a future video. The BGM for each level starts off with a slow tempo and sparse instrumentation, then as you complete more and more of the level, more instruments get layered in and the harmonies and rhythms get more complex, until the latter part of the stage where the tempo generally goes double time and the full melody and harmony come in. One stage even begins in a minor key and shifts to the relative major once you're about halfway done. All of the music is performed by an Australian funk/ska group called The Bamboos. It's not the most popular game out there but it really did some creative things with its music.

[@sushiinyourface293]

I wake up, check KZbin, and see this. Best day ever

[@joeyharrington1863]

As a drummer, I really enjoyed the comparisons to melodic devices. I've never thought about rhythm quite so...functionally.

[@moonsweater]

Really interesting ideas! I'd love to see you apply these concepts to more complex time signatures in other videos!

[@larryisntmynamebutyoucanca9625]

Dude your content keeps getting better and better. I seriously love the niche you are carving out for yourself and I absolutely adore every video that comes out. Keep going, my dude, and thank you!

[@brianbjur4796]

This video ought to be part of a bassist’s regular intake. (I say that applying what I’ve learned to bass-playing as I comment but I believe everyone benefits from this.) THIS IS HOW TO MUSIC BETTER.

[@dr.everyzig4010]

Ok, so recently I was listening to Shoop by Salt n Pepa, thinking something like "How does such a simple beat sound this funky?" It just alternates between two versions of the same pattern, with one of the kick hits being replaced by a snare hit every second time. But now it makes perfect sense. That one "RAN" in an otherwise sparse and straightforward beat is crucial to the overall feel of the song, and constantly switching it from kick to snare just accentuates it even more. Thanks for giving me the words to explain it to myself. Also, every time someone makes a video about Zelda II, I feel a little less alone for loving it even more than the first game

[@Shinigami435]

As an amateur drummer that never did proper music theory, I am glad I can finally understand one of your video since it mostly talks about rythm. Well, now I can confirm that those analysis are very nice.

[@jimburly9740]

You know it's gunna be a great day when 8Bit music theory posts a new video :)

[@Nyuu3]

Thank you thank you thank you this is EXACTLY what I needed

[@waterhorse928]

Your videos are becoming better and better! When I'm watching I always want to hear what you're talking about. Well this time around you played each segment of music just perfectly long enough for me to understand. Also I love how you faded in the melee version of the temple theme right when I thought about it. Its like the video is reading my mind!

[@sa3270]

I just finished my first playthrough of the original The Legend of Zelda second quest and now watching this makes me want to play The Adventure of Link again. While playing the original Zelda I became obsessed with the dungeons 1 through 8 theme and transcribed it from ear as best I could and I got to Level 9 and I was like I'm not even gonna try. I'll have to look back and see if you've done an analysis on the original Zelda.

[@sa3270]

And a thought crossed my mind wouldn't it be cool if Ganondorf had an organ in botw 2.

[@olukz2529]

this is amazing. I will watch it again, and again, and again for reference

[@thatsruffdog]

Wow, I didn’t realize how much of an effect this video would have on me! I’m listening to School Days from Persona and I’m so focused on the rhythm of the synth and keys. I can comprehend how different song sounds of you change the rhythm.

[@spiffinn_music_lists]

Your comment on persistent anticipation leading to a different perceived pulse reminds me of the phenomenon in radiohead's videotape that went around music youtube a bit ago.

[@kappabravomusic2101]

Awesome break down as always. Really liked detailing of nuances in "town music". Great points. Also I totally agree. Syncopation and odd timing is the huge factor of melody's rhythmic style and vibe. It's a huge thing. That's why I'm midi production it's always nice to play around with the quantization of notes very carefully, because it might just break and become totally different from the original idea and this affect whole track in the end.

[@Ghostblock]

Yours is one of my favourite channels on KZbin. Keep up the awesome work man!

[@alexchacon778]

Fantastic video! Melodic rhythms really are such a fundamental component of music that tend to get glossed over

[@livipup]

Great explanations for why I always loved the music in this game

[@sallybradshaw4576]

My birthday is tomorrow, and this feels like a wonderful early present!

[@IronBlaze77]

Happy early birthday!

[@m-yday]

I haven't yet watched this, but I can already tell this is exactly what I need. After years of music study, I still have issues with rhythm. Thank you

[@spring6066]

I know nothing about music or rhythmic theory but yes finally some recognition of how good zelda II music is

[@oldbird4601]

The palace theme in Zelda 2 is a certified banger

[@yetanothermetaname1118]

Imagine being Zelda Two. Everything about you was perfectly fine, even well done, but you have been excluded from the public discourse for being to original.

[@poke-champ4256]

dont act like zelda 2s difficulty doesnt exist. if it was just too "original" majoras mask wouldve met the same fate. did it? no

[@anonymousfellow8879]

it’s the broken game mechanics.

[@Choinkus]

I disagree. I kept on wanting to blame the controls and physics when I died instead of my own lack of skill. When I play Super Meat Boy, even though that's a harder game overall, I don't feel the same thing, because its mechanics are good and allow the level design to be the source of difficulty. It's not like every original game gets hate, anyway - there's a reason Zelda 2 does, and it's because it isn't fun, at least to most people. That said, I don't really like Zelda 1 either. I played about halfway through, and if I wasn't looking shit up every 10 seconds I would have been stuck forever trying to figure out which completely indistinct block to push or bush to burn or what-have-you. ALttP is where the series really got good gameplay-wise if you ask me.

