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The MATRIX Chord Isn’t What You Think

Keith Horn

3,893 views

What exactly is the “Matrix chord”?

Don Davis’s score for The Matrix is famous for its dark, futuristic sound—but the iconic “Matrix chord” is more than just a strange collection of notes. It’s a brilliant combination of orchestration, dynamics, and competing brass sections that creates the feeling of two realities pulling against each other.

In this episode of Chord of the Week, we break down how Don Davis creates this effect, including examples from Trinity’s rooftop escape, Neo dodging bullets, the Hotel Ambush, and the film’s climactic moments.

And there’s a surprising twist: the Matrix chord isn’t really a chord at all.

🎵 What do you hear when you listen to it?

12 Comments

@amarug 2 years ago (edited)

I am just blown away how composers can come up with this that sound mindblowing and "new" with using literally two elements that you learn in like your second piano lesson. Absolute genius. Thanks for the video, that was really interesting. It also showcases how indeed instrumentation, voicing and dynamics can make things sound entirely different. In my memory, when I thought about it, there was at LEAST some dim chords going on, and I was left floored when I saw it was literally Em - C. I think one thing to keep in mind, playing full blown chords with brasses, already gives a slight natural dissonance feel, even if they are just simple triads (I wonder why that is though).

@OdaKa 3 years ago

Algorithm brought me here. Very cool video

@rrmkvii 3 years ago

Great chord selection, I enjoyed this one. Don Davis did a lot of very cool things throughout this score…

@your_chel 2 years ago

thx:)

@carbonc6065 2 years ago

This is awesome ... Thank you.

@Bradley_F_Sharp 1 year ago

I like the scary one that makes your blood curdle

@jhsounds 2 years ago

Unfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix chord is. You have to hear it for yourself.

@Flatscores 2 years ago

I don't think you are over-thinking it. The chord also has some symmetrical aspects, which may factor into its choice. The major 7 chord is symmetrical anyway in inversion - mirrored, major and minor chords are inversions of one another. Mirror motifs feature in the movie, especially as Neo "wakes up".

@omorganstudios 2 years ago (edited)

MJ "I Can't Help It" Chord is like this too A13#11 to AbM7 played A7_B polychord to AbM7 also using the tritone sub of the V-I but it does not go back and forth like the Matrix chord...A7 dom fighting the B maj

@the_eternal_student 11 months ago

Since I do not process sounds well, the most interesting thing to me about the Matrix score was the varying sounds of screeching metal. The polytonality is interesting conceptually; I just cannot distinguish it.