Analyzing Christmassy Melodies for Christmas

In this video, I take a look at a couple of Christmassy-sounding Mario tunes and figure how they structure their melodies.
PATREON: / 8bitmusictheory
TWITTER: / 8bitmusictheory

[@ReitheOffbeatOtaku]

"You might not hear the melody this way, but that's part of the fun!" That right there sums up why I love this channel. It deep-dives into musical analysis without any of the snobbery it's often associated with.

[@xtruthunfiltrd1192]

I thought it was just Dm7b5 but ok

[@eljestLiv]

IV - iio - I

[@eljestLiv]

This video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rp6XfYJoZ5KWr7s It's a bunch of bullshit disguised as "music theory"

[@qwertyquazo673]

Adam Neely explains it better.

[@hezzr3]

Ah but, in the bridge the IV-iv-I in the bass is almost the same as the progression in All I Want for Christmas, which is, in C, F-Fm6/D (aka Dm7b5)- C, so maybe point not proven

[@BrendanCalliesComposer]

right

[@insaneintherainmusic]

Never thought I'd see the day where Schenker meets video game music...

[@docsamurai9199]

I've been listening to your Snowden town cover for Christmas! Thanks for that.

[@augmentedfourth]

I saw this originally on my AppleTV, and opened the video in a browser specifically to make a Schenkerian analysis comment. Looks like I'm unoriginal (hardly the first time).

[@austinhilla7388]

Right?! I’m taking doctoral level theory right now and it is super entertaining to see what I’m working on applied to Christmas tunes in Mario games.

[@annylulu605]

Was anyone else watching him reduce the melody and just staring at the grace note the whole time waiting for it to disappear?

[@benji272]

Yeah lol

[@iamnotlying89102]

Story time Dude. I love your channel. It’s very educational as to what I couldn’t learn in music theory lessons while I was in high school. In the last year of high school, most Caribbean islands do exams for particular subjects. And for my music exam this year I came 5th in the whole Caribbean! Legit, out of thousands of student, i came fifth 😭On paper it sounds like a great accomplishment, but to me there is still an empty void because due to complications, I had to fit 5 years of music theory into 6 months of music lessons. It worked out because I pushed myself to learn everything I could but there was still a lot I didn’t know just because I only had 6 months of classes. This channel right here is making up for all the things I did not learn. I watch these videos religiously. Anyways. I want you to read this. Because if you ever feel like quitting. I want you to remember that there are people like me you are giving an opportunity to learn new things where they can’t find anywhere else. You are really making their lives for the better. Like so that he sees this.

[@kjl3080]

awww so sweet p.s lol iamnotlying

[@pintavodki]

You came 5th, but was it... a perfect 5th?! *Ba dum tss!*

[@Inogat]

oh my god >

[@michellesteimle9969]

I only took piano for 2 years and I have been singing for 24 years and I love music. My son likes to code and wants to make video games for his profession and I feel like I could help contribute to what he creates now. :D

[@LucidNyte]

I like how his thumbnails are actually accurate and describe the video content unlike MANY people.

[@Mewseeker]

Maybe having a Patreon helps him not having to rely as much on clickbait to survive?

[@BubbleBelly]

Genuinely one of the most interesting channels I have found on this site. Thank you so much for your content. I don't know what you'd do, but I would absolutely love to see what you have to say about Odyssey's "Jump up Superstar." That song is sooo catchy and I absolutely love the swing style of it, and I would love to see what things you could pull out of it

[@nameguy101]

the fucking chorus is completely disconnected the music just pauses for a second and then is all "welcome to the chorus and let's just jump into it" and then it's like a cool ass chorus but suddenly it's like "that's actually where i'm gonna end today's chorus" and youre like the fuck bro

[@GodLandon]

This is pretty much all a foreign language to me and I am not understanding a word you say but goddamn do I love it

[@jamzam9807]

Landon ikr me too

[@orangeapples]

Fine. I’ll admit it. I have no idea what you’re talking about. I just like to listen to people smarter than me talk about stuff I don’t understand.

[@Mewseeker]

While I don't understand everything, he's basically removing all the fluff to get to the skeleton of the song while mentionning various types of processes used to make the song cooler and more complex.

[@MaltheF]

Listening to people starter than you is the first step towards becoming smarter yourself, even after years of learning Music theory I still learn new ways of applying it to Real songs! Google words you dont understand and take your time learning, then youll get there someday!

[@DantheToonMan]

Me too

[@matthewgarrity1556]

I am an a music teacher and I love the way you explain non-chord tones in this video. They’re awesome to watch and listen to and I occasionally will use one of your videos in class! You do great work.

[@thedekuseed4965]

For some reason I alwasy tend to love the music that is played in snowy christmassy locations in video games

[@TheSchaef47]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZS1Z39sm5l1bas

[@remixtheidiot5771]

TheDekuSeed i like egyptian themed ones. And anything with a violin is good.

