How To Use Japanese Chords In Punk Rock

[@SugarpillProd]

🥁Get THAT J-Punk sound with my new drum pack! www.sugarpillproductions.com/product-page/j-punk-drum-pack

[@Wandkater]

Anything to learn from Russian punk and post punk?

[@thegridlessheathen4627]

Hey all this is William. The bit he demonstrated is part of a song called: The Existential Dread of Flying to Close to the Sun. I'm the vocalist for the project. The project is called: The Ghosts of Fukushima. The song will be out this year. Thanks again SugarpillProductions for helping bring my dreams to life.

[@SugarpillProd]

Thanks William, hope you're doing good!

[@garrystubbs4891]

too* close

[@rickyheld9992]

It'd be a nice touch to add the chord diagrams indicating what chords are being played over your demo playthroughs. I think it'd be really helpful to learn how you're stringing these together and show how they're being used in context. I know I personally would find that extremely helpful.

[@SugarpillProd]

Thanks for the suggestion! I'll try adding them in for future videos.

[@PianoDentist]

Nice. M7th's Shoegaze adjacent. Still big in Japan.. and elsewhere.

[@SugarpillProd]

For sure!

[@rXqasmudaRbjcFo7yJ]

I recently stumbled across your channel this week, and the content is exactly up my alley since I’ve been a longtime alt/punk/emo fan (2000s bands). Thanks for the 7th chord lessons! I’ve been experimenting with them this week, and I really like how they sound a bit sad. Here’s hoping for lessons on Augmented and Suspended chords in the future-I still can’t quite understand how to use them. I can only guess they work as passing chords before resolving or transitioning to the regular major/minor versions.

[@rXqasmudaRbjcFo7yJ]

Would love to know how they are used in J-rock or or western Punk rock.

[@SugarpillProd]

Thank you! I'll have a look into this at some point.

[@chrisyoung1576]

oh just in time when I'm looking up J-rock chords

[@SugarpillProd]

Nice 😏

[@blksteve11]

Same 😂😂

[@SunAndMirror]

yes google is always there for u...watching u ;)

[@woawh5616]

love number girl's sound thanks for these videos focused on japanese stuff!

[@SugarpillProd]

No problem! Me too, they're so good!

[@figard9855]

MY FAVORITE BAND IN THE INTRO! I LOVE NUMBER GIRL

[@gringogreen4719]

Cool video. Thanks for the suggestions.😎👍✨

[@Jydmd]

Loved that last song! Any tips on writing leads similar to this?

[@SugarpillProd]

Thanks! I broke down a lot of the lead parts from that particular song in this video, which you might find helpful - kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZ7Km3d-Zqh2a9U

[@morrismorrisson6161]

Super useful. Thanks a lot mate!!!

[@SugarpillProd]

Of course, happy to hear that!

[@katjoe1974]

min7’s and Maj7’s are huge in Jazz too. The standard jazz ii-V-I is iim7-V7-Imaj7

[@Ottlovesyou]

Thank you for your content brother ⚡️

[@SugarpillProd]

Of course, no problem at all!

[@parvchetri0995]

Thank you so much for this video bro ❤ Always was interested in how to do J-Rock cause its so good now you made a video on it.

[@SugarpillProd]

No problem, I'm happy to hear you found it helpful! I appreciate you checking it out 🙌

[@skum73]

This is one of the best channels on youtube.

[@SugarpillProd]

Thanks, I appreciate the support!

[@johnmckernan9460]

Great video! Thank you! That last jam was straight up Kanaboon

[@SugarpillProd]

🙌

[@f3ni_]

Was 4:16 inspired by Kana-Boon? Sounds awesome, and I'd love to hear a full version lol

[@SugarpillProd]

Thanks! Yeah it was part of a client's brief who wanted that type of J-Rock/Punk style. I think I've got the full version on my website (just use the embedded SoundCloud player to hear it).

[@clubberkang]

sounds a lot like Naimononedari by Kana-boon!

