Was running the door at a indie rock gig where the sax soloed for 5 minutes just playing different forms of The Lick with the chord changes over the entire form of the song. This dude was playing different versions of the lick for 5 minutes. So beautiful. I don't think they have any more gigs booked though.
Your explanation of how to listen to Jazz was pretty mindblowing to me. I guess I knew some of this stuff already but it really cleared it up. Thanks Adam!
yo adam! When people ask for someone who is like you, but not you, they mostly just want more of what you do, because your stuff is so great and it is hard to find someone who is teaches "advanced" musical theory that goes beyond the widely spread knowledge (pentatonics, major, minor, triads) and extends it with things like modal interchange, cantus firmus, musical fractals, ..... so in other words: Keep up your awesome fucking work, yo!
AL_2017's question at 11:50 - Thank you, Adam for that answer. Too many musicians and bands in my area have that attitude. Simplifying songs to the most basic 3 or (gasp!) 4 chords (because sometimes you have to have 'the' minor one, ya know?) is all too common. When I raise objections or start a dialogue about 'raising the bar', the typical responses include: "The audience doesn't know the difference", "the venue doesn't pay enough to make it worth it" and the response that always makes me shudder a bit: "We want to make the song our own instead of copy the original". i.e. "We don't want to practice.".
It's a running joke, that bass players never get the girl. So when asked about the girlfiriend, Adam seemengly wanted to anwser by talking about the private life, but the phone "accidentaly" rang, so he had to leave. This way, the myth continues to live.
Honestly though, I think the point was exactly to interrupt the reagular flow with the announcement concerning UMG..? (I know, "no sh*t, Sherlock", but this and some answers sounded like honestly wondering)
the harsh The word faggot is about the worst insult there is. The word means a cigarette, a small piece of kindling wood or the likes. As an insult the implication is that the person is only worth burning in the fires of hell. I would never wish this on anyone, even my worst enemies. I would rather see them change and become better people. Certainly bad typing could be improved, but it's not something to send someone to hell for. In fact, in a context like this, a badly typed comment that is thoughtful and insightful is way better than a petty comment like yours.
This video lasts 15 min 14 sec 15 x 14 = 210. The product of the digits of 210 is 2 whereas the sum of its digits is 3 so: 210 x 2 +3 = 423. Add each the digit: 423 + 4 + 2 + 3 = 432 Just believe man! This does not happen by random... And no! The product of the digits of 210 is not 0. you unbeliever pagan!
It would only be taken seriously had LsMor specified units such as Hz, cps, bps, or sync number. That would require the operations to conform with the principles of dimensional analysis, scale, and similarity ... philsci-archive.pitt.edu/4474/1/SterrettSimilarity%26DimensionalAnalysis5January2009.pdf
Trust me, the desire for more Neel-eque content is not an insult. You've given people a product that they like so much they want more. That's an accomplishment. Love your channel. Started a musical journal just to keep track of all the ideas you've given me. Many thanks.
Hey Adam, I just wanted to respond to a comment that you responded to in this video (a little meta, I know). It was the person asking if you knew of any channels that were like yours. I honestly wish there were more channels like yours; not because I find any problem with your videos, but because I want Adam Neely style videos every single day. I absolutely love the style of videos that you have and they are always fascinating.
For what it's worth, I don't need an Adam Neely for guitar and/or progressive rock/metal. The existing Adam Neely has helped expand my understanding of music in a lot of ways. As I commented in another one of your videos, you're a great teacher because you can make any subject interesting and understandable. I'm always interested in finding great teachers about basically anything but, you know, always be yourselves. Unless you can be Adam Neely.
Adam Neely is the music teacher I wish I had when I was getting going on guitar. He’s already changed the way I think about composition and practice. Great stuff.
Hey Adam, just wanting to let you know i love your videos and i think you are really doing a great thing by making interesting and entertaining music content. I am a violinist myself, and i try to take the things that you discuss in your videos and apply it to my own practice. About 2 weeks ago, a friend of mine (who was very talented cellist) died tragically. He very much admired your work and loved your videos. I say this to let you know that you are impacting peoples lives in a positive way, and there is a whole wave of young musicians that really enjoy your content. Thank you for doing what you do!
I love the nostalgic feel of the theme music you use in your videos. Reminds me of the time I first stumbled upon your videos and binge watched them last fall :)
I was binging through some of your older content and during your Q+A #20 you talked about Native Construct and Thank You Scientist. I just wanted to say how happy it made me to hear you mention those bands. In a weird way it's validating to me. You're someone I respect, who is musically talented and educated, and whose opinions, in essence, have a little more weight (I probably shouldn't think like that but I do). I know that's not what really matters. What really matters is that I enjoy the music, but I thought it was worth mentioning because it genuinely made me happy. I wanted to suggest another band to you. They are called Hypno5e. They are a french avant garde metal band. Their album Acid Mist Tomorrow is and probably will remain one of my top three albums I've ever listened to. Thank you for the wonderful videos and education!
I think the whole 'How to listen to Jazz' question could be expanded; even a series on "How to listen to "; perhaps with a list of good examples of the genre.
Obvious answer to the last question, make sure you keep your wrist straight to prevent stress injury. Stress injuries equal no "fun time" with the ladies. ;)
Thank you very much for what you are doing! I really appreciate the way you teach. You inspire a lot of people. Best greetings from Vienna, Austria. :) Love, Peace and Music.
That first question reminded me of that epic scene from Wrong Cops when Officer Rough tells the music producer "You don't like my song? But I spent MONTHS working on it!" and the producer is like "Who gives a shit? 'Billie Jean' by Michael Jackson was made in four hours".
