You are the most incredible & knowledgeable instructor I have ever seen. It’s so logical & interesting theory that I have not aware of it before. It all makes sense and knowing this concept would help me so much. Thank you so very much!🙏👍
Hello Kent...I really enjoyed every minute of your most informative class...I've been a musician all my life playing keyboard and singing...and after working all over the country with my bands from New York to Vegas and my last "18" years as a single I have finally retired..I believe you never stop learning...so now that it's just me at home with my baby grand and time on my hands I find videos like yours interesting and educational..one can always learn something new, or in my case fine out the reason I played the things I've played all my life...so thank you again for helping me to keep my mind busy......
I always love hearing from pros who dig what I do, Ronnie. I always put study and practice into all my videos , so I learn from the process, and also from generous people like yourself who write to me. Thanks! Here's my playlists: (click on View FULL PLAYLIST to see a list of vids in that subject matter) ru-vid.com/show-UCdmjw5sm9Kn83TB_rA_QBCwplaylists
How this opens the door to understand is just great. It releases simple scales to the land of music. It connects the dots. Thank you. Now I just have 12 months practice to awaken my hands to this mystical truth! I love how you treat your audience as adults. You bring us up to your level. Thank you for the courtesy.
Concepts that I thought I understood are now so much clearer. Such a wonderful teaching style Kent... No wasted words and always interesting. Thanks again.
Mr. Kent: This is Music DNA in a NUTSHELL ...My favorite lesson . You are an intelectual/artist/professor/rich person(great heart = my friend),great spirit,balanced musician,AND the BEST of ALL,you are a PRODUCT of HARD WORK,PERSISTENCE,LEARNING,STUDYING,PASSION(Love for music) = SUCCESS !!! Your student/follower and friend,I wish you ALL in EARTH,above all,good health and happiness.
Dear Josef, that's a very kind and generous comment and compliment. I just wish I had the words to express my appreciation to you, but I'm not a writer or scholar of words. I can only speak from my heart, when I say THANK YOU! Please keep watching and writing.
Kent, I have to say, I'm incredibly impressed with your channel - you come across so clear and you're very funny (I love the jazz ranch), yet still take the time to respond to all of your questions individually. I just wanted to say Thanks for making such great educational content - it's perfect for a younger guy like me who works and goes to college and wants to dive into some more complicated jazz music theory stuff without studying it via a university.
+InsidePiano Video Tutorials Thanks so much...I'm not sure I'm natural born at it, but I am introspective, and I've put some hard work at it, so I hope it comes out in a way that is clear and helpful. Thanks!
“Now what good is this?” When you played the blues the left hand just knew where to go! That was amazing thank you. Now I have to teach myself how to cycle
Kent, every time I watch something of yours I realize how truly gifted you are and thank you so much for sharing your talents with the rest of us in the world. This is the best explanation of the “Circle of fifths” I have ever seen (and I am always looking)! The symmetry and Tri-tones of a scale are so revealing. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Take care!
Thanks so much for the comment. (believe me ...its'a gift and a curse). That's generous of you, considering how many people with more views then this have written about the circle of 5ths. Maybe you haven't watch them or you just like my approach?
Been writing and studying music for years and never encountered this. Thank you so much for posting this! it's absolutely incredible - the symmetry in music. There have been times where I wondered why the note that subdivided the octave was a flat 5, I was like "yuck", but now it makes so much sense and has a profound beauty to it. Thanks again!!!
Thank you Kent, you are an excellent teacher. I have only found your video's recently but I have finally understood many elements of jazz piano that I struggled with before I found you. Many thanks.
nothing is simple in music and so I appreciate your careful elaborations and for ages I didn't know about these terms and yet the tetrachords and tritones are foundation ideas
+Alister Wilson Special thanks to you, sir, for watching this early video of mine. I would hope that all my subscribers would watch this one first.... because it lays the foundation, as you say.
Great video. Your presentation of the tetrachords and picking out the tritone is doing wonders for my brain when I work on the sharp and flat keys. I am enjoying all of your videos. Thanks for sharing. You are very generous with your time. I sent you an email before I figured out how to post messages here. I am originally from Groton.
