BLOTTED SCIENCE - 'Cretaceous Chasm' in 12-Tone Fragments

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Ron Jarzombek from Blotted Science gives a crash course on the 12-tone system used to write the 'The Animation Of Entomology' EP. The video is also a glimpse of the material that will be presented in his upcoming 'Dissecting Bugs' instructional DVD.
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[@alecoram7874]

Things like this make me wish I hadn't abandoned and forgotten musical theory when switching from piano to guitar when I was 15.

[@lordPix3lUK]

You don't need theory to be a good player

[@personnel5757]

keep playing brother :)

[@tomiivaswort6921]

you knew music theory? I certainly didn't and I played (and still play, but only because everyone in the family forces me to) piano

[@progfox]

​@@lordPix3lUKno but obviously it helps

[@artemryapolov1476]

I like the complexity of this music

[@Xerxesrogue]

Remember people, this is just the rhythm guitars...

[@TheSinndogg]

Exactly. It's very easy for this sort of serialist technique to sound disjointed if you don't know what you're doing, but where Ron's skill lies is in phrasing these tones in ways that form proper melodies. Considering that the tone wheel is ordered in a way that each consecutive pair of notes forms a minor second interval (probably the most dissonant of all intervals, even over the diminished fifth), that's really damn impressive.

[@mutilatoralex]

dropped A is a great tuning, I love how well he uses it.

[@MsDavo123]

Isaac bro ate you sure its not a standard tuning?

[@maranathashalom9402]

@@MsDavo123 Standard tuning and 7th string is a low B

[@cosmicdissonance2112]

@@maranathashalom9402 its a low A goofy ass

[@theone1949]

Blotted Science is amazing! I am extremely disappointed at how this type of music is still very "taboo" yet it is one of the only music styles that takes actual composition and planning to make, at least in my opinion. Cretaceous Chasm should be nominated for a ducking Grammy! \m/

[@Selkirk69]

this is considered tech death metal but...it is more creative and less about speed then most TDM bands.

[@joycesanders4898]

..fuzz yeah,..in a Musicaly Perfect world....but wE not live in one seems.

[@joycesanders4898]

@@Selkirk69 ..is...is jus chromatic engineering..is jus post Schoenberg bop..is.🎶💕🤘🧠🎸🎓

[@kerbalscuffedprogram4705]

@@Selkirk69 it’s called progressive death metal

[@Selkirk69]

@@kerbalscuffedprogram4705 just going by the term given by Hannes...I consider Gojira prog death metal as there are progressive undertones..tonality..in the music not just the progressive tech side of odd time signatures and dif root chords.. Progressive has a tonality to it, not just a technicality

[@sheldoncooper8199]

He must have children this musical genius needs to be passed on to a Future Generation

[@erikbarrett85]

Sheldon Cooper81 students*

[@nuke97]

The world needs more Blotted Science.

[@SpartanLaserCanon]

Its amazing how creative someone can be with just a few notes

[@FGirao]

a few, yes

[@Andyw1228]

The drimming is so amazing- awesome! And Jason is one of the best and most underestimated guitarists in the World. I saw him with Wathctower 15 Years ago and he was yet brilliant then.

[@TheSinndogg]

That, and it's a run-through of the whole twelve-tone sequence. He's purposely designed the sequence to sound dark - if you look at the wheel, you'll notice that every pair of notes going clockwise, starting with "E", is only a semitone apart. These semitone intervals between notes (known as a minor second interval) sound very dissonant when played together, hence why the clean guitar at the beginning sounds foreboding.

[@roviaari]

Second Viennese School metal

[@NishantDuttanoirvembre]

this note clock really works :)

[@nurwadi26]

so fucking on to this. i cant even stop listening to them. just find out about this band recently. so sad there is no more new material, or there is?

[@308enjoyer]

I heard a rumor there might be something coming... but, honestly, I can't honestly tell you.

[@Lunarsight]

Try Spastic Ink - it's another Jarzombek project. It's [relatively] lighter than this, but still technically way over the top. There's one track he does that was composed with animation from Bambi in mind. He scored the music to the animation.

[@siegvash]

I wonder what Miss Jarzombek gave to her children. Bobby and Ron are just out of this world

[@nirckettones2388]

This guy is crazy has some very technical compositions and difficult to play ron jamzorbek is a genius!!!!

[@stopglobalswarming]

It's like Dream theatre without the annoying singer, and 10 x heavier on guitar and bass.

[@Ragnarockalypse]

Such a beastly tone.

[@Slayereyez]

that tone is the truth. its as if every riff is badass in its own right no filler all killer the guys sweep tech is redickalis id love to see there sound set up

[@scissornaut]

I think everyone talking theory is missing the whole point, you dont need theory by using this method. Its an unlimited song generator by sequencing random strings of randomly generated notes. Its pretty amazing.

[@horriblequin]

27 frets!!!! HOLY COW!!!

[@Ragnarockalypse]

You can get into the music theory and details if you like. To me it's simply some amazingly technical, advanced, interesting and groovy music. You don't need to "get" every single facet of a song to love the feel of it.

