How Tool Pull Off A 12 Minute Song (Pneuma) | Artist Series S4E1

[@desenova9135]

The repeating patterns was something Danny Carey, the drummer, had mentioned was something the other members had picked up on during the 10,000 Days sessions, and on a personal note, having these themes come back up in varying forms reminds the listener that you're still listening to the same song. But in a bigger scope, the magic is that you don't realize you just listened to a 10+ minute song.

[@31luckispucki10]

Can we please make this a thing, where every new season starts with a Tool song?

[@Nannada1212]

If you wanna go back and talk about OGT or wait 15+yrs, sure.

[@fieldexplorer5197]

yes please

[@ChrisAdamsDreaming]

So much this!

[@ReinhardOrDieTrying]

descending so low on the ranking but it has got to be one of the most entrancing songs ever.

[@Molden95]

Totally agree. Pneuma and Descending are my favourites!

[@MastaPhil666]

Descending is my favorite track from Inoculum. When I first heard this song, I imagined that scene from Mad Max: Fury Road where the band is playing and the guitarist has flames shooting out of the guitar neck.

[@PongGod]

@@Molden95 100%. In fact those are two of my favorite songs EVER. Just incredible works of art.

[@OsaculnenolajO]

Agreed. Descending is one of my favorites.

[@jeffwalker6815]

Because even the least popular Tool song is still a great Tool song.

[@TheNerdyGinger]

I would still really love to see a Rosetta Stoned episode. I’ve been really digging into that song over the last few weeks trying to learn how to play it. Just memorizing the structure of it was a hell of a task, since I haven’t been listening to it for a decade and a half like most tool fans LOL.

[@reecesmith5819]

Rosetta Stoned is my favorite Tool song, so I 100% agree that an episode on that song would be amazing, especially with the fact there's multiple different timings, polyrhythms and polymetres. Digging a bit into the song lyrically would also be cool. Personally I think even though a majority of the song is kinda goofy and about someone who's taken way too many drugs thinking that aliens abducted them. There's definitely a more serious and deeper meaning behind the song (like pretty much every Tool song) you can feel it. I personally think it's that the questions we have about are existence. Such as, why we're here and what we're heading for will never truly be answered and the more you try to think about it, the more overwhelmed and frustrated you become because there's no real answer. We "don't know, won't know".

[@NE0MAS]

Man, same for me! I feel like it’s Third eye part 2 because of how it’s all structured

[@Frewster]

Honest question from a genuine tool fan, do they jam these songs around or is it exactly the same structure start to finish every time? I thought they went looser, doing things by feeling, but they're all so highly technical that I find it easy to believe that they are capable of either.

[@Ancipital_]

@@Frewster it is fully studied in, first in pieces, and then from front to back.

[@Danny-wv8ec]

I bet this guy is thanking the gods for 7empest not topping his poll.

[@plexus]

7empest sounds crazy, but it’s not the most complex. It’s mostly 21 count, divided 5,5,5,6 or 7,7,7... the rest, the verse chorus part is 4/4. Of course they play with the rhythms a bit and Danny does his rhythmic flare, but that’s the basis of it. That’s how Adam can solo on it for 4 minutes, it doesn’t shift as much as some other songs. Descending, on the other hand, is deceptively complex, and possibly the most complex song on the album. Even Adam said he thought so. I think it was Adam. Adam or Justin. I forgot which interview I heard one of them say that. It might’ve been Justin on Alex Grey’s podcast, but I think it was Adam.

[@legoobi-wankenobi3080]

The way you pull off a 12 minute song is by making it good.

[@blaeke64]

k

[@patthewoodboy]

yep

[@thepeas]

*slow clap*

[@taylorhamm1068]

What?? That's crazy! _So crazy,..._ it just might work..

[@chronic2001n]

Words of wisdom

[@denisblack9897]

Thank you so much! im not into recording songs, i see this as a stellar blueprint for an infinite jam

[@theopinson3851]

I’ve listened to it a million times and never realized it was 12 minutes, lol. It just flows so well.

[@Codeaholic1]

Tool's "variation on a theme" reminds me a lot of classical music.

[@bemersonbakebarmen]

I think thats the only way you can get to write a long song. Thats why Genesis was called symphonic rock in the 70. It sounded nothing like classical music, but used the same tools, just like Tool. In fact Tool has admited they are drawn to the experimental rock of the early 70's.