[@jessesg]

That last song you llayed sounded a bit like undercover martyn! Awesome thx for the vid

[@SugarpillProd]

No problem, hope it helped!

[@kevinding1204]

3:10 reminds me of balloon by hitohira

[@matthewheckman4522]

Oh neat, I already apply a lot of these chord voicings in my music, I didn't realize there was a style or chord type associated with them.. I just played them cause they sound cool lol.

[@SugarpillProd]

I basically do the same. Then I have to reverse-engineer it to make a video, haha.

[@Nev_R]

I would suggest you to analyze TUYU style as well even if not punk rock. One thing I noticed is that often tuyu in his verse for a less heavy sound tend to have 7th chords plaid on the A string without the 5th, only playing root note, 3rd and 7th. Another interesting things happens in the chord progression itself where instead of the classic royal road progression TUYU opts for a IV - iv - iii - vi introducing the minor version of the 4th chord plaid right after the major version introducing a nice sense of "malyncony" neither sadness or happyness but unstable wanting to resolve ^^ (I may have made type mystakes or explained stuff wrong due to the fact I actually never studied music theory but I hope the concept overall makes sense)

[@seishun_complex]

Sugarpill is my favorite guitar channel. I was hoping you would cover more of J-rock!

[@SugarpillProd]

Thanks so much! I'm sure I'll do more on the topic in the future too 🙌

[@johnnyfilippone]

Love your videos! Straight to the point and full of inspiring, helpful information. Quick question - what brand is the tele that you're using?

[@SugarpillProd]

Thank you, I'm glad you think so! It's made by Donner, though for the most part I normally record with a Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro.

[@johnnyfilippone]

@@SugarpillProd Thank you! So that's the stock Donner, no upgrades?! Wow! Sounds great.

[@SugarpillProd]

@@johnnyfilippone No problem! Yeah I'm not really a big upgrades / customisation guy, so every guitar I own still has all the stock hardware. At most I might change the strap locks, but that's about it, haha.

[@johnnyfilippone]

@@SugarpillProd Well, that's very punk! I've been debating which tele I should get. Perhaps I just get the cheapest!

[@SugarpillProd]

@@johnnyfilippone Haha, yeah, I’m under the impression that the majority of high-end guitars and pickups are basically a con. Most electric guitars sound identical, assuming you’re using the same type of pickup (e.g., humbucker vs humbucker). With more expensive guitars, you’re really only paying for build quality and comfort. If you go dirt cheap, the tuners and intonation might be terrible, which is definitely a problem, but anything in the lower mid-tier bracket is usually good. If you did want to go with Donner, their DST series is really nice and very inexpensive. Hope that helps!

[@TrenchBroom-oz7ef]

Excellent video! May I ask what is the first band you showed on the video? the bassists pick technique is insane

[@SugarpillProd]

Thanks! They're called Number Girl and the song is Toumei Shoujo.

[@LetsGoEvan]

Great video! What website / app are you using to build the chords, like at 1:05?

[@SugarpillProd]

Thanks! It's called Oolimo.

[@OrangutanJ4488]

It’s really funny because I figured out all of these chords when I first started playing guitar nearly 20 years ago. I’ve been writing with them all this time without realizing that they were common in any style of music. I just like how they sounded and still write with them to this day.

[@sethoitae]

💀

[@gpwaltz]

Major and Minor 7 chords and their extensions (9, 13) are the bread and butter chords of jazz harmony. They're all over jazz standards from the 1930s and 40s. Japanese mainstream pop (and rock) has drawn a lot from this harmonic approach for decades. Lots of 7th chords and lots of harmonic movement.

[@kkarhiiv95]

I had no idea that I was using "emo chords" this entire time.

[@RojGames]

I've noticed that slash chords can be considered as either a minor 6th, or as a power chord with the root note moved down. Do you ever use them as minor 6ths (despite there being a note out of key), or do you typically just use them as 1st power chords with a 7th as the root, and 4th power chords with a 3rd as the root?

