Mike is just a regular guy with a lot of heart. He's really modest and unpretentious. In a world of no-talent, obnoxious self-promoters, his kind of integrity is refreshing.
As a professional musician, I found the intro as useful as the musical content. To have someone that has been in the game as long as Mike sharing that even he had the same feelings toward jazz as many of us is personal and endearing. Some of the comments on here are unnecessary. Mike's track record speaks for itself. Be mature people.. Musicians and that damn hyper critical mindset is truly an amateur predisposition. Too much of it will see you off the gig.. Find a way to express an opinion without coming off as an ass. Music is a spiritual endeavor, we should remember that.. Cheers..
Every guitarist, not guitar player that I have ever met has always been humbled by the instrument. Listen to any conversation with anyone that has spent a lifetime trying to master the guitar and they are completely humbled by the instrument but these are the guys that can really play.
There is a instructional video that Mike did a while back, a webinar if I recall, in it he relates how he got into playing Jazz. Long story short, to get right to the point, Mike sucked at jazz at first, he said he had all the desire and passion to play, just none of the technical ability, and he honestly thought he would never get to the point where he could play with feeling and without thinking, playing Jazz in what you might call its pure form. He relates how his teachers(he sought out some good teachers to try to learn Jazz, he was a rock blues player till that point, playing strictly by ear), his instructors basically told him that he would suck for quite a while, thats just the way it is. To get from point A to point B, was going to require some boring practice and study. There are very few Jazz virtuosos, most of the greats worked long and hard to get there. This is such an important lesson for every style of music, it doesnt matter if its metal, flamenco, classical, or country, if its new, and technically demanding(dont laugh theres some very technical country picking), it is going to take work to learn, and you are probably going to sound like crap while your learning, and that is OK. There is a lot of freedom in simply allowing oneself to sound cruddy, to sound like a beginner again, it sounds crazy, and non sensical, but it actually holds water. Just a little Mike Stern wisdom that really affected my outlook that I thought I would share in hopes of it doing the same for others, sorry I cannot recall the name of the Video, I just saw the starting bit, and he talks about his early days and influences etc, and how badly he sucked at Jazz guitar when he started.
That is a great comment Graiskye. Allowing youself to sound crummy, during practice time, is how you fill in the holes in your playing. It is interesting that humility, generally, increases as one pursues a deeper knowledge of a complex subject. To put it crudely, as you delve into complex endeavours, you get your ass kicked by the subject. When you're working with simpler forms it's easy to think of yourself as a master, and to fool yourself in to this self image. Taking on advanced, complex things shows your limitations. So, does seeing other accomplished musicians do things that you cannot do, without a lot of practice. So, you learn to live with the idea that you have limitations, that other's work is valuable, that you'll ALWAYS be learning, and that to advance, you'll always need to practice. In short, you become humbled and a lifetime student.
I hope you find the mental health professional you require. Seek help my friend! It's there for you. The first step is to admit you have a problem. Good luck.
Mike is such a cool player, his fluidity and phrasing......Awesome! I'm going to learn scale. What a cool mood! I just watched the Paris Concert with Bob Franceschini - Tenor Sax, Richard Bona - Bass, Dennis Chambers - Drums. Man Mike can play! All those cats can play! Richard Bona! Dennis Chambers! Bob Franceschini......all those solos are awesome.
That SNL show was the first time i ever saw Mike...Full Stop. he was playing out of his mind.Stunning. the vocabulary he was dealing with was so beyond anything I'd heard before-- I knew we weren't in Kansas anymore...
Wow, Mike talking about 'spacing out' when studying music theory - I relate so strongly. Sounds like despite the challenges he's become fluent and that's the goal. I envy that.
The thing that's missing from this lesson is that this dominant-diminished pattern can be played from any whole step in the scale. Sticking with the G7 root chord, we could play this pattern from B, D, F, or Ab. B->C#, F->G, Ab->Bb, D->E, or D->E, Ab->Bb, B->C#, F->G, or F->G, B->C#, D->E, Ab->BB, or the first one cited by Stern, which was Ab->Bb, D->E, F->G, B->C# The same half-step/whole-step pattern in a different order of root notes. Same fingering pattern moved around the neck. Brilliant.
thanks mike, your honesty on the daunting task of learning jazz was extremely helpful. That a master like yourself felt like others and I do was great to relate too.