I want to make a comment on passive listening. Almost all of my favorite bands or artists that I now love I used to have a disdain for listening to. I found that if I listened to such bands passively I would subconsciously get an idea of the atmosphere they were representing. When I realized I liked the overall vibe of such band or artist while listening passively I would listen to them actively to truly appreciate the music they were playing. I have learned that if I don't initially like a band or artist by listening to them actively at first, they grow on my my listen passively. As a result I have grown to love many genres and artists I used to not like as well as eventually spending time to analyze the music.
I know this video is super old now but I'm going through all of your uploads chronologically after getting hooked on the new ones. Thank you so much for all the amazing content!! From this video specifically, what you said about how Jazz is usually organized and how to listen to it, I find SO helpful and really eye/ear opening. Gonna be listening with that in mind from now on. Thanks again. [edit] also that ending 😆👌
I think it's also possible that the "Like Adam but not Adam" can also speak to a desire for more content with the same high quality as yours. To many you're not just a good YooChoober, you're a great one. And I suspect that many, like me simply want more of this. We want "Neely Level" videos.
I think that scrutinizing every detail of what you are doing for any form of composition is important, but once you develop that skill set, it is often that people work better when they forced to just create without overthinking it. When I first started learning music theory, all I thought about was theory in almost every situation, and I broke down every piece I learned or wrote into the most detailed analysis I could. Now when I write, I hardly have to think about that and it all comes out naturally. I think that's why deadlines can help get the creative juices flowing, but (usually) only after dedicated studying of the skill has been done.
Hey Adam! Just wanted to say that your videos are super cool and helpful, I'm currently a music student and your videos help me out with my compositions and overall understanding of the subject. I even got my music graduate brother into your videos as well! Thanks much.
There's a book by Ted Gioia that goes by that name and is worth a read because it's essentially an elongated version of what Adam says in this video. Someone's even put together a playlist of the tracks he talks about in the book on Spotify, which is useful.
Thanks Adam. I certainly recognize myself in the first comment. Very cool insight that I will endeavor to remember and repeat to myself. Just because it was complex for me to make/understand doesn't make it complex or interesting to the listener!
I recognise myself too. The tunes I write that people usually connect with are often songs that I get bored with because they don't have complexities that I get a kick out of resolving.
I get why you might take the question about "[Insert instrument here] version of Adam Neely" as an insult - but I would say take it as a compliment. You're right about the instrumental connection but the number of people who are willing & able to put together a good quality music channel covering the same kinds of topics isn't that high - you're rarer than you think!
I'd suggest another way to listen to Jazz (music in general) which is a nice halfway house between analysis and passive listening: what is often described as 'Feeling the music'. This is never really explained in any depth, but in my experience I try to get in a meditative space (meditation helps) and really let the music come to me, as opposed to trying to grasp it.As a musician who in the past would exclusively 'spy' on the other musicians and focus intently on aspects of the music, this approach is really liberating and allows you to consume the sound as a whole and have quite a profound experience.
Adam, Keep doing what you do! I'm a trumpet player and teacher. Your insight and knowledge in all aspects of being a professional musician are a vehicle of growth for many. Thank you! I am curious about how to listen more deeply to music. Your brief descriptions are great cliff hangers leaving me thirsting for more! Can you dive deeper into the process? I am an aspiring jazz musician but I feel I am missing something. I've been told listening deeply to the greats and iminating is the key. It would be great if you could teach us a little more in depth about this process. Like really how to listen... Music for life!
About that question at 13:06, i know you know it's not meant to be insulting, but i think it's rather flattering even : It's the fact that once people have found a channel such as yours, they want more of this stuff than you could ever put out^^ I hardly believe that guy would stop watching your videos... It's like every frame a painting or cookies, or sex. One does not just grow weary of it.
Regarding the "Adam Neely for (another instrument)" question: I don't watch this channel because it relates to my instrument, because it doesn't. I found it because of an interesting video and found it useful and kept watching. I find that because a lot of the stuff isn't aimed specifically at my instrument that I pick up bits that wouldn't perhaps be in a more obviously tailored-for-me channel and so I am applying things to my music that I just wouldn't have come across. To be honest, a lot of the stuff goes over my head, but I find that I learn a lot from that that I can then apply to my learning when I go back to stuff that's on my level.
for the next Q+A: 1. how do you recommend going about meeting relatively serious musicians (I'm a devoted amateur and am caught in that grey area between pro-level musicians and people who can only kind of play) for bands/gigging without pre-established networks like those available to Berklee alumni? 2. when I was around 12 and had just started to get excited about practicing/playing music, my school had a band play a holiday-dance kind of event. in between songs I approached one of the band members and told him I played music, and his response (picture a crotchety 50 year old guy): "whatever you do, never do this for a living, you'll learn to hate it." how do you stay engaged and passionate as a person whose job is to play/compose/talk about music? do you see this kind of burn-out among other musicians, or do you think this guy was mostly pissed he was stuck playing a middle school in New Jersey for probably no money? thanks for all the videos, keep being awesome
Love your knowledge and love for music. I play a few instruments (obsessed with the guitar) and am mainly a vocalist. Lately I’ve been writing originals. I love all aspects of music. I would give me eye tooth to be able to sit and pick your brain. I too do not listen to music passively. I listen very closely and deliberately when I do.
One of my favorite times of the day is Question and Answer Time with Adam Neely (ya!) and singing the song and picking out new harmony interval to sing along with it. Is it just me or is the (ya!) part not exactly quantized and is like some magical micro-rhythmic subdivision?
About having a deadline: A study relates to the process of making decisions: Two random groups of people were given two different tasks. One group was given five minutes to decide which one of two objects they would take home. The other group was given 24 hours. Later they were tested for how satisfied they were with their choice. The group that was given five minutes was the most satisfied. A song written "in the flow" or "in the zone" is laden with quick decisions. And since the placebo effect is omnipresent in life, any satisfied belief in a song will do the song good.
