Sonic 3's Marble Garden: Music Theory

A look inside the music theory of Sonic 3's Marble Garden.
Viewer rewards include getting your name in the credits, sheet music library, and vgm soundtrack of the week: / alexyard
Clips
0:01
Marble Garden AIR Gameplay by KZbin user Sonic Central
Sonic 3: A.I.R. Full Game Playthrough (Definitive Way to Play)
• Sonic 3: A.I.R - Full ...
0:15
Marble Garden AIR Gameplay by KZbin user Creeperswag5
Sonic 3 A.I.R. (Marble Garden Zone and Carnival Night Zone)
• Sonic 3 A.I.R (Marble ...
0:51
Marble Garden Oscilloscope Wave by KZbin user carpathia808
Sonic 3 and Knuckles - Marble Garden Zone Act 1 - Oscilloscope Deconstruction
• Sonic 3 and Knuckles -...
1:11 & 7:18
Marble Garden AIR Gameplay by KZbin user Oppaiman100
Sonic 3 A.I.R. (Sonic) Gameplay
• Sonic 3 A.I.R (Sonic) ...
4:55
Marble Garden Tails Gameplay by KZbin user TrackerTD
Sonic AIR (Tails Playthrough) - No Commentary
• Sonic 3 AIR (Tails Pla...
7:26
Marble Garden AIR Knuckles Gameplay by KZbin user D-Money107
Sonic 3 A.I.R. (Knuckles Playthrough)
• Sonic 3 A.I.R. (Knuckl...
9:01
Marble Garden AIR Gameplay by KZbin user FramePlay - Media Conservatory
Sonic 3 AIR 100% Longplay / Free Footage (Raw Recording)
• Sonic 3 AIR 100% Longp...
9:51
McDonalds Sonic Commercial by KZbin user OldishTVStuff
McDonald’s Commercial (1993) (Recording studio, Sonic the Hedgehog 3)
• McDonald's Commercial ...
9:53
McDonalds Sonic Commercial by KZbin user thepasswordisfail
1994-02 McDonald’s Sonic the Hedgehog Happy Meal toys commercial
• 1994-02 McDonald's Son...
10:00
Marble Garden Gameplay by KZbin user Stink Terios
[Stream] Sonic 3 A.I.R.
• [Stream] Sonic 3 A.I.R.
10:00
Knuckleduster Animatic by KZbin user back2s0ul (E.D. Thweatt)
Knuckleduster - Animatic
• Knuckleduster - Animatic
Audio
0:01 & 1:40 & 3:07 & 6:08
“Marble Garden Zone Act 1” from Sonic the Hedgehog 3
1:35 & 2:44 & 6:31
“Marble Garden Zone Act 2” from Sonic the Hedgehog 3
2:38 & 3:02
“When the Sun Goes Down” by The Jetzons
• The Jetzons - When The...
5:59 & 6:23
Sound Effects from Sonic 3 & Knuckles
9:59
“Knuckleduster” by Daniel Baranowsky
• Daniel Baranowsky - Kn...
Special Thanks: Sonic Retro
The info gathered and discussed by this dedicated community of fans was hugely helpful in assembling the information presented in this video (and others).
Relevant info included:
-Ben2k9’s pointing out the similarity between Marble Garden and When the Sun Goes Down
-Archival/summary of the correspondence with Miyoko Takaoka
-Archival/availability of the Voice/SFX Samples used in Sonic 3’s music
------
Sheet Music Transcription Conventions:
docs.google.com/document/d/1n...

[@sanicmaniac]

I mean... due to the barrel of doom, technically Marble Garden Zone actually does have the final boss for a lot of people.

[@ProwerPlaysSega]

Fax!

[@gooolixx]

LMAO

[@LiveHedgehog]

The Barrel that people have trouble with is in Act 2 though, so the final boss for them would be the Robotdick miniboss in act 1.