It's not for whatever chord you're playing: Half whole diminished scale for Dominant chords and whole half diminished scale for minor and diminished chords.
Superb, so encouraging and good to know a guy like Stern had the EXACT same feelings I have about learning jazz haha. Makes me feel a lot better about myself LOL.
For those struggling. Ab diminished is G7b9 if you have a G in the root. The whole/half thing is just a scale. If you start that scale on the g it goes half whole step. If you start on the Ab it’s whole/half but it’s exactly the same set of notes that fit Ab dim or G7b9. He then takes 4 notes from the scale (cell) and moves it around in a pattern by sliding the last note of the cell up a half step. This is a complex advanced tool that’s a million miles from blues rock. Good luck and don’t do drugs.
Don't come any better than Mike Stern!! Been listening to him since early 80s with Miles Davis! For me the guys in Jazz and Fusion music were so much more "human" than rockstar players.
The difference between a pro and a clueless amateur: Amateur:" yawn, 5 minutes of talk, playing starts at..." Pro: "Wow, very inspiring words in the beginning and the playing is also great, love Mike!"
Hi..Great video..I always loved his sig. guitar ...reminds me of a late 60s early 70s tele I had..with neck Humbucker...tho Im sure it has a flatter radius..Thanks again....Dave
Mike's a great guitarist, really nice of him to drop in and share this important lick with us. I'm a 57 year old, I've played guitar most of my life "not pro--hobby" and like many guitarist my age and older,we all seem to have plenty of hair on our heads lol. Seriously,what is it with guitarist, Look at the head of hair Mike has for a 62 year old. All That Hair/Jazz
I think the point he is making is that the lesson listed in the title starts at 5:30, and he didn't want to listen to his life story before that. I have to say I kind of agree with him. The practical music theory comes after 5:30, right? He says skip to that if you are more interested in what the title says the video does.
i liked hearing what he said...Jazz does seem too beyond for me and i bet alot of people... what he said was very helpful.... now he IS beyond , which shows you CAN get there
A thumbs up to this comment indicates the person didn't read the comment it responded to carefully, and probably did not listen to what was said in the first 5 1/2 mins. The guy m1gerandisbest responded to was simply pointing out that he doesn't start the lesson until 5:30, but just blabbed on and on about his life. He says nothing about theory in the whole lesson. Even after 5:30, he really doesn't talk about theory, but simply gives a finger pattern for the octatonic scale.
Maybe so. But perhaps they should re-title the video then? That way, people who want to know about his background could find it, and those who actually want to learn the scale and how to use it (not just a fingering pattern) might be able to find it? Would that be a reasonable solution?
mikeIt I think i got something from your talk about you and me. The truth is we listened to so much blues but we felt it and it came out but jazz to make it come out is the same thing listeneing. there are so many jazz artists to listen to especially their early stuff that we just don't do it as much and the music doesn't come out as much. just reminds me of the importance of listening to and dissecting jazz playing especially horns and piano to break out of mechanicl learning.
Mike is just a regular guy with a lot of heart. He's really modest and unpretentious. In a world of no-talent, obnoxious self-promoters, his kind of integrity is refreshing.
As a professional musician, I found the intro as useful as the musical content. To have someone that has been in the game as long as Mike sharing that even he had the same feelings toward jazz as many of us is personal and endearing. Some of the comments on here are unnecessary. Mike's track record speaks for itself. Be mature people.. Musicians and that damn hyper critical mindset is truly an amateur predisposition. Too much of it will see you off the gig.. Find a way to express an opinion without coming off as an ass. Music is a spiritual endeavor, we should remember that..
Cheers..
dhadleyray totally
*@ dhadleyray*
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Well said... Amen to your words bro...
*@ verbotenco*
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You're talking to yourself, right (?)
Well said. Most of the negativity is born out of frustration.
dhadleyray absolutely.
I'm impressed by how humble and down-to-earth Mike is as well as his eagerness to share his knowledge !
that's acommon thread among a lot of great players: humility.
Yes, those type of people are the real thing with nothing to prove.