Adam, I want to share a bit about my listening habit. For a long time, I wonder why I can't listen to music while reading or studying. I have to do it in a place free from music. When I hang out with my friends, the music can also distract me. If the place plays a song that I don't like, I become bored. When the place plays my favorite song, I give more attention to it than my friends. Thanks to your explanation, I understand that I can't passively listening to music. And I know where that habit comes from. When I started learning guitar more than a decade ago, I began to listen to a song more closely. At first, I did that because I wanted to know how the guitar was played on that particular song. The more I did that, the more I could listen to different part of that song. Including fill in melody, acoustic guitar sound, electric guitar with its effect, bass line, etc. It has become my habit and I can't listen to a song in a different way.
For what it's worth, I don't think anyone is trying to insult you by looking for someone 'like you but not you'! I love watching channels similar to yours, because I absolutely love all of the content that you put out, and I think people wanna be able to consume content like yours at a rate faster than it could possibly be made. I'm training to become a secondary (age 11-18) music teacher in the UK and want to produce content somewhat inspired by creators such as you, twelvetone, etc. but geared towards stuff outside of what's contemporary - looking at some world music, like indian rags and gamelan, as well as western art music from medieval/renaissance through to romantic/20th century.... The idea being to help out students that are currently studying those styles in school. The problem being that I don't really know a lot about that stuff yet, as my degree was rock/pop based, so my knowledge of those styles is limited (hence noticing that gap in the youtube space right now - I was looking for a 'classical' Adam Neely, I guess). As I start digging deeper, maybe I'll start trying to put something together.
Dear Adam, I just wanted to comment (2 years later) that I really appreciate your simple answer regarding how to listen to jazz. So thanks (better late than never, right? :)
You should probably take it as a compliment that people want ‘Adam Neely for guitar’ or whatever. They love your stuff so much they want even more content than you’ve actually made!
The question about time involved composing. I worked at one of the best Arranging and Composing schools for many years out in Los Angeles. Part of the arranging and composting program many of the top film and TV composers gave seminar. One common trait they would talk about is how they would wait to the "eleventh hour" to start writing for a project. When asked why the answer was "to force ourselves to keep it simple". So even the biggest names in film scoring do things to help them keep it simple.
Hey Adam, I've been playing music in some regard for a total of about five years, with the last two years being primarily focused on bass. The more I play music the more I want to find some way to make it my career. The idea of teaching private lessons sounds really attractive to me, I have a lot of patience with children/beginners and I absolutely love those moments when you explain something to someone in a way that they can understand and they have one of those "aha!" moments and something makes sense to them, or when someone discovers that they are finally able to do something they thought they weren't capable of. Basically I just love to see people grow. My question is this: at what point would you say someone is qualified to teach private lessons? and what things should I focus on in my own musical education if I wanted to do that?
Why do people write God like this? You mean "God", right? I only saw this "spelling" from USAnians, so I guess it's an american thing. I honestly don't know since I'm german, and we just write Gott fully all the time. Really wanna know, 'cause I've seen it written like this in a lotta lyrics I've read.
I think it's to do with the whole "thou shalt not misuse the name of the lord" Basically, in ye olde times saying "oh my god" or "jesus christ" as an exclamation was seen as swearing, just like damn or shit etc. So I suppose it's essentially the same thing as typing "f**k universal music", to make it tacful :)
Hi Adam, maybe a question for the next Q&A. What practicing schedule can u recommend to a self-taught musician? I've started so great but i have those "what should i learn/do now?". Total procrastination about planning the workflow and "hands down" as a result. Thanks in advance.
Hey, Adam, I'm a percussionist and composer. I've never been able to "get into" jazz (in terms of playing it) but I love listening to it, and there seem to be so many different kinds, fusion, smooth, big band, etc. My questions are: What IS jazz? What separates the different subgenres of jazz? If I want to write it, what music theory do I need to know to begin?
While I was watching your response to Noah S who was looking for someone like you, but not you I felt that you went from being Adam Neely to Adam Needy when you mentioned the "almost insult" bit. You started the response by mentioning someone else which was really cool, then it sounded like you were going down the path of "he's cool, but you don't have to leave MY channel," until you finished off suggesting that other people who have the ability to teach and inspire and who play a world of other instruments to start a vlog as well. That is really awesome. I always feel that those within a community, be it vloggers, musicians, musical vloggers, whatever, who don't try to see what they do as a competition and who spread the wealth of both knowledge on a subject and their means of monetisation are the ones that I will come back to. I'm a former bass player who is now a multi-instrumentalist who gets more from your channel about the general aspects of musicianship than I do from your bass tutorials, but I just admire what you do. I'm a Patreon patron of yours because I get so much from this channel and I feel that it's not just a bass player's view on music, but a musician's view on music... plus some bass playing stuff. Keep up the good work.
Thanks for the answer! And you're absolutely right, people should applaud the masterful complexity I create from nothingness. For I. Am. Composer! (Insert He-man quote)
Adam, don't be offended, but rather flattered that so many people want to ask where to find "Adam Neely for X instrument" on TH-cam! I think the biggest reason for your TH-cam success is your communication/teaching abilities and your organization of your ideas in your videos in such a way that is eye catching and entertainingly presented, yet very thorough and informative and scientific. Your videos just sort of... flow well. That combination of attributes seems to attract people, and I believe your success as well as that of Michael Stevens is testament to that. Then it seems only natural that people see this style of presentation and want to see your method oriented from the point of view of an expert in an instrument they identify with. It means they love the style of the video, and your method of teaching. I say, embrace these comments as compliments and let them make you smile, man! (Or at least laugh uncomfortably since you seem to be bad at taking compliments, haha).
Question for newbies like myself: There's so much information nowadays it's hard to know where to begin as a new bassist past basic techniques (how to hold, no bent wrist, etc). Is there any measurable path we can take to view progress? Do we start with theory, reading music, chord tones, walking bass lines, jazz standards? Do you stick to learning single notes over the fretboard for a week(s) at a time? Would like to use a paved path rather than dropped in the middle of a forest.
