"Over The Rainbow", The Art of Reharmonization, Piano Tutorial 

I am a self-taught older guy and this is an unbelievable resource! The combined verbal instruction with the visual is life-changing for me (74 yrs old)! For over 40 yrs I've been playing my own half-assed, basic but schmaltzy version. Having a fundamental understanding of theory and relative chord structure, your efforts allow me to take such a giant step forward. Thank you, Kent. This is a wonderful thing you are doing.

What can I say kent, I've been playing over 15 years now and I was classically trained but since I've discovered your channel last week I've just learnt so much new stuff and I've fallen in love with jazz again. Your videos are perfect for people who are already relatively confident players but want to learn more interesting clashy chords and understand jazz theory more. So thanks for posting man your vids are a BIG help and a great source of knowledge and entertainment for me! Peace Kent :)

YOU CAN ALWAYS TELL WHEN A MASTER IS LIVING HIS OR HER LIFE PURPOSE. EVERY TIME THEY OPEN THEIR MOUTHS, WISDOM DROPS OUT. THANKS FOR SHARING

Since I started playing piano at age 6, I've always wanted to be able to play these kinds of wonderful jazz arrangements but never had the theory knowledge to do so. My grandfather was in the Chris Barber band (a trad jazz band, you might not know them) and was a clarinetist, so from a young age I was surrounded by lots of harmony and I can really hear where chords want to go when I'm playing a melody. I can even hear substitutions and reharminization but I never knew how to actually form the chords or what kind of theory to use, so when I wanted to do so it'd take me hours to work out each and every note of each chord. With the help of your videos I've learned so much about harmony and how chord sequences/reharminzation within jazz works, so for that I really thank you.

Hard to believe you exist, man. It's like you're the embodiment of my idea of the coolest guy ever!

The last series of videos that you've put out have been so helpful in understanding very holistically the style of jazz piano, down to the nuances of rhythm/attack/release. With this one I'm really appreciating the solid theory behind chord substitutions because it helps me make sense of how to apply it elsewhere. Thanks so much!

I am continuously impressed with the clarity of your teaching. How you can talk and play with such complete understanding of the underlying principles of music astonishes.

you opened a whole new world of playing that I have been trying to learn and although my teacher being classically trained try to help. your methods crystalized the process now I need to practice practice practice

Wow! Wow! I discovered your channel a few days ago and have been mesmerized ever since! You created this fabulous Over The Rainbow re- harmonization a year ago, but I just now spent an hour studying it for the first time. It feels as if a veil has been lifted from my eyes!!! Suddenly, formerly cloudy musical things are clearly seen!!! You make what for me have been the hardest musical things, all of a sudden seem simple and obvious!!! I am up to page 43 of volume 1 of your book, and enjoying every page. I even made a list of misprints to show you when I've finished reading it. Thank you!!! Thank you!!! You are the world's greatest teacher!!! I will watch this video over and over. So much to learn from this!!!! Your generosity is incredible!!!! These secrets of playing are priceless.

You are the best jazz piano teacher on youtube and maybe even in the whole entire world ! Great humour and so generous to share your talent with everyone.

Your approach to music, playing & esp. the Barry Harris dim. scale chord moment is to me awesome. There is no other word for it. Thanks for offering your great teaching/playing skills for our enlightenment. I can't believe how interesting this concept is.

Thanks to you, I am playing better & have more enthusiasm which moves the process. Being retired I have the time to pursue a goal to improve but a long way to go to get anywhere near your improv. skill level. I think the bebop scales, that 6th dim. scale & listening to you will help. Kent is the best.

God bless you, Kent! Never have I come across a RU-vid musician so generous with such clear videos and free supporting material. No profiteering, just pure gifts and generosity. Thank you so much, and god bless!

Thank you Kent! Just downloaded the lead sheets - thanks for those. You really are trying to help us learn jazz piano and I appreciate it. It was great to follow along with your explanation while looking at the lead sheet. Extremely helpful.