[@PongGod]

@@bemersonbakebarmen Unless you're Dream Theater LOL

[@shitmultiverse1404]

@@PongGod > Devin Townsend

[@blaeke64]

@@PongGod _cough cough_ DT *heavily* relies on classical music and 70's symphonic rock _cough_

[@blaeke64]

@Thomas Grey You're comparing apples to oranges. Love Devvy though. Alien and Ziltoid are absolute masterpieces.

[@nbr6116]

I could listen to Friedemann talk about Tool all week! I'll explode with joy once he comes around to cover Invincible or Right in Two! Stay Safe dude and take care of yourself!

[@CptPandy-tj9ty]

My dad used to play tool when I was a toddler and the weird scary metal music and creepy music videos were always stuck in my head growing up. When I first heard Pneuma it brought me back to my young days and I thought this is how I perceive this band as a little kid 2 decades ago and this has become one of my favorite songs to play

[@PongGod]

It's one of the most awesome songs I've ever heard. I absolutely love it!

[@PongGod]

@Richard Kelly Yeah, those bizarre videos could turn anyone off!

[@baileymoyer9777]

Cpt. Pandy same😂 I grew up listening to undertow. My dad would play prison sex all the time. It’s funny how that’s what I listened to when I was little then with my little sister (last child) she isn’t allowed to listen to music with anything close to a curse word in it. Only Taylor swift type music

[@taylorplambeck]

Loved that part at the end about emphasizing rhythmic variation over harmonic variation. A lot of people make jokes about how every Tool song is in D, but they are missing the point. The constants and limits in your music is an artistic choice that might offer you a truly unique direction. This video is a great reminder of that.

[@pythonxz]

This song is just breathtaking in concert!

[@alpur214]

I've been listening to Tool for over twenty years, and have seen them live twice. When I first heard this song, it immediately captivated me and I've been listening to it almost constantly for the past eight months. I can say with full confidence it has become my favorite Tool song. It's not overly complex, with only four major riffs and some different variations. But as you say, it's enough to keep us intrigued and hold our attention for twelve minutes. This is just a masterpiece of music. Thank you for breaking it down for us!

[@akdelta38]

Sucking you in for 12 minutes with subtlety while maintaining melody and rhythm that mimics through out the songs entirety...TOOL FTW!! (Pneuma) Masterpiece

[@THEgenART]

The bridge at 6:20 (in the song, not the video) until MJK says “Pnuema” is probably my favorite couple minutes of TOOL’s entire catalog, and encapsulates their style of build up ➝ payoff, perfectly. I do NOT advise EVER fast-forwarding through any TOOL, but I’ll permit it this once so you can understand what I’m referring to :P

[@alexanderhaddox9343]

Intuitive, no bullshit, and entertaining. Awesome job

[@toolrjm]

Well explained! I'm a TOOL fan but not a musician, so this helped me parse the music a bit better. Thanks!

[@tjanders9863]

Had a good time watching this video. I love TOOL they have so many great songs. Thx for the content. Be well!!!

[@EisensteinPrime]

So Justin says they actually start with a more complicated musical composition and then simplify it and THEN as the song progresses they return to the original complex music. So fascinating. I'm trying to apply this as I begin to write my own songs.

[@alexparadise91]

Tool never fails to pull me in. They have incredible musical communication and lyrically they tap into universal messages. Also their hypnotic grooves and time signatures just mesmerize me

[@fromthe4621]

12 minutes is standard for us Africans like lingala, afrobeat, and post-independence folk music

[@xdman20005]

Thats cool, any recomendations? I love long lasting music

[@misplacedoptimism3626]

@@xdman20005 Fela Kuti is great!

[@nuke97]

@@xdman20005 Fela Kuti.

[@soloplaysgames9965]

@@xdman20005 cassandra gemini by the mars volta is 32 mins long

[@rubaidaallen2764]

@@misplacedoptimism3626 Fela Kuti is the shit. My mother is of Nigerian descent, Yoruba to be exact and Fela is a hero of ours. His compositions are also phenomenal. Maybe that's why I love Tools music so much 😂😂😂

[@ethanwelborn]

Pneuma is such an amazing song. I wish I could hear it again for the first time. Really I wish I could hear Tool again for the first time. I started listening to tool in Kindergarten so I don't think I really could appreciate my first Tool experience.