Hey Adam, You answered a relevant question in a previous Q&A, and it got me thinking about how music education affects the way we think about music from that point forward. If you were to completely scrap the constructs inherent in western music theory and start from scratch, do you think people would end up at a similar end product? How much of our view of music and its nature is tied to history and how much to fundamental physical and psychological phenomena? I've been experimenting with designing a system that attempts to use intervalic relationships and avoids a tempered scale. For the life of me, though, I can't think of how music would sound or be transcribed in a system like this. Since I'm so conditioned to think of a note as an exact frequency derived from a single standard frequency, I have almost no concept of what to use and not use from the theory I was taught.
Hey Adam. I am mediocre musician at best but I’m a big fan of your videos. Is there any chance you could do a/some video(s) on composition? I am just getting into jazz and I can string together a few nice chords but I often struggle sometimes to figure out where to go next.
QUESTION: Hey. I always have the trouble with writing the "happy" songs. Every time when I try the happy scales I get more to the moody sad music or silly, but still not happy or uplifting. Could you explain why it might happens and also show us a few key ingredients other than the scale to make the "happy" songs ? Maybe it's all about the rhythm and tone of the instruments ? Also if you are open for the challenge, could you try to write the "happy" song with the wort possible scale for it ? Cheers.
It does have a lot to do with rhythm. Try recontextualising your melodic ideas over different harmonies as well. 1-4-5 is normally pretty happy. Just don't worry about being predictable.
I don't know of such a thing. I recommend analysing the music that you identify as characteristically 'happy' and try to determine if there's a theme between these in terms of melody, rhythm or harmony. It's certainly not as simple as being in a major key. Lots of 'happy' music for me is bluesy major/minor stuff with chromaticism
If I were told to write a happy song, I would probably write something with mixolydian-styled harmony. Mixolydian is the major scale with a b7, so use a lot of I, IV, V, and (here's the fun one) bVII chords. You can even be bold and venture to bIII, then walk up the circle of fifths back to the tonic. "Jessica" by The Allman Brothers Band is a great example of a happy song. Another good example of this type of harmony is the chorus of "Hey Jude," which is I - bVII - IV - I.
In regards to listening jazz or bop it’s also worth noting the importance of rhythm. When listening to jazz music you want to feel the beat. The melodic and harmonic components of jazz are definitely something to appreciate, however, those parts alone without the rhythms of bop wouldn’t sound like jazz.
Yooooo, Adam! I've lost 6 months of my life binging your content and don't regret a second of it. Thanks for putting in the work. One thing that really stuck out to me, because I am a musician first and a rapper second, was the comment you made regarding your interest in lo-fi hip hop. If I may paraphrase- you dig the aesthetic, but feel the music itself lacks tension. What are the chances of us getting to hear a 'Sungazer / Flying Lotus x The Music from any Guy Richie film before Sherlock Holmes' style track? I think that would be a super dope undertaking in your hands. Keep going. -J
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 87 วันนี้!! คู่เอก "ก้องชัย vs โชคปรีชา"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YN6e7HVnekw/mqdefault.jpg)
Was running the door at a indie rock gig where the sax soloed for 5 minutes just playing different forms of The Lick with the chord changes over the entire form of the song. This dude was playing different versions of the lick for 5 minutes. So beautiful. I don't think they have any more gigs booked though.
Adam Neely's vid deserve an active listening. I now listen to them with paper and pencils, and I take some notes.
I come in expecting just to chill and listen, but I always end up jotting stuff down in notepad and saving it to my documents for later. #thestruggle
on point
oh thank god im not the only one
@@busteronlyfullscreenmode #struggling with that name sir.
Is there an Adam Neely for Mayonnaise?
No but there is one for en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bass_(fish) :P
Mayonnaise is not an instrument, at least according to Squidward. Patrick already asked that question. ;)
Is there an Adam Neely for cars?
better spell it like my nickname
Is there an Adam Neely for Smash Mouth sampling?
Your explanation of how to listen to Jazz was pretty mindblowing to me. I guess I knew some of this stuff already but it really cleared it up. Thanks Adam!
yo adam!
When people ask for someone who is like you, but not you, they mostly just want more of what you do, because your stuff is so great and it is hard to find someone who is teaches "advanced" musical theory that goes beyond the widely spread knowledge (pentatonics, major, minor, triads) and extends it with things like modal interchange, cantus firmus, musical fractals, .....
so in other words: Keep up your awesome fucking work, yo!
Agreed, I'm watching your stuff much faster than you can produce it. It's good stuff!
AL_2017's question at 11:50 - Thank you, Adam for that answer. Too many musicians and bands in my area have that attitude. Simplifying songs to the most basic 3 or (gasp!) 4 chords (because sometimes you have to have 'the' minor one, ya know?) is all too common. When I raise objections or start a dialogue about 'raising the bar', the typical responses include: "The audience doesn't know the difference", "the venue doesn't pay enough to make it worth it" and the response that always makes me shudder a bit: "We want to make the song our own instead of copy the original". i.e. "We don't want to practice.".
The punchline at the end made me laugh out loud!
Dewsy Sipos what was it
It's a running joke, that bass players never get the girl. So when asked about the girlfiriend, Adam seemengly wanted to anwser by talking about the private life, but the phone "accidentaly" rang, so he had to leave. This way, the myth continues to live.
@@DewsySipos I think that was someone (presumably a lady friend) buzzing his apartment.
Where was the 'ya' in the intro? :(((
i hope this is answered in Q&A 41
for real wtf
me too!
Not family-friendly enough for youtube
Honestly though, I think the point was exactly to interrupt the reagular flow with the announcement concerning UMG..? (I know, "no sh*t, Sherlock", but this and some answers sounded like honestly wondering)
the ending just killed me
eHcOZaX Rest in Pepperoni
It did kill... my hopes.
