Hats off : i already know all the basics but this is, by far, the clearest, shortest and yet comprehensive introduction to Jazz. You nailed it and you deserve a big round of applause. Excellent.
@@Learnjazzstandards Could you do a chord analysis of "Body and Soul"? I recently learnt a lovely solo (I'm a sax player) and I've found parts of this song a bit challenging to interpret.
@@Learnjazzstandards Holly shit you are straight up the best jazz teacher , that I ever learned from! Thank you for teaching it made easy to learn, subbed
This is genuinely one of the best tutorials I've ever found especially for someone who is VERY comfortable in the concert band setting with minimal jazz experience other than being in the ensembles
Thank you. This is arguably the best improvisation video I have ever seen. No going up and down the scale. No copy/paste licks. Just musical theory and how to apply it. The most valuable thing is that the similar concept can be used for blues or any music, you just use a different note to resolve to the chord tones that's not chromatic.
I have studied a fair bit of jazz theory and I grew weary of the amount of information I had to memorize (ie., voicings, which scales/modes are compatbile with chords, etc) - I must say, this video has made it so clear. I really like your approach of simplifying it to using the chromatic scale over chords and finding a way to resolve to the key guide-tones. This is a fantastic place starting for those who, like me, were a bit disheartened by the sheer volume of information one has to "know" to start jazz improv, thus making some of us lose sight of the real goal of jazz improv: to make music!
Bravo, Brent. You successfully simplified, demystified and clarified how jazz lines are created. You did this by using just enough music theory to educate without overwhelming and showed how to get started on the journey of improvisation with practical examples that demonstrate what it sounds like to play over chord changes. This, teamed with guide tones, a heart to experiment and ears to imagine what they're about to play, can take a beginner to the next level in a short amount of time. I'm in love with jazz music (have been my whole life), and after watching this video, I'm eager to pick up my guitar and create something that sounds like what I feel.
I really enjoyed your explanation. I would like to add something that I found to be helpful. If you are playing in the key of C major for example and you impose a G Major scale, you will shift into the Lydian mode. You're playing all the same notes except that the 4th note F is now #4 or F# and that provides a nice outside scale note that will pop out in the course of the improvisation. You can then shift back to the Ionian at any point to bring the whole thing back home. So when playing over a major chord try playing the major scale whose root is a perfect 5th above the key that you're in. Another way of accomplishing this and adding additional color tones would be to play a major pentatonic scale a whole step up from the key of the moment. (or the minor pentatonic a half step lower than the parent key). If C major is the chord, play the D major pentatonic (or B minor pentatonic - same notes ). When doing this, the notes that would be emphasized would be B which is the major 7th of a C chord. D which is the 2nd (9th), E which is the 3rd, F# which is the # 4 ( # 11 ) and A which is the 6th (13 ). Since the pentatonic scale has no leading tone like a major scale, it works great. A D major scale for example would have a C# in it and that note played against a C natural is likely to set one's teeth on edge. Playing the D major pentatonic avoids that minor 2nd interval. So, in the key of C, think major pentatonic a whole step up. Adding this to the arsenal of chromaticism that you demonstrated should get people visualizing jazz improvisation as something within their grasp.
The amount of theory you covered in such a short time, in such a simple easy to understand manner was just mind blowing! You've got some serious teaching skills!
What helped for me immensely, is to just learn jazz language, then make as many variations of it and apply it to the chord it is meant for in a tune. The best is when you learn ii-V-I lines, to just learn that piece of language for the ii, for the V and for the I seperataly (or how you spell it) Also when you do that, always sing
I have taken a lot from these videos. The clarity off the presentation has really helped to inform my thinking and approach. I would not hesitate to sign up for the 'inner circle' but circumstances for 70 year old's on a pension don't allow. This young man has a lot to offer.
