How to play Major 7th chords like Bill Evans!

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  • Опубликовано: 5 фев 2025
  • A lesson on how to use the bebop scale to harmonize Major 7th chords in the style of Bill Evans, Barry Harris and Hank Jones.
    Download a PDF of the lesson material here: www.johncolonn...
    Check out the rest of my video lessons here: • Lessons
    #Jazz #JazzMusicTheory #JazzMusicLesson

Комментарии • 157

  • @theoryman2
    @theoryman2 Год назад +1

    Thanks, you unlocked the code! Wow

  • @arthurrosch5378
    @arthurrosch5378 2 года назад +19

    Your format, i.e. showing notes, keyboard, full staff, etc is HUGELy helpful! I've been beating my head against Bill Evans voicings for decades and here you are, lucidly explaining how they're done. Thank you, amigo!

  • @bobcarwell9172
    @bobcarwell9172 2 года назад +15

    Where have you been ??? Best rational and understandable explanation I have ever seen of how in part that unique and rich Evans harmonic sound is achieved. Keep them coming ! Maybe next some more on Bill's right hand lines ? THANK YOU !

    • @JohnColonnaMusic
      @JohnColonnaMusic  2 года назад +3

      Thanks Bob, yes more lessons coming soon!

    • @uelude
      @uelude 2 года назад +1

      @@JohnColonnaMusic Don't forget his left hand 😄
      Plus those sublime trio bass lines 😍

  • @Musa-keys
    @Musa-keys 2 года назад +9

    Excellent man! I’ll share this quite a lot.
    Side note: Never imagined David Foster Wallace came back as a pianist ;-)
    ❤️ 🎶 🔥

  • @robbes7rh
    @robbes7rh 2 года назад +14

    wow, that is rich. theres a really strong sense of tension and release just moving up and down by scaler degrees. there was me before this lesson 😢 meandering, uncertain; and then me having digested what was discussed here 😊 confidently carving a well-graded path along a topography of changing harmonies. impossible to ever sound lame again once you understand😅

  • @brendaninglis_333
    @brendaninglis_333 2 года назад +4

    This video was awesome- really brings Barry Harris’ wisdom into a modern context, can’t wait to play around with the concept of expanding the sixth-diminished scale 🙌

  • @billdelgovernatore9379
    @billdelgovernatore9379 2 года назад +1

    Nice ideas! Bill Delatore

  • @alexanderyozzo
    @alexanderyozzo 2 года назад

    Dang we found the deep youtube. This the real deal, keep up the lessons and the channel will grow.

  • @vvoka2257
    @vvoka2257 11 месяцев назад

    thank you so much for this!! this is so well (and relaxed) explained, it gives me a lot! Finally I seem to begin to understand a bit of Bill Evans way of voicings. I always disliked the major7 when I play and included the 7, but this concept of major and dimished at the same time played in opposite manner makes the difference. Really, thank you!

  • @Learn_Listen_Love
    @Learn_Listen_Love Год назад +1

    You’re a really good teacher man

  • @uelude
    @uelude 2 года назад +11

    Wonderfully taught. Although playing and loving improvising and jamming for 20 years I was never taught theory and can't read music but, I know some basics and this.. made massive amounts of sense with such a beautiful concept.
    And love Bill, especially with a view when the rain is hitting the window. Subscribed of course!
    What an excellent way to teach. I thought the great Bill Evans was beyond my playing, as I focus on other styles and instruments, but can absolutely grasp they way you conceptualise this concept and will practice.
    These scales and chords are wonderful!
    Always played with contrary motion but never had a name for it, very nice.
    Thanks!

  • @erickborling1302
    @erickborling1302 Год назад

    Love it. Great lesson. What's funny is we all know you love M7 chords.

  • @alwayzblues
    @alwayzblues Год назад

    Great lesson!

  • @davidschwartz6657
    @davidschwartz6657 Год назад

    this is terrific! gonna sit down this fall and study this!!

  • @es9466
    @es9466 2 года назад

    hey john,ive been looking for a more holistic approach to jazz piano harmony and your series is it !! thanks man big love

  • @jean-pierremagloire3332
    @jean-pierremagloire3332 7 месяцев назад

    Simply superlative! Many thanks.

  • @brendaboykin3281
    @brendaboykin3281 2 года назад

    Thanx, John🌹🌹🌹🌹

  • @marcoevans2155
    @marcoevans2155 2 года назад +1

    I really dug this technique of pretty-fying and resolving Major 7th Chords. I noticed that it does give things a somber more Minor tonality buy hey, its still better than those antique sounding block chords. Thank you much!

  • @TrevorWesleyOfficial
    @TrevorWesleyOfficial 2 года назад

    This movement is sick! Thanks for sharing bro. It can alsowork great on a Gbminb5 chord.... The Amin/D7...

