Great Scale For Improvisation - Harmonic Minor (5th mode), Jazz Tutorial (Part 1)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ส.ค. 2024
- Improvisation Tutorial (Part 1) on Harmonic Minor scale, and application of 5th mode to altered dominant chords. Applied to songs in minor keys; esp. Softly As In A Morning Sunrise, and My Funny Valentine. Includes free score download on website. For score and to view Jazz Piano Book, go to tp://www.kenthewitt.com/
Thanks Kent, every new lesson is better than the one before... stay well...
Santiago....that's just about the best compliment anyone has every given me ...so many, many thanks! Please keep in touch...KH
You are a great communicator / teacher. I am hooked
Thanks so much...very helpful to me!
Every time I watch a Kent Hewitt video, I want to thank him. These videos are pure liquid excellence. Bravo sir.
Mr. Nelson, you are a true blood brother...I would give you a big hug for that comment (liquid excellence!!)...bravo to you, sir, and please do keep in touch!
I am a fumbling, bumbling guitar player, but your videos remove the gauze from my eyes.
"Modesty is for those who have no talent" Brilliant! 😀😀😀
Thanks!...Bob...I'm skinny Kent...I wish I could take credit for it...but I love the quote and I love you for sending it back to me.
Or, as Golda Meir put it, "Don't be so modest. You're not that great."
One of my favorite scales. But learned a bunch !
Thanks for telling me, bro!
My favorite jazz piano teacher @ TH-cam. Thanks much Kent.
Thanks so much for telling me!
Thank you so much for these lessons Kent! I love the way you not only explain things clearly, but always get into practical uses. This is a real gift to musicians everywhere and in some ways even better than a "real world" teacher (who I cannot pause or repeat at will, or call upon at 9pm in the evening when my daughter is asleep and I finally have time for a lesson!). Much appreciated- bless you!
You are very welcome...that's a wonderful affirmation for me, Dominic!
Yes, indeed, I agree. Please keep the Lessons coming. You are Truly a Gifted Teacher. You inspire and intrigue us to want to learn. That's Phenominal. Thank You. I Thank God for guiding me to you.
D'bra, bless you...you're a great fan. Your support and encouragement qre much appreciated. Please keep in touch and may music always touch your heart.
What a gift to jazz itself you are Kent! Thank you for expanding my improvising world!
Wonderful comment...thanks so much!
Have to admit, you're probably the only jazz pianist I rely on when it comes to scores and notes, as well as jokes haha. You just improvise, harmonize and write the scores in a way that always sounds great to me, and your techniques never stop amusing me, as well as always make sense and are explained just brilliantly!
I still haven't got the time to go in-depth learning and watching your tutorials and videos to learn, even though I'm playing the piano since childhood, but never really learned the improvising part of piano, which is what I want to learn!
I hope to buy your book one day, and thanks for the video once again!
P.S. I've been wondering for a long time. Since long days, I've been struggling to read fast enough from sheet with my left hand (especially fast notes), while my right hand works fine. Any advice to improve that aspect?
Thank you, Patrikas...I really appreciate your words and affirmation. Those are very complimentary words and they humble me. Please write to me at my email address for a special offer re: my book. I have some videos on the Left Hand role....but more people are asking me about that..... so I want to do a video concentrating on the LH soon! thanks!
Hi Patrikas. Kents book is easy to download, and only 50 bucks, which is really not much. But . . . it's a lot of pages, and you have to print it "both sides" but that's easy in Adobe reader. Check your cartridge first! What I especially like in this book is the insight it gives in the underlying theory of what we are doing on that keyboard. The songs in part two are very intresting because Kent also has his videos online. For me it is a revelation.
Cool scale! Really enjoyed this lesson.
Thanks so much!
Cool....thanks for telling me, Rick!
I dont know what to say to explain the pleasure i find working with you !THANKS A LOT !!!
You said it clearly, and I thank you!
FIVE TIMES THROUGH AND STILL DIGGIN' IT ! LIKE THAT Cm6. MYSTERY ! YEAH KENT ! HELLO AGAIN ! YOU SHOULD HAVE YOUR OWN MTV CHANNEL TOO !! SO NICE !
