Chord Voicings in Halo 3: ODST's "Rain"

[@TheMartyODonnell]

This was really good. Thanks for the analysis. I've put some videos on my channel that explain my thought process for anyone (especially young composers) who might be curious.

[@louonthesun3325]

Holy shit. Marty you are a legend

[@TH3B1TT3RP1LL]

Marty thanks for everything you do. I'm studying music and you're an inspiration

[@vasilios_2469]

We don’t deserve you legend

[@GarbaggioGoblino]

hey, there he is! i was wondering if i'd see you in the comments.

[@aj.s...]

Hello, Marty... I can't even begin to express how grateful I am for yours and Mike's work - not only as loveable and listenable music, but as inspiration for aspiring composers like myself. Thank you, man

[@Scheater5]

When I did my masters thesis, the leitmotifs in the Halo soundtrack was on the short list of topics. Watching your videos feels like what I tried to do with my masters work, but academia was just so resistant to non-classical-cannon theory at the time. I love that you've found an outlet for this.

[@TheAsvarduilProject]

Honestly, it still is. One of my real gripes about academically pursuing music, was that academic music tends to utterly disregard anything outside of its established canon, as you say. I was a Computer Science major and Music minor...and part of the reason I stuck to that was that Music clearly doesn't value such 'non-canon' works as video game music...even when video game music does things that either recall classical literature, or do more interesting, innovative, and technical things. TL;DR - While I'm loth to throw accusations of 'arrogance' at academia usually, I think it applies to musical studies; the field has a serious arrogance problem. There's a reason a number of popular, famous, and successful musicians dropped out of classes to do their own thing.

[@GoldBrassYT]

@@TheAsvarduilProject This is not a new phenomenon, either. While there were plenty of famous composers that "finished their classes," there are just as many that rejected the status quo and were shunned for it. It's only now looking back that their music is of any significance, and indeed many such composers' works are now studied by new, young musicians as avant-garde pioneers that paved the way for future generations at the expense of their own happiness or success. This, interestingly, renews the same cycle of "arrogance" as the once-pioneers are inducted into the annals of history as "the new norm" and their works are taught by the next generation of snooty professors to another generation of young musicians. And so on and so forth

[@TheSteelDialga]

@@GoldBrassYT excellently put. i'm considering getting a music comp. BA, but i'm sick of the bullshit. might drop it soon.

[@GoldBrassYT]

@@TheSteelDialga I have a theory and horn performance degree. I'm now a claims adjuster :D

[@aaa_aa7607]

I think the history of classical music is rich and complex enough that I guess I understand if some teachers consider vg music not worth studying, at least in their classes. Lol...

[@TheHappyMadman]

Everybody gangsta until they hear those first 4 chords

[@gravecrasher4305]

Those first 4 chords made me love halo odst and drew me to learn the song on piano. One of my most favorite video game songs if my most favorite

[@damobeck1]

Like pling pling plong to Dark Souls vets.

[@El_Leche_Magistrado]

Yo when i heard pling pling plong in sekiro while fighting gyoubou I got goosebumps

[@justinchalifoux4424]

Calcium Crusader now hold up. He’s got the pling plying plun in his theme?

[@El_Leche_Magistrado]

@@justinchalifoux4424 yeah man look up an ost and look at the comments you'll find the spot immediately

[@jamreviews9547]

The fact that only one song is covered in this video just makes me all the more excited for more Halo.

[@RealGengarTV]

Indeed. After 343 released halo reach in the MMC and put it on the pc, KZbin has been pushing me all kind of halo content and I don't mind at all

[@CacheTaFace]

More halo???

[@RealGengarTV]

@@CacheTaFace Halo infinite. The next one

[@jabberw0k812]

Well, you won't be getting any O'Donnell music in Halo Infinite, or any new Halo game, except for whatever themes he already wrote for the earlier games.

[@RealGengarTV]

@@jabberw0k812 unfortunately not. But I won't be overly negative about that because I don't think 343 is going to make absolute 💩 music.

[@ChuckboxDers]

Me knowing absolutely nothing about reading music: ...Dumb ape like sad noise in sad game... Dumb ape happy 10/10 👍

[@koalamoreno709]

Dat hit me me smol brain doe 😭

[@tombydeesh]

That’s all it needs to be sometimes

[@nooralamgir3703]

I just love how depressing Bungie's last two games were.

[@Knights_of_the_Nine]

Even Halo 3 was super somber.

