Please don't use Eb11 chords! | How to NOT suck at music #6 

There seems to be a lot of hate on this video for me "telling people what to do." That's literally the point of this series, people submit me things they want critiqued. With the reaction on this video being so negative, I'm not super likely to continue this series, but let me know one way or another.

why the hell would someone click on a video abt critiquing music, and then get mad when the person in the video is critiquing music

Simple rule: don't play anything that sounds like shit

I wonder if the dude who sent the email about his composition saw the title of this video and was like "fuUuuuuuck"

I wrote a song today. The chords was C F G and then back to C.. And I'm happy with just that

"Jazz is stupid! I mean, just play the right notes!" -Angela, from The Office

*use of Eb11 chords intensifies*

I've been working on amazing compositions by Frederic Chopin lately and i've noticed that he sometimes uses bizarre note combinations that sounds like absolute shit when played equally loud. But, when you drop the volume of certain dissonant notes, it suddenly becomes magical and beautiful! So if it sounds like shit, try fiddling with dynamics. New doors could open.

Sleep paralysis, but The Billy Bumbler is playing on repeat.

Eb11 - what a beautiful chord

Jazz: "they spent so much time figuring out if they could, they never bothered to stop and ask if they should."

The Billy Bumbler sounds like a panic attack

title: Please don't use Eb11 chords! video: Use Eb11 chords if you want to i guess

Jazz! *jazz* JAZZ! ʲᵃᶻᶻ J A Z Z jazz... Jazz!

Submitting my 84 minute magnum opus for your review.

"Jaaazz" "Jaaaahz" "Juhs" "Jaaaaaahhhhhzzzzz"

If you want to skip to the Eb11 one it's 5:53

Adam looking as though he's about to steal my widescreen TV

I'm a year late to the party, but I just wanted to say I thoroughly enjoyed this vid. I've had several music teachers/mentors over the years, and if they'd been as constructive in their feedback as you are here, I might still be playing. You're honest without being cruel, and it appears that you prioritize support and encouragement in your assessments, which is integral to any performer's (or at least my) growing confidence. "Here's what I think you're going for. Here's what I like. Here's what I don't. Here's why. Here's how you could choose to address it. Here's to you and all the effort you've put in." Major respect, man!

That instrumental metal score be sounding like I’m battling the Elite Four champion in a 90s Pokémon game.

I don't understand the butthurt in some of these comments. He's giving fair, objective critiques to people who wanted them.

People who are hating on you by acting butt hurt have never had a teacher before. You made a 15 minute video to help someone arrange music and somehow that's interpreted as hatred and arrogance? Cmon people.

Ignore the negative comments. A musician with this much theoretical know-how is a role-model and fount of wisdom for all my pop music students. Keep up the excellent work.

"guitarmony" is my new favourite word

"Hello I'm submitting my metal music to make sure it fits the rules and guidelines"

jazz jAzz JazZ jaZZ jazZ JAzZ

I was expecting Yoko Ono to start yelling “stop all wars!” Over and over again over the piece at 11:00

11:00 oh good god

11:00 Sounds like a nightmarish version of Pikmin music.

Best part of the night: Finding out The Billy Bumbler is on Spotify

Hi, I just saw this video and, well, I can't speak for music theory cause I don't know pretty much anything about it, but I like it that you are absolutely gentle with critique and stress out that it's mostly your opinion and you give detailed info why you think something should be this or that. Keep it up!

I've given up on studying music ages ago. I once dreamed of being a professional musician, but ended up assuming it was not for me. I still play my guitar every day, but just for fun, not really practicing or studying. When I watched this video, however, I felt like saving it for later, and it became the first video in my new playlist "Studying Music". I didn't really thinK before I gave it that name, but now I guess I feel like studying music again. Anyway, thank you Adam for sharing your knowledge!

hi! normal human being here, what the fuck does all of this mean

The best voicing for an 11 chord is to just play the third and fourth next to each other. Don't play anything else. At any point. Ever.

Hi, Adam! Referring to the "negative critique" and your question, whether you should continue this series: I personally think that the way you explain things, is highly virtuosic. I do not know you as a practical musician yet (need to check that out... I guess, though, that your virtuosity there is probably as vivid as it is with your words), but whatever video of yours I see, it always makes me "Whoa - what well-chosen words, how incredibly well formulated!" and things like that. This is the main take-away I get from the videos and the main reason, why I really highly appreciate you channel and your work, because eventually every musicians needs to also build up a repertoire of proper vocabulary to explain his/her musical intentions with more then phrases like "I feel...", "my guts tell me to do that...". And even though one might already know a topic, it is a completely different story talking about it (Richard Feynman comes to mind...). BTW: I'd really be interested, if a topic like "how to talk and not talk about music" would be worth a video for you... :-) Keep 'em coming, please!

