Schism was my first Tool song ever; I have such vivid memories of listening to it on repeat for hours when I was 11-12 while reading lists of "Top 10 cRPGs" on Gamespy and scans of DnD Monster Manuals after school, probably circa 2001-2003. I get that same smile on my face hearing the opening guitar.
The interlude/bridge "guitar solo" in the beginning with the delay you commented on at 20:18 is actually bass! Justin has quite a few solos that are mistaken for guitar but their "bass-ness" is what makes them so unusual, and the effects are really creative.
The bass line is relatively simple to play. Open string followed by two hammer-ons on the 10th and 12th fret for the triplet, and the two or three following notes on the string below it alternating with the open string. Its a riff thats easy to play, but really difficult to make sound good. Its takes a lot of fine control to get those triplets clean.
I always love your analysis and interpretations. You help me to understand and appreciate music better. As an untrained and self-taught 3rd generation musician, it shows that there is always something to learn. Thank you, ixi.
You're such a great analyst, of lots of stuff I love but this one in particular. I feel like we could talk about Tool songs for hours and hours without ever getting bored. There's some stuff in this song I'd love to point out, but really most if not all of the Tool songs including the real oldies have something special in them. Loved this analysis. It lit up a fire I haven't felt in a while. Much thanks 😊
I remember seeing Schism on TV at a friend's house before I really listened to metal, then relistened many years later with the lyrics and the timing of it and poignancy of the lyrics was so strong. Still one of my top "hits hard" songs of all time.
Saw them live (more then ones), it's a great band every time i heard them play. Love the fact they use odd time signatures. Great explaning too, thanx Ixi.
I'm fairly certain that the bass is doing the same triplet trick that Adam Jones does on the guitar all the time - playing the open string and then hitting the 3-5 frets in quick succession gives it a kind of percussive feeling.
Excellent video. Great analysis. That "guitar delay" part at the 20:10 mark is volume swells by Justin on bass (rolling the volume knob of his bass up and down with each note and yes, plenty of delay). Such an amazing from from every member of the band, but the bass playing stands out to me as being really special.
Here's the best live footage I could find of Justin playing these swells. I forgot to mention he's also playing a bass whammy pedal (pitch shifter) during these swells. Better visual representation than anything I could type out. Keep up the excellent videos. ruclips.net/video/7xwetX81zDM/видео.html
The double octave starts before the vocals. The guitar player is double plucking an octave in the intro. Foreshadowing. This song is almost like a novel in how it builds itself.
I use to have a concert-level PA in my living room when I played in bands and I would smoke A LOT of pot and listen to this album at house destroying volume. For real. Half the ceiling collapsed one night while listening to The Grudge.
That "higher guitar" or "synth" in the middle section is actually the bass using several effects, including a distortion, a whammy pedal and a delay. And you can hear him sweep the whammy down (WEEEEOOOOOWWWW) right before Maynard comes back in with vocals. I played bass in a band that covered this song, and getting all those effects turned on and off at the correct beat is a PITA.
The “chorus” (after “communication”) actually changes up the time signatures. Instead of 5+7 it’s 6+7. So the timing doesn’t just feel different, it is different.
Oddly, I always thought this song was overrated. I loved the deep dive though, helped me appreciate some of the subtle aspects like the harmonies I had missed
I've never understood people saying that. When the album dropped, it wasn't about ratings. You listened to the album and formed your own opinions. Over/under rated is irrelevant.
I count the rhythm that starts at 19:00 min as seven bars of 3 plus 1 bar of six because the last bar feels so different from the rest but I guess that mathematically amounts to the same as counting it all as nine bars of 3/4 🤷♀
I believe the chorus sneaks in an extra note at the end of what would be the 5/8 section, making it 6/8+7/8. That's why it feels wonkier and harder to count.