[@nihilisticinquisition7150]

Great analysis! One could probably also argue that the riff which you present as the 3rd energy level from riff 3 could also be another variation of riff 2. The b7-1 tonality and that pentatonic run at the end are both rather characteristic. But it might also be more of a synthethis derived from riffs 2 and 3, which is also pretty cool! :)

[@pinhead9]

Nice breakdown. I thought it essential to point out that the riff at 8:37 in this video is re-used in a fantastic way at 9 04 of the actual song. Adam is always doing stuff like that and I'm glad you shone some light on it.

[@AnthonieMusic]

This is what I like about Tool. I've been analysing Rachmaninoff, Bartok and Copland for a semester and you can get the same amount of material to talk about from them.

[@gimphandjeff]

Great breakdown! I’ve been doing this with 7empest. It’s fun!

[@stefan86wtf]

Very interesting section on reusing the riffs with different energy levels. Lots to learn. Good job as always!

[@Nachtopus]

Disposition/Reflection/Triad would be such a great analysis!

[@Toradoshi12]

So what you're saying is... repetition legitimizes.

[@przyszlipograc2690]

Nooo, bruh, I really hoped that no one had written it. Bummer. But right, it kinda does. Cheers. PS. I'll allow myself one lame pun - at least I was nee(r)ly the first one to come up with that.

[@mitchclarke19]

So what you're saying is... repetition legitimizes.

[@ryanduray1]

So what you're saying is... repetition legitimizes.

[@anticksss]

Hey what are you saying

[@SuperRand13]

Thank you! I've known tool is a brilliant artist for so long but because a really shit professor reccomended them once i've struggled to listen to them (stupid I know, but some things stick with you). I think i can finally listen to them properly.

[@CmRkowesome]

This is by far my favorite song!!! I´ve never clicked a video so fast lol...thanks for the video greaat hopes for part II

[@evandrorocha332]

Hi. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think the riff you show on this video at 10:10 is actually evolved from the 2nd main riff. Anyway, awesome video. I'm really learning a lot with all of your videos, so: thank you!

[@darkySp]

1:02 That a mesmerizing bassline with 525ms delay makes it good by itself, probably

[@4amwaj]

Based on the responses to the poll its pretty clear you viewers are newer tool fans. Interesting results actually.

[@botondpapp8650]

Great insight, thanks for this video. I've been waiting for it ever since the song came out. :)) One note, the simplest and lowest energy level of the intro riff I believe is to be the riff played by the bass in the bridge. Also, the drums too always play sth a little different to alter the levels.

[@bradyedge8613]

I FINALLY was able to get a good screenshot of your arm at 6:06. It says "A well regulated beard, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to show bare arms, shall not be infringed."

[@EssenceOfTrance]

Pneuma is one of the few songs that follow the addiction formula. A lot of their hits seem to be in a different structure. For example Schism or Descending.

[@eddiebutcher2845]

Hi! Nice video! A question: at 10:12 why did you compare the breakdown riff with the main riff instead to the verse riff? I think it's clearly the verse riff but heavier, not the main one

[@EricssonB]

Bass player here. Those are two riffs, not four. Nah just being a smartass. I can see these been all *stemming* from two riffs, but they're definitely distinct in their presentation to the song; development and evolution through repetition. Examples 1 and 4 are close in the basslines, as are 2 and 3. This a great breakdown. Thanks man. +1

[@driftorsion376]

Would love to hear you dissect Lateralus and all the math/ fibonacci sequence that went into that song

[@Matthew-le1eq]

12 minute song? Hold my beer. -Dream Theater

[@anticksss]

Lmao hold my change of seasons

[@FrostyDrums]

Incredible breakdown of this song. But it might be even more incredible that you didn't once mention DC's drumming in the energy levels or mashing of riffs. His drums are so melodic in this masterpiece, might be worth diving into a bit!

[@johnmclaughlin9674]

Writing a long song secret is it writes itself but it needs the group to spend the time with it don’t rush it find the right patterns and polish it

[@gruntnation7789]

God I wish everybody chose pushit or reflection

[@mangocyberdragon227]

Grunt Nation Ooorrrr Rosetta Stoned lol

[@gruntnation7789]

Mango Cyber Dragon fr fr

[@jakehyrule7260]

I know right.

