{"id":7533,"date":"2019-11-15T14:00:09","date_gmt":"2019-11-15T19:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/?p=7533"},"modified":"2024-02-22T23:23:32","modified_gmt":"2024-02-23T04:23:32","slug":"pokemon-most-important-chord-progression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/splice.com\/blog\/pokemon-most-important-chord-progression\/","title":{"rendered":"The most important chord progression in Pok\u00e9mon"},"content":{"rendered":"

It wouldn’t be an understatement to say that the Pok\u00e9mon\u00a0<\/em>games contain some of the most widely-recognized and beloved pieces of music, both within and outside of the world of video games.<\/h2>\n

While a handful of composers contribute to the music of more recent titles, director and composer Junichi Masuda was exclusively responsible for the soundtrack of 1996’s Pok\u00e9mon Red and Blue <\/em>(originally released as Red and Green <\/em>in Japan). From the spirited horns of Ruby and Sapphire <\/em>to the ukulele strums of Sun and Moon<\/em>, it goes without saying that subsequent generations all have their own distinct sound. However, the first generation games are absolutely influential in how they crafted the unmistakable core musical identity of Pok\u00e9mon<\/em> that’s heard across each and every game that followed.<\/p>\n

Though there are a number of franchise-defining compositional techniques that Masuda pioneered with Red and<\/em> Blue\u2014<\/em>from stacking chromatic runs in battle music to using vivid counterpoint to imply harmony\u2014there’s one musical element that screams Pok\u00e9mon<\/em> like no other. In celebration of Pok\u00e9mon<\/em>‘s 25th anniversary, let’s take a look at the I – bVII – I chord progression, and how some of Pok\u00e9mon<\/em>‘s most important themes are centered around it.<\/p>\n

The I – bVII – I chord progression<\/h2>\n

Let’s start off by taking a look at the progression itself:<\/p>\n

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The I – bVII – I chord progression in the key of C major<\/h6>\n

Here’s what it sounds like:<\/p>\n

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