Even because we all just *know* that was a lady at the door…
Bassist don’t get girls
I haven't laughed that hard in a long while...
paused the video to learn what was on your shirt....played the lick
the harsh pls don't use "faggot" as an insult
the harsh also, if you're going to use it, spell it correctly.
the harsh Also, you forgot a comma.
I think it is a simplified version of the piano riff that he plays inbetween questions.
the harsh The word faggot is about the worst insult there is. The word means a cigarette, a small piece of kindling wood or the likes. As an insult the implication is that the person is only worth burning in the fires of hell. I would never wish this on anyone, even my worst enemies. I would rather see them change and become better people.
Certainly bad typing could be improved, but it's not something to send someone to hell for. In fact, in a context like this, a badly typed comment that is thoughtful and insightful is way better than a petty comment like yours.
This video lasts 15 min 14 sec
15 x 14 = 210.
The product of the digits of 210 is 2 whereas the sum of its digits is 3 so:
210 x 2 +3 = 423.
Add each the digit:
423 + 4 + 2 + 3 = 432
Just believe man! This does not happen by random...
And no! The product of the digits of 210 is not 0. you unbeliever pagan!
LsMor I wonder how many people actually believed this comment was serious...
It would only be taken seriously had LsMor specified units such as Hz, cps, bps, or sync number. That would require the operations to conform with the principles of dimensional analysis, scale, and similarity ...
philsci-archive.pitt.edu/4474/1/SterrettSimilarity%26DimensionalAnalysis5January2009.pdf
"The product of the digits 210 is 2"
TIL 2*1*0=2
You needed to stop at 210 x 2. That's more than enough.
read the full comment :)
Trust me, the desire for more Neel-eque content is not an insult. You've given people a product that they like so much they want more. That's an accomplishment. Love your channel. Started a musical journal just to keep track of all the ideas you've given me. Many thanks.
Hey Adam,
I just wanted to respond to a comment that you responded to in this video (a little meta, I know). It was the person asking if you knew of any channels that were like yours. I honestly wish there were more channels like yours; not because I find any problem with your videos, but because I want Adam Neely style videos every single day. I absolutely love the style of videos that you have and they are always fascinating.
I laughed audibly at the conclusion of this video. Now to watch Adam transcribe one of my favourite Cure songs.
I half expected the "Ya!" after the phone rang. Super cheeky ending. Love it.
Clearly the best way to get a girlfriend when you're a bassist is to be able to play The Lick in any position ;)
That was pretty slick of you :3
With a teacher like Adam, how can you go wrong?
Nihl Echo are you a literary savant?
Jokes on you, they were killed by my puns years ago!
More like give her the lick
I don’t watch your videos for Bass lessons.
It’s for the entire wealth of knowledge and insight you bring. Friggin legend
For what it's worth, I don't need an Adam Neely for guitar and/or progressive rock/metal. The existing Adam Neely has helped expand my understanding of music in a lot of ways. As I commented in another one of your videos, you're a great teacher because you can make any subject interesting and understandable. I'm always interested in finding great teachers about basically anything but, you know, always be yourselves. Unless you can be Adam Neely.
Could you please consider making a video about "playing ahead/behind the beat".
Adam Neely is the music teacher I wish I had when I was getting going on guitar. He’s already changed the way I think about composition and practice. Great stuff.
I can confirm that women do, in fact, like when.
Hey Adam, just wanting to let you know i love your videos and i think you are really doing a great thing by making interesting and entertaining music content. I am a violinist myself, and i try to take the things that you discuss in your videos and apply it to my own practice. About 2 weeks ago, a friend of mine (who was very talented cellist) died tragically. He very much admired your work and loved your videos. I say this to let you know that you are impacting peoples lives in a positive way, and there is a whole wave of young musicians that really enjoy your content. Thank you for doing what you do!
Adam, I like it when you teach us musical stuff... ❤️
love that your shirt is the cue. Your answers got me subscribing lol
Love how Adam gets 8-Bit Music Theory videos in his recommended
Their ideas seem to complement each other very well!
The two TH-cam channels for which I turned on notifications.
I love the nostalgic feel of the theme music you use in your videos.
Reminds me of the time I first stumbled upon your videos and binge watched them last fall :)
The ending. Gold. Just gold
Great tips , thanks!!
I was binging through some of your older content and during your Q+A #20 you talked about Native Construct and Thank You Scientist.
I just wanted to say how happy it made me to hear you mention those bands. In a weird way it's validating to me. You're someone I respect, who is musically talented and educated, and whose opinions, in essence, have a little more weight (I probably shouldn't think like that but I do). I know that's not what really matters. What really matters is that I enjoy the music, but I thought it was worth mentioning because it genuinely made me happy.
I wanted to suggest another band to you. They are called Hypno5e. They are a french avant garde metal band. Their album Acid Mist Tomorrow is and probably will remain one of my top three albums I've ever listened to.
Thank you for the wonderful videos and education!
I think the whole 'How to listen to Jazz' question could be expanded; even a series on "How to listen to "; perhaps with a list of good examples of the genre.
Sounds like I really oubht to set myself deadlines. Your point about secon-guessing oneself and cannibalizing one's music is so freaking on point.
Obvious answer to the last question, make sure you keep your wrist straight to prevent stress injury. Stress injuries equal no "fun time" with the ladies. ;)
Thank you very much for what you are doing! I really appreciate the way you teach. You inspire a lot of people. Best greetings from Vienna, Austria. :) Love, Peace and Music.
As a composer this first question describes my entire music degree. Thanks!
That first question reminded me of that epic scene from Wrong Cops when Officer Rough tells the music producer "You don't like my song? But I spent MONTHS working on it!" and the producer is like "Who gives a shit? 'Billie Jean' by Michael Jackson was made in four hours".