  • @mudbone7706
    @mudbone7706 2 года назад +4

    Very useful harmonization technique, thanks!

  • @lucianphipps5430
    @lucianphipps5430 2 года назад

    It's very interesting what you have discovered here.. like you say this has a lovely classical feeling with an echo of Bill Evans. The 'locked hands' technique of George Shearing is great too but more old fashioned sounding.
    Thanks again

  • @jiondrums78
    @jiondrums78 2 года назад

    Awesome video! Good job.

  • @jerrypearl1427
    @jerrypearl1427 2 года назад +1

    First time I’ve watched and found it to be helpful. Thanks very much John!!!

  • @albanlopez5225
    @albanlopez5225 2 года назад +1

    Thanks a Lot for sharing those Amazing Concepts.

  • @bryanwest9216
    @bryanwest9216 2 года назад +3

    A fantastic lesson. Am inspired to get to it. This echoes changes on the maj7 sound brilliant

  • @pianowoman2529
    @pianowoman2529 2 года назад

    Yes. Thank you so much.

  • @kathrynveith625
    @kathrynveith625 2 года назад +7

    Thank you. That was well explained and inspiring! I hope to see more from you.

  • @Keyboardman88
    @Keyboardman88 2 года назад +2

    Major 7th were predominately used in Latin music. Nice to hears someone who understands voicings.

  • @juanfernandez-bacatoledo7032
    @juanfernandez-bacatoledo7032 2 года назад

    Such a nice lesson, I will practice it till i get in al the tones. Thanks mate!!

  • @patrick_undertherock3101
    @patrick_undertherock3101 Год назад

    really reminds me of those voicings mingus would use on his piano album

  • @sirrobinhood3409
    @sirrobinhood3409 2 года назад

    Excellent practical explanation of harmony Thank You!

  • @takeiteasymon
    @takeiteasymon 2 года назад

    Thanks so much for this wisdom!

  • @JeromeFe
    @JeromeFe 2 года назад

    Great precious & precise lesson. Thank you!

  • @JohnColonnaMusic
    @JohnColonnaMusic  2 года назад +4

    Download a PDF of the lesson materials here: www.johncolonna.com/product-page/how-to-play-major-7th-chords-like-bill-evans
    New videos about the same concept on Dominant 7th and ii-V-I chords out now!
    Dominant 7: ruclips.net/video/FEnYXGEsGhk/видео.html
    ii-V-I: ruclips.net/video/Ge6HqCvzscw/видео.html

  • @yushchenkoalexey
    @yushchenkoalexey 10 месяцев назад

    That is Gold 🪙

  • @lucianphipps5430
    @lucianphipps5430 2 года назад

    Thanks for sharing this little jewel of information John! Luckily I recently learnt about the be bop scale with the sharp 5th. George Shearing uses this quite a lot with his double hand technique and this demonstration has a lovely classical and poignant feel.
    Lucian

    • @uelude
      @uelude 2 года назад

      Poignant.. great word choice!

  • @patricknaughton9322
    @patricknaughton9322 2 года назад +3

    Dude..this was class..make more of these..I might actually get a lesson at some stage..

    • @JohnColonnaMusic
      @JohnColonnaMusic  2 года назад +1

      Thanks Patrick, more videos on this concept are coming soon!

  • @ricksmithguitar
    @ricksmithguitar 2 года назад +3

    Hearing the leading tone as a tension in a resolution is very 19th century. If you put it right under the melody of course it’s tense, but in the middle of the chord like trombone 7-3 voicing it’s beautiful. Soften it with a 9th even smoother. The 6th is also warm under a tonic melody, but that’s something else.

  • @nicholasr6381
    @nicholasr6381 2 года назад +1

    Awesome channel! Thanks for posting such a useful video

  • @gustavogastelum9024
    @gustavogastelum9024 2 года назад

    This was just beautiful. Thanks man

  • @timhadden4882
    @timhadden4882 2 года назад

    How about putting together an ebook? I would buy it.

  • @droslean1
    @droslean1 2 года назад

    Nice video! I would be very interested in different kinds of excercices that wrap up this concept.

  • @MaxTooney
    @MaxTooney 2 года назад

    What a great breakdown. Many thanks!

  • @MusicArtistjodihild
    @MusicArtistjodihild 2 года назад

    Hi John, Do you have anymore videos?

    • @JohnColonnaMusic
      @JohnColonnaMusic  2 года назад

      Hi Jodi, yes check out my channel for more videos: ruclips.net/user/JohnColonnaMusic
      Here is another lesson video: ruclips.net/video/FEnYXGEsGhk/видео.html
      More lessons and music coming soon!

