Sonic 3's Chrome Gadget: Music Theory

[@victorlgcarvalho]

Sonic 3's multiplayer level soundtracks are among the best of the Genesis ever had.

[@cutman3931]

Whoever composed the music for Chrome Gadget and Prototype Carnival Night is a genius

[@glitchedblood]

masayuki nagao, they also composed/arranged prototype launch base act 2, hydrocity act 2, desert palace, lava reef act 1, lava reef act 2, and the prototype competition menu

[@BasementBrothers]

This is why the proto songs feel so familiar even if you never heard them before. They belong in the game.

[@TeamTrainWreck]

@@glitchedbloodDid he also compose Angel Island Zone and the Data Select theme? I was always sad that the Sonic & Knuckles portion of the game lost the ‘tropical island’ feel of his compositions.

[@glitchedblood]

@@TeamTrainWreck Angel Island and Data Select’s composer is still unknown

[@gameguider321GO]

5:54 I love how the background (although blurred) fits perfectly with the note demonstration

[@Part_Time_Fox]

SO GLAD you're doing Chrome Gadget! It's one of those semi-obscure Sonic tracks that is just mesmerizing to listen to. Wonderful breakdown of the details and chords 👌

[@chrisfearn4837]

My Favourite track in S3 and knuckles without a doubt

[@sledracer-u4t]

I couldn't wait for him to finally do a vid about this masterpiece!

[@JunScunthorpe]

omg its you that random furry I I actually forget why I met you but it was because of that snow leopard dude I think

[@Part_Time_Fox]

@@JunScunthorpe Lol I don recognize your name at the moment but I'm glad you remembered me!

[@JunScunthorpe]

@@Part_Time_Fox never got to know each other but you've got a very memorable username

[@xenalin1]

I can't believe how well you consistently execute these videos. You capture all the complexity, make it all simple, and wrap it all in a nostalgia blowout, all with clever and thematic editing.

[@edmn]

An Alex Yard S3&K music theory update always puts a smile on my face!

[@damien__j]

This is perhaps the most energetic and emotionally stirring track in classic Sonic for me

[@nicholaswoodard9211]

Thank u 😢

[@ThinkBeyondOrdinary]

I'm just blown by the "fullscreen" Chrome Gadget at 5:30 - how? Now I just want a full zone like that!

[@Sing_LoveWRS]

That is something that origins does iirc, there is also a sonic mania mod that makes chrome gadget a full zone

[@AlexYardZone]

Isn't it something?? That's definitely one thing Origins is good for.

[@mrelba9176]

This was always my fave track in the entire soundtrack. It's so sad...

[@PauloClassicStyle]

This video in specific is very important to me, this song had a big impact in my childhood, i always loved the melancholy in this song and i think it even might had impacted my music taste as an adult

[@drYVinn]

They really like to play with the Bass on this zone. I really didn't expect the hidden SOS referencing IceCap The "Amen or whatever" was a funny bit lol

[@aleksavasic2612]

Ice cap probably references this and not the other way around.

[@alexohkay]

Chrome Gadget is one of my favourite S3 tracks. Very under appreciated imo

[@MarsJenkar]

Agreed. Of the "racing" (musical) tracks, Chrome Gadget is my favorite, though Endless Mine and Desert Palace are a close second or third, respectively. (Balloon Park is OK, but there's something about the organ flourish of Azure Lake that I find grating.)

[@indieoddjobs4766]

Chrome Gadget was always my favorite track / arena of competition mode. There was something so eerie and cold yet intriguing and poppin about it. It's like 90's pop meets Blade Runner. Thanks for breaking this down Alex I have even more appreciation for it now!

[@sledracer-u4t]

Yeah, I've also always felt something regarding this stage and its music ever since I was a kid. Mainly considering the background; a dark industrial complex that extends way at the distance at night with the moon and some clouds visible in the sky.

[@danieldronzek8616]

3:12 Hey, that's the same trick Act 2 of Proto Launch Base uses! The chords went b7 to 1, but the bass went 6 to b7.

[@touhouguyII]

Did you do this just for me?! I mean I recommended it and you delivered my favorite sonic song of ALL time!

[@Camwin]

I don't know theory, but i'm a huge music fan and I love when people dissect my favourite music. The old school Sonic series was a huge influence in why I love music so this channel is amazing!

[@GordieKat]

You should do a video about why certain sounds in music generate certain feelings and emotions or paint a certain picture. I've always been curious about this. For example, why is it that music can sound hot, or cold, or like a desert.

[@SorandaGuitar]

There is something in this theme (section C) that makes me feel very nostalgic, even though I didn't play the game when I was a kid. Fantastic video. I love learning about music with your videos. They help a lot!

