Sonic 3's Chrome Gadget: Music Theory

A look inside the music theory of Sonic 3's Chrome Gadget.
Viewer rewards include getting your name in the credits, sheet music library, and vgm soundtrack of the week: / alexyard
Clips
6:15
Mania Chrome Gadget Player by KZbin user Sonic Destiny
Sonic Mania - Chrome Gadget Zone
• Sonic Mania - Chrome G...
1:29 & 5:10 & 5:58
Sprite Animations from
KZbin user Joseph Rose
6:08
Mars Volta Photo
by Antony Hollingworth
11:30
The Sopranos
by Chase Films / HBO
11:32. S1E1: Pilot
11:36. S1E7: Down Neck
11:41. S6E4: The Fleshy Part of the Thigh
11:46. S6E18: Kennedy and Heidi
11:50. S6E21: Made In America
Audio
0:01 & 1:27 & 5:50 & 7:07 & 9:34
Chrome Gadget
Composer: Sega
5:34
Azure Lake
Composer: Sega
6:58
Mushroom Hill, Act 2
Composer: Sega
9:27
Prototype Carnival Night, Act 2
Composer: Sega

[@Genesisowusulover911]

These videos always make me appreciate these songs even more

[@CarlosEduFdS]

And make you hear things what you couldn't before

[@lameburger]

yeah

[@WarriorRev6300]

Yeahh

[@BadBoyBird]

Same

[@aleksavasic2612]

@@CarlosEduFdS Well I used carpathia808's videos to hear things that I couldn't before.

[@gameguider321GO]

5:54 I love how the background (although blurred) fits perfectly with the note demonstration

[@cutman3931]

Whoever composed the music for Chrome Gadget and Prototype Carnival Night is a genius

[@glitchedblood]

masayuki nagao, they also composed/arranged prototype launch base act 2, hydrocity act 2, desert palace, lava reef act 1, lava reef act 2, and the prototype competition menu

[@BasementBrothers]

This is why the proto songs feel so familiar even if you never heard them before. They belong in the game.

[@TeamTrainWreck]

@@glitchedbloodDid he also compose Angel Island Zone and the Data Select theme? I was always sad that the Sonic & Knuckles portion of the game lost the ‘tropical island’ feel of his compositions.

[@glitchedblood]

@@TeamTrainWreck Angel Island and Data Select’s composer is still unknown

[@Part_Time_Fox]

SO GLAD you're doing Chrome Gadget! It's one of those semi-obscure Sonic tracks that is just mesmerizing to listen to. Wonderful breakdown of the details and chords 👌

[@chrisfearn4837]

My Favourite track in S3 and knuckles without a doubt

[@SMSUnleashed100]

I couldn't wait for him to finally do a vid about this masterpiece!

[@JunScunthorpe]

omg its you that random furry I I actually forget why I met you but it was because of that snow leopard dude I think

[@Part_Time_Fox]

@@JunScunthorpe Lol I don recognize your name at the moment but I'm glad you remembered me!

[@JunScunthorpe]

@@Part_Time_Fox never got to know each other but you've got a very memorable username

[@xenalin1]

I can't believe how well you consistently execute these videos. You capture all the complexity, make it all simple, and wrap it all in a nostalgia blowout, all with clever and thematic editing.

[@damien__j]

This is perhaps the most energetic and emotionally stirring track in classic Sonic for me

[@edmn]

An Alex Yard S3&K music theory update always puts a smile on my face!

[@alexohkay]

Chrome Gadget is one of my favourite S3 tracks. Very under appreciated imo

[@ThinkBeyondOrdinary]

I'm just blown by the "fullscreen" Chrome Gadget at 5:30 - how? Now I just want a full zone like that!

[@Sing_LoveWRS]

That is something that origins does iirc, there is also a sonic mania mod that makes chrome gadget a full zone

[@AlexYardZone]

Isn't it something?? That's definitely one thing Origins is good for.

[@drYVinn]

They really like to play with the Bass on this zone. I really didn't expect the hidden SOS referencing IceCap The "Amen or whatever" was a funny bit lol

[@aleksavasic2612]

Ice cap probably references this and not the other way around.

[@indieoddjobs4766]

Chrome Gadget was always my favorite track / arena of competition mode. There was something so eerie and cold yet intriguing and poppin about it. It's like 90's pop meets Blade Runner. Thanks for breaking this down Alex I have even more appreciation for it now!

[@SMSUnleashed100]

Yeah, I've also always felt something regarding this stage and its music ever since I was a kid. Mainly considering the background; a dark industrial complex that extends way at the distance at night with the moon and some clouds visible in the sky.