I believe Over the Rainbow is one of the most deeply beautiful songs ever written musically speaking. Because it's so cliche, it's heard being sang more than being played on the piano; yet it's not until it's heard on the piano that it is revealed how musically genius it is. A perfect melody.

This video was fantastic, thank you so much. I've been looking at jazz chords for the last few weeks and this was one of the best/easiest explained. I can't wait to play around with these ideas.

This is the most helpful video on theory I've ever watched. Not only why substitutions work, but why progressions work too. Thank you very much for putting this together.

Mr. Hewitt, I must say, I am in awe of your sense of harmony. I am a high schooler and I play classical piano, and am now studying theory, to later get into jazz. I have never really understood jazz, but now, looking at it from a different point of view, I see that there are many similarities between classical and jazz styles. I am now going through many of your videos and I am proud to say that I am learning a lot from them. Thank you very much for your wonderful piano playing.

Love the minor 2-5-1 approach. It really brings this beautiful song alive. THE MASTER has produced another beautiful video. Thank for sharing.

This tutorial opened my mind to a new level. I played classical music since I was a teenager. Unfortunately, my harmony knowledge is somehow limited and now I´m trying to really understand how music works. Your video helped me to walk one step further in that direction. Thank you very much!

As a musician for over fifty years, I can say this is best I've ever heard.

My dad (himself a jazz cat, myself hopeful) sent me this since I'm looking into learning reharmonization! You cover so much in so little time but I love it. I also love the Mason & Hamlin you're playing- I grew up playing one from the early 1900s (if not very late 1800s) and it is still my favorite piano to this day.

Kent...thank you so very much for sharing your soul with us. The knowledge you are passing on is priceless. I cannot say enough about how clear and concise your explanations are. the way that you break down these concepts, and in the next breath show them in application is rarely seen in tutorial videos. Keep up the great work. I would LOVE to see more stuff on blues and gospel as well. You are the BEST. Thanks for the lessons AND the inspiration!!!

Thank you so much for your video. I play classical music for so long(30 years) but love to listen to jazz music and always fascinated how jazz players get these sounds out. Read some books but didn't help a lot. Learning to play by ear but quite a slow process if you're not familiar with the jazz chords. Your teaching is very clear and explains the concepts of jazz chords in a very easy to understand way.

The skill and the mastery of your voicings end substitution ARE inspiring, thanks

Another great video+lead sheets. Can't wait for the book to arrive. Keep the videos with wonderful arrangements/lead sheets of standards coming. Perry

I love this kind of piano teaching! It is great for anyone studying jazz concepts. Great teaching Kent!

So beautiful Sir, I love to hear and watch you play. You bring much joy thank you!

Thank you very much, Kent!!! Gracias por su trabajo y por subir sus videos. Saludos!!!

Wonderful. You do a great job unraveling the mystery of what one hears in jazz compositions but is unsure what was just heard.

Best teacher out there mate! And I am basically a rock n roll guitar player who got into piano because of Freddie Mercury! Been doing all by ear for years and now this helps me remember easier while playing!

I love this lush romantic style that you're playing in. Not everything has to be insanely complicated all the time. This was a very hands on lesson and I thank you sir, for providing the sheet music for extra practicing!

Always learn a few good ideas .Thanks again.Love the song.Did the wizard of Oz in a high school play in the 60s.Brings back memories.

Kent THANK YOU. At this point, I don't grasp it all, but I found that ii - V - I approach is very helpful to make my playing a little more interesting. You gave me some good tips to work on. THANKS, AGAIN

Wow Kent, this is a gem. Beautiful version, and thank you for sharing your knowledge! I can keep up with the theory, but actually playing it so smoothly is way beyond my level. I'm hoping to return one day and play it like this.

Beautiful passing cords. Love your lessons. You can also learn a lot by listening to the harmony.

Hi there Kent.. I'm absolutely loving all your videos.. Keep them comin... Cheers.. And I love the sound of that piano :)

Thank you. I'm already exploring this wonderful song. Absolutely beautiful playing.

Thank you Mr. Hewitt. You are an amazing teacher and player. I can't like your videos enough!