[@aleksavasic2612]

Absolutely worth the wait! This is your best Sonic 3 Music Theory episode!

[@newoldstock_]

Your videos have inspired me to start learning music theory for real, after a few decades of putting it off. I envy your ability to explain these concepts so well. You manage to distill it down to the important basics without messing with any of the magic. It's an honor to support your work!

[@calamario8]

8:23 I need a Sonic themed religon now just for those stained glass portraits (& Knuckles)

[@thegold707]

I've made a piano version of this song with musecore and posted it on KZbin and Spondtrap... and MAN I love this theme more than I've ever did.

[@AlphonseWeebay]

I knew this game was magical when I played it as a child. Excellent breakdown. You are a genius

[@AlexYardZone]

@AlphonseWeebay I know right? Chrome gadget, endless mine...compositions so profound that we even detected it as kids...

[@Hyp3rSonic]

​@@AlexYardZonesonic 3 is great 👍

[@whybother5741]

1:27 the deep depression zone.

[@herrice3227]

No wonder I love BETA Carnival Night 2 so much; Chrome Gadget is one of my favourite Sonic themes lol

[@Madbox10]

8:28 I was not ready for that Amen or whatever 🤣

[@BraviaGames]

My favorite part of these breakdowns is finding the story in the music. I enjoyed your descriptions of the thematic flow between stages.

[@Isotropic_Phoenix]

Dude I love Chrome Gadget! The tones are golden bliss!

[@TTULangGenius]

This series is amazing! I recently discovered it and my Sonic nostalgia got ignited. I then ended up buying Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles CIB since it's kind of rare to see a re-release of the two. On a different note, this series is helping me relearn how to read music. I lost my ability to read music around late middle school (in 1994) due to a neurological disorder that crept up on me and robbed me of a lot besides my ability to read music. I struggled until I was diagnosed at age 32. Fortunately, I found therapies that have reversed the symptoms to a large degree. Imagine my surprise when I found that I could understand the notes again in your analyses of the Sonic music tracks at age 41! Thank you so much for your attention to detail and explanations! If you'll excuse me, I'm going to see which musical instrument that I can play and get into playing again!

[@Rael0505]

My favorite song from this game - been waiting for this one

[@lathell1233]

Love seeing some validation to my past overthinking of all the notes in these songs. Excellent work as always good sir! Also! I saw knuckles pop up there lol

[@ry.ar007]

I love these videos, not only do they give me a reason to listen to these songs again, but they help me learn about music theory which is something I wouldn’t normally learn about since I don’t have a lot of time.

[@SonicTheDutchHedgehog]

Chrome Gaget was always my favorite competition song from sonic 3 and this video is really cool I'm not a musician myself but I always find this stuff very interesting nice job!

[@Himizuko]

This is my favorite zone and music in Sonic 3 (& Knuckles). Thank you so much!

[@sirsinnes]

All right, you earned my sub with this one.

[@TonyIsCool45]

"Amen or whatever" -Alex Yard & Knuckles

[@remkoburger6595]

Holy crap this is good! I always loved the Sonic 3 soundtrack, but you explain it in a way that I never can. Thank you for that.

[@SuperSMZ]

It's so interesting to see chrome gadget in a new light like this! I'd never think a song could be so wonderfully complicated. The way you described the placement of the bass with a building really helped put it into perspective how jam packed this song is within just a few measures. I'll def be taking notes!

[@jerppursh7570]

And just like that, it's time for another Alex Yard video to watch 3 times in a row to really soak it all in

[@giovanniprovost]

THIS IS THE JAM

[@Hooktail]

Thanks for covering this, seems to be the most complex of Sonic 3 songs and I had a hard time analyzing it. Using a 7th as a bass is something I really should experiment with more. The chromatic play here is impressive, sound enough to enjoy when listening but a bit too complex to just play by memory.

[@TheRealHotVanilla]

You teased this in the first video and I've been waiting for this for soooooo loooooooong

[@MrJynx]

Im one of the greatest Chrome Gadget listeners ever, and this video is a state of art, so much explanations and anwsers. Now I also know because no remix can dethrone the original version.

[@Gatorbox]

Chrome Gadget is my favorite music track from S3&K. Thanks for the stellar breakdown!

[@AlyCatVR]

The way you edit your videos and your voice are just satisfying to the eyes and ears

[@veg411]

Your videos have an unrivalled level of polish.

[@lamenwatch1877]

The funny thing is, the song books at my church have those "amen" bits at the end of a bunch of the songs... but we never sing the amen! 😆 Maybe we should sing the amens sometimes... 🤔 Anyways, great video! You deliver on your musical teaching, as usual!