[@GordieKat]

You should do a video about why certain sounds in music generate certain feelings and emotions or paint a certain picture. I've always been curious about this. For example, why is it that music can sound hot, or cold, or like a desert.

[@newoldstock_]

Your videos have inspired me to start learning music theory for real, after a few decades of putting it off. I envy your ability to explain these concepts so well. You manage to distill it down to the important basics without messing with any of the magic. It's an honor to support your work!

[@victorlgcarvalho]

Sonic 3's multiplayer level soundtracks are among the best of the Genesis ever had.

[@Camwin]

I don't know theory, but i'm a huge music fan and I love when people dissect my favourite music. The old school Sonic series was a huge influence in why I love music so this channel is amazing!

[@pick_nark]

I never realize just how complex all this is until you break it down. Sega has some pretty great composers.

[@aleksavasic2612]

Absolutely worth the wait! This is your best Sonic 3 Music Theory episode!

[@PauloClassicStyle]

This video in specific is very important to me, this song had a big impact in my childhood, i always loved the melancholy in this song and i think it even might had impacted my music taste as an adult

[@BraviaGames]

My favorite part of these breakdowns is finding the story in the music. I enjoyed your descriptions of the thematic flow between stages.

[@lathell1233]

Love seeing some validation to my past overthinking of all the notes in these songs. Excellent work as always good sir! Also! I saw knuckles pop up there lol

[@SonicTheDutchHedgehog]

Chrome Gaget was always my favorite competition song from sonic 3 and this video is really cool I'm not a musician myself but I always find this stuff very interesting nice job!

[@ryar007]

I love these videos, not only do they give me a reason to listen to these songs again, but they help me learn about music theory which is something I wouldn’t normally learn about since I don’t have a lot of time.

[@mrelba9176]

This was always my fave track in the entire soundtrack. It's so sad...

[@jerppursh7570]

And just like that, it's time for another Alex Yard video to watch 3 times in a row to really soak it all in

[@TTULangGenius]

This series is amazing! I recently discovered it and my Sonic nostalgia got ignited. I then ended up buying Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles CIB since it's kind of rare to see a re-release of the two. On a different note, this series is helping me relearn how to read music. I lost my ability to read music around late middle school (in 1994) due to a neurological disorder that crept up on me and robbed me of a lot besides my ability to read music. I struggled until I was diagnosed at age 32. Fortunately, I found therapies that have reversed the symptoms to a large degree. Imagine my surprise when I found that I could understand the notes again in your analyses of the Sonic music tracks at age 41! Thank you so much for your attention to detail and explanations! If you'll excuse me, I'm going to see which musical instrument that I can play and get into playing again!

[@danieldronzek8616]

3:12 Hey, that's the same trick Act 2 of Proto Launch Base uses! The chords went b7 to 1, but the bass went 6 to b7.

[@Himizuko]

This is my favorite zone and music in Sonic 3 (& Knuckles). Thank you so much!

[@touhouguyII]

Did you do this just for me?! I mean I recommended it and you delivered my favorite sonic song of ALL time!

[@SuperSMZ]

It's so interesting to see chrome gadget in a new light like this! I'd never think a song could be so wonderfully complicated. The way you described the placement of the bass with a building really helped put it into perspective how jam packed this song is within just a few measures. I'll def be taking notes!

[@Hooktail]

Thanks for covering this, seems to be the most complex of Sonic 3 songs and I had a hard time analyzing it. Using a 7th as a bass is something I really should experiment with more. The chromatic play here is impressive, sound enough to enjoy when listening but a bit too complex to just play by memory.

[@lamenwatch1877]

The funny thing is, the song books at my church have those "amen" bits at the end of a bunch of the songs... but we never sing the amen! 😆 Maybe we should sing the amens sometimes... 🤔 Anyways, great video! You deliver on your musical teaching, as usual!

[@carlosmds875]

Titanic monarch has a similar structure, not only in the song but in the map itself

[@calamario8]

8:23 I need a Sonic themed religon now just for those stained glass portraits (& Knuckles)

[@TonyIsCool45]

"Amen or whatever" -Alex Yard & Knuckles

[@Madbox10]

8:28 I was not ready for that Amen or whatever 🤣

[@remkoburger6595]

Holy crap this is good! I always loved the Sonic 3 soundtrack, but you explain it in a way that I never can. Thank you for that.

[@herrice3227]

No wonder I love BETA Carnival Night 2 so much; Chrome Gadget is one of my favourite Sonic themes lol

[@MrJynx]

Im one of the greatest Chrome Gadget listeners ever, and this video is a state of art, so much explanations and anwsers. Now I also know because no remix can dethrone the original version.