+Bob Hale Hi Bob, Thanks so much for writing. I'm a 5th generation Groton descendant and I released a recording of my originally compositions that was commissioned by Groton's' Tercentennial committee. I'm glad t you like this tutorial because I think it one of my best.... and is mostly overlooked.
Have been following your videos for quite some months now, which have been most enlightening and rewarding. BUT, with this one: the pin drops !!! A whole new way of looking at music opens up for further explorations ! You remind me of Leonard Bernstein's type postings which enabled people to connect the dots! Sincere thanks !...Rahim, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Rahim, Bless you, sir, and thank you so much! To be compared to one of my all-time heroes, Leonard Bernstein, is the highest of compliments. You just made my day!! Please write to me again and please keep watching!
Thanks, Frank! This is my favorite video (of mine) . It took many years for me to "connect the dots", but I always liked the reasoning or analysis approach to understanding things and the practical application. That is what my book is about. I'm happy to be able to pass on the knowledge (and fun!).
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I've been needing a refresher on the piano keys for a very long time. I havent had actual lessons since I was 13; now I'm 27. I love the piano and want to continue playing it for the rest of my life, and now I grasp the concept and feel like I can write my own music finally.
Thanks so much for telling me. You can create a great life for yourself if you immerse yourself into the world of music...it is a great gift... if you become motivated and inspired!
I've been playing music for 55 plus years. Just starting to get the hang of the modes. I had never heard of them until recently. I think you have the best explanation so far. Thanks
Wow!! There is no words to express my self to be thankful appreciate it to your person for this kind of information. You are a tremendous person and kind for sharing your knowledge to us. Thank you for your time and your tremendous heart.
I've always struggled with the circle of 5ths and how to modulate to different keys, this helped me so much to understand how everything works, thank you so much. Your style of teaching is very straightforward and easy to understand, keep up the excellent work Kent!
WHUTTTT???? I FINALLY get it! Thank you SO much for all of your videos but this one REALLY "resonated" with me. I had been messing with tritones after playing around with Kirk Franklin's "Faith" and I knew there was something happening inside that circular chromatic thing that happens as you descend. MAGIC revealed! Keep it coming Kent. We are listening!!!!
It truly is amazing! Thanks so much for telling me that this resonated with you. It's one of my favorite videos I've done...so I'm glad people are still watching it. It's like a primer. Now check this one out: ...ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-8A41X1RbKdk.html the categories:...ru-vid.com/show-UCdmjw5sm9Kn83TB_rA_QBCwplaylists
My God!!! You are amazing. the thing about dominabt chords neverendingly resolving to their scales 4ths blew my mind. You are a hero Kent and god bless you and your knowledge and legacy
I’ve been looking for a video that really captures the divine transcendental patterns of music and hadn’t found it until I stumbled upon this one. Thanks a lot Kent!
I am a beginner and have read about the circle of 5ths ..which makes sense logically .. but there is nothing like bringing it to life through demonstration! It is also another call out for the incredible value of knowing and practicing scales as an essential building block for learning .. how understanding the theory of harmonic relationships provide shortcuts and fill in the gaps of the learning process. Maybe not "news" to the accomplished pianist, but a real "aha" moment for a beginner .. thank you Kent!!
+Russ Shelton That's a great comment, Russ. If you appreciate theory, I try to put a sample of that in my videos and you might like my book, which you can view on my website. The RU-vid video idea I got from a student of mine (techie- type) who used to film his lessons. I tried it one day on another student and that was the beginning of a whole new world.
If only a teacher along the way had just made the connection of the tritone in dominant 7ths through the circle of 5ths as clearly as you have I would have had the blues down decades ago.
Thank you so much....it's nice to know that someone still watches this early video of mine...makes me think I should do an update of this one. I think this is some important information, so I appreciate for the affirmation. KH
Thank you so much for this video! This explanation helped connect so many ideas for me. I'm stepping back and finally seeing how the whole cycle flows through tension/resolution. Cosmic Symmetry! I like the sound of that. Thanks again.
I delighted to hear from you, because it's nice to know people still watch my earlier videos. And I think this was an important one...how to rejuvenate?