It's weird, I know the modes and can play them, and 2 5 1 chords, in all the keys on the piano, but I just never put it together that you play Dorian with 2 and Mixolydian with 5! Thanks for the enlightenment!!😁
I stumbled on this. It is by far the best-explained introduction to jazz theory I have ever heard. So much on the web is too complex, too quickly and must dishearten many aspiring players. Your approach covers so much in 17 minutes and build confidence. Max respect.
Now it makes sense to me how those jazz guitarists utilize all those chromatic notes without sounding totally weird and off. This is one of the most valuable beginner jazz guitar lessons on TH-cam. Thanks a million! :)
As well as how to also start to understand what jazz is all about, Today I learned what the actual names of the modes mean. Its so simple! Yet it sounds so complex and unapproachable if you're just starting out.
Hey Brent, thank you for this! I've been going to jazz jams in my local town and have been feeling stale. I really appreciate this, and I'm off to practice your ideas now!
I am a visual/graphics learner. The added animations on the music sheet help enormously with initial exposure and long term memory. Keep up the concurrent instrument and visual explanations !
Well done. I know all my scales and chords, but have been having difficulty starting with jazz theory. This is a really good introduction which demystifies what's going on with the licks.
Firstly, I will never be able to play this stuff, but oh, did that make a lot of sense. My only music education is 55 years ago at school when everything was 7 note scales in a major key (flattened third was just too sad). You have truly unlocked the other 5 notes for me.
Absolutely brilliant exposition. I love understanding this from the bottom up, even though I'm not instinctively a jazz lover. I discover through this that I don't like enclosure at all, and that is an obstacle for my liking jazz. Nevertheless it's very satisfying to have the jazz language demonstrated and explained .
Wow! That was simple and effective. Even for a piano player who already has a bit of experience, this introduction was smooth as hell. Especially the transition from the more formal and rule based functional harmony to the free chromatic approach notes and enclosures was very educative also for me. Great tutorial 👍
I've visited a host of saxophone sites trying to learn how to improvise. Your video has helped open my eyes/ears to the process. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Dude I have two music degrees essentially; I started playing in the 90s. I know all this stuff. And this was still absolutely amazing. And I know I'll play better now.
Excellent! But, for people who is starting, I think it´s better to call the single notes in Arabic numerals (2,, 5, 1) and the chords in Roman numerals (II, V, I). Only to avoid confusions! Thanks for your channel!!!
16:02 Great brakdown of the concepts but the Bb and Ab are not from the chromatic scale (every note is technically from the chromatic scale, so that won't suffice), they're actually from Ab melodic minor scale (Ab Bb B, Db, Eb, F, G, Ab)... the 7th mode of melodic minor is used over V7alt chords (in this case, Ab melodic minor scale starting and ending on G can be used over G7alt chords). The lick over the G7 starts "in" with 3-5-3-1 but then has more of that "out" sound by implying it turns into G7alt with that b3-b9-b7 lick resolving to the 3rd of Cmaj7. I know it's a beginner's video but it's ok to give people a flavour of the variety of scales used. After all, you've gotta master the scales to be able to play proficiently. Source: Mark Levine's Jazz Piano Book
I like this approach quite a bit to 'understanding' these concepts. That being said I feel one thing what is left out is...LISTEN to a lot of Jazz to burn it in. All the ideas and theory in the world won't help you if you don't feel it. It's like knowing all the English grammar in the world without being exposed to English speakers. Similar to language, the rhythm of the music is what makes it unique to other forms. This you only get by listening and absorbing.
