K-8

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K-8
The saber-toothed tiger attacks.
Tonality	C˚7 or A˚7
Length	0:07
BGM Data
Catalog Number	K-8
Composition	Shunsuke Kikuchi
Debut and Release
Debut Year	1986
First Appears	Dragon Ball Episode 1
Last Appears	Dragon Ball Episode 71
Debut Release	Unreleased

K-8 is the Kanzenshuu catalogue number assigned to an unreleased piece of background music (BGM) composed by Shunsuke Kikuchi for the Dragon Ball anime in 1986. The piece debuted in Dragon Ball Episode 1 which was broadcast on 26 February 1986.

Overview

In its debut scene in episode 1, K-8 is used as an introduction to K-9. It is possible that they were written as a single piece, but they are never used together again, and they were not recorded with an overlap as heard in episode 1. This is demonstrated by the clean beginning of the episode 38 usage of K-9.

K-8 is given the title "Attack Of The Sabre-Tiger" on kenisu's Magicant, the most common source for fan titles of Kikuchi's compositions. There is a misattribution (in parentheses with question marks) on episode 56 in kenisu's table; this track is not K-8.

Compositional Analysis

K-8 does not have an explicit tonal center. Its entire tonality is a fully diminished C7 chord (C-E♭-G♭-B𝄫): the bass, including timpani, strikes the root diminished fifth (G♭-C-G♭-C) while the soprano voice, dominated by trumpet, states the root and the third below (C—, C-E♭). The middle accompaniment just plays the C˚7 chord, with the 7th buried in the trombone at the B𝄫 (enharmonic A) below the trumpets' E♭.

The entire piece (if it is indeed the entire piece) is four bars long. The trumpet and timpani statements repeat once over two bars; the third bar is a sustained chord; the fourth bar is entirely reverb and probably written as a rest, perhaps with a tied hold-over into the first beat.

Fully diminished seventh chords are transitional in nature. The tones that make up the chord are equidistant (by minor third) and therefore do not suggest any one resolution when they are out of context as this one is in K-8. They do not have to resolve at all; they can function independently as ongoing, non-resolving tension, and they can preface scenes without any music at all, as this one often does.

In episode 1, the C˚7 tonality of K-8 resolves to the F-minor of K-9: the C remains, now as the 5th in F Minor; E♭ resolves stepwise up to F (the root); G♭ resolves stepwise (half-step) down to F; B𝄫 resolves stepwise (half-step) down to A♭, which is the 3rd in F Minor. This contrast with K-9 is the reference point for the spelling of the chord as C˚7; since the tones are equidistant, the chord can be spelled several different ways.

In episode 32, K-8 precedes K-42, which begins on a non-functional (in other words, the spellings don't matter out of context) D♭-major triad alternating with a C-major triad, proceeding to a B-major triad alternating with a B♭-major triad, and ending on the same fully diminished 7th chord as K-8. Out of context, one might build the chord on A (enharmonic to B𝄫) with the assumption that the chord is voiced in root position (A-C-E♭-G♭), but K-42 is followed by M109, which is also in F Minor. In functional harmony, the A cannot resolve downward to the A♭ in F Minor; the stepwise resolution must be represented by a letter change (B𝄫 to A♭). Therefore both K-8 and K-42 would be spelled as C˚7 in this instance.

In episode 66, K-8 is followed by the end of K-42, but this time K-42 is followed by M16, which is in D Minor. In this case, the A-C-E♭-G♭ spelling is appropriate: A remains, now as the 5th in D Minor; C resolves stepwise up to D (the root); E♭ resolves down to D; G♭ resolves down to F, the third. Therefore the tonality of both K-8 and K-42 in episode 66 is A˚7.

Usage and Variations

For further information, see Dragon Ball Music.

Below is a table of every usage of K-8 in Dragon Ball.

Scene	Length and Variations	Setting
Dragon Ball Episode 1: The Saber Tiger attacks Goku.	0:07 (full track): The very end overlaps with the very beginning of K-9.
Dragon Ball Episode 17: Yamcha defeats Large Man in the 21st Tenka'ichi Budōkai preliminaries.	0:05: The second bar is cut out, and the track is followed by musical silence.
Dragon Ball Episode 20: Kuririn defeats an opponent in the 21st Tenka'ichi Budōkai preliminaries.	0:07 (full track): The track is followed by musical silence.
Dragon Ball Episode 29: Goku is attacked by Giran's fellows, who are easily defeated.	0:07 (full track): The track is followed by musical silence.
Dragon Ball Episode 32: The Pilaf Gang's fortress comes under attack.	0:07 (full track): The track is followed by K-42, which is followed by M109.
Dragon Ball Episode 66: Goku reaches the Red Ribbon Army Headquarters on Kinto'un.	0:07 (full track): The track is followed by a short excerpt from the end of K-42, which is then followed by M16.
Dragon Ball Episode 71: Bulma realizes Yamcha might die in the Devil's Toilet.	0:07 (full track): The track is followed by musical silence.