Thanks Kent. Can't get enough of those substitutions. Great lesson!

So been using the tritone sub at 9:24 A7+11 instead of Eb7alt . It's a cool surprise :-)

Great stuff, Kent. I continue to learn so much from you. Probably should tell you more often. Lou

Hi Kent. Just wanted to say I have been listening to these 2 versions since I recently discovered your channel 2 weeks ago. I love all your lessons and versions of songs but this I keep coming back to listen to. Rainbow is one of my to favories of all time and you did it just right. I have been playing since I was 6 (now 62) and have played classical, rock, ragtime ( Scott Joplin is my hero...heard him first in high school class and the hair on my neck raised and ever since have loved ragtime.) Only Joplin raised ragtime to the high art it is in my humble opinion. I have however kept away from jazz cause I was frightened of it, didn't understand it and never tried although I really wanted to so bad. Now, I am finding I actually love playing it and want to learn it. these 2 versions of rainbow had the same hair raising effect on me! You are the source I go to to learn now. Thank you Kent from the bottom of my heart. I will be buying your book as well. Peace out. Steve

You are a real master, this is so wonderful, great explanations too, greetings from New Zealand

Again, Kent, that was beautiful and the tutorial was great.Thanks for posting it.

I just LOVE your teaching style!!!! You are so clear about what you’re talking about. I just love when I get a notification that you posted something new. And I love, “sorry, I had to talk to a telemarketer”. :-)))) Keep on keeping on. 😎

thanks for the videos! I'm a classical player that always had a hard time getting into jazz. I think what I needed was a good method, and this is a great way for me to get into it.

Hi Kent, your lessons are outstandingly good. Concepts become easy. Keep it up with thanks. Max

You sir, are a first class teacher. Thank you for another informative and helpful video.

beautiful the way you play this beautiful song... thanks!!!!!

great vocings, great explanations! Sound so great thank you so much.

Great chord work Kent

Excellent Kent! You are definitely a veteran when it comes to playing your well rounded excellent piano playing"! After seeing your Reharmonization video it tells me I have a long ways to go when it come to my chord theory and harmonies especially on the extended chords. I would like to learn to nevagate in the kind of jazz style you play in! Great Job Kent! I will be watching your Videos!....A lot!

Thanks Kent. Going to try to learn this from your lede sheets, I can sight read, but I want to try to better apply the theory I've learned using this great tune. Nice job, much appreciated.

very nice arrangement, and I enjoy your teaching style. thanks a lot for sharing!

Lovely cover of this timeless classic, great arrangement, Kudos ;-)

brilliant tutorial. You explain it all so clearly

Your videos are really helpful. They make a lot of sense and it actually gives me a lot of hope of learning stuff and even transcribing the solos that you play/improvise and it gives me a much clearer understanding of improvisation. I would love to personally take lessons from you. I live in Chicago though.

Hi Kent, I reharmonized Over The Rainbow myself and came up with that opening Am7b5 chord by listening, but thanks for teaching me that it is a 2-5-1 into Gmin! That's cool. Good stuff! Thank you.

Nice...I can feel Bill Evans floating up with those altered ii-Vs you're using to lead into the traditional changes, and making for more a lush, romantic ballad atmosphere. Good stuff, Kent!

wow!! you are one of the most talented pianists (musicians) in the world. I have seen only a few people like you on youtube with the level of your talent........I myself can play the piano impromptu by ear and by music notes.....but, I am not at your level....

I learn from your every note ! Thank you for sharing all this with us !

Ha! The reharmonization was dreamy and mesmerizing! Thank you

Thanks, Ken. Very helpful video.

From inherent melancholy to sublime sophistication at the 3 minute mark. Kent, I hope you have atleast a vague idea about how cool your work is, and how much it benefits us grateful players. My mind, anyway, has been blown open by the concepts you explain wonderfully. Hip Holidays to you and yours!

I really appreciate your content and have recommended it to everyone interested in jazz :)

Hot damn Kent this one is still a classic. You know I've learnt your whole misty arrangement and it's a beauty too

great lesson . new chords make the song sound better. I like your playing. BRAVO !

