🎹 Dark Souls III - 'Slave Knight Gael' on Piano

[@AqareCover]

Gotta appreciate the fact that this final boss theme of a full franchize plays while you're fighting a random old man in a random desert over a cup of paint. This is the longest cover I've ever made and one of the hardest covers of all due to its length and lack of repetition. Even if there are longer videos on my channel, they are only as long because I looped them or because they're medleys. Also, I actually played this way faster than the original. Maybe it would've been easier to actually play it in the speed of the original. Oops. Amount of notes in this cover: 4538 Next cover at the beginning of August, a pretty epic new Xenoblade 3 theme.

[@robb6560]

Your hard work get the best Gael Piano Cover here on KZbin and I think even in the world. Good work from a musician, studied in conservatory. This cover is so great. Thank you

[@AlexDoesStuffBruh7737377477383]

First and foremost: AMAZING JOB WITH THIS COVER LIKE ACTUALLY WHAT HOW DO YOUR HANDS MOVE LIKE THAT it sounds so good and accurate to an orchestra with choir it’s scary And second… Unless you fight the beeg spooky dragon that’s in some cave who has literally no story lol

[@UprisingGrand]

Omg I can’t believe someone else has actually played the piece as well. It takes a lot of discipline to arrange Slave Knight Gael! Bravo!! 👏🏽👏🏽

[@jonnysons]

When two legends meet at the end of the world👏👏👏👏👏 Dont you dare go hollow.

[@duongnguyenngoc9160]

Can you do a remake cover and add a bit more “thickness” to it. I feel like your original cover is lacking that chaos and is a bit too bland, maybe this time spice it up a little.

[@kingnothing5678]

Bro summoned the Elder God piano KZbinr! 😭😭😭😭

[@yk8437]

Finally someone who nailed the second phase. The way you fly over keys is astonishing

[@AqareCover]

Thanks Yanko!

[@nurikkulanbaev3628]

@@AqareCover Hey. Not only second, but I teared up when third phase kicked in! Loved the cover

[@Mel-pm5rj]

As someone who has been playing the piano for about 3 days now, I can confidently say that this isn't humanly possible.

[@PapaBass]

Ive been playing the piano for 0 days and I also came to that conclusion

[@StarShade0]

You definitely leveled dex to 99. Excellent cover.

[@humanoidshrek5524]

he has 99 dex, hunter’s ring, and carthus milkring

[@ZorrotheArtist]

@@humanoidshrek5524 Throw in the Flynn’s Ring and Lloyd’s Sword Ring and you got a pretty good Katana build right there.

[@humanoidshrek5524]

@@ZorrotheArtist imma be honest in all of my 650 hours of playing i have never used a katana build ☠️

[@zach4281]

nah must have been int because this is some wizardry

[@ZorrotheArtist]

@@humanoidshrek5524 In the 2 months since we’ve last talked, I hope, for your sake, that you’ve used a katana build.

[@duongnguyenngoc9160]

This is legitimately the best cover of this piece on youtube. Absolutely stunning.

[@AqareCover]

Thank you, glad you liked it!

[@coenenozzy]

whenever i hear piano covers of game songs (dark souls ones in particular) i allways wonder how people in the classical music era would've reacted to it, one thing's for sure: i would have been going wild in the theater for this lmao

[@duongnguyenngoc9160]

It wouldn’t be very well-received if i were to be honest. The structure of the piece would be deemed too simple for the time.

[@eddieb1995]

Shits battle music Lowkey

[@erckupazo]

@@duongnguyenngoc9160I’d say that this song for example has lots more depth than Beethoven’s 5th symphony or waterfall. Definitely sounds a lot more exciting, lots of classical music sounds similar to each other and gets boring to listen to after a while.

[@duongnguyenngoc9160]

@@erckupazo oh no you didn’t just said that. Symphony 5 isn’t just “duh duh duh dun”. The multiple voicing, the development from the initial theme and all the ornaments was just on point. You can say it’s boring and that’s understandable cuz classical music isn’t for everyone. But saying this has more depth than Beethoven? That would just be plain ignorance. This piece although sounded epic, is definitely very shallow when it comes to musical ideas development. So although you like the piece and i also like the piece, please don’t ever say that it has more depth than Beethoven

[@2174863]

@@erckupazoIs that really what you think? Listen to Franz Liszt’s “Mazzepa” or his Ballade no 1 and i can almost guarantee you won’t find it boring or also Alkan’s piece scherzo diabolico

[@mt2r-music]

Been in the hospital for about 10 days by now and in quite some pain but this genuinely made my day. As always top tier piano content. The chorus of the second phase was insane.