I want to make a comment on passive listening. Almost all of my favorite bands or artists that I now love I used to have a disdain for listening to. I found that if I listened to such bands passively I would subconsciously get an idea of the atmosphere they were representing. When I realized I liked the overall vibe of such band or artist while listening passively I would listen to them actively to truly appreciate the music they were playing. I have learned that if I don't initially like a band or artist by listening to them actively at first, they grow on my my listen passively. As a result I have grown to love many genres and artists I used to not like as well as eventually spending time to analyze the music.
I know this video is super old now but I'm going through all of your uploads chronologically after getting hooked on the new ones. Thank you so much for all the amazing content!! From this video specifically, what you said about how Jazz is usually organized and how to listen to it, I find SO helpful and really eye/ear opening. Gonna be listening with that in mind from now on. Thanks again. [edit] also that ending 😆👌
I think it's also possible that the "Like Adam but not Adam" can also speak to a desire for more content with the same high quality as yours. To many you're not just a good YooChoober, you're a great one. And I suspect that many, like me simply want more of this. We want "Neely Level" videos.
I think that scrutinizing every detail of what you are doing for any form of composition is important, but once you develop that skill set, it is often that people work better when they forced to just create without overthinking it.
When I first started learning music theory, all I thought about was theory in almost every situation, and I broke down every piece I learned or wrote into the most detailed analysis I could. Now when I write, I hardly have to think about that and it all comes out naturally. I think that's why deadlines can help get the creative juices flowing, but (usually) only after dedicated studying of the skill has been done.
"How to listen to jazz for those who shall take this quest" will be a great video.
A standalone video on "active" music listening would be terrific.
Hey Adam! Just wanted to say that your videos are super cool and helpful, I'm currently a music student and your videos help me out with my compositions and overall understanding of the subject. I even got my music graduate brother into your videos as well! Thanks much.
Adam, just thanks again man.
"How to listen to Jazz" - next video :D
Thore T. UMG video says why he can’t...
Thore T. Featuring Patrick Star
There's a book by Ted Gioia that goes by that name and is worth a read because it's essentially an elongated version of what Adam says in this video. Someone's even put together a playlist of the tracks he talks about in the book on Spotify, which is useful.
Thanks Adam. I certainly recognize myself in the first comment. Very cool insight that I will endeavor to remember and repeat to myself. Just because it was complex for me to make/understand doesn't make it complex or interesting to the listener!
I recognise myself too. The tunes I write that people usually connect with are often songs that I get bored with because they don't have complexities that I get a kick out of resolving.
I get why you might take the question about "[Insert instrument here] version of Adam Neely" as an insult - but I would say take it as a compliment. You're right about the instrumental connection but the number of people who are willing & able to put together a good quality music channel covering the same kinds of topics isn't that high - you're rarer than you think!
I'd suggest another way to listen to Jazz (music in general) which is a nice halfway house between analysis and passive listening: what is often described as 'Feeling the music'. This is never really explained in any depth, but in my experience I try to get in a meditative space (meditation helps) and really let the music come to me, as opposed to trying to grasp it.As a musician who in the past would exclusively 'spy' on the other musicians and focus intently on aspects of the music, this approach is really liberating and allows you to consume the sound as a whole and have quite a profound experience.
Drums: JP Bouvet
Bass: Janek Gwizdala
Sax: Bobby Reynolds
Piano: Peter Martin
Business/General inspiration: Casey Neistat
JulianFernandez what about flute?
Brass?
y'all he gave 5 channels he doesn't play every single instrument in the entire world holy moses
Harry Miree is cool for drums, he might not be the same educational style, but he’s a working musician doing (sporadic) TH-cam videos
Also Jeff Schneider for sax and keys
Adam,
Keep doing what you do! I'm a trumpet player and teacher. Your insight and knowledge in all aspects of being a professional musician are a vehicle of growth for many. Thank you!
I am curious about how to listen more deeply to music. Your brief descriptions are great cliff hangers leaving me thirsting for more! Can you dive deeper into the process? I am an aspiring jazz musician but I feel I am missing something. I've been told listening deeply to the greats and iminating is the key. It would be great if you could teach us a little more in depth about this process. Like really how to listen...
Music for life!
About that question at 13:06, i know you know it's not meant to be insulting, but i think it's rather flattering even : It's the fact that once people have found a channel such as yours, they want more of this stuff than you could ever put out^^
I hardly believe that guy would stop watching your videos...
It's like every frame a painting or cookies, or sex. One does not just grow weary of it.
these videos are the highlight of my monday (and probably my week. ) I'm buying a lick T-shirt.
Regarding the "Adam Neely for (another instrument)" question: I don't watch this channel because it relates to my instrument, because it doesn't. I found it because of an interesting video and found it useful and kept watching.
I find that because a lot of the stuff isn't aimed specifically at my instrument that I pick up bits that wouldn't perhaps be in a more obviously tailored-for-me channel and so I am applying things to my music that I just wouldn't have come across.
To be honest, a lot of the stuff goes over my head, but I find that I learn a lot from that that I can then apply to my learning when I go back to stuff that's on my level.
oh my soul i just understood your sweater you legend
for the next Q+A: 1. how do you recommend going about meeting relatively serious musicians (I'm a devoted amateur and am caught in that grey area between pro-level musicians and people who can only kind of play) for bands/gigging without pre-established networks like those available to Berklee alumni? 2. when I was around 12 and had just started to get excited about practicing/playing music, my school had a band play a holiday-dance kind of event. in between songs I approached one of the band members and told him I played music, and his response (picture a crotchety 50 year old guy): "whatever you do, never do this for a living, you'll learn to hate it." how do you stay engaged and passionate as a person whose job is to play/compose/talk about music? do you see this kind of burn-out among other musicians, or do you think this guy was mostly pissed he was stuck playing a middle school in New Jersey for probably no money? thanks for all the videos, keep being awesome
Love your knowledge and love for music. I play a few instruments (obsessed with the guitar) and am mainly a vocalist. Lately I’ve been writing originals. I love all aspects of music. I would give me eye tooth to be able to sit and pick your brain. I too do not listen to music passively. I listen very closely and deliberately when I do.