[@sanicmaniac]

@@LiveHedgehog True

[@sanicmaniac]

@Super Mario Michael 2 I know I was just saying but thanks

[@TheBeird]

Even as a kid, Marble Garden had a melancholic vibe. Now, nearly 30 years later, it makes me reflect on lost time

[@ketimportal1577]

2 years later, I confirm your feeling.

[@TomDavidMcCauley]

Feels more restless or unsettled than melancholy to me, though I do remember it evoking an odd, “life is hard” feeling in me back then. But yeah I love the joy of lost time

[@vapormermaid]

IMO, the Act 2 remix is very clearly made with the idea that you were entering dusk before Carnival Night. It has a sleepy, tired feeling. Really gets across the idea that the sun is setting as the day concludes. I think the diminished 5 is meant to reinforce that idea.

[@fuffilicious]

That makes perfect sense, to be honest. I've always gotten a more "dreamy" kind of vibe with the second act's music.

[@KSKY2012]

wait marble garden act 2 takes place *when the sun goes down*

[@srb2er]

@@KSKY2012 I see what u did there ;)

[@Itz_YoshiMelon]

this man has taught me more about music than music class ever did.

[@DrNo64]

man I love watching these. do you ever just re-watch a video like 10 times?

[@AlexYardZone]

Thanks so much... I definitely make these videos with rewatchability in mind!

[@supahstarclod]

This is insanely good - the explanations make sense and the visuals are really clean. Looking forward to your future videos!

[@ProwerPlaysSega]

Okay clod

[@MeMyselfI__]

Why am I crying about a USERNAME this is too funny and IDK why -A Steven Universe fan

[@ProwerPlaysSega]

@@MeMyselfI__ haha fax matw

[@SyntaxTsundere]

And also it was in the Sonic 3 prototype.

[@GiordanDiodato]

and the supposed Jackson music wasn't, so yeah now it's more obvious that it was Sega's composers.

[@fredchexter3121]

and Sonic Generations

[@jaywarudo]

and Sonic Orgins

[@Akrenix]

Just wait until this guy makes a video on the extra life theme (I want that though for real)

[@GiordanDiodato]

which one? For Sonic 3 or Knuckles?

[@nthgth]

I always thought it weird how Mario games had basically a big fanfare for dying but a little sound for 1-ups, while Sonic had the opposite.

[@MrCalverino]

it feels like I'm at a birthday party when I hear it😅

[@Sonicgott]

To be able to tell a story with music is an art form itself.

[@sanicmaniac]

I feel like the unused bonus stage song might be the unused song that a lot of people think is a Super/Hyper theme.

[@andknuckles101]

ehh maybe, wouldn't suit it though. or maybe that would be why it was scrapped...

[@nd_4726]

it was used as the super theme in the prototype so that's why

[@RaphielShiraha64]

@@andknuckles101 less repetitive compared to the invicibility theme and does give a mystical feel to it, so it personally does fit for me

[@andknuckles101]

@@RaphielShiraha64 im talking about how well it would fit in the bonus stages. it suits super sonic well

[@Jl0Jl]

@@andknuckles101 too happy and no intro

[@ProwerPlaysSega]

this is a seriously underrated video i never realized marble gardens sound track had so much to it until now. Huh. Good shit.

[@SpongesonicPictures]

Something else I noticed is that the echo is a bit louder in Act 1 than it is in Act 2 - I think the reason they did this is because, in Act 1, you're at the base of the garden, and so the echo is reverberating much closer to where you are. In Act 2, however, you're high in the mountaintops, so the echo becomes much more distant.

[@NikkiWrightVGM]

Kind of dissapointed you glossed over the harmonic reverbed parts, they were always my favorite bit and Act II makes them so much more pronounced. It gives the level such a vast and empty feel.

[@Noid11111]

You noticed how he described it was similar to "When The Sun Goes Down"? It would've been so nice if he put how Marble Garden Zone's sun setted after the Act 2 boss

[@MrCalverino]

yesssss!!!!

[@joespeed1952]

Marble garden has to be one of my favorite S3K songs.

[@Noid11111]

It's my favorite one

[@nicholassmith5611]

The marble / echo insight just blew my mind.