Hi Kent,. Your lesson is spot on. I am using the harmonic scale with 'Brother Can you Spare a Dime.' It is a wonderful chord progression that loves the harmonic scale.. With your help I am learning to sculpture songs into works of art. I get endless joy from this. Oscar Peterson once declared that even though he had been playing piano for 50 years he was still finding new sounds. The conscious choice to push the envelop each time is the key.
Michael from Victoria, Australia.
Nice Video Kent Looking forward to part 2 and improvising over Harmonic.Minor scale.
Glad you enjoyed it!
awesome tutorials. I play guitar, and find the footage and dialogue perfect for tying up loose ends and clarifying modality. Thanks Kent!!!!
Thanks for telling me and keep watching!
Always fun to listen to a little funk music...musicians are "the best" such fine quality in their performances....
The more you listen to it the more you realize how intricate and creative the sound is and your appreciation expands...I wonder if your old banker pals would enjoy a little funk!! (ha ha) You must miss this band Kent!!!
That's a very perceptive comment, as usual, Phyllis. Yes I miss this band but have great memories of this one and the 2 previous bands of mine that were very popular. I hope you will hear more of these early recordings.
Thanks Kent, a great improv to add to my tool box!!
Glad to help
You chose one of my favorite songs to demonstrate today and I really appreciate it. You’re rendition was wonderful.
I’ve been out of town the last several days. I was in Chicago. I saw a talented pianist playing his Yamaha on the street. In my hotel, was another wonderful pianist. It just made me want to run back home and start playing one more time. Thanks for all your great lessons.
Thanks, Kerry...it's always great to travel and get another perspective on life.
Well, since this lesson will focus on *his* chords, I say hats off to the altered dominant man :-)
I'll be sure to pass on the compliment!
I just discovered this channel, and I have been binging. i took 15 years of lessons and was given the music I had to play and had to play. lots of great music, but mostly classical and modern ballads. i like Kent's scales and wish i could have taken lessons from him
Well, Pill Box, now you can have lessons from me! When we talk about 'then" we didn't have TH-cam and I was busy with other things...now I have the time in my life when I can share the knowledge...so I need and appreciate your support...keeps me going. Many thanks!
A valuable lesson for any aspiring pianist. Well done. On the 5 chord you can also throw in a #11, c#, for another sound.
Thanks for the tip and comment!
Hi Kent, great! I hope you can do some more of this improvising scales in different keys and other scales. Thanks
Hey Ben...have you checked out my videos? I have more than 150 of them...and I believe if I haven't addressed your request...please let me know....I'm not being smart because sincerely, I want to get better. Check here: th-cam.com/channels/dmjw5sm9Kn83TB_rA_QBCw.htmlplaylists
Kent, I can't thank you enough... In my personal opinion this is the best piano video on youtube... It has significantly helped me with my favourite piano song "softly as in a morning sunrise". Stay well and keep posting 👍🏾
Wow, thanks! I'm glad you told me!
love it...been using the melodic minor over that 2, 5...but i dig the harmonic minor too!
I agree, the major 7th on the minor chord is great. Thanks!
Every video you do is so valuable and inspirational. Thank you for your giving spirit and talent.
Thank you, Charles. Your words of encouragement keep me going, and are much appreciated!
these videos are amazing. thanks so much for what you do, i've learnt more in the past month watching these than i have in about fifteen years of playing classical music. all the best!
That really makes me feel good...love you, brother, for telling me!
Thanks for the great class on the Harmonic Minor !!!
Thanks for the comment!
Thank you Kent, this tutorial is as excellent as always! You explain things in a way that is so clear, it makes everything easier and funnier. I've been playing with this scale and have found so many uses... Looking forward to part 2!
Thanks, Irene, I appreciate your compliments and that keeps me pressing forward.
Thanks, Kent! Your tutorials are really great and in my opinion by far the best when it comes to systematical teaching of techniques, scales and various approaches to jazz! I specially appreciate your knowledge and teaching around rootless voicings, which for me personally really improves my playing! Thanks again, please keep doing what you do! Best regards /Johan (Sweden)
Thank you so much Kent for your valuable lessons!
Much appreciated!
Because an influential theory teacher disliked the minor 3rd skip in the harmonic minor scale. He thought it attracted too much attention to itself this is what I need work on. Thank you.