[@SugarpillProd]

Tbh I don't really consider any of that when I'm writing - I prefer to just follow my ear as to what sounds good. But minor 6ths probably make the most sense in the way they're normally used in, say, a punk or rock context, as the bass is normally playing the lowest note as the root still. I think someone also mentioned referring to them as a 'raised 5th' too. So I guess from a theory perspective, those might be the most accurate way of describing them.

[@RojGames]

@SugarpillProd that's a really good point about the bass following the root. Cheers

[@X70Cressida]

3:39 NO SCRUBS??

[@andrewhulle3069]

Sweet

[@OctavioGut]

I use Japanese chords in Darkwave hehe

[@subparnaturedocumentary]

i love these vids

[@SugarpillProd]

Thanks for watching!

[@Jackbornofficial]

Can you confirm the chords for your song? Am7, Dmaj7, Gmaj7, F#m7. I couldn’t figure out where to use those she’ll chords but no you make em sound cool!

[@SugarpillProd]

Hey Jack, if you mean the part at 3:08 - those are Gmaj7(no3), Bm7, D5 & A5. For the section at 4:16 - those are Bm7, Dmaj7, Gmaj7 & F#m7.

[@rickypan2381]

@@SugarpillProd Did you make the 3:08 section into a full song? It sounds sooo good!!

[@SugarpillProd]

@@rickypan2381 I did! They're both part of the same song actually - the first example is the chorus, and the second example is the intro / hook.

[@rickypan2381]

@@SugarpillProd would you mind sharing the link of that song? I love it so much and I would like to add that to my playlist. Searched everything on your Soundcloud but couldn't find it. Thanks! ❤

[@SugarpillProd]

@@rickypan2381 Yeah I thought I'd posted it but I guess not. I'll either upload it later on or just share the official release when the band releases it. Cheers!

[@originalvonster]

1:45 sounds like Pork and Beans by Weezer to me.

[@notanotherjamesmurphy5574]

yep, those three notes are, “G, B, F#,” and the Pork & Beans riff is “G, B, F#, E.”

[@originalvonster]

@ thank you

[@j.nthrsdy]

I tried using this chords some months ago but quickly I felt like my songs sounded too similar, do you have some tips on how to write chord progressions?

[@SugarpillProd]

Sorry to hear that! I've actually just finished editing a video all about using your ear to find more interesting chord progressions, without needing to know any theory. That'll likely be the next video I upload soon. In the meantime, I'd suggest learning a bunch of chords you don't usually try - perhaps research genres that are less familiar to you and see if you can find some new shapes to experiment with. Another tip would be to try alternative tunings. Writing in a tuning you're not very familiar with (especially open tunings) can often leads to interesting ideas you might never have thought of if you always stick to standard tunings. You can easily fall into the trap of relying too much on certain familiar patterns, so playing in an unusual tuning will help to break those. It's a bit like writing a song on an instrument you don't really know how to play - those limitations can actually be very helpful in certain cases. Hope some of that helps!

[@quietri0t]

Check Harakiri for the sky. They're a Blastbeat Black Metal/Blackgaze band but highly melodic (in the instruments)with chords and progressions that would easily make a great Emo song if interpreted differently. Maybe they're a small inspiration. Check the album "Mære".

[@min-youngchoi3833]

so sweet

[@SugarpillProd]

Thank you, I appreciate you checking it out!

[@S7RauzZz]

Your song at the end of the video reminds me of another Japanese song I've heard before. Couldn't ever find it since because it was typed in hieroglyphs I believe. Music video showed a girl on a date with a dude who was acting ignorant and uninterested and the rest of the band were doing some funny stuff here and there like cooking. Hurts trying to remember what it was!

[@danzirvine]

Ur thinking of KANA-BOON ないものねだり (naimononedari)

[@S7RauzZz]

Absolutely, this is it. You're the best, mate!!

[@joewang3748]

Do you use some kind of software for the graphics you use in your videos to show what notes are in a chord, or is it just editing?

