Differences between American & Japanese music (chords progression example)

Kyohei Tsutsumi, the godfather of J-POP, once said ”Rick Astley’s first album is filled with the sounds that Japanese people like”.
That is basically the Ōdō shinkō is : IV△7–V7–iii7–vi progression

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away.

i’m already in love with that Japanese chord progression wow

No matter the situation if u hear Japanese guitar it has this other world calmness says . Let it go ,all the pain .

It's like the ending credits to every anime

I would just like to mention that as a lover of both music and videogames, this harmony instantly transported me to my childhood, as it is the exact chord progression that is used for the Littleroot town theme, of pokemon ruby/sapphire/emerald

I was prepared to have some IV-V-iii-vi but this was something else

I generally prefer how Japanese music sounds compared to western music but idk anything at all about music so I've been trying to find out why. I'm still unsuccessful (I can't even tell what genres I listen to) but hopefully I'll figure it all out some day

I didn't know Marty Friedman could speak English.

They hold the cummies longer

What is this song that he mentions called 'arigato'?

I am Japanese. I compose music as a hobby, and there is one thing I often keep in mind when doing so. The idea is to decide on a chord that will be the endpoint, and then proceed to make as many natural choices as possible to reach that point. I think this may have something to do with the fact that there are so many transitional notes in Japanese music.

Marty ig started as the usual rebellious rock and then found peace in the uplifting rock of japan thats how i interpret not having much context

10000000000000% agreeee

I challenge you: simply count every bar aloud in tune with the tonic of every chord.

It takes a few tries, the western chord progression is more of a warm up for the Japanese version. First just a four bar phrase with four chords easy, but then 16 bars and I lost count of how many chord changes lmao. There's like exponentially more variety or complexity in the sound and narrative structure. This so simply explains why i feel so much more listening to any genre of japanese music!

its sounds like : Bungou Stray Dogs ED - Namae Wo Yobu Yo

Japanese use jazz chords more

I'm Japanese, but I didn't realize that there is such a thing as "very Japanese" chord progression.

i was guessing on wether you were goanna do that one or the other type

Since I was a kid I could always Japanese music always had some kind of extra-ambition in song structuring which was absent in most western popular music. Almost no japanese song I've heard felt lazy as a composition, not even the most minimalist songs, no matter if I even liked the song or not.
It's no suprise how deeply Marty Friedman understands these core differences and knows how to explain it crystal clear, because you could hear how complicated, yet stylish his playing and compositions are in his classic recordings.

arigato gozaimasu!

I was really expecting to hear the Royal Road, ngl.

I was expecting IV-V-iii-vi for the Japanese progression. Another super common progression and one of my personal favs

Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar

Japanese progressions and chords >>>

WHAT a dumbarse vudeo title.

What tf defines "Japanese" music. Do you include traditional folk, 60s J-Pop, Noh Theatre, anime?

What tf os "American" music? Do you include jazz, soul, disco, blues?

You probably meant Eastern vs Western STYLES of music. But because you are a typical geographically ignorant American, you think everything in the "Western" world belongs to YOUR stupid dominant culture.

Idiot video title.

パンドラの憂鬱から来た奴🖐️

I am Japanese. I don't think J-POP has been greatly influenced by jazz. In fact, the members of ``Ikimonogakari,'' which Mr. Friedman played, never listen to JAZZ. If J-POP was influenced by jazz, what is called "city pop" would have developed. Actually, I think that J-POP is greatly influenced by the British band "Prefab Sprout". The leaders of J-POP in the 90's were influenced by Prefab Sprout. For example, Yumi Matsutoya, Kirinji, Flipper's Guitar, etc.

コードがすでに歌ってる。
コード進行だけで何の曲かわかる。

don't think, feel

It is wrong to call Japanese music from the 1970s and 1980s "City pop." At the time, it was called "NEW MUSIC." Yumi Matsutoya, Mariya Takeuchi, and Miyuki Nakajima were called the Three queens of New music.

マーティンって英語上手いのね

寄り道ねぇ。
三味線なんかだと、歌と演奏が、付かず離れずって間隔が有るからね。

Can anyone recommend bands or artists that are good examples of this type of sound?

Friedman is so full of shit in this video

La música de Japón es increíble. Aquí en en Argentina es horrenda toda la música, alguna que otra canción nada más tienen cierta riqueza musical. Lastimosamente lo único que escuchan es "Zamba de mi esperanza", nunca hubo un avance en la música, y todos son copias de los Yankees.

アングロ語は、語彙も少なく恫喝根性で、情というものがない羊飼いの 発声だ。フアック、とか、くらいじー
などのよろしくない語彙が、しょっちゅう用いられる。

It is interesting to compare the difference between Japanese and Western music in terms of sound range

AriGAtow

Circle of Fifths everybody!!
III7 -> vi builds a lot of tension
ii -> iv gives a nice descending melody
v -> I7 -> IV does a nice brief modulation
Notice how the Irigato chord progression is not just 4 measures long (like most American pop music), but it is MUCH longer, closer to 16 or 24 measures with no repeating patterns. Japanese music is very much about telling a JOURNEY and a STORY, there is a narrative and emotional experience to tell through song with many changes, and not just a short quick repeated chorus, which might find it's roots in Christian hymns. American music is about bring the abstract ideals down to earth through repetition, while Japanese music is about experiencing an emotional journey from the ground up and appreciating the lofty beauty in hindsight of the adventure, which is a very Plato-Aristotle type of approach to songwriting.

🥲

I love how the "Western" style chord progression is the opening to that one Hajime no Ippo opening by "Shocking Lemon" XD