The harmonic minor scale allows for the leading tone .....half step approach to the I chord from below. That is important to jazz because of chromatic approaches to chord tones. The melodic minor scale has the same half step. So for melodic improvisation this is an important scale to know and to use in it's 5th mode on dominant 7th chords.
These videos are just the best! why? because I can look at them over and over and over. i work at it and I work at it and I work at it. Then ...out of the blue I've got it Thanks for the lesson Kent.
speaking of cowgirls around the campfire.....spring a burlesque jazz lesson on us.
George...YOU are the best...love hearing from you! The ADEM is the one that deals w/ cowgirls around the campfire...not me! You'll need to give me an example (yours) of burlesque jazz.
Great lesson, the most important thing you say is "How are we going to use this scale and make it practical?". Your material always has context, Thank You! 😎
Thanks, Donald, that's a great affirmation!
it has never been sooo good thanks
Great, great comment.....music will do that for you...it's one of the best experiences in life because you create it yourself.
Thanks for all ;time, knowledge, experience etc that with so much love
you share. I visit your store and only found one book,is this your own
creation I mean would I find some of your lessons ,Exercises in it? Thanks And I love when you say Music is one of the best experiences
in life because you CREATE it Yourself! Awesome
I have been working on Angel Eyes, another nice minor tune, after hearing Yusef Lateefs beautiful version on flute.
I'll check it out!
thnaks so much kent, you know I have a solo piano gig in a local place now and my playing has advanced because of you..Can thank you enough ..stay well mate and keeping looking up..C from Australia
Underwood....That's great to hear...keep up the good work and please write to me again soon!
thanks so much for your time and energy for showing us
Walter!...Thank you for telling me ...it means a lot to me!
I just can't beleive your pedagogoc skills. Love you (a day like this Valentine)
Happy Valentines, to you, Magnus, and thanks for the compliment!
Hey Kent !
another blessing from you channel !!!
Thanx solo much !
keep up your brilliant work !
Best Tutorial on the Jazz Piano Topic out there !
Icke Er, Thanks for the loyal following and support....the encouragement keeps me going...keep watching!
It is Great! Kent.. I use that scale a lot and of course your explanations makes it easier to use!
That's what I try to do, so thanks, Vivi, for telling me!
Great stuff, Kent. First time I have watched this one. Thanks again!
Thanks so much!
Thank you Kent.Can't wait to get to a piano and apply this scale.
Dana....That's an inspiration to me....if I can motivate you to practice and have fun doing it...that's my reward!
Glad I could inspire you, Kent. YOu probably inspire more people than give you feedback.
Great lesson Kent. - Superb in fact. I’ve been sick but all is well now and great to get back in the groove. 👏😀🎶
Thanks Kent! Great teaching!!
Thank you!
As always a super lesson. I learn something every time.
p1anosteve..Thanks for all the support and compl1ment. :)
wonderful your black cat!😻💞🎹👍
That's the Herbmister...the best cat yet!
😍☺😘
Wow, very nurturing and intense lesson. That mason and hamlin sounds awesome as well, lol
Hi Kent, I really want to say thank you for all the video you make, it's very clear and it helps me a lot. Thank you so much ! Sylvie from France
I'm very glad to hear that my videos are clear and helpful...good feedback....thanks!
always a excellent explanation!!
Appreciated!
these are really nice theory lessons to apply to other instruments
Thanks.....that's a great affirmation ...because I'd like to learn to teach on a higher level beyond piano......but I don't have opportunities beyond this.
Great Video.
Thanks for all your comments!
thanks a lot,Kent!!!Amazing lesson!!!
Thank you!!!
This is great! I really like these voicings and also the harmonic minor or phrygian dominant scale, which I've been using in prog music a lot :) Being able to transfer this tune into jazz opens up new possibilities for me, thanks for that!
Glad you like it! Thanks for the comment!
Damn... you... , each time, I tell myself "he won't hold the rythm" but you hold it each time flawlessly. I'd love to met you someday!
If I do that it's probably one of 2 things: an instinct, or good luck.
Tip top teacher, especially for us ear players
That's great to know...'cause we all should try to be better ear players.