  • @ducampbeaulieu2514
    @ducampbeaulieu2514 4 месяца назад

    When would you demonstrate how to apply this system in tune ? Thanks

    • @JohnColonnaMusic
      @JohnColonnaMusic  4 месяца назад

      Hi check out my video using it to play Autumn Leaves
      ruclips.net/video/TkiNTQybtDU/видео.htmlsi=yq5ofM8z0EBepZDR

  • @elipsis1
    @elipsis1 2 года назад

    M I N D B L O W N ! Wow 🙏 Thanks!

  • @chizmo7
    @chizmo7 2 года назад +1

    Very cool. Thanks!

  • @Music-or-die
    @Music-or-die 2 года назад

    Thank you you are genius i subscribed

  • @xaviduch
    @xaviduch Год назад

    Really, really cool! Subscribed!

  • @gunwookim4047
    @gunwookim4047 2 года назад +1

    that was really good thanks

  • @fralemieux
    @fralemieux 2 года назад

    Excellent.

  • @mrpk646
    @mrpk646 2 года назад +1

    Very cool. Thank you.

  • @D7flat5
    @D7flat5 2 года назад

    Beautiful! Thanks ❤

  • @sampowellmusic
    @sampowellmusic 2 года назад

    i think i may need to watch this again.

  • @Vizeral
    @Vizeral 2 года назад +2

    Excellent tutorial. I particularly love how it was narrated by John c Reilly.

    • @uelude
      @uelude 2 года назад +1

      On a musical interlude while acting in the David Foster Wallace biopic 🙂

  • @mjazzguitar
    @mjazzguitar 2 года назад +1

    Doesn't that scale with the added Ab have something to do with playing block chords, also?

  • @jesussalinas2506
    @jesussalinas2506 2 года назад

    that’s a pretty good idea

  • @Grapho137
    @Grapho137 2 года назад

    Great video

  • @AnnemieM
    @AnnemieM 2 года назад +1

    That is super cool, I will try that tomorrow, thank you so much. ❤

  • @peachillusion711
    @peachillusion711 2 года назад

    Amazing!

  • @wadebayliss
    @wadebayliss 2 года назад

    nice thanks

  • @michaelsolomon6594
    @michaelsolomon6594 2 года назад

    Wonderful

  • @TOMBO1111
    @TOMBO1111 2 года назад

    That's so cool! ty so much

  • @kingmercyrayne503
    @kingmercyrayne503 3 года назад +1

    Splendid, thank you.

  • @nathanielmervis5616
    @nathanielmervis5616 2 года назад +2

    Thanks for this, but i would like you to do examples of songs played normally and then played with that barry Harris scale style of your's so we can get a more practical idea of how to implement it in different songs.

    • @JohnColonnaMusic
      @JohnColonnaMusic  2 года назад +4

      Sounds good, I’ll post a video soon showing it’s application in a standard

    • @nathanielmervis5616
      @nathanielmervis5616 2 года назад +1

      @@JohnColonnaMusic Thank you soo much.. I have a feeling this will dramatically improve my sound. 😁😁😁

  • @rapinncapin123
    @rapinncapin123 Год назад

    Great!

  • @archivestereo
    @archivestereo 2 года назад +1

    You’re great!

  • @claudeimanuel
    @claudeimanuel 2 года назад

    Bruh amazing

  • @uelude
    @uelude 2 года назад

    Reminds me of the original Twin Peaks soundtrack, do you know what I mean?

  • @leaderoftheitu
    @leaderoftheitu 2 года назад +1

    Awesome video!! I just have one question, how do i utilize the f# you where playing? Im having a hard time wrapping my head around that concept. Incredible video!!

    • @JohnColonnaMusic
      @JohnColonnaMusic  2 года назад +2

      I’m thinking of the harmony as an Am7 going to D7 in the example with the F#, thanks!

  • @reginr
    @reginr 2 года назад

    THANK YOU ~~~~~~!!!!!!!!

  • @pianowoman2529
    @pianowoman2529 2 года назад

    Perfect. Where did you get the B. E. Class please?

    • @JohnColonnaMusic
      @JohnColonnaMusic  2 года назад

      You can download the pdf here: www.johncolonna.com/product-page/how-to-play-major-7th-chords-like-bill-evans

  • @markbra
    @markbra 2 года назад

    Very old timely sound for sure but.....I digress. I want all notifications.

  • @fieldfullofthistles
    @fieldfullofthistles Год назад

    magic mate tx!

  • @bungbr7654
    @bungbr7654 2 года назад +1

    this, I can understand. thank you very much. more videos like this

  • @Juancarranque
    @Juancarranque 2 года назад

    Gracias

  • @robinmiller7958
    @robinmiller7958 2 года назад

    Cool stuff, thanks!