[@sonic8122Fan26]

Every month I wait for these videos, I even rewatch them lol and I still sometimes find stuff I missed. Keep it up

[@blakfloyd]

Reminds me of teenage me waiting for the new EGM magazine to arrive at the store.

[@inactivepleasegoaway]

fun fact: just 4 days before this video was released, in one of the occasional livestreams on the official sonic channel (Sonic Official - Season 4 Episode 7) at 27 minutes and 44 seconds into the stream, they use marble garden zone act 1 as the background music with it being credited to Miyoko Takaoka so i guess that sort of confirms it

[@jerppursh7570]

I love that you continuously bring up one of my other favorite channels, carpatia808

[@Noid11111]

Exactly, I've been subscribed to that channel for a very long time. I subscribed because of the Sonic music that was put out there

[@wizzenberry]

Hydrocity act 2 is screaming at you man

[@lamenwatch1877]

6:46 That's it! Thank you! Often, I struggle to find notes that properly accompany the melodies of my songs. In my head, the corresponding note may sound fine, but when I try to put it in, it sounds wrong. The idea that a note can be "implied" may help me immensly in future songs.

[@Tony-cv4of]

Please tell me I'm not the only one thinking this was made from that song "The Freaks Come Out at Night" but a different twist with Sonic version!?!? It sounds just like it💯

[@AlexYardZone]

I hadn't heard that song before, but I can definitely see the structural similarities!

[@thekilla1234]

I'm glad you brought up "Knuckleduster". I used to listen to it all the time when Project Chaos was fresh to the point where I still hear the lyrics echo when hearing the original Marble Garden track.

[@Dokurider]

I don't know what I'm talking about, but I love the way the song feels like you're climbing a mountain, hiking uphill.

[@Noid11111]

I don't really know what I'm talking about either but I have a feeling the zone was created by aliens

[@RiotaiPrower]

Knuckleduster has remained one of my favorite versions of this song for a long time! Glad to see it get a shoutout here.

[@nossir]

Jesus Christ, i am studying music theory (self teaching) and you just unintentionally made me understand how tripplets work at 5:05 I was asking myself what's the differente between 3 8th notes and tripplets Thanks a lot

[@amesstarline5482]

The 'squished bass line' fits with the compressing Marble Garden section as the ground breaks apart.

[@tomasdejanon4800]

The diminished I, the mixolydian b13 melody, this is one of my favorites sonic tunes ever

[@BurntToast69]

This guy can explain a Sonic song for a zone I’ve hated since 2015 because I got stuck on act 2 and cause me to love the music despite hating act 2’s general structure

[@Ajbizzal87]

Dude. I'm soooooo looking forward to you doing a hydocity theory! In fact I'll watch ALL sonic music theory you are willing to produce man, thank you for your hard work :)

[@lilbluefoxie]

My favorite song in the whole sonic 3/knuckles game

[@NicoSwitch]

i would love to see you talk about flying battery, one of my favorites from the ost

[@user-ln1gz9hf2x]

I don't have any musical knowledge and even though I watched it with automatic translation, I feel your analysis is quite easy to understand and great. And I'm in awe of the Sonic BGM.

[@tonyhakston536]

9:30 actually it was called that because it was “a devil to sing” As in it’s hard as hell to sing the tritone.

[@Some_Cat_]

Marble Garden is my favourite theme in Sonic 3. The arrival of section B is glorious in either act in their own ways.

[@P8NPrivTV]

Great video. this is insane

[@ViltrumiteIsRite99]

I had this banger of a track pop up in my head, and here these videos are! Keep up the fantastic work.

[@asdfasdfasdfasdf8037]

the quality of your videos amazes me, thank you

[@seronymus]

What an underrated channel. So glad I found this, quick subscribe! Love how you describe aspects of music.

[@Reliken]

This was great! And I really digged the cute touch when you combined the major and minor scales, and later had a note from each switch places.

[@2PlayerSounds]

Absolutely love these musical analysis videos and the very effective and creative analogies used. This is exactly our kind of content!