Superb
Thanks 🤗
Good one Ken - I love that scale..I use it often!
Thank for the comment!
Very interesting and helpful, thanks a whole lot and I really need to practice more.
There can be a lot of pleasure gained from productive practicing!
Thank you sir, you are so informative and interesting. Be well !!
Thanks for the comment!
Woooooooooow, thanks Kent, you are awesome (literally).
Harmonic minor is my fav scale, except I've only ever used it in the context of classical music. It's amazing hearing it in a Jazz context. It creates such a strong feel of anticipation and high-tension.
One of my fav harmonic minor-based tunes is:
Icarus Dream Suite Op.4 by Yngwie Malmsteen
Check it out if you have time. Take note of the various phases it goes through.
It's not as advanced as what you showed today, but it still has a lot of soul to it.
I know what you mean by "hearing the sound of the scale". You can literally feel (without thinking) how far away the note you want is from the current note being played.
One of the most popular jazz guitar tutorial channels on TH-cam said: "harmonic minor has no place in jazz so don't bother learning it".
You need to send Dominant-Altered-Ego-Man to tech the guy a lesson on harmonic minor in a jazz context.
For beginners. the parent scale of the natural minor is just. 1and half steps up. C minor>Eb parent scale.
Up a minor 3rd or down a 6th.
Grazie. Illuminante. Thanks a lot.
So nice scale!!!
Thanks, T....one of those special scales that is often overlooked.
4:30 starting from 5th is simply changing the order of tetrachords of the scale - simple, yet powerfull, just like deriving greek scales.
I've been using the 7th mode of haminoic minor (the fully altered scale / diminished whole tone scale) over dominant V chords in minor jazz, but I actually like the melodic capabilities of this scale a lot more! This scale is also called Hijaz, phrygian dominant and Mixolydian b9 b13. Of course it won't work with dominant chords that have a #9 but those are pretty rare. Thanks for the lesson!
Thanks, Sam. This scale has the strong natural 3rd whereas the 7th mode would have the #9. I always try to stress that scales are interesting means to an end, the more important thing being good melodic ideas (approach tone and target tones and phrase shapes).
thanks again Ken
it plays great over all 2-5's in minor I was just using it on "You'd be so nice to come home to" in A min with a b dim7 to E flat 9 or #9 as the 2-5 in minor. thanks again
Exactly, right. Mike, great example...thank you!... and if you combine the concepts with how your ears hear it...that's the confirmation.
Thanks Kent. Sometimes my voice sounds better than my actual playing. I used to be all theory and no application lol ..but I'm really working hard on changing that. Practice makes perfect. You get out what you put in... and tell the alter ego guy I said hello... even I can learn something from him haha God bless!
@@KentHewittpiano88 I'm back here again brushing up.
Excellent
Another awesome Video Kent!!...You are The Coolest Kat on TH-cam:-))...
applying all Your Lessons to Guitar...Thank You so much.
Thanks so much, esp. the coolest kat part. Love the guitar!
This is awesome,,,so over the G7+5 ,I can use the C Harmonic Minor, D diminished or( G Half step/whole step), or Ab Melodic Minor...They all cover the b9....this sound correct ?
Yes, you are exactly correct. The difference are just half tones, so you decide which you prefer....and remember, its more about good melodies and not the just scales.
@@KentHewittpiano88 thank you for the reply...your'e great Kent ...! I like what you said about "Playing the sound of the scale, not having to think of the degrees. That's kind of where I'm at now...
Thank you Sir
Thank you!
Hit the road kent !☺ i learing to alot for you thank you!😎🎩
I'll do that and thanks for telling me, Burai!
thank you!
Cheryl loves you
Thanks for telling me!
You teach so Good !!
Hi Pierluigi...thank you so much!
Enlightening as always! loved it! I would be interested in a video that discusses the timing of the licks to get a jazz feel. Specially your left hand does something offbeat that makes it swing.
Hi Olav...That's a perceptive observation and I need to address that in a video..... so thanks for the suggestion and it's coming up!
Great stuff Kent ;)
Thank you so much!
Thanks!!
kent, you're superb....as always, Great job....
Many, many, thanks, Dan!