Thank you for this interesting video!!! These concepts are fundamental ones. Just a complement to tetrachords and scales: In C major, the 1st tetrachord CDEF is the second one in F major. The 2nd tetrachord in C major, GABC is the 1st one in G major. Then we have to add a flat, or a sharp to complete the other teteachord. And so on to 7b and 7#. Great blues and jazz chord voicing tip for improvisation! Thx
Thanks for the concept and it sounds like you got it. I really apprecaite that ,because for the 5 years I've been doing these videos, to me, that one is central in importance.
Thanks! Very good insights about music symmetry. Some days ago I was studying intervals (at beginner level) and wondered what's between the perfect 4th and 5th, so that's the tritone. Very good exercise at the end. Please post more videos with this concept/exercise structure!
Maikow Tesch I appreciate the positive feedback. This is one of my favorite tutorials that I have done, so I'm gratified to hear that it has been useful for you.
Omg - again and again ~ your videos are awesome . I'm just a beginner ( still after many years trying ) so I got slightly lost towards the end . I need to study the theory of the scales more of course . But it's just fantastic to watch these lessons , start understanding , ( it's like a secret society I've always wished to join !! Ha ) and very exciting to try things out and look forward to mastering them more . Thank you so much Kent ! This is lighting up my somewhat dull life to feel brilliantly thrilling ... I have a jazzy skip in my step while I'm at the super market .. like I have the best gifts of musical knowledge just waiting to be opened when I get home again !! 😁🙏❤️🎶 Cheers xox
Thanks for this! I love the didactic here. You are so good with the whiteboard that I wish you’d use it more often in all you videos. Great teaching skills my friend. Thank you.
Well done Kent. I'm a beginner, but the math (mainly your clear explanation of it) makes sense and will certainty help as my brain and hands get wired for the journey into piano playing.Thank you very much for your time and thoughtfulness.
It's important to point out to non pianists that E to F and B to C (white notes) are AUTOMATICALLY a semitone, which is why they don't have a black note between them. This confuses non musicians and beginner pianists. This automatic semitone is there for convenience of fingering. A piano could have been designed so that each note is the same colour and each one is a semitone apart. But that would make it difficult to finger most pieces, so instead the black notes are there to reach more easily when playing half step intervals (semitones). B to C and E to F are white key semitones and do not need a "black" note between them.
Kent..I was teaching 🎸 lessons to a student..I wanted to come up with a foolproof saying for the circle of fifths..I am partial to the forward movement. C F Bb Eb Ab Db Gb B E A D G C F etc. It works. without fail so far..I can say the circle of 4ths very fast. Also I visualize this on the in an ascending pattern on the piano. It goes about 6 or so octaves upwards. I have never seen it fail.
The symmetry is a truth and it's an amazing thing! The Upanishads speak of this.Divining the macrocosm through our interconnected microcosm in consciousness. .Thank you
+jazzutako That's one of my favorite videos that I've done but not a popular one. I wish someone had told me all that info when I was younger. Thanks for appreciating and writing!
+Kent Hewitt Nice lesson! I would recommend to show more examples while you explain things and maybe some extended examples in the end (alternate talking/showing and playing more often), and cut long videos on parts (7-12 minutes at max) - it's easier to listen, it's easier to understand, easier to concentrate, they had more views on each, they promoting better. Cheers! :)
+Rich Mash Thanks very much! I really like this earlier video that I made , so I'm very glad to hear that you appreciate it. I think it's very valuable info.!
Maestro, Concerning about changing the speed on your Video. This particular HINT it has been fabulous for me, thanks you. Also, let me tell you that I can stop-and-go your voice at large just pressing the ENTER on my computer's keyboard, which is wisely set on the left corner of my Keyboard, if I missed something you said, I just use the (blessing) arrows. VOILA !!!God Bless the new Technology and YOU.
+Johnny McMenamin I'm glad to hear from you. I have over 100 videos and this is one of my best, I think. But I haven't heard from anyone in 3 months, except you. Many thanks!
Perfectly explained :) Was never really aware of this. Although it makes sense now, it still is kind of mysterious to me. So will have to discover more of its practical applications.Thanks so much and happy New Year, from Holland!
Tim...if you watch my videos (that may take a while, because there's about 125 of them....you will understand the application of this video (which I consider essential). Thank you!