[@jacobsfitnessladder285]

Thank you for this. When i was growing up, i spent a ton of time alone in the house. I was very sheltered. Chrome Gadget theme played from my Sega Genesis. This song was my entire teen years when i had no one else.

[@SorandaGuitar]

There is something in this theme (section C) that makes me feel very nostalgic, even though I didn't play the game when I was a kid. Fantastic video. I love learning about music with your videos. They help a lot!

[@TheSonicFan4]

Oh how I've missed the Sonic 3 music theories!

[@Rael0505]

My favorite song from this game - been waiting for this one

[@Gatorbox]

Chrome Gadget is my favorite music track from S3&K. Thanks for the stellar breakdown!

[@minzy421]

Chrome Gadgets has always been my fave sonic music. Awesome vid

[@Exspazament]

Dude, I love this series, and not just the s3&k stuff. You should go in depth on the melodic motif of super Mario world that is found in all the level themes.

[@TripleBMusic]

I never would have thought that the second chord is a bii chord, I always just heard the bass note and assumed it was a VII chord. Having detailed theory explanations for all these 2P songs will be very handy in the future 👀

[@LandoHitman]

I don't understand all the musical terms but I love this channel

[@null_state]

Probably my favorite lesser known track off the Genesis Sonic games. Thanks so much Alex.

[@tae-yunlee7658]

Thank you , your vids make my inner child and outer adult very happy. I notated this and other sonic songs, but never realized all the theory behind it. Very cool!

[@DaviddeBergerac]

This has always been my favorite song in the game

[@hypnospaceoutlaw3376]

All right. A new Sonic 3&K Music Theory. Now all that's left is Hydrocity Zone and Doomsday Zone.

[@DE23]

I think he might also do some boss themes

[@darkowl9]

@@DE23 Knuckles drumbeat solo music theory video from Sonic 3 (pre-& Knuckles)? I'd be here for that.

[@Isotropic_Phoenix]

Dude I love Chrome Gadget! The tones are golden bliss!

[@mikeycomics]

Chrome Gadget is in my top 5 sonic tracks for sure

[@OhHeyMarc]

I love these videos because 90% of the time I have no clue what the hell you're talking about but my brain feels like it's being fed.

[@superdean9966]

Theory: The lead instrument in Star Light and Chrome Gadget is used to represent the night. Example: Beta Carnival Night Uses it.

[@tomnuke9122]

You dont know how awesome this analysis is. In my opinion, Chrome Gadget is one of the best songs in the entire series.

[@TheRealHotVanilla]

You teased this in the first video and I've been waiting for this for soooooo loooooooong

[@Eggman890]

Great in-depth analysis as always. Although I'll admit I was a little surprised that there wasn't more comparison between Launch Base Prototype Act 2 and Chrome Gadget tbh. They have the same temp0, very similar percussion, and eerily similar progression (LB2 does progress on farther than Chrome Gadget's loop however).

[@InsideOutAnus]

Your videos have an unrivalled level of polish.

[@mochico88]

I love these videos for so many reasons - All the little details you point out in the compositions, plus all the theory that I'm refreshing from college just to name a few.

[@AlyCatVR]

The way you edit your videos and your voice are just satisfying to the eyes and ears

[@Valet2]

That's probably my favorite track from the entire game.

[@thegold707]

I've made a piano version of this song with musecore and posted it on KZbin and Spondtrap... and MAN I love this theme more than I've ever did.

[@mateo.snm.]

YESS, I've been waiting so long for you to make a video on my favourite song of the franchise, it allways fascinates me how clear your scripts are even tho I barely know anything about music theory, and the editing keeps getting better and better as well, thank you so much for the effort you put into these videos, keep going!

[@GHNeko]

God I have been waiting for this for ages. Chrome Gadget is my favorite level from S3 music and visually/thematically. This video taught me so much even tho I know almost nothing about music bro. I love it.

[@mannytheangel]

I was just reminiscing on Chrome Gadget last night, this, more of this, please.

[@giovanniprovost]

THIS IS THE JAM

[@KidPrarchord95]

12:14 this blew my mind.

[@panafa3617]

Ok, you finally got a little tear out of me. Thank you

[@Weirdcko]

Incredible, what a story. The chromatics are very interesting

[@jezzaroddy]

Bro you know your level of musicianship is way up there if you can break down a composition like this! I can't believe I've never thought about the bass part in this way! Honestly, I don't completely hear the chord changes in the way you're explaining them, but I'm gona keep listening until I can completely grasp it!

[@Jumbucker]

Finally, the set is complete! All of the S3 two-player levels have a music analysis video.