I'm only 4 mins into the video, and I love it. Thanks Ken for these great teachings. I've only been playing, or learning to play the piano for about a year. I'm 45. I love jazz, and and I here these scales in my head. Your showing how to make it happen. Thanks, and please continue.
Zachary, I very happy you are telling me my video is helping you and that's why I do this. Without feedback I don't have an affirmation...so many, many thanks!
Kent Hewitt thank you. Could you please check out my last video of practice and maybe tell me what you think?
thank you, man!!
Yeah, Man, you're cool!
2:33
Melodic minor ascending ; Natural minor descending
Exactly right, sir.
Any plans to do some videos focusing on just melodic minor? Great video like always!
Lucas...Yes....I have a new one coming up soon....thank you!
I have these exercises downloaded. Noodling on the keys.Coming down in chromatic minor thirds. An F etc down to D B.. I noticed that that can be played over the Dom G7 chord G B D F and the dim 7 of the B dim7 B D F Ab.
You have nailed it, brother!
@@KentHewittpiano88 Kent I do certain videos like Donna LEE. I almost always tell folks..dont watch this video till you download Kent Hewitt, suggested fingering for the song Donna Lee.. I don't have the link for the pdf so some may never get there. When I first started I didn't see the logic but now I do most of it the way you suggest. However I try not to get locked into just one way. Something else.
Awhile back I was trying to get the
minor scales down, including.the modal minors other than.Aolian.
I noticed that the C minor (natural or Aolian) could always be remembered by a few things. Of course C is the 6 note of Eb. Eb F G Ab (C)..so C to C in Eb scale as we know is the Aolian models natural minor . So if C is the. Major 6 of the Eb ascending we can do a
descending minor third in Eb ( the parent scale Eb. Eb D C.. So of course they are related. But this is great info for knowing your 13ths
I'm playing a C 13..just go down or know the min 3rd of C is A.. I used to count up 6..lets say I'm playing ing in Db ..So I can go Db Eb F Gb Ab. Bb..I knew the answer was Bb.. Bb is the descending minor third Db C Bb. When we are going at fast speed improvising..this is gold.
Here are some more things I use.
One everything is based on the natural minor.
Here is C Natural, jazz melodic, and harmonic minor.
(C D Eb F G ) Ab Bb C Natural
(C D Eb F G) A B C. Melodic
(C D Eb F G) Ab B C. Harmonic
So there are only 7. Out of 8 we need to know. C is not counted twice.
There are 21 things ..there are 15 identical things..
We know 15/21 of the .three scales if we know the first.5 of the natural minor.
(C D Eb F G)
Above I showed that this is just.from the Eb scale a major 3rd above.
It is super importantant for musicians to know all 12 major scales.
So now let's get the melodic out of the way. First 5 of C minor) to the 5. (C D Eb F G )then just the last 2 of the major scale A B.. Not counting the octave.
Now harmonic. (C D Eb F G) Ab B)
Notice this there are 7 notes in all the main 3 minors. There is only one minor third.available. that is Ab to B..Remember that the melodic and harmonic have the B leading.tone. 5 +2 is.7.. That's all of the main 3 minors.
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please just need analysis for tune "you look good to me " Oscar Peterson played . and wich modes we can play with the Chord progrisson
Thanks for requests!
Legend
HI Ken Thanks for all your great tutorials! Is this the Spanish scale in the dominant your playing for harmonic monor?
Hello Kent! Great stuff as always. May I please make a suggestion for one of the possible future videos? Could you make a tutorial on a generic Jazz-Blues in solo setting? I searched YT to no avail. There are tons of lessons on boogie-based and trad. blues but nothing that would highlight features and idioms of the Jazzed-up "modern" Blues.
Hi Vinnie, You might like to check out a couple of my videos on blues. There's a Charlie Parker blues called Now's The Time which is a classic jazz blues and then there's an improv blues with bass lines and stride, and another one called Black Hat and Shades Blues. Here's 3 links: th-cam.com/video/mQuaEg1M71U/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/lv8Zz3tqvxw/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/users/edit?video_id=3Rgt9tIdXB4&video_referrer=watch
Thanks Kent, I'll check!
Nice job again Kent. Curious, why you might have chosen a Mason & Hamlin ? Really love the sound, is this your preference on baby grands ? I see some of their early models are now quite pricey.