Nice approach!! in the last measure in the last example, the Bb-Ab-G-F pattern, I think it might be helpful to show how those "chromatic" notes are also upper extensions of the G7 chord though? That #9-b9 sound. Anyway, I like the overall approach again :)
While no where near as convenient, I just experimented with Band-in-a-Box and I can do the same looping, slow-down, transpose, etc. My "guitar-practice computer" is too old to run SongMaster, so this alternative will work in the mean time. Still, Thanks What's-Up-Brent. ;-)
You're doing a great job at breaking it down for beginners, I love that! As a jazz-fusion guitarist myself I just wanted to point out that the Cmaj7 chord you're playing in this video is actually a Cmaj7/9 (because in the chord you're also playing the D note, 3rd fret of B string), also commonly known as Cmaj9 chord, if I'm not mistaken. Whatever, small details, probably irrelevant to the great points you explained in this video. Great job! 🙂
Hey George, glad you enjoyed the video! Something to be aware of is that if you look at a lead sheet for a jazz standard, usually you will just see chords labeled as 7ths, because it's assumed in jazz that you can add any of the possible extensions or alterations to those chords - the 9th being an acceptable one over a maj7.
Good video. My pitch was probably never totally absolute, as I started on guitar, and a guitar can be totally in tune with itself and while being a hair higher or lower than A-440. The age thing is real, mine is not as acute as it used to be, and under certain conditions notes can fall in between the cracks for me. Excellent points regarding relative pitch. I had to learn solfegge (so I could teach it) and find it to be quite a valuable tool.
Excellent, It really does give a good starting point to explore from. Can you tell me if it is preferable to resolve to the third on the downbeat? on the first beat of the bar? other beats of the bar? Thank you.
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Teaching is an ART and you apparently mastered that art.👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿
Thank you!
Hats off : i already know all the basics but this is, by far, the clearest, shortest and yet comprehensive introduction to Jazz. You nailed it and you deserve a big round of applause. Excellent.
+1000
This is one of the best starter improvisational tutorials I've seen! It even explained things I did not see (clearly) before. Well done!
Thanks! Glad it helped.
@@Learnjazzstandards Could you do a chord analysis of "Body and Soul"?
I recently learnt a lovely solo (I'm a sax player) and I've found parts of this song a bit challenging to interpret.
@@Learnjazzstandards Holly shit you are straight up the best jazz teacher , that I ever learned from! Thank you for teaching it made easy to learn, subbed
Agreed, very clear and concise
Agreed.
This is genuinely one of the best tutorials I've ever found especially for someone who is VERY comfortable in the concert band setting with minimal jazz experience other than being in the ensembles
In the ocean of jazz, this is a beautiful boat launch. Thanks.
Thank you. This is arguably the best improvisation video I have ever seen. No going up and down the scale. No copy/paste licks. Just musical theory and how to apply it. The most valuable thing is that the similar concept can be used for blues or any music, you just use a different note to resolve to the chord tones that's not chromatic.
This is a most excellent primer on jazz improvising!
Totally demystifying.
Your extraordinary generosity is very much appreciated, sir.
Thank you!
I have studied a fair bit of jazz theory and I grew weary of the amount of information I had to memorize (ie., voicings, which scales/modes are compatbile with chords, etc) - I must say, this video has made it so clear. I really like your approach of simplifying it to using the chromatic scale over chords and finding a way to resolve to the key guide-tones. This is a fantastic place starting for those who, like me, were a bit disheartened by the sheer volume of information one has to "know" to start jazz improv, thus making some of us lose sight of the real goal of jazz improv: to make music!
Bravo, Brent. You successfully simplified, demystified and clarified how jazz lines are created. You did this by using just enough music theory to educate without overwhelming and showed how to get started on the journey of improvisation with practical examples that demonstrate what it sounds like to play over chord changes. This, teamed with guide tones, a heart to experiment and ears to imagine what they're about to play, can take a beginner to the next level in a short amount of time. I'm in love with jazz music (have been my whole life), and after watching this video, I'm eager to pick up my guitar and create something that sounds like what I feel.
Great lesson for entry level guys like me.
I really enjoyed your explanation. I would like to add something that I found to be helpful. If you are playing in the key of C major for example and you impose a G Major scale, you will shift into the Lydian mode. You're playing all the same notes except that the 4th note F is now #4 or F# and that provides a nice outside scale note that will pop out in the course of the improvisation. You can then shift back to the Ionian at any point to bring the whole thing back home. So when playing over a major chord try playing the major scale whose root is a perfect 5th above the key that you're in.