[@AqareCover]

I wish you all the best, hope you get better soon.

[@mt2r-music]

@@AqareCover thanks man. Hoping for more music soon too haha

[@WardensSword]

See, that's what happens when u don't listen to your mom and climb trees

[@Karangoa-gv4cx]

Wish you the best man hope you can get back to full recovery

[@mt2r-music]

@@Karangoa-gv4cx thanks man

[@ocfvortex8536]

This is absolutely sick. The way I wish I could play it. Too many cover artists miss out the subtle notes that piece the song together although they are extremely good aswell. The fact that I can hear the voice, piano, violin and bass parts all in the piano is exactly why this cover is the best. You're amazing man!

[@AqareCover]

Thanks a lot!

[@wootickgaming6719]

I haven't felt the feeling of "I gotta learn this for piano" so strong in my life. I gotta freakin learn this! Amazing!

[@humanoidshrek5524]

how’s your progress? i wanna try this one day when im ready, too.

[@mydude_]

Holy crap man this is the best arrangement I've seen so far on this ost.

[@AqareCover]

Thanks man!

[@xar9499]

Man still get chills hearing this. Such a good sound track for such a great fight!

[@furou3111]

This is incredibly underrated! Matches the feeling through each phase perfectly.

[@Duhemsounds]

Beautiful epic piano cover, Dark Souls series have some great powerful tracks

[@ManfredTheFirst]

The ominous marching sound really makes this song. It's incredible how much stress it develops ingame.

[@kaiser9598]

this is one of my favorite themes... and you played it to absolute perfection! thank you so much for this wonderful arrangement!

[@A_Pair_Of_Glasses]

Absolutely amazing piece you've made here and easily the best Gael rendition on youtube. This gets the mood and feel just right with all the moving parts and you did such a grand job! Only hoping for a Nameless King cover as I know you'll do that song justice, as no one so far is willing to take the challenge.

[@avemflamma]

holy shit those arpeggios and jumps! you are seriously an incredible pianist

[@calhughes6159]

you absolutely capture the back and forth in this piece, amazing job

[@AndySG7]

Holy crap, what a monster of an arrangement!!! How can you even play this?! So many different techniques, this just sounds so epic!!! -Also, did I just find a hidden Domtendo easter egg in the tags?-

[@comit135]

Insane! Got a new one to learn after I spend 3 more months trying to finish soul of cinder

[@Karangoa-gv4cx]

What do you play on?

[@comit135]

@@Karangoa-gv4cx I have a alesis recital keyboard if that's what you were wondering

[@NafiKhan]

Damn this arrangement really does the second phase justice, and those jumps look insane. Amazing arrangement, this really captures the original piece well, the melodies are really well done, excellent job

[@AqareCover]

Thank you Nafi!

[@duongnguyenngoc9160]

It captures well the “thickness” of the orchestra, a relentless influx of sound, clashing into each other. So chaotic yet so epic

[@PonchoGbriel]

And here i thought the boss fight was the hard part, amazing job!

[@mattiafesta253]

Your touch is magical, you didn't even use the left pedal singole time...

[@yasir6819]

The accuracy, expressiveness, Articulation... I rarely give a video a like, but this one is getting it.

[@anazel3506]

Definitely the best arrangement of this theme I saw, excellent job !

[@AqareCover]

Means a lot, thank you Anazel!

[@happyhaunter_5546]

The TRUE final boss of DS3, and the greatest boss fight of all time, period, zero exceptions.

[@freewilyy9292]

best arrangement of gael's theme, keep it up, your arrangements are beautiful

[@AqareCover]

Thanks! Are there any specific Dark Souls songs you would like to hear ony this channel in the future?

[@freewilyy9292]

@@AqareCover you think you could arrange midir's?

[@zonkguy31]

Master piece

[@xaviergonzalez7681]

What a Masterpiece and what an interpretation, kudos

[@SavageEntertainmentYEAH]

Second phase is when I start taking him a bit more seriously 😂 3rd phase me n Gael are now on equal terms

[@adamyohan]

This is incredible.

[@vorvanjguy3470]

A channel with perfect covers of amazing video game tracks and with free sheet music included? How are you not famous yet?

[@rishitsherekar5143]

1:20 sounds so much like while my guitar gently weeps

[@mcbigboy4611]

Okay, the best cover of gaels theme no doubt. The start of phase 2 gave me goosebumps as well as quite a few other sections, start of phase 3 too. it sounds just like the original! Crazy good stuff man

[@xypnovoid2996]

Brilliant!! The way you move your fingers across the piano is unreal, great work!

