Jazz Improv Explained (Ridiculously Simple) 

Hats off : i already know all the basics but this is, by far, the clearest, shortest and yet comprehensive introduction to Jazz. You nailed it and you deserve a big round of applause. Excellent.

Teaching is an ART and you apparently mastered that art.👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

This is one of the best starter improvisational tutorials I've seen! It even explained things I did not see (clearly) before. Well done!

This is a most excellent primer on jazz improvising! Totally demystifying. Your extraordinary generosity is very much appreciated, sir.

Bravo, Brent. You successfully simplified, demystified and clarified how jazz lines are created. You did this by using just enough music theory to educate without overwhelming and showed how to get started on the journey of improvisation with practical examples that demonstrate what it sounds like to play over chord changes. This, teamed with guide tones, a heart to experiment and ears to imagine what they're about to play, can take a beginner to the next level in a short amount of time. I'm in love with jazz music (have been my whole life), and after watching this video, I'm eager to pick up my guitar and create something that sounds like what I feel.

This is the grammar of music and this is where I fall

I really enjoyed your explanation. I would like to add something that I found to be helpful. If you are playing in the key of C major for example and you impose a G Major scale, you will shift into the Lydian mode. You're playing all the same notes except that the 4th note F is now #4 or F# and that provides a nice outside scale note that will pop out in the course of the improvisation. You can then shift back to the Ionian at any point to bring the whole thing back home. So when playing over a major chord try playing the major scale whose root is a perfect 5th above the key that you're in. Another way of accomplishing this and adding additional color tones would be to play a major pentatonic scale a whole step up from the key of the moment. (or the minor pentatonic a half step lower than the parent key). If C major is the chord, play the D major pentatonic (or B minor pentatonic - same notes ). When doing this, the notes that would be emphasized would be B which is the major 7th of a C chord. D which is the 2nd (9th), E which is the 3rd, F# which is the # 4 ( # 11 ) and A which is the 6th (13 ). Since the pentatonic scale has no leading tone like a major scale, it works great. A D major scale for example would have a C# in it and that note played against a C natural is likely to set one's teeth on edge. Playing the D major pentatonic avoids that minor 2nd interval. So, in the key of C, think major pentatonic a whole step up. Adding this to the arsenal of chromaticism that you demonstrated should get people visualizing jazz improvisation as something within their grasp.

The amount of theory you covered in such a short time, in such a simple easy to understand manner was just mind blowing! You've got some serious teaching skills!

holy shit, I finally start to understand jazz thanks to you. keep up the amazing work, you're a channel is a gem!

What helped for me immensely, is to just learn jazz language, then make as many variations of it and apply it to the chord it is meant for in a tune. The best is when you learn ii-V-I lines, to just learn that piece of language for the ii, for the V and for the I seperataly (or how you spell it) Also when you do that, always sing

Thank you. This is arguably the best improvisation video I have ever seen. No going up and down the scale. No copy/paste licks. Just musical theory and how to apply it. The most valuable thing is that the similar concept can be used for blues or any music, you just use a different note to resolve to the chord tones that's not chromatic.

In the ocean of jazz, this is a beautiful boat launch. Thanks.

Wish I had this 30 years ago! This is inspiring me to pick up my instrument again. Thank you!

Now it makes sense to me how those jazz guitarists utilize all those chromatic notes without sounding totally weird and off. This is one of the most valuable beginner jazz guitar lessons on RU-vid. Thanks a million! :)

This is literally the best starter video to explain improv I've ever seen! I will be using it to teach ! Thank you!!!

Very comprehensive yet highly understandable. One of the best lessons I've seen to date.

It's weird, I know the modes and can play them, and 2 5 1 chords, in all the keys on the piano, but I just never put it together that you play Dorian with 2 and Mixolydian with 5! Thanks for the enlightenment!!😁

I have taken a lot from these videos. The clarity off the presentation has really helped to inform my thinking and approach. I would not hesitate to sign up for the 'inner circle' but circumstances for 70 year old's on a pension don't allow. This young man has a lot to offer.

This is so good. It shows step by step how jazz improv is put together. Almost like a mathematical proof. Thanks so much

You're indeed the best online jazz insructor. Your explanation is easy to understand. Thank you for sharing your skill and knowledge

Absolutely brilliant exposition. I love understanding this from the bottom up, even though I'm not instinctively a jazz lover. I discover through this that I don't like enclosure at all, and that is an obstacle for my liking jazz. Nevertheless it's very satisfying to have the jazz language demonstrated and explained .

Great lesson, so much to learn here. Thank you Brent!

As well as how to also start to understand what jazz is all about, Today I learned what the actual names of the modes mean. Its so simple! Yet it sounds so complex and unapproachable if you're just starting out.

I stumbled on this. It is by far the best-explained introduction to jazz theory I have ever heard. So much on the web is too complex, too quickly and must dishearten many aspiring players. Your approach covers so much in 17 minutes and build confidence. Max respect.

Agree with Alex Jones' comment. Excellent starter. Finally something I can share with people who don't understand how Jazz works.

...the best kick off jazz impro tutorial I've ever seen, even it's so easy. That's maybe because it's braught out just simple and straight.