Another way of accomplishing this and adding additional color tones would be to play a major pentatonic scale a whole step up from the key of the moment. (or the minor pentatonic a half step lower than the parent key). If C major is the chord, play the D major pentatonic (or B minor pentatonic - same notes ). When doing this, the notes that would be emphasized would be B which is the major 7th of a C chord. D which is the 2nd (9th), E which is the 3rd, F# which is the # 4 ( # 11 ) and A which is the 6th (13 ). Since the pentatonic scale has no leading tone like a major scale, it works great. A D major scale for example would have a C# in it and that note played against a C natural is likely to set one's teeth on edge. Playing the D major pentatonic avoids that minor 2nd interval. So, in the key of C, think major pentatonic a whole step up.
Adding this to the arsenal of chromaticism that you demonstrated should get people visualizing jazz improvisation as something within their grasp.
The amount of theory you covered in such a short time, in such a simple easy to understand manner was just mind blowing! You've got some serious teaching skills!
Thank you!
What helped for me immensely, is to just learn jazz language, then make as many variations of it and apply it to the chord it is meant for in a tune. The best is when you learn ii-V-I lines, to just learn that piece of language for the ii, for the V and for the I seperataly (or how you spell it) Also when you do that, always sing
This video has cleared up 30 or 40 years of confusion for me. Holy cow, dude. Thank you!
I have taken a lot from these videos.
The clarity off the presentation has really helped to inform my thinking and approach.
I would not hesitate to sign up for the 'inner circle' but circumstances for 70 year old's on a pension don't allow.
This young man has a lot to offer.
It's weird, I know the modes and can play them, and 2 5 1 chords, in all the keys on the piano, but I just never put it together that you play Dorian with 2 and Mixolydian with 5! Thanks for the enlightenment!!😁
Wish I had this 30 years ago! This is inspiring me to pick up my instrument again. Thank you!
That's great!
This is literally the best starter video to explain improv I've ever seen! I will be using it to teach ! Thank you!!!
I stumbled on this. It is by far the best-explained introduction to jazz theory I have ever heard. So much on the web is too complex, too quickly and must dishearten many aspiring players. Your approach covers so much in 17 minutes and build confidence. Max respect.
Thanks so much!
Agree with Alex Jones' comment. Excellent starter. Finally something I can share with people who don't understand how Jazz works.
Thanks! I appreciate that
...the best kick off jazz impro tutorial I've ever seen, even it's so easy. That's maybe because it's braught out just simple and straight.
Very comprehensive yet highly understandable. One of the best lessons I've seen to date.
Now it makes sense to me how those jazz guitarists utilize all those chromatic notes without sounding totally weird and off. This is one of the most valuable beginner jazz guitar lessons on TH-cam. Thanks a million! :)
probably one of the simplest and most practical explanation. cheers!
I feel like a blind man who has been just giving vision. Subscribed.
This is so good. It shows step by step how jazz improv is put together. Almost like a mathematical proof. Thanks so much
As well as how to also start to understand what jazz is all about, Today I learned what the actual names of the modes mean. Its so simple! Yet it sounds so complex and unapproachable if you're just starting out.
Hey Brent, thank you for this! I've been going to jazz jams in my local town and have been feeling stale. I really appreciate this, and I'm off to practice your ideas now!
This is absolutely the best jazz improvisation tutorial out there! Thanks for this...I'm off to practice!
Awesome! Thank you!
Certainly the best jazz 🎺 lesson I've met online. You're a fantastic teacher. Greetings from Kampala and God bless. 😊😊👌👌👌
Thank you! 😃
holy shit, I finally start to understand jazz thanks to you. keep up the amazing work, you're a channel is a gem!
Thanks!
Well done, bright clear, thank you for this video👍👌
You are welcome!
Excellent lesson. Going to the keyboard soon. This will be how I'll spend my time today. 2 months in. This is where i want to go. Thanks. Subscribed.