The “synth” is the bass, with the same effects as the following part. It’s a phaser with delay, you hammer on from nowhere and roll the volume up and back down. There’s a similar technique used for lateralus at the start of the spiral
I’m pretty sure most of the song is in 5/8 and 7/8 and the chorus is in 6/8 and 7/8 and they sneak 4/4 in there every once in a while and I think there might be 9/8 in there during certain points. I guess it’s kinda subjective at the end of the day, whatever feels right for you works. Edit: ok I didn’t watch the whole video before this comment
I'm pretty sure he's using a technique involving raking the strings to get that tight triplet sound on the bass intro. I used to use it a lot when I played heavier music and I can definitely hear it in this song - it's a great way to get fast but clean triplets. You just need to sequence your up and down strokes accordingly so that you are completing the figure with a stroke towards your next string. You get two notes out of one picking motion by playing through the first string and then the next. This riff actually flows really nicely if you do it that way. You just have the timing on the 'rake' down. I have no idea what Justin is actually doing, that's just how it sounds to me though. Either way, I always enjoy an ixi break down and would love more Alice in Chains!
Tool isn't a band. It's a sonic entity. It truly is a conscious being, and the band members are appendages of the entity. No band that I know of interacts with each other in the same way that Tool does. Usually a member plays their instrument and carves out their own space within a song. In Tool, these spaces are shared generously from member to member. The intro of the song is double plucked guitar ocatves of notes being held to ring out. The vocals come in and pick up on the double octave. Then the section comes in where the guitar picks up the base line and the bass is ringing out the held notes. The drums switch the timing to make the bass feel different, even though it's the same bass line. Every member of this band knows how to accentuate each other's playing. They know when to get out of the other persons way and when to get behind it and make their individual instrument serve the greater good of the song. I can only approach the musicianship from a guitar perspective because that's my instrument. Adam Jones is such a minimalist guitar player. He doesn't play anything flashy or the type of music that makes your fingers hurt trying to play his music, but he's one of, if not the most brilliant guitarist that I know of. He truly understands how to work with the band members. In rock music, 99 percent of guitar players think that they're the main piece of the music and take up as much space as they can. Adam's approach isn't to take up space, it's: "How can I make this song sound amazing?" Every member of this band has that approach. It's 4 guys on stage all willing to check their ego and give into something greater. The sum total is more than the singular pieces can account for.Tool are just on another level. It's fucking incredible!
Oddly the least interesting song on the album for me. But the only one people seem to know because most people only used to know the songs with music videos.
In this case,it's probably the least interesting because of hearing it more often but most times a bands most "popular"song is inherently less interesting
@ I havent listened to it more than the other songs on the album I have probably listened to it less but if still approximately the same amount of times as I almost always listen to tool albums end to end ... often that means listening to the whole discography end to end.
I agree, kind of. It’s the only song by TOOL I don’t care for. It’s because it’s so obvious what it’s about, and the whole scenario has nothing to do with my existence.
Schism was my first Tool song ever; I have such vivid memories of listening to it on repeat for hours when I was 11-12 while reading lists of "Top 10 cRPGs" on Gamespy and scans of DnD Monster Manuals after school, probably circa 2001-2003. I get that same smile on my face hearing the opening guitar.
The interlude/bridge "guitar solo" in the beginning with the delay you commented on at 20:18 is actually bass! Justin has quite a few solos that are mistaken for guitar but their "bass-ness" is what makes them so unusual, and the effects are really creative.
That's awesome. It sounds amazing.
@@iximusic Got to see them play this live last year (actually a year ago today!) and it was an amazing experience.
Could you please release a full piano cover? Your voice and keys sound PHENOMENAL in this video.
I don't want it. I demand it.
This song introduced me to Tool . Such a great song.
The bass line is relatively simple to play. Open string followed by two hammer-ons on the 10th and 12th fret for the triplet, and the two or three following notes on the string below it alternating with the open string. Its a riff thats easy to play, but really difficult to make sound good. Its takes a lot of fine control to get those triplets clean.