David, ours is a vintage 1905 Mason and Hamlin grand model AA. This is a full grand and it has the greatest sound, even better than a Steinway. You can read up about it on their website. We are so fortunate, because we had to wait most of our lives before we could have a piano of this quality, ….and I'm so glad to share it w/ you 'all.
@@KentHewittpiano88 It looks like its in pristene shape !
Watching and learning. I was doing. a guitar chord melody video on fly me to the moon. On researching the chords..found out the melody had a harmonic.minor in it. I had thought that it did. It appears to be.a A harmonic.minor.
Right, that's because of the altered V chord is an E7 which has a G#...and that is the leading tone. It's an interesting tune...have you noticed it's comparison to All the Things You Are in the first 4 bars?
@@KentHewittpiano88 hadn't noticed that. I look into it. So much to learn.
Bonsoir Ken, definitely, you have talent... so no reason to be modest!!!! I am coming from the classical piano, so depend (still) on sheet music: you said somewhere that there is a way to download the sheet music for this harmonic minor scale, or maybe also for MY FUNNY VALENTINE, .... where is it, please? thanks and ... I like your way of teaching! monika
Not as much jazz, but I believe Sting's song "Russians" uses a harmonic minor scale.
A very strong flavoured scale.
Of course... this scale is used in classical, jazz , and popular music. Thanks for the perceptive comment!
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Hello. Great videos! Do you also create videos about composing music?
I have 37 videos on improvisation, which is like composing. But I also have a video for beginner composition and one of my own compositions is discussed. I need to do Part 2.
th-cam.com/video/oL5jgaihavk/w-d-xo.html
@@KentHewittpiano88 yeah this is true. Im a composer in first place and actually watch all your videos to add new concepts and ideas to my songs! Was just wondering if there is something in particular about this topic! thank you very much.
Hello Kent! This is the best way to get very fast results: a few left hand chords, combined with a few licks righthand. As you state it: I can hear a good many songs that fall within this scale and chord progression. As a student it is an nice way to learn it, because one can improvise immediatly and it sounds good. By the way I can recommend your B O O K to everybody who wants to understand what he or she is doing on that keyboard! Measure by measure I begin to understand something of it!!!
Thanks Frank. All your comments are very much appreciated, and you will always be on the top of my list of great friends. Keep in touch!
We all love you Kent: your fine humor, wit and no nonsens approach: learning pianomusic is often hard work, but thanks to you playing jazz is mainly FUN!
Brilliant video as always, Kent. You teach us about some licks in this, and you've done other videos on licks too. It makes me realise that I have no idea where to start. Do I spend time practicing to just build up separate licks until they start to come together, or is there a way to go about it in a more structured way?
MrDominicMark Buy Kent's book! It's excellent. It gives you a logical and methodical way to learn jazz and improvise.
Thank you, Aimee, for a great endorsement! I always suggest that the best combination is to have the book as well as the videos and scores. Better than that is , of course, a good private teacher, if they're available and you can afford it.
Please see Aimee's note below. Also you can start with my beginner videos and Easy Jazz Lesson playlist. Then pick out subjects that interest you. The licks are more designed for intermediate to advanced. However there's some good improv videos that start out at easy levels. Here's a link: th-cam.com/play/PLFuMibnl_h5aTaUnQpBtsc6p1ZsLsxagq.html
Thank you so much for this lesson, was really helpful for me. So simple right ?
I'm glad you liked it, and thanks for telling me I made it clear and simple.
Another great class! One question: the issue here is the minor scale, but the V aug. in major tone can be used too? Sounds really good for me.
Thanks, Kent!
Thank you, Eduardo. Yes, the V7#5 is a good approach chord to resolve to major chords, minor, and also is used a lot in blues (where the 1 chord would often be a blues chord with a b7.)
On the 5th mode of the harmonic minor ..you said that it has a b9. I think I see what you are referring.to here. G to.G in C harmonic.minor. G. (Ab) B C.D.Eb F.G. So I mainly be wrong.. This is root b9 3. 4 5 #5. b7 Root. Great video. Watching it several several times.
.
Right....but there's no #9 and b5 as in the Super Locrian. It's a subtle difference, but significant.