One of my favorite times of the day is Question and Answer Time with Adam Neely (ya!) and singing the song and picking out new harmony interval to sing along with it. Is it just me or is the (ya!) part not exactly quantized and is like some magical micro-rhythmic subdivision?
About having a deadline: A study relates to the process of making decisions:
Two random groups of people were given two different tasks.
One group was given five minutes to decide which one of two objects they would take home.
The other group was given 24 hours.
Later they were tested for how satisfied they were with their choice.
The group that was given five minutes was the most satisfied.
A song written "in the flow" or "in the zone" is laden with quick decisions.
And since the placebo effect is omnipresent in life, any satisfied belief in a song will do the song good.
I searched YT for the company so I could click on your video, and it was near the top of the first page.
Adam, I want to share a bit about my listening habit.
For a long time, I wonder why I can't listen to music while reading or studying. I have to do it in a place free from music. When I hang out with my friends, the music can also distract me. If the place plays a song that I don't like, I become bored. When the place plays my favorite song, I give more attention to it than my friends.
Thanks to your explanation, I understand that I can't passively listening to music. And I know where that habit comes from.
When I started learning guitar more than a decade ago, I began to listen to a song more closely. At first, I did that because I wanted to know how the guitar was played on that particular song. The more I did that, the more I could listen to different part of that song. Including fill in melody, acoustic guitar sound, electric guitar with its effect, bass line, etc. It has become my habit and I can't listen to a song in a different way.
For what it's worth, I don't think anyone is trying to insult you by looking for someone 'like you but not you'! I love watching channels similar to yours, because I absolutely love all of the content that you put out, and I think people wanna be able to consume content like yours at a rate faster than it could possibly be made.
I'm training to become a secondary (age 11-18) music teacher in the UK and want to produce content somewhat inspired by creators such as you, twelvetone, etc. but geared towards stuff outside of what's contemporary - looking at some world music, like indian rags and gamelan, as well as western art music from medieval/renaissance through to romantic/20th century.... The idea being to help out students that are currently studying those styles in school. The problem being that I don't really know a lot about that stuff yet, as my degree was rock/pop based, so my knowledge of those styles is limited (hence noticing that gap in the youtube space right now - I was looking for a 'classical' Adam Neely, I guess). As I start digging deeper, maybe I'll start trying to put something together.
Dear Adam, I just wanted to comment (2 years later) that I really appreciate your simple answer regarding how to listen to jazz. So thanks (better late than never, right? :)
Love the shirt, brother. Cheers, Daniel
I always learn something new here
yeah, finally someone who talks about note stability in a scale.. yeahhhhhhhh thankssss
You should probably take it as a compliment that people want ‘Adam Neely for guitar’ or whatever. They love your stuff so much they want even more content than you’ve actually made!
Thanks for the Bob Reynolds tip! Subscribed to him immediately.
The question about time involved composing. I worked at one of the best Arranging and Composing schools for many years out in Los Angeles. Part of the arranging and composting program many of the top film and TV composers gave seminar. One common trait they would talk about is how they would wait to the "eleventh hour" to start writing for a project. When asked why the answer was "to force ourselves to keep it simple". So even the biggest names in film scoring do things to help them keep it simple.
Great video love the content on this Channel. Great ending too
Perfect ending!
Hey Adam, I've been playing music in some regard for a total of about five years, with the last two years being primarily focused on bass. The more I play music the more I want to find some way to make it my career. The idea of teaching private lessons sounds really attractive to me, I have a lot of patience with children/beginners and I absolutely love those moments when you explain something to someone in a way that they can understand and they have one of those "aha!" moments and something makes sense to them, or when someone discovers that they are finally able to do something they thought they weren't capable of. Basically I just love to see people grow. My question is this: at what point would you say someone is qualified to teach private lessons? and what things should I focus on in my own musical education if I wanted to do that?
"G-d forbid, a bass solo!!!" - Adam Neely 2017
Why do people write God like this? You mean "God", right? I only saw this "spelling" from USAnians, so I guess it's an american thing.
I honestly don't know since I'm german, and we just write Gott fully all the time. Really wanna know, 'cause I've seen it written like this in a lotta lyrics I've read.
robpiy91 mostly a Jewish practice I'd say
I think it's to do with the whole "thou shalt not misuse the name of the lord"
Basically, in ye olde times saying "oh my god" or "jesus christ" as an exclamation was seen as swearing, just like damn or shit etc. So I suppose it's essentially the same thing as typing "f**k universal music", to make it tacful :)
The funny thing is that if there is a vengeful god, it's not like you're fooling him by spelling it different.
Maybe god is an algorithm that you can trick by pitchshifting, timestretching and yes, alternative spelling. ;)
Hi Adam, maybe a question for the next Q&A. What practicing schedule can u recommend to a self-taught musician? I've started so great but i have those "what should i learn/do now?". Total procrastination about planning the workflow and "hands down" as a result. Thanks in advance.
I respect you so much for what you say.
Well played Sir, well played. Oh, and Jeff Schneider.
Cool video, man! Keep it up.
The Adam Neely of outdoors stuff is Nutnfancy
Hey, Adam, I'm a percussionist and composer. I've never been able to "get into" jazz (in terms of playing it) but I love listening to it, and there seem to be so many different kinds, fusion, smooth, big band, etc.
My questions are: What IS jazz? What separates the different subgenres of jazz? If I want to write it, what music theory do I need to know to begin?
While I was watching your response to Noah S who was looking for someone like you, but not you I felt that you went from being Adam Neely to Adam Needy when you mentioned the "almost insult" bit. You started the response by mentioning someone else which was really cool, then it sounded like you were going down the path of "he's cool, but you don't have to leave MY channel," until you finished off suggesting that other people who have the ability to teach and inspire and who play a world of other instruments to start a vlog as well. That is really awesome.