[@jimijenkins2548]

Uprisinggrand brought me here. Glad to find another person covering these masterpieces.

[@unlimitedquickworks7387]

Wow, actually nailed it

[@Kha-man]

I wish I could like this more than once

[@gamerash1710]

Goosebumps plus weeping 😭❤️❤️❤️

[@realtyking2250]

Yup one of the best covers so far.

[@CthulhuSeeker]

superb as always

[@cottoneyemoe]

Great performance of a great arrangement, you really captured the intensity and drama of the original.

[@jyhan7464]

YOU ARE MY SAVIOR PLEASE CONTINUE THIS

[@moonlapsepiano]

Unbelievable, this is such a good cover

[@abyssalx2]

It's beautiful. Superb work! ✨

[@AqareCover]

Thanks!

[@alexcarreteroterrones5522]

This def deserves more likes, such good work man!

[@flocon2neige277]

My life goal is too learn is masterpiece as well as u played it 🙌

[@Antihero-mu4bb]

wholey man, mad respect for that super cool piece. Defo deserves like 500k likes. Sounds awesome and thanks so much for the effort you made to play this piece!

[@AqareCover]

Thank you!^^

[@tedboialt]

stop questioning me for reading the tags!!! also this was amazing, thank you! -Ted

[@TheBestiaryCompendium3182]

Beautiful.

[@TripleARawn]

knockin these outta the park

[@bgkclassic]

Very impressive young grasshoppa

[@1berto_Cls]

Incredible work here, I'm speachless

[@sulyvahnsbeast365]

Thank you, man. It was awesome.

[@emil18ao]

Amazing cover

[@wifi91]

Yo you brought me back to the first time I got into that fight. Love it!

[@lemaismarabou8461]

What an amazing piece! And not a single dislike! congratulation and thank you

[@marielleladt3830]

BRAVO.

[@sololo8186]

dammm i was waiting so long for a good piano version of this one really thanks

[@blankclanmk8]

des is ja fast wie in DAAAK SOOULS

[@AqareCover]

ok

[@noiwontsignyourarmpit5263]

I'm tempted to start learning Piano just so I can eventually play this.

[@ЕвгенийПетров-м4ш7х]

Вау, браво. Для меня как начинающего осваивать пианино, это просто недосягаемый уровень. Спасибо, маэстро, это было невообразимо приятно не только слушать но и наблюдать❤

[@xdxsdd2502]

Incredible work. Thank you

[@queenvictoriann]

Man, I think you were built to cover Soulsborne music. This is so good. I’m speechless…

[@miguelsalgueiropiano8003]

Very well played my friend, you are really good!!

[@alphonse5906]

Gael must be proud

[@alairepercival9920]

Beautiful cover. Great work!

[@chrwhish]

Beautiful excellent work, I cannot thank you enough for making this it is actually beautiful. I one day hope to be able to play this as well. You made my morning this is glorious

[@jenusanbaskaran7472]

Fantastic!

[@braydentblack]

Excellent work as always! My absolute favorite fight and theme in Soulsborne! I’d love to see your take on more music from these games, with some personal favorites being: Darkeater Midir, Godfrey - First Elden Lord, and Sir Alonne! Thank you for your your hard work and always making my day with your covers!

[@AqareCover]

Thanks for letting me know! Souls content is one of my favorite ones to make so there's a high chance one of your favorites will be covered one day.

[@Karangoa-gv4cx]

Definitely my favorite series for sound tracks. Some of my favorites being gehrman, lady Maria, geal, and ludwig.

[@spokeybackontwitter7755]

This was amazing, i hope you keep doing great work like this

[@mrtoxicwasteland]

Ms yuka really pulled a tempest sonata on us and we didnt even notice cause we kept getting clapped by gael 😅

[@whisperscribe]

Damn... I wish I knew to play this song

[@josephmoolecherry3378]

Holy shit 1:56 that accuracy

[@enkhdari]

bravo 👏

[@FriedMetroid]

The last movement on piano really sounds like a Chopin piece

[@chad.savage]

This is good

[@barbodx9957]

This is so good keep up the hood work❤

[@AqareCover]

Thank you!

[@うーろんちー-d6l]

素晴らしい演奏です

[@AqareCover]

ありがとうございます！

[@TehDMCmaniac]

Challenge accepted, hold my lack of skill.