[@SugarpillProd]

It's a website called Oolimo, and then I just crop out the screen recording for the video.

[@JamesRueter]

what band was shown at the beginning?

[@JamesRueter]

edit: nevermind it is number girl right?

[@trattopen]

​@JamesRueteryup, the song is "Toumei Shoujo" live at Pia Arena MM 2022

[@JamesRueter]

@@trattopen appreciate it dude thanks!

[@Micbandman]

who is the band playing in the beginning?

[@SugarpillProd]

Number Girl.

[@lenartkosel3717]

What program are you using for drawing the notes on a fretbord?

[@SugarpillProd]

Oolimo.

[@BurntMcgurnt]

What amp were you using for that tone ?

[@SugarpillProd]

I think it was just my usual setup with the Deluxe Verb I mentioned to you before. Might have used something like the Blues OD in front of the amp too likely with the input gain rolled way off though, so you get more of a jangly sound. Normally I just back off the level on the gate in my Axe FX before hitting the amp or anything. That's a pretty easy way to adjust how heavy / light you want the distortion level to be. Hope that helps!

[@BurntMcgurnt]

@SugarpillProd awesome man ya the Deluxe is great I'll try that gate trick I've never thought of that before

[@SneedBass]

Isn't partial chords just double stops?

[@notanotherjamesmurphy5574]

interesting. is ‘What’s My Age Again’ in F# ?

[@SugarpillProd]

Yeah, F# major, as far as I remember.

[@henriquefigueiredo4077]

Interesting

[@jswen2477]

can you do videos about Title Fight

[@SugarpillProd]

Honestly I'm not a huge fan, so I don't know if I'd be the best person to do it. They do a lot of things in their music I like, but it's never really connected with me. Maybe I just need to listen to them more, so I won't rule it out!

[@thehighwires9851]

Sorry... boring question... what is that bass the dude is rocking?

[@shadyacr]

you're burying the lede here a little with regards to what makes a lot of j-rock sound j-rock: that disco beat! especially notable in your last example, that's a huge part of the sound of bands like number girl!

[@SugarpillProd]

For sure! Those funky hats will get you far, haha.

[@jsanabria]

Is it me or the intro of his song sounds a bit like early Bloc Party?

[@SugarpillProd]

I hear a lot of crossover in Japanese and UK indie, so yeah, you're not wrong. I'm normally drawing on a bit of Block Party whenever I do any of that dance punk style, like in this video, haha.

[@jsanabria]

@@SugarpillProd That's great! Btw, thanks a lot for this video. I learned so much!

[@chrisgeruxubug5884]

NUMBER GIRL LETSGOOOOO

[@childofthesun32]

I've always felt that Japanese music would make a great soundtrack for two gay men getting married.

[@ludovicthevenet6768]

Akward moment when the video ends no actual information has been shared yet lol

[@SugarpillProd]

Do you mean the endcard isn't displaying?

[@ValdrVideo]

If you can't get a wealth of info from this video, you need to practice more. Man literally just demonstrated the basics of writing J-rock guitar in 4 minutes.

[@SugarpillProd]

@@ValdrVideo Yeah, I wasn't sure if that was a dig or a technical issue 🤣

[@ValdrVideo]

@@SugarpillProd as the phrase goes, "guitarists will do anything but practice."

[@whatwedointheshadows3349]

What? No, the octave chord is the “emo chord”.

[@SugarpillProd]

Octaves aren't even chords lol, they're one note.

[@whatwedointheshadows3349]

@@SugarpillProd stop being pedantic, if it didn't matter no one would bother saying middle c.

[@SugarpillProd]

@@whatwedointheshadows3349 NEVER!

[@whatwedointheshadows3349]

None of this sounds punk to me. Do Gism and Death Side.

[@SugarpillProd]

Unfortunately I didn't make the video with you in mind. But hey, maybe next time!

[@whatwedointheshadows3349]

@@SugarpillProd do it!

[@SugarpillProd]

@whatwedointheshadows3349 No 😏