[@JRuMinnie]

You definitely snapped in this video! The cherry on top was how you ended on the signals on the 5. As it turns out, Chrome Gadget is my favorite Sonic song of all, and to hear it masterfully broken down was something I never knew I needed.

[@KidPrarchord95]

12:14 this blew my mind.

[@LandoHitman]

I don't understand all the musical terms but I love this channel

[@mateo.snm.]

YESS, I've been waiting so long for you to make a video on my favourite song of the franchise, it allways fascinates me how clear your scripts are even tho I barely know anything about music theory, and the editing keeps getting better and better as well, thank you so much for the effort you put into these videos, keep going!

[@panafa3617]

Ok, you finally got a little tear out of me. Thank you

[@null_state]

Probably my favorite lesser known track off the Genesis Sonic games. Thanks so much Alex.

[@cubedtothex]

What a great surprise! Your examples and visuals keep getting better and better as well!

[@TingandWal]

I love these Sonic Music Theories. I recommend Megaman X Music Theories for you to make in the future if you can/would like to. ^_^

[@FreshTillDeath56]

These videos are my lifeblood. Thanks for another great episode!

[@Exspazament]

Dude, I love this series, and not just the s3&k stuff. You should go in depth on the melodic motif of super Mario world that is found in all the level themes.

[@AxeToday]

I look forward to these uploads more than almost any other video series on KZbin

[@sweetoil2952]

I love ittttt! Now I realize how the music reflects the stage, and I love that!! 😁 I also love all the Sonic sprites and pictures you use throughout the video. Thank you so much for putting this together! 😊

[@realguitarthur]

These are the basic chords (from what I can gather): Section A: Am7, Bb/Ab, Am7, Bb/Ab Section B: C/D, Bb/D, C/D, Bb/D, DbMaj7, Eb/Db, DbMaj7, Ab/C, DbMaj7, C/D, Bb/D, C/D, Bb/D, DbMaj7, Eb/Db, DbMaj7, Cm7, Bbm/F, Bbm6/F, Fm Section C: F7/A, FSus4/Eb, F/Eb, FSus4/Eb, Eb, FSus4/Eb, F/Eb, FSus4/Eb, Bb/D, Dm (Section C repeats 2 more times) Section D: Bbmadd2/Db, CSus4, C, C7Sus4, C. Wow!!!! Awesome composition worthy of Allan Holdsworth! #PROGROCK4EVER #MUSICTHEORYROCKS :)

[@AwijoshSun]

Brilliant video, as usual! I love these, and I'm glad you finally got to one of my favorite tracks in the franchise.

[@Damnev]

I discovered your videos this week starting with Lava Reef. Your hard work is very much appreciated. Excellent stuff.

[@tae-yunlee7658]

Thank you , your vids make my inner child and outer adult very happy. I notated this and other sonic songs, but never realized all the theory behind it. Very cool!

[@mochico88]

I love these videos for so many reasons - All the little details you point out in the compositions, plus all the theory that I'm refreshing from college just to name a few.

[@carloseduardoesquivelcaice8102]

I was just looking at your vids yesterday great to see you posted another one!

[@SKOT_3]

This track has stuck with me since i was kid, just like the stage itself. And it's not even a main stage! That's the craziest part. The night sky, the clouds, the moon, the background lights really immersing you on this city, the music complimenting the midnight vibe it gives, it just makes me feel nostalgic...

[@TheAlphazoneYT]

YES!!! This is the one I’ve been waiting for!🔥🔥🔥

[@TheSonicFan4]

Oh how I've missed the Sonic 3 music theories!

[@webbox100]

That was incredibly enjoyable. Really cool analysis, a VERY well-produced video, and an opportunity to marvel at this fantastic game music!

[@darkowl9]

Your videos are always fantastic, deep yet approachable dives into video game music, and particularly of Sonic.

[@jezzaroddy]

Bro you know your level of musicianship is way up there if you can break down a composition like this! I can't believe I've never thought about the bass part in this way! Honestly, I don't completely hear the chord changes in the way you're explaining them, but I'm gona keep listening until I can completely grasp it!

[@BrandonBlume]

I love it when Steve Buscemi gives us a new Sonic music theory video. (j/k love your videos!)

[@LeilaRWilson]

This song is so dense and complex. It really taught me a lot about music theory. This is a fantastic breakdown of what made it so great. Love your videos!!!

[@minzy421]

Chrome Gadgets has always been my fave sonic music. Awesome vid

[@chia1jon]

The info is superb, and the little animations and add-ins make me smile. Thanks for another wonderful video!

[@jtg55]

finally, Chrome Gadget! i've been waiting for this for a while and you did not disappoint! this is just the inspiration i needed to get out of my music block. thanks alex!