[@nooralamgir3703]

@@Knights_of_the_Nine Halo 2 had a sad touch too with the Elite genocide and civil war but the first three games still felt heroic. The last two made you realize how horrific the covenant could be.

[@dierlijk]

lmao yeah

[@MarksterC]

"Send me out, with a bang"

[@dannysankyu]

lmaooo fr ironic how they were the best ones, at least in MY OPINION.

[@darthryking]

ODST is probably the most underrated gem of a game in the series, in my book. It's such a wonderful piece of art that I don't think has been seen in the Halo series before or since.

[@drewhill8777]

Jake Lee you might need to go back again, it might have been open and you had a little freedom of picking some missions, it definitely locked doors that needed to be locked and only unlocked them when reaching an appropriate part of the story, almost half of the map is off limits until a 1/4 way through

[@darthryking]

@@jakelee7083 I remember it just fine. I've replayed it multiple times in the last few years. My opinion has never changed in any subsequent playthrough.

[@ThGtKpr]

Jake Lee sounds like someone is mad. If you had time to type “whatever” it means you want a response from them and or what to show the other person your disagreement in a childish manner

[@morpheusbutasasquirtle4431]

@@jakelee7083 the fact you consider it an argument and not a simple discussion speaks for itself bud. But this was a month ago and im a prick for bringing it back :p

[@LepidoliteMica]

Much as I don't care for Jake's way of putting it, he's kinda right. The plot of ODST is a fairly standard "Nathan Fillion's ragged crew plus weird love subplot" that's been done all over the place. That being said, the fact that you don't see that without really backing out from the story as presented is a tribute to just how powerful the music is, as it more than anything (certainly not alone, but it is the majority here) shows you the plot as it's meant to be experienced.

[@Hunttiger]

Alto Sax: all alone.

[@davisginn1298]

SAD SAX

[@Betito1171]

I don’t know shit about music theory but you can bet yer ass that I’d love to learn more about one of my favorite halo pieces

[@NobleLeader6]

Check out Marty O'Donnell's channel, he shared some of his WIP versions of songs in the Halo games, and it's really nice to just listen to imo, as well as showing how some iconic things came about, like the guitar dive in the Halo 2 version of the main theme.

[@fivetd3522]

This is one of the songs that convinced my mom to play Halo, so it’s one she listened to all the time when I was a kid. Whenever that 3-note motif played, she’d always sing along, “All alone”, which basically sums up the entire emotion of the piece. Beautiful song and beautiful video to go along with it, thank you.

[@daniellujan9129]

Woah! Those are the exact words I think of when I hear this motive.

[@nintendude794]

I think Marty even says those are the words he sings to it? Can't remember.

[@SenorDonut]

Sounds gay

[@Phonixfire]

@@rishavroy3756 Why not learn the peices you want as a practice exercise? That way you can learn the music you love while claiming it to be a more nontraditional practice.

[@dannysankyu]

what the hell is wrong with your mom? why is she so much damn cooler than any other mom i’ve met?!

[@WT_Neptune]

All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.

[@lewatoaofair2522]

RIP Rutger Hauer.

[@TheSteelDialga]

your username looked familiar... just realized i see you in the discord often

[@BirdUpFR]

Blade Runner Takes place in November 2019, so nows a great time to watch it. Akira as well takes place in 2019. Get on it its great.

[@cameronreyno7175]

Time to die......

[@benjaminperez4570]

*im 14 and this is deep*

[@timh.6872]

This will probably single me out as a massive weirdo, but this video gives me the same feeling of satisfaction and appreciation as watching 3Blue1Brown or Mathologer. You highlight little tiny details that I know exist but often don't pick up on, then show how they connect to bring about a deeper connection with the subject matter. It is a wonderful thing to behold and experience.

[@littlenarwhal3914]

Yeah I know exactly what you mean.

[@GruntDestroyarChannel]

Same bro

[@Unkle_Genny]

Absolutely!!!

[@rmullhaupt]

Academic pursuals of music and mathematics are two sides of the same coin.

[@Carlos-xz1qx]

Completely agree

[@Roxfox]

God, we don't deserve Marty O'Donnell.

[@BlankJustCasual]

Ikr? He's amazing T~T

[@mosesbrambila]

fuck marty but god damn this music...

[@harrisonlingren]

Just wait until you see the one he uploaded "to encourage young composers": kzbin.info/www/bejne/iXvCkqxurpt6pqM

[@DrDingsGaster]

No we don't.