[@anticksss]

The holy Trinity of disposition/reflection/triad deserves a video in and of itself

[@TYFLOL]

Imo writing a long song is way easier than writing a short one. Gotta just keep building, bring it back down, do something different, build it up, have a finale, and build it back down. Just gotta keep things varied a bit

[@ΜαριαΧαραλαμπιδου-ρ7ι]

they pulled a 15' song wym?And at the time the album was released that song seemed to be most peoples fav one.I cant remember its name tho.

[@ΜαριαΧαραλαμπιδου-ρ7ι]

@Paraig Mc Gee yeap thats the one

[@TheLorcan21]

Your beard grew Melon

[@PongGod]

0:36 Vicarious is on the list twice. Great song, BTW.

[@enaidealukal4105]

Isn't the flanger on the guitar, not the bass? (the "Pneuma" riff iteration near the end of the song)

[@LightRider696]

A 12 minutes song is like grindcore song for doom metal 😂

[@johnpachkoski4637]

A funny thing with music, is that its whole basis is the same as exercising, memory, and building a building, you're building things that continually build.

[@johnpachkoski4637]

Memory's foundation is primarily visual and spatial (location based), and the more we do something, or see something, the more its reinfoced, Music, the more we hear it, the more we remember it, and the more we like it Exercise, the more we do it, the stronger the muscle gets, the more pressure, the stronger it gets as well.

[@johnpachkoski4637]

Another thing with music though, its very emotionally supplemental, people usually want high energy/motivating/confident music, or peaceful/relaxing music, all of which are feelings people tend to lack the most of.

[@wanderingpanchhi]

Do Ghost Of Perdition by Opeth next. Prog is supposed to be able to keep the listener tuned in through long songs. Period.

[@chadmontgomery3338]

Hahaha "Maynard's duck" at 0:35

[@DiZzAzZtErPrOdUcTiOnS]

Great vid coach!

[@Holistic-songwriting]

Thank you!

[@Raymaster7482]

Long songs are the norm in prog rock... they began with that in the late 60s. Then of course there are other genres as well where long tracks are recorded regularly

[@Elayaass]

niiice I wanted to play this song but since I'm not that good I wars struggling to get by ear so thank you for putting the tabs

[@TalladSirhc]

but the tablature doesnt match the audio samples half the time in your video :/

[@brandenblomberg3048]

That's interesting how one chord was used through the whole song... kind of like how he refers to it as "one breath". It's almost like they knew to use the one chord and the lyrics to cement that fact as well. Then we're given a new breath of the same chord but transformed, making it different but also similar to what we heard before. They really did take a good amount of care to make their song, and they did a tremendous job at that. And you did a great job analyzing it as well, so I commend you for that.

[@MobySlick]

I love these riffs. I eat them like others their breakfest.

[@thirstypilgrim97]

Could you do the Danish band Mew? OR Kashmir? Great songwriting

[@mrcoatsworth429]

Can you do a video on Iron Maiden's song structure for their long songs? They often have a very clear structure, especially Steve Harris has his go-to structure. Rime of the Ancient Mariner (13 minutes), for example, has a similar structure to Pneuma, but with an extra verse after the (very long) bridge. It would be awesome to hear you talk about it. I feel like, for being the biggest metal band (yes, I think bigger than metallica) in the world, surprisingly few music channels on youtube are talking about Iron Maiden. In a way, they're just a huge underground band.

[@zeichensetzung2563]

very good work!

[@rubbertoes368]

Saw them in ATL little back and out of the entire new album Pnuema kicked the most ass by far.

[@michaelburman2108]

Dude you know. It’s amazing to listen to on headphones but they bring it alive live

[@emrekulac3207]

Can you break down a song from either sleep or shinebuilder or anything adjacent to those

[@airdnis]

now do one on bring the sun/toussaint l'ouverture

[@ianballa7699]

What Maynard’s Duck wasn’t good enough?

[@cyberdelicxp9125]

Like Long songs? The Spacelords....Cosmic Journey I love TOOL, their long songs especially. The Spacelords is like the TOOL long trippy song parts...just made into an entire album As a Hardcore TOOL fan, (first big band i ever saw live in the mid 90s)i recommend The Spacelords

[@ado011235]

O man love this, love this. You have a new fan. Hey I've got a question for you. Do people sometimes tell you that you look like pewdiepie?

