This is helpful. I learned my chord qqualities by practicing through modal arpeggios of major and melodic minor, but never the same root with all stacked next to eachother. I can see how that would help a lot.
Excellent educational tips! --#1; that most jazz progressions simply follow the circle of 4ths was a revelation to me. I could hear that pattern, but never defined it in terms of the circle of 4ths.
damn what the hell these tips blasted my skin clean off my body. i'm a new man. so many questions I had about how to effectively practice this material is suddenly clear. thank you
For some reason, describing chord voicings on piano as “grips” locked in a concept that had always been a bit more abstract in my head for mapping my way around piano. Stacking right hand (or also left hand) “grips” over a bass note simplifies how to conceptualize chord voicings and slash chords for me. Thanks Nathan!
Man, you sax and other wind instrument players, really have to be on your game with this. Us string players just need to move a shape. And I still struggle with it. I feel so thick 🤣
This is a great video, Nathan! Thank you very much for all of the insight. I will definitely be using the cycle lick that you demonstrated. For ii V Is in in major keys, here's a couple voicings you may like ii - (LH) 1 b7 | (RH) b3 5 9 | V - 1 3 | b7 9 13 | I - 1 7 3 5 9. (In these progressions, feel free to alter the 9 or 13 on the V chord as you please.) The second one is richer to my ear, and it goes - ii (LH) | 1 b3 | b7 9 5 | V - 1 b7 3 13 9 | I - 1 3 | 7 9 5. For minor ii Vs, simply take these structures and adjust the quality alterations accordingly. Additionally, here's my favorite major 9 voicing - (LH) 1 5 - (RH) 9 3 5 7. You can also substitute the RH 5 for a #11. I hope you enjoy these sounds! There are amazing colors that you can access when utilizing the range of the LH
I totally agree with Parkerpolen's voicings! The 1-7-3-5-(-9-13) voicing is KING! That's the basic starting point for all functional jazz keyboard courses at colleges and universitites for non-keyboardists wanting to learn good practical basic jazz voicings.
I’m going to have to re-watch that section on piano grips for upper structures. That was amazing info for me as a sax player with a piano in my house. 😂
Yeah, that was a lot of condensed stuff in a short time. I’ve started taking piano seriously for exactly the reasons he talks about. I knew about the chords (OK grips!) on the third, but not the others. What was it, the flat 5, and the flat 7? I’m going to have to review all that in slow time. Incidentally, I wouldn’t call those voicings, they are chord extensions.
Maaan, you gave me a mouthful of knowledge...I've been studying the cycle of 4ths because of others articles and artist teachings. But, I didn't know it was that more important to learn than the cycle of 5th's. Thank you so much...and you truly smokes that alto sax!..😊❤
Nathan. You've hit it out of the park with this tutorial! I often wondered when and why I might use a keyboard to understand chord progressions. I, long ago, had noticed that progressions follow the cycle of fourths but you filled in blanks that explains why I need to practice (chord qualities) before getting to the keys. I like that you stressed on practicing them until they become instinctual. I just might buy your course! Smashing job, Mr. CEO! 😊
Thank you so much!!!! I've never really had lessons before and now I'm in a really good jazz school and I feel so behind!!! I'm really hoping to catch up with this
It's worth pointing out that the basic root movement in western music is a descending 5th - hence the V I cadence - e.g. G down to C. Secondary dominants are thought of as V of V. When "uneducated" jazz players came across this, they had what classical players called a "degenerate" view, which was really just a lateral view, of the same thing, without the weight of a couple of hundred years of classical music culture, and saw this as an ascending 4th movement. The ubiquitous 2 5 1 (ii V I) movement in jazz is really 2 descending 5ths. Ultimately it doesn't matter - jazz players see ascending 4ths, classical players see descending 5ths. Same same.
Gee, what an informative and well organized video about jazz chord changes, I wonder if the content creator in this video has any online courses someone could use to follow up on what they learned watching this? 🤔
Hey everyone!! I have a question, I’m a jazz studies major (sophomore) and I’m worried that I have too little standards in the brain. What would be a good amount for a sophomore to know?
Interesting I just started okay horn. It made me wayyy better at piano. I took the letters of my keys. This happened in like 4 weeks of time. I be playing the piano sometimes very intimately. I suck but I can play it it’s pretty cool
Finally good serious content like a serious musician like you can provide. Thank you, I am considering buying the book. Anyway I can get it in print? Assuming the price would drop to a realistic one...
Thanks man! I always say to don’t work at getting rid of nerves (that’s impossible). Instead, work on being so well-prepared that you will audition well despite how nervous you are. Good luck!
In music theory, there is the circle of fifths but also the circle of fourths. The circle of fourths is more favored upon jazz musicians while the circle of fifths is more favored upon classical and standard musicians playing apart from jazz. The circle that Nathan posted is technically the circle of fourths and the circle of fifths. If you go note by note on that circle counterclockwise it is the circle of fourths because each note is a fourth apart. If you go clockwise though, it is known as the circle of fifths because then the notes are a fifth apart. Once again, jazz musicians prefer the circle of fourths as the chords and progressions which come along with it are more common in jazz.
I loved the video and actually learnt from it... though i have a question. I've always been referring to the circle of fifths rather than fourths. Apart from the argument that from your experience it's just more used usually, is there any other reason? Like, why do you recommend those scale patterns with fourths rather than with fifths? There must be a convicing reason out there
Ok i get it but how do i remember them??? i go and have to relearn like 30 songs a week just to show up at a jam and still forget songs i knew not too long ago
Play them daily for as long As you need after you learn them. I usually replay tunes I learn for a week until I get them in my long term memory. Also this information will snowball look for patterns in tunes- for example turnarounds being similar or going to the four chord in the bridge.
An hour later. I am really tired and sad. I just had one of the bad losing streaks. Everyone was as cheap or worse than you. I’m not blaming you for anything. I’m not pointing fingers. I just want closure Edit fuck this game