[@brownandbloom]

I feel completed now. Chrome Gadget was theorized.

[@MetalPcAngel]

Just to see a new video to be posted by Alex makes me love more the Sonic games more and ponder what happen when Origins more. Makes me want to see what Alex got to say or even dive in and tell us why the 'new' songs don't seem to fit.

[@AlexYardZone]

What's your thoughts on the 'new' songs in Origins?

[@MetalPcAngel]

@@AlexYardZone Really, they just ether sound muffled or the beats don't seem to follow the flow of the stages. Just feels way off.

[@AlexYardZone]

@@MetalPcAngel Yeah...my experience of that music was very bad. So totally inconsistent with the rest of the soundtrack that was unchanged. Shouldn't be surprising considering it is coming from the folks that published the soundtrack for Sonic Chronicles on DS, if you have heard the remade version of Doomsday lol kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqPTmJ-njsqEeMU The Origins music was not produced with care, and I have not tried to make sense of what they presented. I have come to roll with the punches. The real soundtrack we love, and we will have it forever.

[@MetalPcAngel]

@@AlexYardZone I mean, when the news broke that many of the jams that had the MJ vibes to where going to be replace [which wasn't much of a shock ] then some fans reached out showing that they had some of the sound chips that were used to create many prototype osts and even the ones that made it to the final works were just slapped away - I knew by that time that this "all-new multi-game collection made with love" wasn't going to get that same amount of work like per-say Mania. And really I personally forgot that was the same group of peeps that did the OST for SC. . .Now that is really making that fact hurt me even more now. Like I know we gotta get use to what we got but it sucks that the new generation isn't going to get that same amount of impact like us first generation that got to pick up the genesis controller. But people like yourself do bring a little ray of sunshine and thus why I am glad to see the work and love you guys do.

[@Kumori90]

I'm really sad my new high-school didn't have a concert orchestra. Can't remember what half of this means but I love your videos.

[@AxeToday]

I look forward to these uploads more than almost any other video series on KZbin

[@sweetoil2952]

I love ittttt! Now I realize how the music reflects the stage, and I love that!! 😁 I also love all the Sonic sprites and pictures you use throughout the video. Thank you so much for putting this together! 😊

[@cubedtothex]

What a great surprise! Your examples and visuals keep getting better and better as well!

[@darkowl9]

Your videos are always fantastic, deep yet approachable dives into video game music, and particularly of Sonic.

[@carloseduardoesquivelcaice8102]

I was just looking at your vids yesterday great to see you posted another one!

[@Your_pkmn_Rival]

I love these videos that break down video game music.

[@TheAlphazoneYT]

YES!!! This is the one I’ve been waiting for!🔥🔥🔥

[@Shadic-rf8dg]

Finally after all these years, we have them all. (Great video)

[@AwijoshSun]

Brilliant video, as usual! I love these, and I'm glad you finally got to one of my favorite tracks in the franchise.

[@Damnev]

I discovered your videos this week starting with Lava Reef. Your hard work is very much appreciated. Excellent stuff.

[@FreshTillDeath56]

These videos are my lifeblood. Thanks for another great episode!

[@chia1jon]

The info is superb, and the little animations and add-ins make me smile. Thanks for another wonderful video!

[@slapmen4202]

These video teach me music theory better than my music teacher

[@webbox100]

That was incredibly enjoyable. Really cool analysis, a VERY well-produced video, and an opportunity to marvel at this fantastic game music!

[@BrandonBlume]

I love it when Steve Buscemi gives us a new Sonic music theory video. (j/k love your videos!)

[@fnsonicrick]

Keep up the good work, love these videos. Can't wait more more Sonic music theories.

[@ahirunakamura9592]

Ahhhhhh love that song!!! Came as fast as possible!! Now onto the delightful theory

[@rafaelblackman9879]

This is what the 5 day work/school week plus 2 day weekend sounds like.

[@Tornadica]

glad to see that you are still doing this!

[@TrevinAdams]

You did a fantastic job breaking all of this down!!!

[@TingandWal]

I love these Sonic Music Theories. I recommend Megaman X Music Theories for you to make in the future if you can/would like to. ^_^

[@yunkamb]

I have to tell you that yesterday I replayed Sonic 3&K after a long time because of your videos and I could really appreciate the music even more than before.

[@jtg55]

finally, Chrome Gadget! i've been waiting for this for a while and you did not disappoint! this is just the inspiration i needed to get out of my music block. thanks alex!

[@showsomeid]

Ive waited MONTHS for this!

[@strohhutxP]

great video again. as always, thanks for the insight and forming music theory emotions into words!