Same on guitar, its easier than it sounds
I always love your analysis and interpretations. You help me to understand and appreciate music better. As an untrained and self-taught 3rd generation musician, it shows that there is always something to learn. Thank you, ixi.
You're such a great analyst, of lots of stuff I love but this one in particular. I feel like we could talk about Tool songs for hours and hours without ever getting bored. There's some stuff in this song I'd love to point out, but really most if not all of the Tool songs including the real oldies have something special in them. Loved this analysis. It lit up a fire I haven't felt in a while. Much thanks 😊
That intro is pretty eerie.
I remember seeing Schism on TV at a friend's house before I really listened to metal, then relistened many years later with the lyrics and the timing of it and poignancy of the lyrics was so strong. Still one of my top "hits hard" songs of all time.
I absolutely love your takes!
Amazing video, thanks
6:10 "yea it's my final answer" :D
I love when you do these deep dives
Also thanks for cutting and posting this, I can't really ever catch the streams.
I love your channel!
💣 analysis. thank you. 🙏
Saw them live (more then ones), it's a great band every time i heard them play. Love the fact they use odd time signatures. Great explaning too, thanx Ixi.
It’s never NOT gonna feel wild to me that this, a literal 12/8, became their, almost inarguably, biggest hit
awesome analysis
I'm fairly certain that the bass is doing the same triplet trick that Adam Jones does on the guitar all the time - playing the open string and then hitting the 3-5 frets in quick succession gives it a kind of percussive feeling.
Excellent video. Great analysis. That "guitar delay" part at the 20:10 mark is volume swells by Justin on bass (rolling the volume knob of his bass up and down with each note and yes, plenty of delay). Such an amazing from from every member of the band, but the bass playing stands out to me as being really special.
25:03 is also bass. Justin is the man.
Here's the best live footage I could find of Justin playing these swells. I forgot to mention he's also playing a bass whammy pedal (pitch shifter) during these swells. Better visual representation than anything I could type out.
Keep up the excellent videos.
ruclips.net/video/7xwetX81zDM/видео.html
The double octave starts before the vocals. The guitar player is double plucking an octave in the intro. Foreshadowing. This song is almost like a novel in how it builds itself.
Loved this so much.
I use to have a concert-level PA in my living room when I played in bands and I would smoke A LOT of pot and listen to this album at house destroying volume. For real. Half the ceiling collapsed one night while listening to The Grudge.
That "higher guitar" or "synth" in the middle section is actually the bass using several effects, including a distortion, a whammy pedal and a delay. And you can hear him sweep the whammy down (WEEEEOOOOOWWWW) right before Maynard comes back in with vocals. I played bass in a band that covered this song, and getting all those effects turned on and off at the correct beat is a PITA.
Tip from the man himself ;)
ruclips.net/video/OlbvMpq4C64/видео.htmlsi=gXJsKXNC3ezDj2T7&t=1874
awesome!
The “chorus” (after “communication”) actually changes up the time signatures. Instead of 5+7 it’s 6+7. So the timing doesn’t just feel different, it is different.
ah, well there you go!
A fun thing to do with Schism is interpret the 5+7 riff as triplets in 4/4. It sounds really dumb, in a good way.
Oddly, I always thought this song was overrated. I loved the deep dive though, helped me appreciate some of the subtle aspects like the harmonies I had missed
This one was a highlight from the beginning for me; no preconceptions, just listened to the album and gravitated to it.
I've never understood people saying that. When the album dropped, it wasn't about ratings. You listened to the album and formed your own opinions. Over/under rated is irrelevant.
I count the rhythm that starts at 19:00 min as seven bars of 3 plus 1 bar of six because the last bar feels so different from the rest but I guess that mathematically amounts to the same as counting it all as nine bars of 3/4 🤷♀
I believe the chorus sneaks in an extra note at the end of what would be the 5/8 section, making it 6/8+7/8. That's why it feels wonkier and harder to count.