Every guitarist, not guitar player that I have ever met has always been humbled by the instrument. Listen to any conversation with anyone that has spent a lifetime trying to master the guitar and they are completely humbled by the instrument but these are the guys that can really play.
Huge respect for you for intentionally choosing the words 'guitarists' & 'guitar players'. Not every "guitar player" will get that :)
This guy has such a positive vibe.Great man and player.
There is a instructional video that Mike did a while back, a webinar if I recall, in it he relates how he got into playing Jazz.
Long story short, to get right to the point, Mike sucked at jazz at first, he said he had all the desire and passion to play, just none of the technical ability, and he honestly thought he would never get to the point where he could play with feeling and without thinking, playing Jazz in what you might call its pure form. He relates how his teachers(he sought out some good teachers to try to learn Jazz, he was a rock blues player till that point, playing strictly by ear), his instructors basically told him that he would suck for quite a while, thats just the way it is. To get from point A to point B, was going to require some boring practice and study. There are very few Jazz virtuosos, most of the greats worked long and hard to get there.
This is such an important lesson for every style of music, it doesnt matter if its metal, flamenco, classical, or country, if its new, and technically demanding(dont laugh theres some very technical country picking), it is going to take work to learn, and you are probably going to sound like crap while your learning, and that is OK.
There is a lot of freedom in simply allowing oneself to sound cruddy, to sound like a beginner again, it sounds crazy, and non sensical, but it actually holds water.
Just a little Mike Stern wisdom that really affected my outlook that I thought I would share in hopes of it doing the same for others, sorry I cannot recall the name of the Video, I just saw the starting bit, and he talks about his early days and influences etc, and how badly he sucked at Jazz guitar when he started.
Isn't that in this video?
That is a great comment Graiskye. Allowing youself to sound crummy, during practice time, is how you fill in the holes in your playing. It is interesting that humility, generally, increases as one pursues a deeper knowledge of a complex subject. To put it crudely, as you delve into complex endeavours, you get your ass kicked by the subject. When you're working with simpler forms it's easy to think of yourself as a master, and to fool yourself in to this self image. Taking on advanced, complex things shows your limitations. So, does seeing other accomplished musicians do things that you cannot do, without a lot of practice. So, you learn to live with the idea that you have limitations, that other's work is valuable, that you'll ALWAYS be learning, and that to advance, you'll always need to practice. In short, you become humbled and a lifetime student.
Graiske...Really big into the suck thing.
I’ve seen mike live several times- his vocabulary is endless, and his time is ridiculous- he’s just awesome
His preamble is actually quite interesting. A lot of guitarists can relate to his experiences getting to grips with jazz.
Mike Stern is the nicest guy in jazz.
I hope you find the mental health professional you require. Seek help my friend! It's there for you. The first step is to admit you have a problem. Good luck.
I know! Jeez. Makes you wonder what goes on for some people? Well said.
Juan2003gtr
who is?
+Juan2003gtr So what if he is,(which he probably isn't), he's not in your face about so it's his fuckin business.
Hear, hear! Sounds like a troubled childhood.
What a positive person. I've been watching some interviews and live clips. He is inspiring.
Mike is such a cool player, his fluidity and phrasing......Awesome! I'm going to learn scale. What a cool mood! I just watched the Paris Concert with Bob Franceschini - Tenor Sax, Richard Bona - Bass, Dennis Chambers - Drums. Man Mike can play! All those cats can play! Richard Bona! Dennis Chambers! Bob Franceschini......all those solos are awesome.
One of my favorite DVDs - unbelievable perfection
That SNL show was the first time i ever saw Mike...Full Stop. he was playing out of his mind.Stunning. the vocabulary he was dealing with was so beyond anything I'd heard before-- I knew we weren't in Kansas anymore...
Thank you Mike Stern for sharing your incredible talent!
Wow, Mike talking about 'spacing out' when studying music theory - I relate so strongly. Sounds like despite the challenges he's become fluent and that's the goal. I envy that.
The thing that's missing from this lesson is that this dominant-diminished pattern can be played from any whole step in the scale. Sticking with the G7 root chord, we could play this pattern from B, D, F, or Ab.