Bro definitely keep this series up!!! Constructive criticism is how people improve!!!!!

The song at 6:05 reminds of what would happen if Dream Theater had to write for Final Fantasy

0:29 9/11 chords? Too soon

You are one HELL of an educator. The way you approach giving input is simply marvelous.

I would like to kindly redact my previous comment from much earlier. I watched more videos from you from months and I've seen how applicable the things you teach are and how amazing of a teacher you are. You are a gem of RU-vid and I'm so thankful I watched more.

the song with the Eb11 was lit

I want to hear that metal track in full. Sounded cool.

Hi Adam - I was really impressed by your breadth of knowledge, your on point critique, and your respect for those who submitted. It was a lot of fun watching your video.

today, I used for the first time in my life the Eb11 chord. And it felt so damn good...

WARNING reading the comments section may be hazardous to one's health. Swearing, putdowns, rudeness, trolling--one may lose hope in humanity.

ok but where did that "j a z z" sample come from

I can hear that metal jam sounding awesome fully realized.

I may be demonstrating my ignorance, but I actuallly really found your video instructive. So thank you. Your musical knowledge is just so many levels above mine that I’m in awe.

you keep talking about TOAN but how do i get a GUD TOAN? how do i know if my TOAN is GUD or not?

I really like Eb11, it has somewhat of a dreamy feel to it, and add the floaty yet tense intro Goddamn I sound like a fucking snob

“Jazz, jazz, jazz…”, oh, man, I almost spit my coffee. Great lessons, man. Subscribed.

“I like thicc strings” YOURE A BASS PLAYER!!! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😘

Instructions not clear used bassoon as toaster

What a beautiful key/chord change in the third submission; the Fm to E.

Love your "show", here. It's fun to hear the submissions and your analysis. It's good to see you're willing to comment on a wide range of styles, and levels of musicianship. You seem knowledgeable enough to have relevant things to say about style, technique, arrangement and voicing, and its good to get feedback from someone who listens as carefully as you do, whether one agrees with your opinions or not. Keep up the good work!

Billy Bumbler would make a decent avant-garde piece.

I like to make people cringe and convulse when listening to my music.

Please continue this series Adam! It's a great outlet for real constructive criticism from a peer/teacher. I'd wager that a great many musicians that don't have a chance to play live, or aren't confident enough to play live, only have friends and family to give them feedback that don't play music. The most they can get from them is "It doesn't sound good" or "Yeah, that's pretty good." There's no help in that. I suspect that many of the people giving you negative feedback fall somewhere in the scenario I've described above. I say this with no malice, maybe some condescension, but no ill intent. The negative response to this series is, sadly, to be expected. You yourself understand that music is a passion that can be approached in multiple ways, but you also understand the misconception that many have about music theory. Most do not. If you don't want to deal with nonconstructive criticism you receive from this series, discontinue it, but I think we need to lead by example. Even if they don't understand it, please continue to be example of how to give constructive criticism for them. They clearly need it. That and when anyone uses language that sounds like commands on the Internet, trolls and the impatient pounce on it.

Probably wont ever read this but I enjoy and appreciate your feedback on everything. I disagree that youre arrogant - I like your constructive criticism and I think you should keep making these 👍

I heard that synth guitar and asked "who farted?"

A year and already playing teen town? Things are looking good for that dude.

Jazz

8:44 This actually sounds REALLY good :O I'd be very happy to hear it if it's ever officially released. Was it released since this vid came out?

The metal piece sounds like a tune found on a Nintendo 2D platform game from the 1990s. Faxanadu springs to mind.

Hey Adam, I think this video is excellent. It's like you're leading a huge masterclass for the RU-vid community! That's wonderful. You're an expert, and you have an invaluable expert opinion. Please don't listen to the haters, because what you're doing is great.

GOOGLE HAS A METRONOME????

That Billy Bumbler tune is like... meow meow, bzz bzz, shart shart...

Dude, you're so cool. Your understanding and acceptance of SO MANY musical disciplines, ability to convey them, and create videos with just enough cheezy youtube humour (Jazz, Jazz, Jaaaazz) keeps me coming back again and again. I'm even finding, as a hobbyist musician who plays mainly by ear, and understands basic notations, the visual notations of every chord you talk about with the overlay of audio of the chord itself is starting get in my brain and im understanding music in a different way. Keep it up. Much love.