I always feel that those within a community, be it vloggers, musicians, musical vloggers, whatever, who don't try to see what they do as a competition and who spread the wealth of both knowledge on a subject and their means of monetisation are the ones that I will come back to. I'm a former bass player who is now a multi-instrumentalist who gets more from your channel about the general aspects of musicianship than I do from your bass tutorials, but I just admire what you do.
I'm a Patreon patron of yours because I get so much from this channel and I feel that it's not just a bass player's view on music, but a musician's view on music... plus some bass playing stuff. Keep up the good work.
Great vid, some excellent points.
Please make more videos on how to listen to jazz! I listen to it, but I feel like I'm not picking up as much as I could.
Great episode! 10/10 loved it
The comment at 7:00 seriously made me laugh out loud, that should be the next t-shirt.
Thanks for the answer! And you're absolutely right, people should applaud the masterful complexity I create from nothingness. For I. Am. Composer! (Insert He-man quote)
*removes head from own ass.
Tremendo final Adam!!! jajaj un abrazo desde Argentina
Love the ending!
Adam, don't be offended, but rather flattered that so many people want to ask where to find "Adam Neely for X instrument" on TH-cam!
I think the biggest reason for your TH-cam success is your communication/teaching abilities and your organization of your ideas in your videos in such a way that is eye catching and entertainingly presented, yet very thorough and informative and scientific. Your videos just sort of... flow well. That combination of attributes seems to attract people, and I believe your success as well as that of Michael Stevens is testament to that. Then it seems only natural that people see this style of presentation and want to see your method oriented from the point of view of an expert in an instrument they identify with. It means they love the style of the video, and your method of teaching. I say, embrace these comments as compliments and let them make you smile, man!
(Or at least laugh uncomfortably since you seem to be bad at taking compliments, haha).
Took Neely's advice; now I'm a player.
Hey Adam, I'd be very interested to hear more about how one should listen to jazz. Care to make a full video about that topic?
Thanks!
Question for newbies like myself: There's so much information nowadays it's hard to know where to begin as a new bassist past basic techniques (how to hold, no bent wrist, etc). Is there any measurable path we can take to view progress? Do we start with theory, reading music, chord tones, walking bass lines, jazz standards? Do you stick to learning single notes over the fretboard for a week(s) at a time? Would like to use a paved path rather than dropped in the middle of a forest.
Lol, that ending though! Nice Adam, nice!
Hey Adam,
You answered a relevant question in a previous Q&A, and it got me thinking about how music education affects the way we think about music from that point forward. If you were to completely scrap the constructs inherent in western music theory and start from scratch, do you think people would end up at a similar end product? How much of our view of music and its nature is tied to history and how much to fundamental physical and psychological phenomena?
I've been experimenting with designing a system that attempts to use intervalic relationships and avoids a tempered scale. For the life of me, though, I can't think of how music would sound or be transcribed in a system like this. Since I'm so conditioned to think of a note as an exact frequency derived from a single standard frequency, I have almost no concept of what to use and not use from the theory I was taught.
Hey Adam. I am mediocre musician at best but I’m a big fan of your videos. Is there any chance you could do a/some video(s) on composition? I am just getting into jazz and I can string together a few nice chords but I often struggle sometimes to figure out where to go next.
Try commenting on newer videos
My god its thursday evening and I didnt see Adams vid yet. I need to get more scheduled.
QUESTION: Hey. I always have the trouble with writing the "happy" songs. Every time when I try the happy scales I get more to the moody sad music or silly, but still not happy or uplifting. Could you explain why it might happens and also show us a few key ingredients other than the scale to make the "happy" songs ? Maybe it's all about the rhythm and tone of the instruments ? Also if you are open for the challenge, could you try to write the "happy" song with the wort possible scale for it ? Cheers.
nope, I will check it for the first time.
It does have a lot to do with rhythm. Try recontextualising your melodic ideas over different harmonies as well. 1-4-5 is normally pretty happy. Just don't worry about being predictable.
Could you share a good video tutorial example where I could learn more about "happy harmonies" ? :)
I don't know of such a thing. I recommend analysing the music that you identify as characteristically 'happy' and try to determine if there's a theme between these in terms of melody, rhythm or harmony. It's certainly not as simple as being in a major key. Lots of 'happy' music for me is bluesy major/minor stuff with chromaticism
If I were told to write a happy song, I would probably write something with mixolydian-styled harmony. Mixolydian is the major scale with a b7, so use a lot of I, IV, V, and (here's the fun one) bVII chords. You can even be bold and venture to bIII, then walk up the circle of fifths back to the tonic. "Jessica" by The Allman Brothers Band is a great example of a happy song. Another good example of this type of harmony is the chorus of "Hey Jude," which is I - bVII - IV - I.
gosh darn, I want that lick shirt!
06:52 to 07:02 are the greatest 10 seconds of my life xD
Every time I try to listen to jazz passively I always get distracted from what I'm doing and end up listening actively :)
In regards to listening jazz or bop it’s also worth noting the importance of rhythm. When listening to jazz music you want to feel the beat. The melodic and harmonic components of jazz are definitely something to appreciate, however, those parts alone without the rhythms of bop wouldn’t sound like jazz.
You should make a whole video on active listening!
Yooooo, Adam! I've lost 6 months of my life binging your content and don't regret a second of it. Thanks for putting in the work.
One thing that really stuck out to me, because I am a musician first and a rapper second, was the comment you made regarding your interest in lo-fi hip hop. If I may paraphrase- you dig the aesthetic, but feel the music itself lacks tension. What are the chances of us getting to hear a 'Sungazer / Flying Lotus x The Music from any Guy Richie film before Sherlock Holmes' style track? I think that would be a super dope undertaking in your hands.
Keep going.
-J