[@norbertsierschynski8120]

amazing research

[@drewu3661]

Finally! Thanks Friedman

[@bemersonbakebarmen]

Pink Floyd's Shine on Your Crazy Diamond lasts like 25 min. And Echoes is 20 min long.

[@0eroPositivo]

I think that people who think this album is not great as the others album, it's because they don't notice that the album is quite different to the others.

[@mjoulnirmanhattanm.d.7548]

A song takes as long as it takes

[@JDhvactech]

I don't think you got the time signatures right , and I don't think what makes the song is the use of motif and using polymeter to mix the parts artistically that odd time that lines of with 4/4 directly or indirectly

[@moondog548]

This video also serves as a class on "everything Metallica did not do right on their album St. Anger"

[@maldad9073]

That album was nothing but noise in my opinion. What set them apart early on was the ability to mix the melodies in with the heavy parts.

[@Koivisto147]

Hmm. I can't hear 'riff 3' as 7/4+7/4+5/8. The way I wanna bob my head is more like 12/8+2/8+12/8+7/8. Its like this cool offset triplet groove where the 2/8 throws off where the pulse lands on that 12/8 triplet count, and lines up again after the 7/8 for a total of 33 eighth note per cycle.

[@kiankapil]

Why cant I download it and watch later?

[@jpslayermayor9293]

I think Tool didnt set out to write a 12 minute long song, the song they constructed turned to take 12 minutes to complete including all of the musical and lyrical ideas within confines of a song

[@Aaron-uf8lv]

it would be cool to see you do an episode on bill wurtz

[@jonesfactor9]

You make it seem like playing 12 minutes is a major accomplishment 😂

[@Holistic-songwriting]

It is if you want to do it well. :)

[@ansersoftware4463]

Great video as always. On an unrelated note, just watched your older video about songwriting misconceptions where you said that music is not entirely subjective and there are things that define a good piece. While i agree with that, how would you explain something like Trout Mask Replica? Is it really a well writen record that deserves the praise, or is it praised only for it's boldness and influence?

[@dalenewton9697]

Because he's wrong on this. All art is subjective and assertions to the contrary are always a kind of elitism, usually unintentional (people often don't realise how elitism underpins their own thinking because it's so ubiquitous and normalized in music). At least in terms of what's 'good'. Successful, of course, can be defined in objective terms. Musicians often try to argue certain characteristics are objectively good, but they are always predicated on underlying assumptions that are themselves subjective.

[@nicoarmin8997]

Not to be a troll, but I am very confused how you managed to talk about a song driven by the drums by only mentioning guitar riffs. I'm pretty sure the drums are the major driver of this track. The riffs are simple or repeat because they aren't the source of the song's complexity.

[@dalenewton9697]

In part two of the series he talks about the drums.

[@WillNixon]

Lost keys/Rosetta Stoned.Plz!!!!!! Review it.

[@rileydunn7688]

Rosseta Stoned! next please

[@torehund3541]

If you want to mash up riffs or motifs from different keys or chords, just transpose it. Yeah, it sounds different, but the brain doesn't care, it hears the same pattern.

[@danielrenner5632]

Not one mention of the drums...

[@stoictrader52]

Your the "Binging with Babish" of Music.

[@skylersojka6742]

Haha! So true!

[@exodusfivesixfivesix8050]

Honestly man, idk how artist make short 4-5min songs. I constantly write long songs and when I am done tracking it I am sitting at 15 mins.

[@ryanscottwright]

Porcupine Tree: Hold my beer.

[@LuckykidA]

Maynard's Duck! LOL

[@avebellium6856]

Can you check out grizzly bear yellow house?

[@brianbabyak6494]

I think tool drops D tuning so that their guitarist can use his rhythm to their advantage

[@stormmk9]

The best thing is, that length is normal for TOOL.

[@bigbassmaster96]

I don't buy that chart. Have you herd freebird?

[@arturmalachowski8949]

Over thinking, over analyzing, separates the body from the mind... ;)

[@jacklauder8226]

So, based on my experience with NeedleDrop, you’re feeling a light 5.

[@zillaFCB10]

Invincible was my favorite off of Fear Inoculum

[@binzianer]

Is that arm tattoo new? And if I may ask, what does it say? Great episode as always!

[@Holistic-songwriting]

It's already 12 years old. It's the first verse of Imagine by John Lennon.

[@clearasil11]

I fucking lose my shit everytime 10:18 riff hits