Thanks! Welcome to Learn Jazz Standards!
So really, in jazz, there are no "outside" notes? I love it, and subbed!
Now that's what I call a breakdown of how it's done ... Simplified thanks Brent 🎸
I am a visual/graphics learner. The added animations on the music sheet help enormously with initial exposure and long term memory. Keep up the concurrent instrument and visual explanations !
Thanks for the feedback!
Your teaching is really immaculate.....Keep it up brother 🥰🥰😍😍🤩😊😊
Thank you so much 😀
Well done. I know all my scales and chords, but have been having difficulty starting with jazz theory. This is a really good introduction which demystifies what's going on with the licks.
Glad it helps!
Firstly, I will never be able to play this stuff, but oh, did that make a lot of sense. My only music education is 55 years ago at school when everything was 7 note scales in a major key (flattened third was just too sad). You have truly unlocked the other 5 notes for me.
I'm glad it helped!
One of the finest explanations I have seen so far. Thank you
This is the grammar of music and this is where I fall
Absolutely brilliant exposition. I love understanding this from the bottom up, even though I'm not instinctively a jazz lover. I discover through this that I don't like enclosure at all, and that is an obstacle for my liking jazz. Nevertheless it's very satisfying to have the jazz language demonstrated and explained .
Wow! That was simple and effective. Even for a piano player who already has a bit of experience, this introduction was smooth as hell. Especially the transition from the more formal and rule based functional harmony to the free chromatic approach notes and enclosures was very educative also for me. Great tutorial 👍
Thank you! Glad you like it
You're indeed the best online jazz insructor. Your explanation is easy to understand. Thank you for sharing your skill and knowledge
Very pedagogical approach.. understandible and simple as anybody can progress it's skils..Thank you
You are welcome
Wow! New to this. You've compressed so much into this but still made it SO clear and simple!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I've visited a host of saxophone sites trying to learn how to improvise. Your video has helped open my eyes/ears to the process. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Wonderful! Thanks!
This is bloody brilliant. Well done. Exceptional.
Dude I have two music degrees essentially; I started playing in the 90s. I know all this stuff. And this was still absolutely amazing. And I know I'll play better now.
Thanks, man! I appreciate it.
Its so crazy the enclosure example sounds so out of place, but in context it completely changes
This goes a LONG way to demystifying Jazz. Very good stuff.
Thanks!
This is one of the best explanation of music theory I've seen. It's very easy to follow and understand. Thanks a lot.
I've been watching a lot of your videos recently and has been such a great help. thank you so much!
Happy to help!
Excellent! But, for people who is starting, I think it´s better to call the single notes in Arabic numerals (2,, 5, 1) and the chords in Roman numerals (II, V, I). Only to avoid confusions! Thanks for your channel!!!
gradual and bright clear. thanks so much!
I was lost at step five.
But that was improvement from the last time I watched the video
Great lesson, so much to learn here. Thank you Brent!
Thank you so much. This was a very helpful explanation for me. I like your videos.
This was great! Absolutely clear. I learnt a lot.
Thank you!
Great to hear it, thank you!
Wow, this was just great. You demystified jazz for me.
Awesome!
Incredibly clear and useful presentation. Thank you.
Youre an amazing teacher.. Simple but crystal clear for someone like me who love jazz but couldn't just understand.. Great job
Thanks!
16:02 Great brakdown of the concepts but the Bb and Ab are not from the chromatic scale (every note is technically from the chromatic scale, so that won't suffice), they're actually from Ab melodic minor scale (Ab Bb B, Db, Eb, F, G, Ab)... the 7th mode of melodic minor is used over V7alt chords (in this case, Ab melodic minor scale starting and ending on G can be used over G7alt chords). The lick over the G7 starts "in" with 3-5-3-1 but then has more of that "out" sound by implying it turns into G7alt with that b3-b9-b7 lick resolving to the 3rd of Cmaj7. I know it's a beginner's video but it's ok to give people a flavour of the variety of scales used. After all, you've gotta master the scales to be able to play proficiently.