B->C#, F->G, Ab->Bb, D->E, or
D->E, Ab->Bb, B->C#, F->G, or
F->G, B->C#, D->E, Ab->BB, or
the first one cited by Stern, which was
Ab->Bb, D->E, F->G, B->C#
The same half-step/whole-step pattern in a different order of root notes. Same fingering pattern moved around the neck. Brilliant.
Music is a language of the heart... one of the best in this lesson!
"Music is a language and it's a language of the heart".... top quote from this lesson.
thanks mike, your honesty on the daunting task of learning jazz was extremely helpful. That a master like yourself felt like others and I do was great to relate too.
That's a signature lick I've heard him play a million times and never know what it was ,pretty cool.
thanx Mike 4 the chat , inspiring to keep learning & reopen my ears & brain & keep picking & digging & listening
Great guy, a natural teacher … thanks so much for laying it out in a direct, meaningful way ...
So take the root of whatever chord your playing, go a half step higher and play diminished licks that eventually resolve on the root. Ingenious idea!
It's not for whatever chord you're playing: Half whole diminished scale for Dominant chords and whole half diminished scale for minor and diminished chords.
I always like it when successful cats say how they struggled to get it. That really makes me want to keep going when I get frustrated.
Superb, so encouraging and good to know a guy like Stern had the EXACT same feelings I have about learning jazz haha. Makes me feel a lot better about myself LOL.
When Mr Mike talk you just shut up and listen.
Couldn't have said it better!
And boy does he talk..got fed up waiting
I listen when he plays! 8 min talks 40 seconds playing!
God I love this man to pieces
I did the same thing 40 years ago and haven't looked back. You made the right move.
mike is one of my great heroes! Thank you for all music!!!
For those struggling.
Ab diminished is G7b9 if you have a G in the root. The whole/half thing is just a scale. If you start that scale on the g it goes half whole step. If you start on the Ab it’s whole/half but it’s exactly the same set of notes that fit Ab dim or G7b9. He then takes 4 notes from the scale (cell) and moves it around in a pattern by sliding the last note of the cell up a half step.
This is a complex advanced tool that’s a million miles from blues rock.
Good luck and don’t do drugs.
This is awesome because it feels like he's having a conversation with you about it. It's so cool!
Jazz certainly expands the musical menu
For mind expansion, listen to the above. For mind contraction, read what's below.
Thanks Mike, great descriptions for many of us. I appreciate your authenticity.
Great lesson! Thanks.
the language of the heart. Well said.
I love how he looks at the guitar and talks to it! LOL
The first 5 minutes just changed my life.
Don't come any better than Mike Stern!! Been listening to him since early 80s with Miles Davis! For me the guys in Jazz and Fusion music were so much more "human" than rockstar players.
The difference between a pro and a clueless amateur: Amateur:" yawn, 5 minutes of talk, playing starts at..." Pro: "Wow, very inspiring words in the beginning and the playing is also great, love Mike!"
Agreed.
What a video! Probably my favourite player or one of them .
"music is a language, and a language of the heart". Nice line.
'Mike didn't come to the gig to get high...MIKE STAYED HIGH!" MILES DAVIS
Hi..Great video..I always loved his sig. guitar ...reminds me of a late 60s early 70s tele I had..with neck Humbucker...tho Im sure it has a flatter radius..Thanks again....Dave
Legend, down to earth, smokin' player. Have always loved his playing and I also love his teaching style. Thanks.
Have I seen this? I don't know but glad to be here either way.
Hey Mike... Thanks So Much for this explanation, it was just what I needed to hear.. This really helped me ! YOUR GREAT MAN !
Il più creativo fra i chiarristi attuali ed anche uno fra i più tecnici. Nel complesso, di granlunga il mio chitarrista fusion preferito.
his energy is admirable
His wife Leni IS A WORLD CLASS Player as well!!
Amazing player. Amazing natural way of speaking to high concept in way cool manner.
im also a rock guy transitioning over to jazz fusion... thanks for the video
Is this the guy that used to jam with Jaco Pastorius?
yes. on Mood Swings !
Yes. There's some great live material out there of him playing with Jaco...
Mike's a great guitarist, really nice of him to drop in and share this important lick with us. I'm a 57 year old, I've played guitar most of my life "not pro--hobby" and like many guitarist my age and older,we all seem to have plenty of hair on our heads lol. Seriously,what is it with guitarist, Look at the head of hair Mike has for a 62 year old.