[@HastOsth]

Probably the best thing to ever happen in music! So freakin good my ears bleed!

[@truccjuice]

This is probably the best use of the comments section I've ever seen on a KZbin video. Cheers guys!

[@bio165]

He's literally made an metal EP using tonal science. Holy shit!

[@violetLizard]

Wow! I love the rather simple little tweak to the original rules for 12-tone serialism and you end up with this amazing sound.

[@neilprestemon]

. . . so; basically: those who are familiar with a fretboard, tend to think of composition in terms of interesting patterns of notes. Often that's the sound of the notes - sometimes, we do it visually, based on the shape it makes on the fretboard. What this "theory" is saying, is that you can also make an interesting composition, by arranging the notes into a circle, and playing them according to their visual/spacial relationship in the circle. That's all.

[@JasonLeonPike]

Wow! This is incredible! I'm just barely grasping the concept and here you are making art with it. Sounds great -

[@AsaBay2]

Holy shit 27 frets

[@LunarLionheart]

@markogeeko He is talented enough to do that, and has done. It's called innovation. I've heard enough of the bog standard progressions, this is breaking new ground, even though 12 tone systems were always around, it's a refreshing use of them

[@SeanStephensen]

@ATMOSPH33R and they have to be syncing it up to movie clips at the same time! 2 tasks that are independently very difficult. Ron is a genious

[@JavierBustacara]

Ron is a great musician, no doubt about it!

[@TheSonsofHorusx]

1:01 "Basic Guitar tracks" oh how blotted that statement is

[@joycesanders4898]

.pretty basic.

[@Zyborggian]

My brain. It hurts. Ron Jarzombek understands music theory so ridiculously well.

[@AaronGeracci]

Great progressive ideas, and a plethora of tones that are always mind boggling as well. This, I would say... is mastery.

[@rhaidermotovlog3276]

my guitar idol ever

[@n7275]

10/10, quality tonerow.

[@Andyw1228]

Sorry, I made some unexcusable mistakes...his Name is Ron- of course.

[@BornFromDeath]

i need to be schooled on this 12 tone work.

[@sshole6658]

This is just awesome he's brilliant. The best guitarist in metal

[@micanut48]

Many classical composers made their music by using similar musical calculations, combined with the attitude and musical taste of listener in a particular historic time period. That is why they wrote their music so fast and with freakish efficiency while "normal" listener has no idea what is going on. While others hunt for the golden riff RJ has the master's grip on the subject. Everything, even music, is based on a natural algorithm and he knows the impact its on the brain. Very scary.

[@MetalMarauder]

Intro reminds me of Mastodon

[@Odie50000]

Metal Marauder Dream Theater too.

[@kurukq]

hes makes it very technical by simplifying it

[@sierramister123]

More amazing than his playing, how did he get the notes to light up as he plays them, thats just pure insanity.

[@IGGoooRRRE]

he certainly gave us a crash course. my brain bluescreened on me

[@bigdaddynasty69]

best guitarist ever

[@maladykiller]

atonality...tone rows...that is all...great stuff!

[@Hippynazi]

Incredible!!

[@IGGoooRRRE]

Ron Jarzombek and Tosin Abasi should collaborate together on a music project

[@abadonslipknot]

geometric music ! awasome!

[@SirClassyXVII]

It looks complicated and probably is to ppl who play guitar. I don't care, it sounds good and isn't just the same 4 or 5 chords repeated over and over. It's easy to think that more complicated = better, especially if you play the instrument. But that's not true. The point is and always will be about making music that sounds good. I love complicated music, as long as it sounds good. I also love simple music that sounds good.

[@stopglobalswarming]

Epilepsy never felt so good.

[@AaronGeracci]

Ron is just beyond.... ha ha ha I love these vids Please dude Keep em comin'

[@personnel5757]

yes

[@linsk78]

That is so sick!

[@arthurparker1724]

He builds all his own guitars himself, usually he leaves a large portion of blank fret-board at the bottom so he can reach stuff like the 27th fret with his first and middle fingers. Crazy, right? Anyway, they're all hand build, by him.

[@anonymousmartialist5066]

this is amazing

[@lordPix3lUK]

Beast

[@cortx2lh]

Ron Jarzombek and David Ellefson. Separated by two strings.

[@fyighfreak]

Fuck yes.

[@TheEvilsocky]

@xOktavariuMx Don't forget, Alex Webster apparently gets this stuff too

[@Hooeylewissukz]

12-tone rows are normally picked at random.

[@yahirave]

Amazing !!! /,,/ Brutal!!! Brutal!!!

[@Megamaniac610]

Ron Jarzombek is the John Coltrane of metal.

[@hazardeur]

The theory is cool and all but holy shit this guitar looks badass!

[@cattheanarchist]

@markogeeko Personally, I would call Ron Jarzombek one of the most talented musicians alive today. Where is all your amazing music?