A very cool video thanks, glad you're making them!

This is bloody brilliant. Well done. Exceptional.

This is absolutely the best jazz improvisation tutorial out there! Thanks for this...I'm off to practice!

This is what I been looking for thanks

Thank you so much. This was a very helpful explanation for me. I like your videos.

One of the finest explanations I have seen so far. Thank you

Great summary!

I've visited a host of saxophone sites trying to learn how to improvise. Your video has helped open my eyes/ears to the process. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

Wow! That was simple and effective. Even for a piano player who already has a bit of experience, this introduction was smooth as hell. Especially the transition from the more formal and rule based functional harmony to the free chromatic approach notes and enclosures was very educative also for me. Great tutorial 👍

Now that's what I call a breakdown of how it's done ... Simplified thanks Brent 🎸

Incredibly clear and useful presentation. Thank you.

Amazing video. I finally understand how its done

I've been watching a lot of your videos recently and has been such a great help. thank you so much!

Hey Brent, thank you for this! I've been going to jazz jams in my local town and have been feeling stale. I really appreciate this, and I'm off to practice your ideas now!

Brilliant explain👌👍👍💪 Thanks!!

Certainly the best jazz 🎺 lesson I've met online. You're a fantastic teacher. Greetings from Kampala and God bless. 😊😊👌👌👌

gradual and bright clear. thanks so much!

probably one of the simplest and most practical explanation. cheers!

I have used a very similar approach to explaining modes myself, so obviously I feel you did an awesome job 😁

Good video. My pitch was probably never totally absolute, as I started on guitar, and a guitar can be totally in tune with itself and while being a hair higher or lower than A-440. The age thing is real, mine is not as acute as it used to be, and under certain conditions notes can fall in between the cracks for me. Excellent points regarding relative pitch. I had to learn solfegge (so I could teach it) and find it to be quite a valuable tool.

This is one of the best explanation of music theory I've seen. It's very easy to follow and understand. Thanks a lot.

Excellent. Thanks

This is precious. Thank you.

Very good!!!!

Great explanation thank you. Keep up the great work!

This was great! Absolutely clear. I learnt a lot. Thank you!

Well done, bright clear, thank you for this video👍👌

easily the best tutorial

Youre an amazing teacher.. Simple but crystal clear for someone like me who love jazz but couldn't just understand.. Great job

Wow, this was just great. You demystified jazz for me.

Brilliant! I get it now!! Thanks

Wow! New to this. You've compressed so much into this but still made it SO clear and simple!!

Appreciate the lessons!

Very pedagogical approach.. understandible and simple as anybody can progress it's skils..Thank you

2nd year into playing guitar and I actually understood all this :) Well done.

The best Jazz explanation. Thank you.

What an eye-opener. Thank you!

Firstly, I will never be able to play this stuff, but oh, did that make a lot of sense. My only music education is 55 years ago at school when everything was 7 note scales in a major key (flattened third was just too sad). You have truly unlocked the other 5 notes for me.

Great. Pacy, clear, good repetition. Excellent graphics too. Thank you 🙏

Great video! Thanks!

Such a great lesson!

GREAT pedagogy ! 👍💚

Love it!

awesome!

Very well explained. I've been wanting to start improvising so will give it a try

Great lesson for entry level guys like me.

Excellent explanation- thank you for sharing cheers

Fantastic! Thank you …

Very clear approach to improvisation! Thank you!

This is an outstanding explanation of jazz improv. Thanks so much!

This is an incredible instructional video!!👍

Great tutorial thank you!

I am a visual/graphics learner. The added animations on the music sheet help enormously with initial exposure and long term memory. Keep up the concurrent instrument and visual explanations !

Well done, young man !!

Excellent! Really well done! Thank you!

simply great simple stuffs, thank you so much , fabulous .

Very good lesson and overview. Thank you.

Excellent and to the point for a beginner. Great job.

Your teaching is really immaculate.....Keep it up brother 🥰🥰😍😍🤩😊😊

So really, in jazz, there are no "outside" notes? I love it, and subbed!

Awesome teacher.

Thanks 🙏 ❤❤❤❤

Very helpful! Thanks!

Dude I have two music degrees essentially; I started playing in the 90s. I know all this stuff. And this was still absolutely amazing. And I know I'll play better now.

Hi. This is great. I’m primarily a piano player and still found this hugely beneficial. Great job. Thank you!.

One of the best lesson i see about jazz and major scale! 🙏

Really fantastic. Thank you.

You're great! Thanks!

Muito bom!🤝

great lesson, thank you

I like this approach quite a bit to 'understanding' these concepts. That being said I feel one thing what is left out is...LISTEN to a lot of Jazz to burn it in. All the ideas and theory in the world won't help you if you don't feel it. It's like knowing all the English grammar in the world without being exposed to English speakers. Similar to language, the rhythm of the music is what makes it unique to other forms. This you only get by listening and absorbing.

Yes dude. 🎉. Very good. This is what a rock player needs to hear.

Hmmm: very interesting video!

YOU ARE A GENIOUS!!! 🎉