[@gbombz]

honestly the most underrated channel on youtube

[@Bankai2169]

ICY why you enjoy analyzing these melodies. Seeing how in depth you went sent a CHILL up my spine. There's SNOW way I'll ever forget this awesome video... I'll see myself out.

[@josed.vargas3961]

@8-bit pin this comment pls

[@The_Blazelighter]

Bankai2169 COOL it with the puns will ya?

[@DustyMusician]

No come back! You had a nice floe going on there!

[@TheShadowblast123]

Did you mean you'll C your way out?

[@kickitoldskool]

Bankai2169 Looks like you're first, so you get a Crown: 👑

[@cureabees9440]

it's christmas 5 years later and this video is still amazing!!! ^_^ i came back to it after realizing that i never finished it, and i was super pleasantly surprised that you went into detail about your whole process for melodic reduction!! this video alone taught me so much about melodic analysis, more than any amount of google searching would. i was still a bit confused about how to discern chord-tones from non-chord tones, but after watching this it's like all the pieces fell into place. xD thank you so much for making the most effective, accessible, and high quality educational content on music theory i've ever seen!! 💙

[@JonI-vc5mm]

With so much harmonic analysis videos out there, it's great to see someone finally talking about melodic structure and phrasing

[@HalcyonSerenade]

Dang, I've been struggling with good uses of non-chord tones to build on chord-based (but boring) melodies for what feels like ages now, and the non-chord tone discussion here felt eye-opening, particularly for analyzing some inspiration songs and getting a deeper look at how their melodies work! 'Tis Christmas, indeed!

[@niamvaishnav7131]

At 2:20 the tonic note looks like a happy, resolved smiley face

[@AlgyCuber]

lol

[@andrearutrecht8024]

Oh my god, I love your videos. You know so much about music theory that my 9-year-piano-educated brain can't really follow, though I still get most of the things, I did never go so much into detail. I love listening to your analysis because you notice details I just don't realize. Love ya

[@heavywyvern7277]

The way you integrate your professional musical knowledge, neat editing skills, and witty humor into these educationally satisfying quality content is something I am very appreciative of.

[@kyle-silver]

0:40 no, the thing that makes something sound christmassy is Dm7b5 GEEZ

[@Jesse-mh6hv]

Kyle Silver I don’t get the joke

[@heliolux6904]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rp6XfYJoZ5KWr7s&

[@Jesse-mh6hv]

Heliolux That was proved wrong

[@heliolux6904]

I know that's the point it's sarcasm

[@Jesse-mh6hv]

Heliolux ohh ok

[@latisansklay]

By way of feedback, I love learning about what goes into the construction of well-designed, ear-worm-y melodies, so going deep on motifs (your Dark Souls video), reharmonization (Pokemon Jazz video), and melodic decomposition (this video) have all been really helpful and interesting. In other words, I found this video to be interesting, entertaining, educational, and at the very least seasonally appropriate! Thanks again for the video!!

[@holyflutterofgod]

Oh HELL YEAH. Snowball Park has always been among my favorite Mario songs, and it was so nice to see it broken down to it's simplest components, only making me appreciate the "non-chord tones" that much more. I think your videos are starting to wear me down, I actually felt like I understood most of what was going on in this one!

[@WhiskyRomeo]

I always thought music theory was boring and feelingless, but you show how you can have both theory and feeling. I love your work!

[@Nieton]

And those goddamn sleigh bells

[@JamieNordMusic]

Your videos are great! You are really an expert and your topics are very interesting. :) keep it up!

[@peterjoel345]

The bit at the start about how adding sleigh bells to a piece of music makes it a Christmas theme is more true than you may think... The frosty flake galaxy theme is just slight variation/reharmonisation on galaxy 2s main theme with Christmas instruments and tempo 😂

[@masonjefferyoff]

12:11 I knew Christmas Time is Here needed and 8-Bit rendition. Thank you.

[@TheSteelDialga]

Man, I love your videos so much! I know literally nothing about music theory (I'm slowly studying it now, started like a week ago), yet I get so excited to see a new video from you in my subscriptions. Keep up the amazing content, dude!

[@P-Train]

Music major here. This channel is fantastic. I love the way you break thinks down. I ESPECIALLY love the fact that you provide notation for what you’re talking about. This is good stuff. You have my subscription!

[@shinigamimiroku3723]

I always enjoy a new 8-bit Music Theory. It's always both informative and entertaining. ^_^

[@JaneDoe-mh6zn]

Loved the casual analysis of Mozart at 5:36!

[@austinplays9891]

They must only contain the notes D F Ab and C

[@ElectricFury]

You're so close to 100k subs! Congrats man, you deserve it

[@TheJuicyTangerine]

Hey 8-bit Music Theory, this is my favorite video from you yet. Just letting you know that I learned a lot and really appreciated this!