+Jabari Buckner Thanks so much for the great comment and compliment! Please take advantage of all the free music downloads on my website that are linked to my videos. Please keep listening and writing to me!
Hi Kent, thanks for the video about Tetra low and upper. Did you ever thought about the minor scale as some kind of a minor Tetra formula/idea? Take the C-minor scale C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C (Aeolian I think) Well the first 4 notes are C plus 1 whole step, plus half step, plus whole step and you end at the fifth (G) right? Wel if you use the Tritone as "connecting note" but this time a half step down you find the F. From F you can make exactly the same minor formula like from C. F, G, Ab, Bb, C so again the same sequence as from C but now from F plus 1 whole step, plus half step, plus whole, plus whole step and you end at C. These two minor schemes (from C and from F) have exactly the same sequence. 1, 1/2, 1, 1. These two minor " Tetra's" played from C create the C minor scale. This formula works for all keys of course. So for me it is very easy to find a minor scale on every twelve notes just playing two minor " Tetras " like explained above. For me it is really helpful to find the minor scale starting from any note on the piano. If you look to the circle of Fifth/fourth you could think anti clockwise to find all minor aeolian scales. So from C to F, from F to Bb from Bb to Eb etcetera. Interesting stuff ! Kindest regards from Austria Hendrik PS if you want to find the Dorian scale by thinking again in some sort of "Tetras" you start the minor scale C and start again from the fifth (G in this case) Playing only on the upper "Minor Tetra" (from G) 4 notes up till you reach the C again. If you play again 4 notes with the same scheme you will play 9 notes (including the 9th) the D in this example. So to find the Dorian you start exactly the same as with the Aeolian C, D, Eb, F, G (lower minor " Tetra" with 5 notes and than start the second minor "Tetra" at the fifth (G) and play the same schedule G, A, Bb, C. D, the latter is the 9 of the scale) Again the same minor " Tetra" scheme namely 1, +1/2, +1,+1 from C and form G creating the Dorian scale by combining these two minor " Tetras" from the tonic and from the 5th. I admit that the Dorian idea is not that obvious as the Aolian idea but for me it works.
Ok, that was a little advanced for me, but I am looking forward to learning as much as I can from your videos. I've been writing songs (melodies and lyrics) for some time now, but I started learning piano and music theory for just about 1 year, and I am so excited to be learning how to play piano, and accompany myself as I sing, and creating harmonies for my songs. Thank you for sharing the knowledge!
Great lesson!! The asymmetry between the two black note groups and the three black note groups always bothered me a little. But now I see the symmetry with the two tetrachords! And while I was thinking about this lesson, I noticed that the diametrically opposite notes on the circle of fifths are always tritones. For example, C is diametrically opposite Gb/F#, and Ab is diametrically opposite D. Or you can just count seven around the circle. Also, and I'm a little embarrassed to admit this, but I never realized why the flat keys ran out at Cb and the sharp keys ran out at C#. Thanks!!
Steve, that is exactly correct, and amazing. It confirms the symmetry , and the order of the universe. Now we're stuck with that. Going through the cycle of keys you can only really go in 6 directions until you run out of keys because then you're into enharmonics. After all...you realize there's only 12 tones in our musical system. (like there are 12 months or hours). If we go through the cycle in the direction of sharps and flats that means that F# (6#s) =Gb (6bs). That's 6 steps times 2 which equals the 12 tones. One step further we have C#=7#s and Cb=7bs. Beyond 12 it's just enharmonic duplication. Perfect!
Once again you have knocked the cover off the mystery called music theory. The links & symmetry are fascinating. Who originally put this concoction together? Some hip Greek dude maybe? Kent is top pianist/teacher & music theorist is my book.
Thanks for those great affirmations. Right, why does getting wisdom take so long? We're all on the same path, but some things take a lifetime to learn. I'm just glad I'm able pass on the little bit of knowledge about music that I've learned, just by loving it.
Wow! so as you go thru the cycle of fifths using there dominant seventh chords the third and the seventh are always three whole steps apart (tritone)!! Then I loved it when you said" so what", how can this help ,and you showed the left hand playing the tenths. I often wondered why you concerned your self with tenths, but they are the thirds in this exercise. Thanks so much