All That Hair/Jazz
Interesting explanation on the journey from rock to bop !
Mike Stern is always so real.
Play with your heart like Mike does notes don’t matter as much music is the greatest as long as you love what you do
this sounds a lot like the brecker brothers - some skunk funk! is this actually what they used?
Ah just found out it's true. "Some Skunk Funk" starts with G7#9 thats actually the chord for the half-whole tone diminished scale :) that's cool!
man, Mike Stern is such a dude.
Amazing video, after watching this I wrote one page of ideas from that, thanks a lot.
damn it...even Mike Stern says jazz is hard...this is super motivated and demotivated at the same time :p
Mike always had great sense of changes and rhythm,the hardest things to get.
Yes yes yes, I'm at that point and any minor advancement in jazz is helping me big time with my straight rock/blues thing
I think the point he is making is that the lesson listed in the title starts at 5:30, and he didn't want to listen to his life story before that. I have to say I kind of agree with him. The practical music theory comes after 5:30, right? He says skip to that if you are more interested in what the title says the video does.
Great video,!
An interesting guy, but if you came here to find out about the half-whole diminished scale, skip ahead to 5:30.
Now that's a good comment...Mike,shut and and play your two chorus pedals..
i liked hearing what he said...Jazz does seem too beyond for me and i bet alot of people... what he said was very helpful.... now he IS beyond , which shows you CAN get there
I hope you are doing well Mike
Love that guitar. 👍👍🤘🤘
8:23 ripped the boundaries of spacetime, and caused Edward Munch to paint "The Scream."
mike didnt get high, mike stayed high~miles davis
Lmfao
if miles wants to send you to rehab, you know you've got something wrong -MS
Heartwarming
Legend sharing the wealth.
Great lesson Mikes the man
You can tell this guy practices all day...#Hero
Thank you Mike!
I Love Mike Stern. Havent seen the video though yet :D
Met this man with Eric Johnson and wow what a couple of nice guys!
Mike Stern played with Miles & Marcus Miller right?
Is this the scale Scofield uses in his solos with Miles Davis to take it 'out'?
Really great stuff mate I like playing that way pretty cool
Well said Mike!
Great Lession good
I just want to say thanks!
Could this also work over dominant 7#9 chords?
+Francois DuJour yeah, Half wholestep contains all the notes you require to play over dominant #9
A thumbs up to this comment indicates the person didn't read the comment it responded to carefully, and probably did not listen to what was said in the first 5 1/2 mins.
The guy m1gerandisbest responded to was simply pointing out that he doesn't start the lesson until 5:30, but just blabbed on and on about his life. He says nothing about theory in the whole lesson.
Even after 5:30, he really doesn't talk about theory, but simply gives a finger pattern for the octatonic scale.
This is the scale Jonny Greenwood uses on Radiohead's "Just". Just saying.....
Why the name-calling?
He's smart and humble
"Just because I felt like doin' it." To that I reply, "FUCK YEAH!"
Music starts at 5:00.
that's one weird calibration there! look at the saddle for the low E!
great musician btw
I have the Mike Stern Tele and thinking of selling!
playing starts at 5:40
Wouahhhh about 6 min One chords G7 ! The best
Hi Howard E the whole Miles davis with Stern does exist on RUclips. Try "Miles Davis at Hammersmith" as the reply wno't let me add the link! Enjoy!!
Mood swings by mike is such good fucking song
song: AJ
album: "All over the place"
Great insight, Lost it towards the end, You wouldn’t have the scale diagram and which chords starting from what point?
Maybe so. But perhaps they should re-title the video then? That way, people who want to know about his background could find it, and those who actually want to learn the scale and how to use it (not just a fingering pattern) might be able to find it? Would that be a reasonable solution?
mikeIt I think i got something from your talk about you and me. The truth is we listened to so much blues but we felt it and it came out but jazz to make it come out is the same thing listeneing. there are so many jazz artists to listen to especially their early stuff that we just don't do it as much and the music doesn't come out as much. just reminds me of the importance of listening to and dissecting jazz playing especially horns and piano to break out of mechanicl learning.
Actually Mike has been clean and sober for over a quarter of a century.