[@wavelength3856]

INCREDIBLE video - one of my favorite videos to date on one of my favorite channels. My mind was spinning at times, but when I really focused and listened to what you were saying, it was gem after gem after gem about variations on themes and melodies. Thanks for this (and for all your other wonderful game music deep dives). :-)

[@themodernshoe2466]

8-bit Music Theory, this video was GOLD. I loved how you used fundamental theory and counterpoint to clarify what's going on. It was enlightening.

[@ethank4681]

I normally never comment on anything but your channel is great and as a musician it's very interesting so keep it up with the great videos

[@SoniCraft98]

Great video! I loved the step-by-step breakdown of the simplification of the melody, and the description of the 6 different "passing tones" was great too! Keep it up!

[@cyanimation1605]

The soundtrack of the overlooked JRPG I Am Setsuna conveys a wintry mood with nothing but minor piano keys. And I love it.

[@davidt-rex2062]

I still have no idea what you are on about - but am fixated by it all - you are really good at getting complex ideas across. Your videos have gotten so much better in presentation - its amazing how someone who is enthusiastic about a subject can sweep everyone up with you. :)

[@sunny_irl]

It's fun watching a video about music in another language hence making it so that you don't understand anything but still watch anyway

[@hippiechik95]

I didn’t know I needed these videos in my life but now I’m hooked! Keep up the awesome work!

[@repker]

thanks for explaining probably simple stuff to experts in these videos man. like, a lot of these things I'm already aware of, but lack the concreteness of an actual name to give to it and relate to things on a more foundational level. learning by stumbling around in music is a perfect fit for me, but it makes you miss out on stuff like this, so thanks for providing clarity!

[@JHMBB2]

I love how you name melodies or structures by saying they're shy or excited sounding. I usually would think that to myself about parts in music I didn't know it was thing. Haha

[@HazeAnderson]

I sure hope you follow both Adam Neely and Rick Beato ... they would LOVE to see this stuff.

[@michaelnishiguchi3176]

The description of appoggiatura was so funny! I love you videos :)

[@jackthewilliams]

Brilliant video! Also adding "challenges" at the end of your videos is a great idea, i would love to see more!!! Keep the fantastic videos coming! :)

[@helloguysitsdan]

Great video, I jotted down lots of useful tips from this one. In the future, have you considered doing a video explaining how/where to use complex or unusual chords?

[@noahmcgaffey797]

I would say use them where you want to call attention to, or where it fits without being a pearl clutching game

[@essettoourcause]

10:40 the "slip through keys based off the tonic triad notes" trick is used in another Christmas song, Sleigh Ride, in its B section. Neat.

[@codymills8410]

You sir, are the first person I'm joining patreon to support! Keep up the great work!

[@matesafranka6110]

The first video where I actually felt like I could use this knowledge myself :D I probably won't, but it's still a cool feeling. Thanks for making these!

[@KasranFox]

I remember reading elsewhere that part of why popular Christmas music evokes a particular Christmasy feeling is the use of harmonies and chord progressions that come from the time periods when the most popular Christmas carols were written.

[@bloojae2]

I'm so glad you talked about appoggiaturas.

[@Xeroskia]

The intense asmr about sleigh bells in the intro was absolutely hilarious, lmao. "..And the sleigh bells, oohhh! Those bad boys are.. _jingling_ all the way into your eardrums, pretty much nonstop. Because that's what Christmas is all about.. _Sleigh bells._ *_..In everything."_*

[@joeyfatonefrombackstreetboys]

7:35 i just realized that's the same chord progression as the slide theme from mario 64. god nintendo composers are fucking BRILLIANT

[@kyle-silver]

Also PLEASE release a full version of Christmastime is Here. If you put it on bandcamp I WILL pay!

[@justryanreally]

Hey dude, theory tutor here. I love your stuff! Most refreshing music analysis content on here. Keep up the good work champ.

[@ethan-king]

I'm taking a music theory course at my university and just started going over nonharmonic tones, but I went into the lesson already knowing everything my professor was teaching because of this video. It's been over two years since I first watched this, so it's crazy to think that it stuck in my mind. Thanks for helping me better understand general music theory while breaking down cool compositions from my favorite video games. You're a life saver!

[@wormmanjoe]

Fantastic video! I don't ever comment on KZbin but I'm so impressed with the effort which goes into your videos. Keep it up!

[@Miranda-ph5dt]

i really enjoyed this! especially when you really broke it down into roman numerals and melodic functions, because then i understood :')

[@Hyper5nic]

Amazing! I learned so much of these breakdowns! Have a wonderful Xmas!