The time signature changes in the chorus, an extra note is added so it's 6/8 then 7/8
I love it😊
The “synth” is the bass, with the same effects as the following part. It’s a phaser with delay, you hammer on from nowhere and roll the volume up and back down. There’s a similar technique used for lateralus at the start of the spiral
would love to see them play “the sphere”.
I believe Mantra (the track at 0:00) is the sounds of Maynard squeezing his cat with the audio slowed down.
Flange , Harmony , Dissonance 🤷♀ Dissonance, Rhythm, Phase
Add sugar and spice and lonestar 😁
Love from HTX😎 I love everytime I see a new video
This was awesome! Can you do Descending next please?
would love to hear Glenn Gould play Lateralus.
5:00 you’re getting it right
That intro section is just a slowed down recording of Maynard squeezing his cat
The Wuh wuh wuh part is the bass btw
Little known TOOL fact: Justin Chancellor is the most attractive man on this depressingly broken planet.
That beard and those suspenders 😂. 🔥
do the cure's new album next
I’m pretty sure most of the song is in 5/8 and 7/8 and the chorus is in 6/8 and 7/8 and they sneak 4/4 in there every once in a while and I think there might be 9/8 in there during certain points. I guess it’s kinda subjective at the end of the day, whatever feels right for you works.
Edit: ok I didn’t watch the whole video before this comment
Hi! What happened to The Joshua Tree review? :(
You still haven't found what you're looking for?
@@donkeydarko77 Only up to 3/11 parts haha
I'm pretty sure he's using a technique involving raking the strings to get that tight triplet sound on the bass intro. I used to use it a lot when I played heavier music and I can definitely hear it in this song - it's a great way to get fast but clean triplets. You just need to sequence your up and down strokes accordingly so that you are completing the figure with a stroke towards your next string. You get two notes out of one picking motion by playing through the first string and then the next. This riff actually flows really nicely if you do it that way. You just have the timing on the 'rake' down. I have no idea what Justin is actually doing, that's just how it sounds to me though. Either way, I always enjoy an ixi break down and would love more Alice in Chains!
Explaining Tool is like explaining quantum entanglement to your dog
Tool isn't a band. It's a sonic entity. It truly is a conscious being, and the band members are appendages of the entity. No band that I know of interacts with each other in the same way that Tool does. Usually a member plays their instrument and carves out their own space within a song. In Tool, these spaces are shared generously from member to member. The intro of the song is double plucked guitar ocatves of notes being held to ring out. The vocals come in and pick up on the double octave. Then the section comes in where the guitar picks up the base line and the bass is ringing out the held notes. The drums switch the timing to make the bass feel different, even though it's the same bass line. Every member of this band knows how to accentuate each other's playing. They know when to get out of the other persons way and when to get behind it and make their individual instrument serve the greater good of the song. I can only approach the musicianship from a guitar perspective because that's my instrument. Adam Jones is such a minimalist guitar player. He doesn't play anything flashy or the type of music that makes your fingers hurt trying to play his music, but he's one of, if not the most brilliant guitarist that I know of. He truly understands how to work with the band members. In rock music, 99 percent of guitar players think that they're the main piece of the music and take up as much space as they can. Adam's approach isn't to take up space, it's: "How can I make this song sound amazing?" Every member of this band has that approach. It's 4 guys on stage all willing to check their ego and give into something greater. The sum total is more than the singular pieces can account for.Tool are just on another level. It's fucking incredible!
Oddly the least interesting song on the album for me. But the only one people seem to know because most people only used to know the songs with music videos.
Lol, so true
In this case,it's probably the least interesting because of hearing it more often but most times a bands most "popular"song is inherently less interesting
@ I havent listened to it more than the other songs on the album I have probably listened to it less but if still approximately the same amount of times as I almost always listen to tool albums end to end ... often that means listening to the whole discography end to end.
I agree, kind of. It’s the only song by TOOL I don’t care for. It’s because it’s so obvious what it’s about, and the whole scenario has nothing to do with my existence.
This is the weakest album in their catalog.
0:04 Its a cat ♥
interesting name