[@louonthesun3325]

Don't forget Michael Salvatori. Everybody forgets Michael :(

[@eduardofontes8399]

Marty himself recommend this video

[@nathankincaid2396]

“Sweet sweet sharp 11th juice” is a phrase I didn’t know I needed to hear. Fantastic video all around

[@SilentShadow07]

Those 4 cords just changes a man.

[@dannysankyu]

Ominous Helljumper put me into a depression.

[@emmbeesea]

Man, this is great for small ensemble dissection. But, it's even more involved when you have a whole orchestra. This song has a wonderful middle ground. Thank you 8-bit Music Theory! I would love more videos like this! I love going really, really deep into music theory nerdiness. (:

[@GWENReprise]

I literally see you everywhere, like why lol

[@jomama7933]

Why is this video in my recommended? Why am I watching it at 5 am? Why is it exactly what I needed?

[@GoingRampant92]

Is it bad that i feel the halo universe could be explored in a far more somber and gritty way and be better for it?

[@MarksterC]

R e a c h

[@TheHazyTimewalker]

Not at all! Reach and ODST are great!

[@juicejooos]

I mean, isn't that what it's always been about? An oppressive covenant ruthlessly and efficiently wiping out the hopeless human race over jealousy of being chosen by a long-gone civilization that only left weapons of mass destruction behind, all while an ancient common enemy (the flood) grows stronger and unstoppable, threatening to subdue all life. It's always been grim as fuck, especially if you're a human. It's just that in such a shitty situation, you can only hope of giving those aliens some buttkicking, and who else could do it better than Master Chief?

[@bombomos]

No I think you are right

[@dannysankyu]

i’d love to have that much more. Reach and ODST were amazing games. i never finished ODST because, as a kid, i believed it was boring due to it not having as much excitement as Reach and such. piano also wasn’t my taste as a kid lol. but now, i really wanna get ODST back. i lost it a long time ago, and i desperately wanna play the dark game again and finish it. i don’t think i finished it? i’m pretty sure i didn’t. i want to play it again nonetheless

[@InfamousAlliance]

I'd love to hear you deconstruct "Heavy Price Paid" From Halo 2, It's such a beautiful and melancholic piece

[@lofiseeker1790]

YES

[@bigkojima1301]

Yes, please

[@a05odst62]

*They have shed our brother's blood, and for that they must die!*

[@theengineer9910]

the first six piano keys of final effort in halo 3 is one of the greatest things ive ever heard. Kept me fired up throughout the campaign. Love Halo 3.

[@Majima_Nowhere]

That alto sax makes me so nostalgic... ODST was my first halo, and it was a damn good place to start.

[@tylercarter9965]

i love that u love halo and halo odst but i’m truly surprised u loved it since it was ur first halo. i feel like i’m talking for more than myself but i think a lot of fans love odst because of the tonal difference of the main halos, but u show me how truly good of a game odst is if u fell in love with it without knowing what came before.

[@АртурШатилов-б1п]

It's pretty hard to me fully understand all this music theory, cause I'm not in music at all and english not my main language. Despite this, I find that even hardly understanding, it's still interesting and wondrous to just listen someone, who love's what he's doing and how deeply he can tell you, why this song literally play on my "strings". Thnx to the author! Hope for more Halo songs, like: Peril, Bits and Pieces

[@KeWDu]

Seems like you have a great grasp on English to me. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@АртурШатилов-б1п]

@@KeWDu Ha-ha. thanks Aniki

[@jaccomusic12]

My headcanon is that the composer of Hollow Knight's theme was heavily inspired by this tune. Don't know why, but Hollow Knight's music immediately reminded me of ODST. Love both games so much and the music just elevates them to another level.

[@corok12]

Jacco Stoete most of this made me think of city of tears and resting grounds

[@Loki-]

Exact same vibe man. When I played Hollow Knight, as a giant ODST fan, I immediately fell in love and spent the next two weeks 100%'ing it.

[@RikiazGaming]

@@corok12 Definitely. Sounds like it would be perfectly in tone for City of Tears.

[@nintendude794]

Hollow Knight's Forgotten Crossroads in particular ALWAYS reminds me of Rain (and ODST altogether) plus Secret Of The Forest from Chrono Trigger. Come to think of it, pieces like Depths Of The Night from Chrono Trigger also do this fifths-and-seconds/sevenths emphasis to evoke loneliness quite well.