[@i8tweak]

Well done!! I love your approach and perspective i’m learning so much about what makes my favorite music! Merry Christmas 🎄

[@christinasochor]

my favorite chrismasy game tune is Route 216-217 from Pokémon DPPt. nice video, I love your content!

[@spagetti568]

This is amazing and you must be protected because it's something you like doing and it's something that I gain so much from.

[@KyleHottel]

The BEST explanation of embellishments and non-chord tones on KZbin. Thank you so much! Bravo!

[@wt_neptune54]

I didn't expect this video to be EXACTLY what I needed to understand more theory from the point I am at now. I have been trying to understand how one decides on what chords are being implied and how all the stuff that isn't the chord works in the equation.

[@ThePinnacleSFA]

Dude I subbed just for the Mario party music in the intro. But I love your whole channel. Would love to see some mario party analysis!

[@ImaginatorJoren]

I’m thinking of writing my own video game inspired music and your videos have helped fuel that. Now if I only knew how to work a music composition program on the computer, I’d be doing it.

[@DragonKazooie89]

I think another reason why the music for snow levels have melodolic reduction is that snow muffles sound, which is why it can get so quiet on a snowy day.

[@pathagas]

Yo. I haven’t learned more about music in one video until now. Holy crap I can’t wait to start composing more.

[@andrewh25]

You are one of the best music educators on youtube! Your videos have tremendous replay value 👍🏻 thank you!!

[@Inogat]

so, my plan is, I'm gonna watch all the videos, learn music theory and watch them all over again and see if I end up getting it more ^^, but this is so perfect I really enjoy it.

[@PeterBatemon]

How have I not been subscribed to this channel!? Long time watcher fail. Thanks for making theory make sense.

[@johannalvarsson9299]

5:26 - 7:11 : get this as a single video, this is one of the most basic and important things to learn for new composers!!!!!

[@emilyk3470]

Notification squad checking in! Happy Holidays, 8-Bit! Thanks for a year of great videos!

[@DeadKarg]

Just discovered this channel and I'm honestly so impressed

[@bootortle]

I have no idea what any of this means but it sure is interesting

[@ABC97613]

Loving your videos! Im in music school myself now and i think i learn more from your videos than some other teachers 🙈

[@animeprincess98]

did someone say dm7b5

[@phatman811]

wow this has to be one of the best youtube channels out there

[@magicpillowmp]

This video was the perfect Christmas present! Good job.

[@Neiten5]

This is like a bukkake of information. I like this very much. Very. Much. Keep the awesome videos!! ♥

[@GatorTotsMusik]

If you were to make like a Fake Book out of these transcriptions, I'd buy.. Your videos are amazing!

[@red5t653]

I know this is totally late, but I just noticed something really cool with Freezy Flake Galaxy's theme: If you listen closely, you can hear something sort of similar to Gusty Garden Galaxy's theme! It's subtle, but again, just listen close, and you should hear it.

[@wesleythetrombonist]

I clicked on this video just for fun, but ended up learning A LOT about how to analyze melodies. You're the best, dude!!!!

[@takemetoyonk]

Love the audio editing in this one and letting us hear more of the songs than usual!

[@adumbgaming9757]

I love this channel so much. Thanks for analyzing snowball park, it’s one of my favorite video game songs!

[@morganhalle9905]

At 11:48, I'm pretty sure there's a typo: that's opus 2 no. 1, not opus 21 no. 1. Great video by the way!

[@8bitMusicTheory]

lol whoops

[@FinalGamerJames]

What a perfect video for the season ^^ thank you very much for a delightful explanation into one of my favourite styles of musical invocation. Merry christmas 8-bit MT :)

[@enderman6777]

I think I just learnt more music theory in a vid than I ever have. Thanks!

[@Amarrente]

Sweet Like That by Christopher Theofanidis features sleigh bells without a winter/Christmassy sound ❤

[@l_t_jn]

11:00 Melody here reminds me of scenes of Ghibli-ish animations. like Totoro playing in childhood's hometown. I guess tonic harmonies bring up sentiments about home, family, warmness, stability, etc.. And Christmas spirit is all about that kinda stuffs, isn't it?

[@ChristopherMowrey]

I didn't have the opportunity to take enough music theory. Thanks for sharing. Love the videos.

[@Joseph-ch3fq]

I have no idea what you’re talking about... Subscribed

[@730MusicAm]

Truely learned many things today from you. Great video. Thank you so much

[@carl.wunsche]

As always, love all your videos. Thank You!!!

[@skanes17]

You are seriously my favourite creator on KZbin. Love it!!

[@607]

Thanks for the part with suggestions what to take from this, at the end!

[@Gnurklesquimp]

Bell-like instruments in general seem pretty common, in high registers in particular. They often seem to be used layered on top of a lower register melody, at the end of the phrase from what I've noticed in my limited exposure to it. There's lots of interchangeable tropes though

[@hrisace]

OH BOI IM LEARNING