Canalave City – Pokémon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum

About game/music

This is “Canalave City” from the RPG “Pokémon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum” released by The Pokémon Company.
The music is composed by Go Ichinose.
This music is played in a harbor town. The arpeggio at the beginning reminds me of the waves that come and go.
In the Platinum version, it is famous as the place where you can get the Pokémon called Darkrai.

Analyzing

bar 6~9

  • bass goes down a semitone at a time in a smooth flow while using the inverted form.

bar 7~8

  • iv in major key (other Tabs include this)
    • one of the subdominant minor chords, which include b6th of main key.
    • It’s nostalgic or romantic.
    • Typically used following IV.
    • It’s borrowed mostly from parallel minor, but also from Mixolydian b6 or Harmonic Major (in this case, ivM7)
    • examples;
      • Bloom – OutroENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights
      • The King Lost in TimeEtrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City
      • Lonely Rolling Star – Katamari Damacy
      • Candy Constellation – Kirby & The Amazing Mirror
      • Big-Bean Vine – Kirby’s Epic Yarn
      • Costumes & Colors – Kirby’s Dream Buffet
      • Super Bell SubwayMario Kart 8
      • Shopping in Wakeport – Mario & Luigi: Dream Team
      • Badges – Pikmin Bloom
      • Dewford TownPokémon Ruby/Sapphire
      • Rustboro CityPokémon Ruby/Sapphire
      • Fortree CityPokémon Ruby/Sapphire
      • Abandoned ShipPokémon Ruby/Sapphire
      • Valor LakefrontPokémon Diamond/Pearl
      • Hearthome CityPokémon Diamond/Pearl
      • Canalave CityPokémon Diamond/Pearl
      • National Park – Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver
      • Cianwood City – Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver
      • Route 26 – Pokémon HeartGold/SoulSilver
      • Pewter City – Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver
      • Castelia City – Pokémon Black2/White2
      • Marine Tube – Pokémon Black2/White2
      • Iki Town (Day) – Pokémon Sun/Moon
      • Cobalt Coastlands – Pokémon Legends: Arceus
      • Levincia – Pokémon Scarlet/Violet
      • Clear BreezeSkullgirls
      • Wave OceanSonic the Hedgehog(2006)
      • Magical Snow DaySonic Runners
      • Oh! One True LoveUndertale
      • Temmie VillageUndertale

bar 20

  • modulates from the original key of A major to C major
    • The chord progression used for the modulation is II-V-bVII (=V in C major).

bar 28~29

  • bVI-bVII-I (other TABs include this)
    • Root ascends by a whole tone and resolves to the tonic
    • bVI, bVII are borrowed chords from parallel minor
    • Sometimes called “Mario Cadence”
    • examples;
      • The Amazon – DuckTales
      • Roadside Trees Outside the WindowEtrian Odyssey
      • Ripple Field 2 – Kirby’s Dream Land 3
      • Seabed Diving – Kirby’s Return to Dream Land
      • Rainbow Road – Mario Kart 7
      • Route 203Pokémon Diamond/Pearl
      • Canalave CityPokémon Diamond/Pearl
      • Battle! (Frontier Brain) – Pokémon Platinum
      • Nacrene City – Pokémon Black/White
      • Believe In MyselfSONIC ADVENTURE 2
      • Seaside HillSONIC HEROES
      • Go Quickly!Sonic Runners
      • World Star – Super Mario 3D World

4 thoughts on “Canalave City – Pokémon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum

  1. Anonymous says:

    This is beautiful!
    I am trying to arrange eterna city, one of my favorite themes along with canalave city

    1. classicmeal says:

      Nice, that piece is very nostalgic one.
      I hope you arrange it well!

  2. Dann says:

    Love this arrangement, what software do you use to transcribe arrangements such as this one?

    1. classicmeal says:

      I’m using Guitar Pro 7.5.
      This is the only one I’ve used, so I don’t know how it differs from the others.
      I think it is mediocre in terms of usability.

      If you are looking for a software to create tablature, I suggest you try using a free software such as Power Tab first.
      (Although this one seems to require a little effort to create a PDF file.)

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