[@shindousan]

6:03 That's the Dorian mode of the scale.

[@circadianizzy]

Probably one of the S3+K songs I've listened to the most due to constantly failing at the level itself. On the rare occasion I reached the Act 2 boss, I just quit the game because it was ridiculously hard and most of the time I just couldn't be bothered dying over and over.

[@ezrawyvern6795]

I thought that Marble Garden Zone's theme sounded like Thriller.

[@Noid11111]

It does lol

That was a great job you did explaining and making sense of this

[@RazoE]

Love your music analysis videos. I grew up playing Sonic 3 & Knuckles basically every day

[@gmichaloski3367]

Excellent breakdown. Covered all the bases I can think of, even adding a plug for the remix at the end!

[@marcosbellido2150]

This is amazing you're the best for doing this videos

[@TotallyGoodatGames]

You really did your homework! These are all fantastic analysises

[@Noid11111]

School doesn't teach us about this

[@ImExistent405]

I can actually imagine Bean and Knuckles playing this song

[@raphael-ov9py]

Great and interesting as always.

[@razezxmusic]

These videos are amazing. I would love a video like this on Mystic Cave!

[@alexohkay]

All the carpathia love on your videos make me happy

[@ranettleton8806]

I wonder if the person who made the song knows all this stuff or if they were just vibing

[@christiecat5367]

Binging your channel right now. LOVE. Edit: You mentioned Knuckleduster. ADORE.

[@digimeth1216]

When I was a kid playing this stage, I'll never forget there was this time my dad was playing Herbie Hancock's Chameleon on the stereo in the next room. I remember thinking how similar the two tracks were to each other. Watching this video, it all makes perfect sense now. Music can connect people on so many levels. Thanks Alex.

[@coffeecat2812]

Marble Garden some was one of my fave tracks in Sonic 3.

[@animepersonthing]

I’ve had this song stuck in me head for so many years and I’ve finally found it

[@eastcoastscumbag3307]

The swing baseline and the chunky faux reverb gives it a Clinton/Parliament feel like flashlight or atomic dog. Also the inclusion of the tritone seems to fit in with the idea of exploration of the ruins of an ancient unknown civilization leaving a subdued sense of the unknown and the fleeting.

[@caffeineoverdose1574]

This channel is one of the only things that's making me look forward to the future. Thank you for making these videos, man. Keep it up!

[@ketimportal1577]

THE BEST SONG OF SONICS

[@granderondeproductions3286]

This was pretty well made, got me to remember a lot of those modes I learned when learning guitar. I also gotta give you like 10 points for not telling me to like and subscribe. Which I already have ;)

[@samborton6613]

5:59 That was a great reference hahaha! Great stuff, dude. Excellent work.

[@RyanMcKayOfficial]

I love music theory and sonic, so this channel is amazing, I look forward to watching more of your content!

[@MajoradeMayhem]

KNUCKLEDUSTER! Improves the somewhat "meh" base song by 110%.

[@eliasjeitk9457]

You make theory enjoyable

[@Noid11111]

You know Marble Garden Zone was created by aliens right?

[@protol5683]

I’m gonna end up watching so many of these videos I’ll actually understand music by the end of it

[@SparkyMK3]

Has anyone ever noticed that the first part of Final Egg (specifically the song "Mechanical Resonance") from Sonic Adventure has a very similar music structure and feel to Marble Garden Act 1 despite having a distinct melody from it? I could easily see it being easily remixed using most if not all of the same instruments (though you'd probably have to use the Flying Battery guitar sound for certain parts).

[@strawberrykeiku]

Please talk about Toxic Caves from Sonic Spinball!

[@chrisdealemania]

Dude, I have no clue what you talk about, but I love the videos. ;)

[@xuxanesbauru]

amazing

[@henzelman5218]

YOUR STUFF IS GOOD

[@stace6407e]

Well done, great video! How refreshing and exciting it is to find a community and indeed a creator who perhaps share the same affinity for a niche that exists at the intersection of composition theory and beloved classic Sonic themes...subbed.