[@hYpYz]

i dont even understand how do i still enjoy playing guitar...im watching this video and im laughing out loud because its just so brilliant its beyond belief. And almost everyone i asked has never heard of Ron or never heard of any of his bands, mainstream sucks dinosaur balls. Im an atheist but if i had to pray to somebody it would be Ron:D GREAT WORK AS ALWAYS MAN !!!

[@maskedmosher]

i wish they had you cd at best buy

[@JacobM3412]

So this might be a stupid question but how does he pick the original 12 tones? All the pairs (if you put 'em in groups of two) seem just a half step apart and the first 3 pairs go up a half step and the last 3 pairs go down a half step but I'm not seeing how he got those pairs to begin with ( if you rearrange them ( the first) you can make 5 notes of an e minor scale except for the a#)

[@ToxicTerrance]

Such a fucking huge neck, damn.

[@mellowtron214]

Hot fuck. As a drummer, who has no damn clue about what any of this means, I find all of this pretty dang impressive. Is this something Ron invented? I know about the “circle of 5th” and all that jazz, is this some kinda new scale or note relation config he just made up for this song or for his whole style? Seems pretty interesting

[@MetalGearKS]

Ah, I see. The fact that you referred to them as being separated by strings made me think you were comparing their playing ability.

[@erikbarrett85]

I see one pattern, that each group of 2 is a semi tone apart, switching from UP to down a step at Eb, but does anyone know WHY the notes are in this order? where they come from?

[@garrettodonnell4177]

It's just a tone row. The only criteria are that it uses each note once and it sounds fairly interesting. :)

[@ianlewis5910]

It's grouped to be as dissonant as possible.

[@oilkills]

THESE ARE NOT THE DROIDS YOU'RE LOOKING FOR. 27 frets + 4 fingers + 1000 npm = holy shizzle! ole Jedi m.t.

[@xOktavariuMx]

Ron Jarzombek is the onlyone better than Asians.

[@Siah2000]

interesting way of putting it, but couldn't you also say that this song is just one big chromatic scale lick?

[@LIPCoelho20]

@neilprestemon thanks for the explanation neilprestemon. but please tell me, how does Ron organize the note-clock? does he put notes at random and then selects each 4 an 6-note groups from it? thanks

[@ShadowmakeResistance]

what model of guitar is that ?

[@certifiedpet]

I dont even play guitar and this is insane

[@cortx2lh]

Looks like a synthetic scale to me.

[@devvilboyy676767]

@LIPCoelho20 I've always asked my self the same question and how does he arrange the note duration?

[@Floodgazer]

Eh.... The theory makes it seem wayyy more complex than it actually is

[@FreeScience]

Makes me think of some of Bucketheads stuff

[@donSparda]

If i hit the A#, the 5 notes left are the ones best matched in sound, right?

[@AaronGeracci]

Have to understand Beat division a lil bit too.. ;)

[@Loud0glbc]

Whatever happened to G,C,D?

[@MetalGearKS]

David Ellefson is a great bassist, but him and Ron are incomparable. You shouldn't compare a bass player to a guitarist, they're 2 entirely different instruments

[@kennykanowski]

Is your brother Bobby!!!

[@hERDoFBAND]

@asqueezeoflemon Me Too!

[@MetalMetz88]

i was watching the dial more than ron.

[@d3tach3d]

Is this your channel, Ron?

[@goryyen]

Its like the pich class theory, but with another variations.

[@MasterShredder86]

who do the notes in the circle change spots at the beginning of the video.???? Confuses the living shit out of me.... Then the whole video they stay in the same spot in the circle...

[@sexypoulpe]

Haha he speaks exactly like Bobby ^^

[@ZedChuva]

This is what happens when you let music theory get in the way of the music. Don't get me wrong, I really dig this stuff, but only in small doses. I like it more on a technical skill level, than a musical level.

[@bingefeller]

+Zed Chuva Ron isn't really thinking of usual music theory when he's using this system, that's why he came up with it. You could probably analyse the sets of notes and group them in to scales / triads / arpeggios but I'm guessing that's not what Ron wanted to do.

[@fabiofsumi]

+maj7#5 he actually does use scales. That's why he enharmonically equals all notes, to be able to think in common scales. The groupings are more meant to force your self to deal with uncommon note combinations. :)

[@barriovueno]

I dont understand this, but seema really interesting how can I google this topic?

[@xxczerxx]

"Schoenberg's 12-tone technique" springs to mind, and is the underlying idea behind this

[@barriovueno]

+Mac thanks

[@barriovueno]

+Mac wow thanks man! im really new in this kind of music, i started listening to mars volta and jhon zorn, and I really interested in this music!

[@chilesuicmez]

+Golden Shag maybe not that sound new, but fredrik thordenthals special deffects, check that shit out.

[@xxczerxx]

***** He doesn't really play 12 tone chromatic, it's more skewed/atypical harmony from the school of Allan Holdsworth. Love that album though

[@MajorSeventh]

My pal's name is foot foot...

[@bitskyjgd]

tonal. not 12 tone.

[@lucasferreira3054]

Oh that's weird and scary, but I like it anyway.

[@cortx2lh]

I know. I'm saying that their faces look the same to me. No the guitar playing.