[@MajoraZ]

Thanks you just sold me on playing hollow knight

[@Supervale111]

Fuck, this is how you do art in form of a videogame. That experience while playing the game is art

[@PANDORAZTOYBOKZ]

Marty out here using McCoy Tyner style voicings in video games... Absolute legend

[@GreatDogePlague32gucci]

I remember always being stuck on a certain night mission as the rookie, and damn all those emotions just came back all at once

[@dannysankyu]

GreatDogePlague you’re gonna make me cry.

[@Tentaclear1]

GreatDogePlague For me, I played halo 2 a lot as a kid and wanted to know what happened in 3. So I went to gamestop with my mom and accidentally got Halo 3 ODST. I was really confused and never got past the hub world (which is the night mission).

[@7.65x21mm]

same here

[@RealGengarTV]

Ah, freshly squeezed sharp 11 juice

[@dennisantonov8179]

Yes!!! I got really excited to see this at last! Thanks for doing my request! Gotta love Marty's work, especially Deference for Darkness. I look forward to more Halo! Maybe even Mr. Salvatori could make a surprise appearance next time ;)

[@8bitMusicTheory]

I felt bad that I didn't mention him at all! Next time for sure!

[@CacheTaFace]

More halo???

[@shigerufan1]

Next video title: "Analyzing the Flintstone Vitamin Jingle Ft. Michael Salvatori"

[@a05odst62]

Yes! Please more Halo!

[@kcajeldnaC]

Martin O'Donnel is such a fucking worldclass composer and Halo 3 ODST's soundtrack is his magnum opus

[@benjaminroberts5502]

As an aspiring composer currently in school at a classical conservatory, I just want to say THANK YOU for making these videos. Learning about voicing, extensions, solos, etc, at school always feels so academic that it's hard for me to understand the expressive purpose, and your videos have really helped me in this way by connecting music theory to games that I've played and experienced. Thank you so so much, I really can't overstate how valuable these videos have been for me.

[@johnathanpenczek5499]

My favorite jazz music as a piano player is when the sheet basically told me "press random notes to the beat, it doesn't matter what." sometimes chaotic noise is a part of the song.

[@UNSCPILOT]

A little spice, makes it nice

[@SvDKILLSWITCH]

I don't understand most of the theory, but it's enjoyable nonetheless to hear someone have so much fun breaking down these legendary pieces. Halo's soundtracks are truly a cut above, but ODST went way beyond my expectations.

[@brycevo]

ODST has such beautiful music, Thank you for explaining it

[@kokopelli434]

So, I’ve been watching these videos for two years, and up until then, I really had no idea what was going on. This year, I decided to take my High School’s AP Music Theory class, and these videos changed completely. Although I have trouble, with some concepts I still haven’t learned yet, I can finally start to understand what you’re saying. I love it, these videos are great

[@KohalaKai]

I absolutely love the Halo soundtrack, brings back some intense nostalgia. I would love to see more analysis of halo themes, keep up the amazing work.

[@IceMaverick13]

I am SOOOO glad you've covered this song. Honestly, I didn't even know I wanted this song covered until I saw it in my sub box. It's one of my favorites from the ODST soundtrack, but I've never had any insight into what makes the piece tick and this really helped shed some light on one of my all-time favorite Halo tracks. This piece really captures the entirety of ODST's mood for me and I always point to this as being the quintessential ODST song. Would love to see some other Halo stuff in the future since Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori composed some of the most iconic VGM tracks of their decade. Surely there's something else in there worth looking at.

[@redshiftproductions7158]

O'Donnell is such a brilliant composer and inspiration for emotional video game music. Good job with the analysis, I not only learned something but also have a good idea on how to use it

[@ReyhanJoseph]

as a musician and a composer, i love choosing chord voicings. it's the ultimate duality of chords.

[@eduardosacasa5007]

in the topic of variations within a chord, it's interesting just how cool a single note can sound when played at different octaves at the same time. An example is the 4 'E's played in the halo 3 teaser trailer. It gives you chills and you immediately think halo 3 when you hear them on the piano.

[@iamleftie]

I have absolutely no idea what you're saying for most of this video, and yet you got me to watch it all and subscribe. good job. :)

[@TheEuphologist]

This channel is so good at showcasing such beautiful songs I never would have heard otherwise and immediately inspiring more music out of me and I love it

[@timh.6872]

More deep dives on original Halo soundtracks would be amazing, even if it has to be one song at a time.