[@mox3909]

This video is tragically underviewed.

[@Noid11111]

He is so underrated

[@onpatrolforthejuice]

Def one of my fav sonic tracks

[@futabamajima]

This series has been amazing do far! Do you think you'll cover the prototype exclusive songs, too?

[@ElMartillo421]

I want to add that the bass from casino night zone (the 2player mode). Probably it doesn’t because of the jetsons song, but it sound really similar

[@Valientlink]

I'm so glad you pronounced it like high drossity

[@nahuelpinotti6074]

Perfect explanation to this perfect and magical music. But I dont know why you forgot to explain (I try to comunicate this without knowing about music teory) the end of the melody, when I think that a minor tone close de ritm and starts again. Thats a great touch. Sorry for my english. Greetings from Buenos Aires

[@gooolixx]

cool i subbed

[@mogglechoggle]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who knew of that animation. Watched that stuff when I was a a baby boy. 😩😩😩

[@shadic3470]

This vid learned me music theory

[@keyblader1985]

This theme is amazing, and has a ton of amazing remixes too. There's Kunckleduster as mentioned, and Sonic Gargles with Garden Marbles which takes the funk up to level 9.

[@theflashboy9360]

9:21 that example sounds like the incredibles song lol

[@Twiggsthetitan]

This is awesome give me more !

[@NixiShavalMusic]

loving this series so far, consider doing hydrocity soon those music tracks is amazing

[@MichelleSleeper]

The cover "Knuckleduster" that you mention is from the OCRemix album "Project Chaos" from the mid-00s. It has a number of phenomenal covers, including "Walk on Water" a cover of Hydrocity and perhaps the greatest arrangement of Sonic music of all time. If you've never heard it I highly, highly recommend checking it out.

[@AlexYardZone]

So amazing. All of it. Two of the greatest songs/recordings I have ever heard - full stop - are iMushroom (Mushroom Hill) and Robotnik Radio (miniboss music). If I was still active with composition, that's the sort of genre/vibe I'd be interested in most.

[@keitomineproductions4133]

love that plagal cadence

[@MicahBuzanANIMATION]

This is super interesting as someone who doesn't understand music theory but loves Sonic music.

[@DJ-Ophidian]

Amazing analysis, well done. Gonna check all the other songs too.

[@LaskyLabs]

When the sun goes down is an underrated track btw.

[@pirajacinto4]

Great stuff! I am surprised you didn't note that Marble Garden was remixed in Sonic Generations as well, which seems only tracks that Sega made was remixed in it that are from Sonic 3.

[@nthgth]

I never got into Knuckleduster per se, but I'll always remember it. OCRemix is great like that - even if one piece doesn't particularly strike your fancy it's _really_ easy to see where the musician is coming from and 100% respect it anyhow.

[@brothaNblue]

I think that key signature works but if you put in five sharps you can put it in C# Dorian and you don't have to constantly put in the A# accidental.

[@lowercase7455]

will you do Sonic 2 music theory?

[@SilverAura]

Before watching, this is easily one of my favorite tracks in the entire series. I've got expectations now.

[@Noid11111]

Same

[@Atma505]

8:38 Great analogy, hahah

[@seanstrizak3654]

Might be my favorite level in all of sonic

[@seyencho]

Personally, I think analyzing the final boss theme (the one used in the big arms fight and stuff) would be awesome, especially with the ability to make connections to the generations version.

[@othmanmoat]

Cool video, I was frustrated not hearing you speaking of the dorian mode

[@5688gamble]

So it moves between dorian and mixolydian b6? Never realized Sonic music was so interesting, I knew it sounded good, but it is only recently I've really delved into theory and just now I am discovering stuff about the music in my favourite Sonic game, I mean I discovered 2 glitches that are still used in the Sonic/Tails and Tails alone TASes on Flying Battery 1 and Death Egg 2 respectively, so I loved delving into how the game works, just never gave the music much thought!