[@holoko9938]

Very Epic ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@ayamzyr7599]

give it to me, that thing... your dark arrangement, for my ladies composition... ... .. . ah, is this the harmony, the harmony of the dark orchestration...?

[@fpejanovic]

4:40/5:25 best part of the song. so subtle - it's a shame the alternative version of the original ost that was a ps4 dynamic theme never got official published. travesty that they didnt bring the same theme functionality to the PS5

[@sithlordzach8418]

This man did his absolute best to make up for the unfortunate handicap of not being born with three or four fully functioning arms and hands. Seriously, though, can't even imagine how hard this was, especially doing it all in one take. The complexity of the original piece does not lend it well to being transposed to a single person at a piano, though this orchestration did a phenomenal job of preserving the important parts of the song while also allowing time for shit like hand movements and accounting for the fact that no one person can physically play three or four lines at the same time. You see similar issues with people trying to play 8bit songs, like from the Pokemon games. It's just not possible to play a song requiring three hands with only two.

[@AqareCover]

Thank you, glad you liked it! I just would like to note though that there were a few takes in this.

[@bianks3916]

👑

[@sablepaul441]

my reaction to both the fight and this cover Phase 1: uhm, okay, I can probably hadle this in a couple of weeks Phase 2: ...no way Phase 3: STEVE HARVEY STARE 👁👄👁

[@RenUnderscore]

amazing how if you analyze it, most dark souls 3 songs stay on the root chord for a while until they need more harmonization, it has made me realize sometiems you dont have to be complex to sound great

[@AqareCover]

That's actually a technique called organ point that is being used to make something sound serious. You're right, the bass doesn't need to be complex at all for something to sound good, but the bass staying the same is actually not a way of making it simple but rather a deliberate technique to give it the right character. If you analyze the harmonies of Dark Souls themes, they are actually pretty much the most complex in all of gaming.

[@Hobbes9]

​@@AqareCoverpedal point?

[@d3ec]

Woah, that's really beautiful! May I ask your permission to use the first notes of this awesome cover in a Elden Ring video?

[@AqareCover]

Thank you! Yes, of course, I'd also be glad if you could link this cover in the video description if you do use it. Thanks for your interest!

[@hjchoi2063]

How can you play this music with just one piano? Amazing!

[@robgoins3672]

Give it to me……Your Dark Soul!

[@akaraponestonsomboon4349]

[@collindarreck4086]

0 dislikes. That says a lot.

[@PilotMusicShows]

This is so beautifully played. Did you make a midi recording of it??? If so, is there any way you could post it??? It would really help me to learn. Thanks in advance. I apologize if others have already asked in the comments below. I did not read all of them.. Sincerely, Michael

[@AqareCover]

Hi Michael! You can get all of my MIDI files at once on Patreon for 2$: www.patreon.com/user?u=13326524 Hope that helps!

[@sebastianlansky1415]

Is this the blood?

[@4D0R1NGF4N]

By Azura! By Azura! By Azura! By Azura! By Azura! By Azura! By Azura! By Azura! By Azura!

[@logictom7254]

Did you cut all the small sections together tp not play it one go? Not meaning it I a bad way, am just curious. it is still hella impressive :D

[@AqareCover]

Thanks! Yes, I'm using cuts, also because every section has a different tempo. I'm playing with a metronome, and between the sections I need to change the metronome tempo so that the upper part of the video is synchronized with the lower part^^

[@logictom7254]

@@AqareCover Oh, that sounds like a lot of effort. Respect for doing all the cuts just for a perfect tempo

[@aminedjemai-zoughlache9058]

This is harder than the boss its self

[@AqareCover]

actually true

[@IconOfSin]

Needs more apple juice

[@AqareCover]

True

[@erckupazo]

What are the difficulties for each part of the song?

[@AqareCover]

The first one doesn't have many difficulties, the second one has very quick uncomfortable leaps that on top of that change with every iteration of the main part, the biggest difficulty in the third part is playing notes quickly with the fourth and fifth finger while jumping to another chord position the entire time

[@erckupazo]

@@AqareCover yeah I thought phase 3 would be the hardest due to needing to play chords while playing so fast. I’m currently only learning phase 1 now, so if u dm could u give a number out of 10 for it? Thanks!

[@AqareCover]

@@erckupazo Thanks for learning it! I'd rate the first phase 4/10 in comparison to previous covers, and both phase 2 and 3 10/10.

[@erckupazo]

@@AqareCover thanks, I’m having lots of fun learning it. And thank you for making such an awesome cover, it’s absolutely perfect.