[@jblaze2767]

Your telling me a man thought of rain and made this how

[@sallyh1480]

I think almost all halo music sounds awesome. Game music is usually mostly intense and battle hardened, but you can name almost any emotion, and I'm sure there's a halo music that matches it nearly perfectly

[@SkyP9812]

I would love to know how midna's desperate hour rearranges twilight princess' hyrule field

[@ARavingLobster]

You mean Midna's lament, right? I've never actually heard it called desperate measures before, that's cool, is that a localization thing?

[@dannysankyu]

Atomicapples i’m broke i’ve never played Twilight Princess before but yeah man.

[@BirdUpFR]

As mostly a guitarist, I greatly appreciate the scoring of music when forming an understanding of theory. Intervals had always fascinated me in terms of chord stacking. Having but six strings and four fingers is very limiting when attempting to build lush chords. Because of this I highly recommend any guitarist also learn piano and notation, as they allow for you to form a natural understanding of all the relationships in building chords much more easily than on a guitar. The opposite goes for pianists as well, learning some guitar grants an appreciation for the structures of melody and voicings that come more naturally on the fretboard. Lately, after having gotten into math rock, I've fallen in love with alternate tunings like facgce. These tunings usually form a large I or IV chord from which you can change via capo, but once selected are trapped to a more narrow harmonic range. (Modulation is possible, it's just far more work) Because of their obtuse nature, I've struggled with writing chords and progression in alternate tunings due to all of the nomenclature of eadgbe being lost. This video is a great resource for learning to stack notes for their intervallic function rather than just flying by what feels right. You're part of an information revolution that grants anybody with a body of knowledge to publish teachings, and for anybody with the determination to seek out such content the ability to learn. Watching this progression in information sharing is quite the astounding spectacle, and I thank you again for providing such a great wealth of knowledge to people like me. Also, may I say that may have been the most succinct explanation of voice leading that I've seen. For some reason when most people describe this relatively simple concept they needlessly overcomplicate it, alienating those who actually came to try to understand what it is. Anyway godspeed, I love your work.

[@oneeyemonster3262]