[@benjaminshields9421]

Zelda 2 wasnt excluded for originality, or even just the difficulty. It was excluded because the difficulty was so strongly tied to poor mechanics. If originality were the excluding factor, I would imagine that majoras mask would be excluded. Or wind waker being on an ocean to be excluded. Or breath of the wild doing what hasnt ever been done excluded. It wasnt a good game.

[@SteamEngine-yz6yy]

I don’t know what everyone is talking about “poor controls”. This game controls WAY better than Zelda 1 IMHO

[@animeking1357]

Me: *Knows nothing about music theory* Also me when youtube recommends an 8-bit Music Theory video: Haha music go brrrr.

[@mybrotherinchris]

I've been thinking about this for a while, but golly gosh you explained it way better than my dinosaur brain could. Appreciate it

[@Absorr]

Dude as a drummer, this was an awesome tool to sharpen my skills with!!!

[@BaronAsInRed]

I'd be interested in a series where you take individual video game composers and analyze their specific bodies of work. It's always been interesting to me how instantly recognizeable some of their flavors can be. Like, in the same way I can tell an aria is Mozart or Rossini right away, I instantly can tell if Hitoshi Sakimoto or, say, Motoi Sakuraba wrote a score. So I'd love a deeper technical analysis into what makes a whole series of composers tick! (beyond just what my brain instinctively tunes into from decades of video game playing)

[@notsasa7007]

I felt like the example at 12:38 illustrates an interesting interaction of rhythm and timbre. Even without an explicit approach the held vibrato has a rhythmic structure that produces almost the same effect to me.

[@RobSeib]

Thanks so much for this! It helped me start thinking more clearly about the purpose is rhythmic patterns. Also perfect timing as I just finished my first draft of a piano arrangement for the Zelda II soundtrack.

[@ImaginatorJoren]

Loved the transition from Zelda 2 to Smash Melee at the end there.

[@nicolepittson689]

these videos have literally been helping me through my theory courses, thank you so much you are literally a life saver

[@GenteelCretin]

The thumbnail got me hyped. I don't know why, but the illustrations in Zelda II are my favorite in the series. I think I prefer the Zelda II soundtrack we got over the Japanese one. Same with Castlevania III, which I find to be too bright. The limited channels, less vibrato, and more reliance on counterpoint works in their favor.

[@corhydrae3238]

You probably get this all the time, but you really have a great way of making people understand what you're talking about, even if they don't know anything about music theory.

[@607]

I'm glad that most of your videos are still pretty short!

[@DoeZeo]

Awesome analysis! Such tiny elements of a song can really make a piece iconic

[@crono303]

Great video! I agree that rhythm is the least studied aspect of western music, at least in comparison to harmony. After seeing this, I’m thinking that anticipating the resolution on beat 4 is essentially the equivalent of a rhythmic deceptive cadence. It’s sort of resolved, but without the full resolution ending on beat 1 would entail. If others are interested in this sort of rhythmic analysis, Hal Galper touches on it some in his “Forward Motion” book. It’s worth checking out. I think learning Konnakol syllables (Indian rhythmic solfège) also is good for rhythmic analysis. For example, the “half clave” would be 3+3+2 (Ta-ki-te Ta-ki-te Ta-ka). You can mix and match the note grouping to get all sorts of interesting syncopations.

[@kaitlyn__L]

This might be a little silly to say, but I’m gonna say it anyway: Some of the other theory stuff I’ve been going through for keys made me feel like learning sax didn’t really teach me any theory, because the whys and wherefores of harmony were left to the composer not me the player. But this video has me going “well duh, that’s an exercise I’ve been doing since day one” for instance the removal of approach notes or the removal of the anticipatory eight note and seeing how different it feels or if it’s even still recognisable as the same piece. And that totally makes sense, for a melody instrument like sax the player _must_ understand these rhythmic considerations to stay in sync with everyone - but who plays which note in a chord across the entire ensemble, or choosing which specific chord to outline in an arpeggio, matters a lot less to the player. Still, it’s also pretty validating that there’s _something_ in all this which I was already experienced in, rather than just going “oh, so that’s why I always did those kind of patterns” over and over like with all the harmonic function stuff.

[@camdenwebb5238]

Ah, an 8-bit music theory video. Today will be a good day

[@j.lindback]

Thank you for paying attention to this amazing game and its soundtrack! Great analysis, as usual.

[@artsytheory]

By far my most favourite channel to justify procrastinating.

[@Octedge]

Zelda 2 really is a gem for music! Someone understands!! Love it. I wonder if you've ever played Bomberman Hero for n64 , your "floating" explanation made me think of it! Thank you!

[@pfeifanddrum4610]

Fantastic analysis!

[@TheViolaBuddy]

Ooh nice. You've mentioned before that you were a drummer, so I've been waiting for a big rhythmic analysis at some point. I guess this video isn't all that drum-specific (and honestly the rhythmic motifs and ideas probably work best in the context of pitched instruments where the melodic ideas reflect the rhythmic ones, which is something you highlight a few times in the video), and in fact I think I kind of had these ideas of anticipation and approach in my head before but kind of free-floating without specifically being named. Naming/describing these rhythms, like with all music theory, definitely helps to make these ideas more concrete. Is this theory/terminology something well-established in music theory circles, or is this all your own observations and classifications?

[@steverox8141]

Great video man... Insightful ! All the Love and Respect for your efforts in making this video. LOVE FROM INDIA 💖