Well, you've done it again - beautiful reharm, Kent! I will be adding your version to my repertoire. :-)

Well Done. Good explanations of what your doing and its great seeing the hands executing what your saying as you do it. Great style and really nice changes. Thanks.

thanks kent, that's amazing, I want to play piano again after listening to u

Great lesson, well presented; good pace.

You play beautifully and teach very well! Thank YOU!

This video was really helpful, thanks! Tritone subs are awesome

That was beautiful!

Love your approach! Surprised you didn't quote another genius of reharmonization - George Shearing. I am a bassist, never played with anyone whose name you would recognize. As most remotely competent bass players I too started on piano - I found it invaluable, undeniable foundation. You, along with Doug McKenzie from Australia are rekindling the fire in some young musicians. BRAVO!!!! (My name is Bill Michaels, formerly Bela Nagymihalyi from Hungary.)

They have just introduced this song onto Abrsm grade 6 piano syllabus. Both your arrangements have more colour and depth, and lovely delicate piano runs. I had started to learn the grade 6 version, I might now have to get your sheet version. Sounds more professional too!

Another nice one Kent I love all your videos i wish i could play like you,your very Talented.

Beautiful song beautifully played. Always cool!!

Gracias por tu entusiasmo!!!!

I have just come across your jazz piano videos Kent and find them very instructive and enlightening. This one is particularly good good, as not only is Over the Rainbow a fabulous tune but the application can be used over again on many others. I don't want to run before I can walk on this !!!! but since Bill Evans is my piano hero it would be interesting sometime in the future if you could analyse " You Must Believe In Spring " Many thanks for your great tutorials.

This is great Kent. I've been working on this tune for a while and I'll now be able to take my reharmonisation much further. Thanks. My favourite version of this tune is Bud Powell's on an album from 1956 called Strictly Powell. It is so beautiful it makes me cry. Now, if one day you happen to find the time, and you could tease out one or two of Bud's moves on his rendition and send them out into the ether, that would be really something! But don't feel obliged. You give me plenty to work on already!!! Pete.

Thank you Kent...I want your book!

Great sound...keep it going

Hi Kent, Thanks again. Such a rich lesson for me. Hope you had a good time at the Quebec City carnival...:-)

Bonjour Monsieur Kent Hewitt I am always charmed when you are playing. In August I must play Somewhere Over the rainbow, to finish the concert (in a chuch) after Tony Petrucciani. I am very interesting to look at the way you are playing this sentimental piece. I thank you a lot I ve done a request in fk, i hope you will accept it. Have a nice day Monsieur Hewitt.

you are awesome guy ,really you explain very well , i will see all your tuturial , thank you so much

Tasty.... well done... nice presentation. Got lost just listening it sounded so good....

Oh man! You play beautifully!

Lovely video, Kent. A song request to talk more on the topic of reharm would be All the Things You Are. I would love to hear you play it. Cheers, and keep the great content coming!

Great theory lesson!

nice work...

I am very enchanted by this :)

Kent, love all your videos! I studied music as a teen, never played piano however, and only got into jazz later. But these videos help so much in understanding music theory! Maybe some day I'll take another step and try to commit to learning piano, but for now I just enjoy learning theory and your playing. On that note, where can I hear your rendition of "Isn't It Romantic" from the intro? I love it.

Love, love, love! Thank you.

Just wow. Thank you!

Great Lesson!

Hello This is a very interesting lesson I know i can figure this out myself but it is so important it and might be an interesting lesson hear more about the voicings of each movement I'm a guitarist studying jazz piano voicings to up the traditional chord/melody vocabulairy into movements and basically integrate the tradition of comping better, and jazz piano and pianists just have alot more tradition of horisontal movement and voicings. Anyway thanks i've enjoyed a number of your videos

I recently found the great stack. Used in the 2nd chord change in this tune Lt. = c 7th, rt. = sharp 5 maj. in 2nd inversion. beautiful but a little hard to resolve. Gives nice tension do you think?

Nice playing!