As a guitarist..You can't tell the different between playing a C MAJOR ..cowboy chord shape...verse a C Maj BARR shape??? or a simple G Maj open chord shape verse a G Major Barr chord. You're already light years ahead of a Keyboard player... Of playing different chord voicing without all the Jurgins. It'll Explain it in C MAJOR/Amin.....so it's easier for both keyboard and guitarist to comprehend ( less b or # symbols to confuse you) There's pros and cons to each instrument. You can easily learn Different SCALES on the Keyboard faster...because it's visually EASIER...however it's a Bietch to transfer that to different keys. It's a BITECH to learn the FRETBOARD in C MAJOR/Amin...at first. After that...it gets rather BORING playing the same old shiet in 12 different pitch (keys)..No matter how you invert or stack the chords..lmao It'll still sound that same...if you play the same 7 notes over and over and over and over again. Once a guitarist learn the other 10-ea scales...We're Light years..light years ahead of Keyboard players..of mixing/blending/modulating different scales in multiple keys Back and forth on the fly.... KEYS are Just PITCH...All the circle of 5th dose is help Keyboard player play the Major scale in 12 different PITCH.... On a guitar...it's so much easier to un/retune 6 strings.lmao As you notice you can Use the Fretboard like a SLIDE RULER to play in different PITCH.....I personally play Less the CAPO for many reasons... I can modulate to Multiple keys on the fly...Play DIFFERENT SCALES. Play different CHORD SHAPE....Let Notes on certain strings Ring Open. to obtain Open chord feel ( spread out notes)..... I do appreciate keyboard players that can shift to different keys on the fly and play DIFFERENT scales on the fly in different PITCH too.lol I dont play the keyboard ( not very good)...I can the drums set too thou. Anyways........From C MAJOR/A min To OBTAIN the OTHER SCALES.. Basic TRIADS/Chords are just EVERY OTHER NOTE ( NO MATTER the SCALE) You get what you get ...They are what they are. Different INTERVALS (scales) Simply create different Triads/Chords( KEEP it SIMPLE STUPID) SOUNDS Within each 7 notes scale are 7 different MODES.. MODE TERMS simply helps IDENTIFY INTERVALS. ( KEEP it SIMPLE STUPID) Ion is the REFERENCE.......lyd = ion #4.....Mix = ion b7....Aeo = Ion b3, b6, b7 .ect Im going to PLAY the other 5 NOTEs ( BLACK KEYS) b2, b3, ....b5, b6, b7 Im going to PUSH UP from A min....TOWARDS A MAJOR b3, b6, b7 are also the SECOND ARPEGGIO of the 1, 4, 5, chords G#, F#, G# D#, F#, G# Bb, G# Bb, F#, G#........Eb, G#..ect b3, b6, b7 = Natural min....... A min D min Emin b3, b6 Harmonic min A min Dmin/dim E7 b3 melodic min A min D7 E7 b6 Harmonic MAJ A MAJ D min E7 b2 b3 Meloidic min b2 ( Bb, F#, G#) b3, b5 Melodic min b5 ( Eb F#, G#) b3, #4 Melodic min #4 ( D#, F#, G#) aka Lydian b3 ( iv of E harmonic MAJ) You can insert the Bb chord...Maj7, Bb7, Bb dim. Bb aug, Bb min7, Bb min.maj7 as Bb lydian #6, lydian #5, #6 If you play D double harmonic min = Bb lydian #2, #6 b2, b3, b6 Harmonic min b2 b3, #4 b6 Double Harmonic min ( aka Hungarian minor) b3, b5, b6 Harmonic min b5 ( iii of Hungarian MAJOR) ion #6 = A# ( G Mix #2)...You can apply the ion #6 if you wish to play a 4th when playing the #6 chord...... most lesson will teach you to apply C double harmonic min over C MAJOR to obtain Ab lydian #2, #6... In a nut shell the Ab7 or Ab7 add #4..or Ab Maj chord. Ab7 G7 into C MAJOR but you could do this....AbMaj7 E7 into A min or simply just INSERT the Ab maj chord.... Play this progression if you want Abmaj, G maj, D min. Amin F maj G maj or you could play G Maj...Ab Maj....Bb Maj.....C Maj..... In a nutshell insert the Ab Maj and Bb Maj chord....but play into C MAJOR chord instead of C min.... You could play G7 into C MAJOR or C min.... Im going to push DOWN from C MAJOR towards C min... The same 5 BLACK NOTEs.....Ab....Eb.....Ab, Eb.....ect b6 C harmonic MAJOR b3 C melodic min b3, b6 C harmonic min b3, b6, b7 C Natrual minor b2, b3.....ect The 2, 4, b6, 7 chord degree are all possible full diminished whether you count from C Harmonic MAJOR or A harmonic min and/or C harmonic min and/or A Harmonic MAJOR.... D, F, Ab, B or B, D, F, G# augmented chords are also symmetrical C, E, G# or C , E, Ab.... If you play A harmonic min b5 AND A melodic min b5 ( BOTH) = FUll dimnished W/H it's 4th mode D dorian b2, #4 AND Lydian b2, b7 BOTH ( b3 and maj3) Full diminished H/W If you can play this in C MAJOR/Amin..... YOu can PLAY ANYTHING..keys are just PITCH... I can do this.... A min......B7 into E Maj7/C# min....D maj7 E7 into A min....Ab7 G7 into CMajor if you want....... or play G7 into C min...D dim F min E7 into A min...if you want.

[@BirdUpFR]

@@oneeyemonster3262 this post reads like a page from house of leaves

[@oneeyemonster3262]

@@BirdUpFR it's not my fault you suck at playing the guitar and lack music comprehension.

[@BirdUpFR]

@@oneeyemonster3262 Is that what you were trying to communicate? Even that much was unclear from the manic prose you use. Also that's rather presumptuous of someone who has never met me nor heard me play guitar. All I said was that its useful to learn notation and piano for guitarists to have a different perspective to understand theory from. For what it's worth, yes I did alreadt know how to build chords on guitar, as well as the many different voicings found along the neck. That's really besides my point, which was simply that 8-bits videos are a great resource for musicians to come to understand theory in order to apply it to their playing and writting. I guess mostly I'm confused as to how from that you gleaned that I'm apparently a poor guitarist. And even then, would having come across a mediocre guitarist thanking 8-bit really warrant this rambling psychotic post? Also even through your battered formatting, yes i already knew all the theory you condescendingly try to explain to me. Modes and modulation really arent that complex of concepts, and even more so your comment would not be the source i would have chosen to learn them from. Calm the fuck down and take your anti psychotics you rambling boomer. Seriously, you read like a manic depressive.

[@oneeyemonster3262]

@@BirdUpFR it's all just basic Mode terms. which simply IDENTiFY INTERVALS....Dork

[@Ubayla]

This song is pretty much why Halo 3: ODST is my favorite Halo game, and one of my favorite games of all time. I played it when I was a kid, and it brought out such a lonely and somber feeling that no other Halo had, or really any other game I had played before. For the first time in a Halo game, you're just a person alone trying to survive and find his squadmates, not a super soldier saving the universe for the third time.