"Guitarmony" I like that

I was gonna watch this video but then I got an ad that said Yousician™ was the best way to learn music and unsubscribed immediately

I came in on the tail end of this series, but I think this series is great! My comment a year too late but thought I would say what a great job you're doing with You Tube.

You're professional and respectful in your approach, detailed and informed analysis. Good job 💞

That prog piece was awesome, I'd love to hear it completed!

the mezzo jazz interlude was genius eheh

I love this series, please don’t stop. It’s immensely helpful.

Please continue the series. U're doing great i really respect you as a music youtuber more tgan anyone else

hey adam could you do a series on jazz listening?? i understand that for copyright issues it is difficult to do on youtube but maybe on another platform? love your stuff :)

If you want to be good at something you need to get constructive feedback. This video is great. People who want to live in their own little egg and never have their art critiqued can go somewhere else and suck on their own.

See I actually found the "non-sequitar" lick he played actually beautiful within the context of everything...

Thank you so much for this. I know how valuable your time is, and as someone who just started playing music, videos like these help me so much. Thank you.

I decided to write a short tune that is based on Eb11, has some "Teen Town" funk to it, and will be 15+ minutes in length. I'll submit my submission soon, Adam so I can learn how to suck better. (two of these qualities are true and being 15+ minutes isn't one of them)

I came across this and found it really interesting. I then read your comment and skimmed through some of the others. I'd say, don't be discouraged. I'm an amateur player (recorder) who wants to learn more and am lucky enough to have a great teacher (also a professional performer) who gives me exactly the type of advice you give, and that is what helps me improve. There's no point in me playing through, say, a Bach Partita and her saying it's wonderful. If it's OK, she says so (which is nice), but what I really want to know is how to do it better, because I know for sure it can be. And that's what you're doing here. And I for one learned a number of things from your video. Those who don't want criticism won't submit videos. Those who don't want to watch constructive criticism and learn from it aren't forced to watch. Those who don't understand why it's necessary, in my view don't want to be better musicians (it won't be because they are brilliant because if they were they would understand). Stick at it. I, and I'm sure many others, find it very useful indeed.

I love the advice you gave to that young bass player. When I had my older brother first teach me a harder riff. His advice was to slow it down, relax and make it musical. Then worry about playing it faster. It is actually easier to play it fast once you master it than to play it slowly and still make it sound musical. This helps when doing advanced guitar picking techniques a la Blind Blake or something equally advanced.

This series was EXTREMELY helpful!! Continue them; people will naturally be themselves. But don’t let ‘offended people’ dictate what kind of videos you produce. Think of those of us whom love your content when you upload. 😊 keep up the good work and keep the composition vids coming 🙂 we love them!!!!!

The "JAZZ" thing is hilarious

"I like the idea of this piece of music" Adam being polite for "This music is an atonal junkyard of dissonance."

Much respect. You obviously know your way around theory, and your critiques are honest, never snarky, and you clearly delineate between common practice and your own opinion. Very cool. And I appreciate your willingness to go past commenting on theory and into timbre and dynamics. If anybody has a problem with that, they're obviously more interested in protecting their feelings than they are learning and improving. I'm subscribing, and I'll be recommending your channel to friends.

Adam, you have a great attitude and a teacher's heart. I love watching these as well as SBL content.

So you're saying I should play an Eb11 chord for 5 hours straight? Right?

This is the best episode of this series so far. Really effectively delivered criticism.

You clearly have a deep yet practical understanding of music and I look forward to watching more of your videos! Thanks!

Love it. Your comments on "call and response." Really helped me with my approach to a solo section I'm working on currently.

I'm confused, the title doesn't seem to match what he's describing. Isn't the problem that he uses the Eb11 in stacked thirds, not Eb11 itself? When he rearranges the notes, it's still a voicing of Eb11. And isn't there going to be the same problem with any 11 chord, regardless of the root (E11, F11, Gb11, etc)?

That metal tune in the middle really sounds a lot like the Angry Video Game Nerd theme

10:23 How have I played guitar for over 20 years without encountering the term "guitarmony?" Or thinking of it independently?

That billy bumbler piece actually made me feel sick to my stomach

Well my submission wasn't chosen but at least I made it into the video!

Was gonna disagree... until I thought about it for five seconds and realized that G to Ab minor 9th interval would be there. It's not impossible to make a minor 9th sound good, just difficult to find the right place for it (An intentionally dissonant metal riff, for instance).

Pro advice from Neely, especially the last submission (Teen Town). For those who know, Teen Town as played by Jaco is much faster. Neely doesn’t highlight this. He highlighted the need to slow things down to relax into the piece. Excellent advice!

Great job, video, and advice. Your knowledge of theory is way beyond mine and that’s why I watch you, to learn more.