Source: Mark Levine's Jazz Piano Book
Hi. This is great. I’m primarily a piano player and still found this hugely beneficial. Great job. Thank you!.
Great to hear. Thanks!
2nd year into playing guitar and I actually understood all this :) Well done.
That’s a huge compliment, thank you!
Great. Pacy, clear, good repetition. Excellent graphics too. Thank you 🙏
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it
Amazing video. I finally understand how its done
I like this approach quite a bit to 'understanding' these concepts. That being said I feel one thing what is left out is...LISTEN to a lot of Jazz to burn it in. All the ideas and theory in the world won't help you if you don't feel it. It's like knowing all the English grammar in the world without being exposed to English speakers. Similar to language, the rhythm of the music is what makes it unique to other forms. This you only get by listening and absorbing.
Damn man, you are truly a great teacher. You explain it so simply
Thanks!
Very clear approach to improvisation! Thank you!
Glad you like it!
Great lesson thanks Brent!
Nice approach!! in the last measure in the last example, the Bb-Ab-G-F pattern, I think it might be helpful to show how those "chromatic" notes are also upper extensions of the G7 chord though? That #9-b9 sound. Anyway, I like the overall approach again :)
The best Jazz explanation. Thank you.
This is an outstanding explanation of jazz improv. Thanks so much!
My pleasure!
What an eye-opener. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
This is what I been looking for thanks
This is precious. Thank you.
Excellent and to the point for a beginner. Great job.
Thank you!
Seriously good. Thank you.
While no where near as convenient, I just experimented with Band-in-a-Box and I can do the same looping, slow-down, transpose, etc. My "guitar-practice computer" is too old to run SongMaster, so this alternative will work in the mean time. Still, Thanks What's-Up-Brent. ;-)
One of the best lesson i see about jazz and major scale! 🙏
Thanks so much for the feedback!
You're doing a great job at breaking it down for beginners, I love that! As a jazz-fusion guitarist myself I just wanted to point out that the Cmaj7 chord you're playing in this video is actually a Cmaj7/9 (because in the chord you're also playing the D note, 3rd fret of B string), also commonly known as Cmaj9 chord, if I'm not mistaken. Whatever, small details, probably irrelevant to the great points you explained in this video. Great job! 🙂
Hey George, glad you enjoyed the video! Something to be aware of is that if you look at a lead sheet for a jazz standard, usually you will just see chords labeled as 7ths, because it's assumed in jazz that you can add any of the possible extensions or alterations to those chords - the 9th being an acceptable one over a maj7.
@@Learnjazzstandards Very true, great point, but most beginners are probably not aware of it. ;-)
Wonderfully explained, well done!
Many thanks!
Good video. My pitch was probably never totally absolute, as I started on guitar, and a guitar can be totally in tune with itself and while being a hair higher or lower than A-440. The age thing is real, mine is not as acute as it used to be, and under certain conditions notes can fall in between the cracks for me. Excellent points regarding relative pitch. I had to learn solfegge (so I could teach it) and find it to be quite a valuable tool.
best explaination, thanks so much
Glad it was helpful!
Very good!!!!
Well done, young man !!
Brilliant! I get it now!! Thanks
Great! Thanks
A very cool video thanks, glad you're making them!
Yes dude. 🎉. Very good. This is what a rock player needs to hear.
You must be a friend of his.
Excellent, It really does give a good starting point to explore from.
Can you tell me if it is preferable to resolve to the third on the downbeat? on the first beat of the bar? other beats of the bar? Thank you.
Brilliant explain👌👍👍💪 Thanks!!
Excellent. Thanks
Great explanation thank you. Keep up the great work!
Thank you!
Appreciate the lessons!
easily the best tutorial
Very well explained. I've been wanting to start improvising so will give it a try
Great!
GREAT pedagogy ! 👍💚
Great summary!
Great tutorial thank you!
Glad it was helpful!