[@Zestrayswede]

This video's giving me Music Theory Minute vibes.

[@SuperKirby_Gaming]

Bring back Music Theory Minute!

[@CatalogK9]

Now I know why Breath of the Wild sounds and feels so familiar. Hearing this after playing BotW so much (and so often in the rain), many of the same kinds of chord voicings are used for similar effect. Spooky and beautiful, and very representative of the types of stories and music I love most. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK ON THESE VIDEOS, we don't deserve these composers OR you!!

[@SeedlessProductions]

Deference for Darkness hits me where I live, every time.

[@Gnurklesquimp]

A simple triad with raised third can sound AMAZING on huge synth pads, try isolating that third in a separate patch once the basic idea is done, so you can get some more distortion on the fifths in the bottom.

[@vzm4663]

I actually really appreciate this tip- I've been so sick of using basic triad voicings on my synths, so the simple trick of raising the 3rd seems really useful!

[@Gnurklesquimp]

@@vzm4663 Yeah it's really nice, if you've got a triad voiced with the 3rd or 5th as the lowest note (So there's a 4th interval in there), then you can often raise what is then the middle note to flow very well with these.

[@jakebaigent7582]

This is how music should be taught. Excellent work dude.

[@robintanager]

The quality of the videos has shot right up. Wowzers

[@woodencube33]

Oh boy I've been waiting for this ever since I found this channel

[@Limetines]

My man, these animations are FINE

[@TainoMoya]

I love your deep dives into OSTs. I'm learning about and appreciating vgm more than i already did and that's great.

[@jarodrobbins]

bruh i almost cried watching this video, i dont get how it has so much sadness but yet so much beauty?

[@fatheroftwo852]

Although I love music that is atonal/bitonal, game music has a nostalgic resonance with me; I was learning the beginning four arpeggios for this piece about a month or two prior to this video's release, and I found that there was something intricate, and somewhat symmetrical about the placement of the notes. This video clarified what I couldn't find off my own volition, so thank you very much for making it known to me, a beautiful, and truly prodigious note placement strategy. I plan on making use of this in my compositions~

[@QuintonMurdock]

I can’t hear rain without thinking of the Spookston outro

[@LepidoliteMica]

The leitmotif of ODST haunts my mind at the weirdest of times, and every time I think of it I think of the entire game. Not many games will do that for me.

[@nathancook7979]

The ODST soundtrack is my favorite Halo soundtrack hands down. The other stuff is sweeping and very moving, but there's something about the low key smooth jazz in the background of a rainy New Mombasa that just gets me

[@loganstewart7065]

The christmas season is here! All of my favorite creators are uploading!

[@JairusC]

This is probably my utmost favorite video you've made thus far due to how applicable and practical it is. You do such wonderful work and I sincerely thank you for that.

[@Snoopy-20111]

This video came at a perfect time. Been loving the MCC release on PC, and really listening to the scores of the Halo games for the first time, especially after not hearing them in years. Thank you so much for this analysis.

[@Kiaulen]

The ODST Soundtrack is my favorite soundtrack of all time. Thank you for making this video.

[@cork9884]

Can't wait to play ODST again. The music really tied the game together for me.

[@nickreilly3036]

I appreciate this channel

[@a05odst62]

The music in this game was so powerful that everytime it rains I listen to this games OST... Thank you Marty O'Donnell, and thank you for doing this soundtrack the justice it deserves.

[@VetroPanther]

Yes! This is a lovely analysis. Thank you so much for making this. I've always been so intrigued by this song. The topic of using intervals like this is also inspiring. I'll be coming back to this video many times :)

[@CaptainPhen]

Great video! Breath of the Wild and Joe Hisaishi similarly uses open voicing based on 5ths and 4ths adding the 2nd's "edge", specially on the higher register to give that vast open and quite fragile feeling, like the Rain opening. That implied quartal and quintal harmony never fails!

[@MattHaley94]

I've been waiting for just such a video from you! I could tell that the chord voicing in many Halo songs are special, but now I have a better sense into why. I hope to see more Halo videos!!!!