[@Eliasdbr]

YES! Thank you so much! I've been waiting for this video for a long time

[@yunkamb]

I have to tell you that yesterday I replayed Sonic 3&K after a long time because of your videos and I could really appreciate the music even more than before.

[@Eggman890]

Great in-depth analysis as always. Although I'll admit I was a little surprised that there wasn't more comparison between Launch Base Prototype Act 2 and Chrome Gadget tbh. They have the same temp0, very similar percussion, and eerily similar progression (LB2 does progress on farther than Chrome Gadget's loop however).

[@GHNeko]

God I have been waiting for this for ages. Chrome Gadget is my favorite level from S3 music and visually/thematically. This video taught me so much even tho I know almost nothing about music bro. I love it.

[@TripleBMusic]

I never would have thought that the second chord is a bii chord, I always just heard the bass note and assumed it was a VII chord. Having detailed theory explanations for all these 2P songs will be very handy in the future 👀

[@mikeycomics]

Chrome Gadget is in my top 5 sonic tracks for sure

[@Reayashin]

STRAIGHTUP POETRY IN BITS 11:31

[@fnsonicrick]

Keep up the good work, love these videos. Can't wait more more Sonic music theories.

[@Weirdcko]

Incredible, what a story. The chromatics are very interesting

[@mannytheangel]

I was just reminiscing on Chrome Gadget last night, this, more of this, please.

[@Ambipie]

Its a rather complicated headbanger

[@OhHeyMarc]

I love these videos because 90% of the time I have no clue what the hell you're talking about but my brain feels like it's being fed.

[@jacobsfitnessladder285]

Thank you for this. When i was growing up, i spent a ton of time alone in the house. I was very sheltered. Chrome Gadget theme played from my Sega Genesis. This song was my entire teen years when i had no one else.

[@HaitaniMasayuki]

Finally, my favorite! :D

[@Shadic-rf8dg]

Finally after all these years, we have them all. (Great video)

[@awvalenti]

So much poetry and art conveyed in music and games... Thank you so much for extracting all that and sharing with us! 🎶📜♥️

[@brownandbloom]

I feel completed now. Chrome Gadget was theorized.

[@MetalPcAngel]

Just to see a new video to be posted by Alex makes me love more the Sonic games more and ponder what happen when Origins more. Makes me want to see what Alex got to say or even dive in and tell us why the 'new' songs don't seem to fit.

[@AlexYardZone]

What's your thoughts on the 'new' songs in Origins?

[@MetalPcAngel]

@@AlexYardZone Really, they just ether sound muffled or the beats don't seem to follow the flow of the stages. Just feels way off.

[@AlexYardZone]

@@MetalPcAngel Yeah...my experience of that music was very bad. So totally inconsistent with the rest of the soundtrack that was unchanged. Shouldn't be surprising considering it is coming from the folks that published the soundtrack for Sonic Chronicles on DS, if you have heard the remade version of Doomsday lol kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqPTmJ-njsqEeMU The Origins music was not produced with care, and I have not tried to make sense of what they presented. I have come to roll with the punches. The real soundtrack we love, and we will have it forever.

[@MetalPcAngel]

@@AlexYardZone I mean, when the news broke that many of the jams that had the MJ vibes to where going to be replace [which wasn't much of a shock ] then some fans reached out showing that they had some of the sound chips that were used to create many prototype osts and even the ones that made it to the final works were just slapped away - I knew by that time that this "all-new multi-game collection made with love" wasn't going to get that same amount of work like per-say Mania. And really I personally forgot that was the same group of peeps that did the OST for SC. . .Now that is really making that fact hurt me even more now. Like I know we gotta get use to what we got but it sucks that the new generation isn't going to get that same amount of impact like us first generation that got to pick up the genesis controller. But people like yourself do bring a little ray of sunshine and thus why I am glad to see the work and love you guys do.

[@Tornadica]

glad to see that you are still doing this!

[@DaviddeBergerac]

This has always been my favorite song in the game

[@Jumbucker]

Finally, the set is complete! All of the S3 two-player levels have a music analysis video.

[@thealandude9146]

I hate how KZbin doesn't notify me when any of your new video comes out so i have to look it up myself, love these videos!

[@AlexYardZone]

Thank you! That's odd about the missed notifications...did you smash that bell or?

[@thealandude9146]

@@AlexYardZone Yep, I did maybe I just need to clear out some other channels I don't watch anymore to see it more often

[@thealandude9146]

@@AlexYardZone Still I just can't stop thinking about how great these are written, edited so interesting for someone that knows nothing about Music Theory and I've been always been wanting to look into learning it and maybe learn other instruments too

[@animagethattasteslikeorang7873]

I've been waiting for this video for si long, thanks a Lot :D

[@Valet2]

That's probably my favorite track from the entire game.