[@QuadroMan1]

I wish I knew how to watch these videos without getting an uncontrollable urge to go try stuff out on my piano in the middle of the video lol

[@fazzy8682]

I’m really glad KZbin recommended me this video, I’ve always loved the Halo games since I was introduced to them in high school but ODST’s soundtrack always stuck out as my favorite. With pieces like Deference for Darkness being the main contender but almost every tune made for the game is unique and beautiful and perfectly encapsulates each situation The Rookie and the rest of Alpha-9 faced in New Mombasa. I can’t wait for you to make more videos on the Halo series but if there’s one song I hope you find a subject matter for, please let it be No Stone Unturned.

[@jimmahjammah]

I’d love to see a video about the dynamic changes in the boss music for Shadow of the Colossus, one of my all time favorite games largely in part to its soundtrack. The Prologue as a stand-alone piece is also incredible to listen to and should get its own analysis. Keep making kickass videos!

[@ArbyFoxxo]

Like, even listening to the music with your explaining made me emotional because the piece is just so good Even though I don't understand crap about notes, lol, your description was perfect! The way you feel about your character feeling lonely, then getting hopeful as that piece progresses, only to snap back to reality and loneliness... It's a super precise description, just how I felt about it sometime!

[@midtown6974]

Every time I watch a new video of yours, I'm floored by how much I learn. I never played Halo, so I never knew how rich its music was. I'd love to see more Halo content on here!

[@absoutezeo2126]

Fuck yes. Wildly underappreciated game with an underappreciated soundtrack. This soundtrack drives home loneliness like few others I've heard before.

[@DrDingsGaster]

Thank you for doing a video on this absolute masterpiece of a soundtrack. I loved the game, it's my favourite in the series honestly and the lonely feeling you get through it, couldn't be done without the music. This bit is one of my favourites and the other one is "No Stone Left Unturned". I've been in love with this soundtrack for a long time and really needs to be given more praise.

[@gitarherow]

that drum loop behind the narration nearly killed this video for me, but I soldiered through. Nice video!

[@mathbookhero]

This is actually one of my favorite songs of all time, videogame soundtrack or not. I'm so glad you covered it and how to develop that sound which captures that emotional tone just right.

[@OLApplin]

I wish I could like this vidéo multiple times, one doesn't seem enough to pay tribute to your amazing work and perfect explanations

[@ethanhedden9896]

I am a music student and love the Halo games. I was trying to explain the amazing pieces that Marty O'Donnell created for Halo and the different range of emotions they convey to a classmate and found myself wishing that someone more knowledgeable than I would make an analysis of some Halo music. So, when I found this video I was overjoyed and shared it with my music friends immediately. I loved this and please make more videos on Halo music.

[@Brassydoots]

I could listen to you cover halo music all day. Such an excellent video that puts the emotions I’ve felt for years about this music into theory. Well done!

[@the_MrFloof]

A video from my favorite channel on the music of my favorite game series? Heck yeah 😍

[@yaoitiddieexpert1486]

I really loved the way you talked about this. Really helps an amateur like myself understand what you're talking about. Can't wait to see the next video!

[@Marunius]

Beautiful video. Your channel is one of the few reasons I still pursue music, a passion that can create so much hardship. Thank you!

[@LaniakeaLeathercrafts]

So glad you made this video and brought this brilliant piece back into my life :)

[@SuperNolanMan]

14:45 - I would LOVE an episode on modulation.

[@wizard1370]

Very interesting; another great video!

[@trevinblount7746]

Great job putting this one together! It was very informative and entertaining.

[@davidgladstein1265]

Great video man! Love the topic choice, and your content is always interesting and pleasing to watch

[@brandongunnarson7483]

Oh my god this video was amazing thank you for talking about chord voicings and using such an epic piece. This was incredibly informative and these tools I'm gonna put in my toolbox forever.

[@Vlessgorian]

Really interesting analysis! As a composer it's super inspiring to see what others are doing, an a video like this one is a very helpful way of doing that.

[@husamfahad7690]

my man marty o donnell gettin some more much needed air time.

[@Wrathful_Scythe]

I've been listening to this song over and over again over the years. Such a fantastic piece. Thank you very much for this video.

[@vzm4663]

I sometimes get so lost in these that I sometimes forget to appreciate the effort and work people put into these super high-quality videos. Props to you man, thank you so much for this 👍

[@sharkdude7]

Goddamn this is one of the most underrated video games, and it has one of the greatest soundtracks of all time

[@DarthSpiderMario]

I love this piece so much. It's a beautiful emotional catharsis catalyst for when I'm feeling down. Thank you so much for covering it.

[@noblegamer8740]

This is beautiful. Makes technical music education more appreciated and understood by people who would otherwise have no reason to pursue such knowledge. Keep producing work like this!