  • @anatol1204
    @anatol1204 2 года назад

    I have e greek friend he is over 60 now you have the same name and surname and when he was young he looked similar ! Now he is bold without the moustache. .😆How funny life can be sometimes !

  • @dancouper2024
    @dancouper2024 2 года назад +1

    Thanks John … just sent you an email ..
    I would love to learn some more from you ..
    I have always loved Bill Evans and have always tried a different way .. cant wait to apply this ❤️ thank you so much for the video 🤩

  • @boboscurse4130
    @boboscurse4130 Год назад

    I just subbed.

  • @ewallt
    @ewallt 2 года назад +2

    That was lovely. I’ve heard Barry Harris would think of a Maj 7 chord as a Bass plus Maj 6 chord. For example, C Maj 7 = C + G
    Maj 6, in which case you could keep the C fixed and use the G Maj6/dim scale to harmonically move around. How you used that idea?

    • @JohnColonnaMusic
      @JohnColonnaMusic  2 года назад +3

      Yeah actually I use that for the 4 chord so your example I would use in the key of G

    • @ewallt
      @ewallt 2 года назад +1

      @@JohnColonnaMusic This sounds like you like to use the tonic bebop as much as you can and figure out creative ways to make that work.
      Your video on using that concept on dominant chords was terrific. Never would I have though of flatting the 13th of the dim half/whole tone scale. That was brilliant.

  • @murraywilloughby7116
    @murraywilloughby7116 2 года назад +2

    I think you transcend Barry and Theory both. Bill in a closet/nutshell. A pdf would be great, or Muse Score. Thanks! You make it look pretty easy.

    • @JohnColonnaMusic
      @JohnColonnaMusic  2 года назад +1

      Thanks! Yes PDF coming soon

    • @JohnColonnaMusic
      @JohnColonnaMusic  2 года назад +2

      Hi Murray, a PDF is available now at my website here: www.johncolonna.com/product-page/how-to-play-major-7th-chords-like-bill-evans
      Thanks!

    • @murraywilloughby7116
      @murraywilloughby7116 2 года назад

      @@JohnColonnaMusic Thanks Brutha. Here is one I did for Kicks. It's a 5 Finger exercise over Giant Steps:
      ruclips.net/video/Yz0ZRzMWOFk/видео.html
      I was reading the C. P. E. Bach "the True Art of Playing the Keyboard" and some how got Inspired.
      It's a little over the top/tongue in cheek, but a tiny step towards Line-Up.
      Hope you like it!

  • @agu__gonzalez
    @agu__gonzalez 2 года назад

    Thanks!

  • @golafs
    @golafs 2 года назад

    that was nice, thx! you should do more lessons! :)

  • @hectormayoral443
    @hectormayoral443 9 месяцев назад

    Awesome video. Is your microphone stereo? your voice sounds very phasy for some reason, just thought I'd point it out

  • @Keyboardman88
    @Keyboardman88 2 года назад

    Am is the related minor to "C".

  • @brucejeric6701
    @brucejeric6701 2 года назад

    Your material is great!! But a little last for me. I understand the diminished idea the tension and resolve. Do you have any pdf material I could download?

    • @JohnColonnaMusic
      @JohnColonnaMusic  2 года назад

      Yes PDFs will be available for download soon

    • @JohnColonnaMusic
      @JohnColonnaMusic  2 года назад +1

      Hi Bruce, I made a PDF of the lesson material, you can download it here: www.johncolonna.com/product-page/how-to-play-major-7th-chords-like-bill-evans
      Thanks!

  • @tgrimes175
    @tgrimes175 2 года назад

    Sometimes you want to resolve on major 7th chords with the leading tone in the highest voicing because of it sounding dissonant and unresolved. Sometimes that is perfect prosody based on the lyrical content. If you had a song that centers around the concept of "I hope she comes back to me" you would not want to have a full resolution sound, because it would fight the concept of her "not being back with you yet". You want to create the feeling of longing, and anticipation, and hope, etc. This concept is painting with sound to the text.

    • @JohnColonnaMusic
      @JohnColonnaMusic  2 года назад

      I agree

    • @sheilamacdougal4874
      @sheilamacdougal4874 Год назад

      That's a nice point. It reminds us to think of lyrics, or at least the mood, especially when accompanying a singer, but even when not. And come to think of it, I've heard great singers end on a 7th after singing the tonic. It has a powerful effect.

  • @snakelee
    @snakelee 3 года назад

    Professor John!

  • @salastuto139
    @salastuto139 Год назад

    Woah!!!! Dude! What!

  • @markbosch2495
    @markbosch2495 2 года назад

    Barry Harris rules rule!

  • @fraterdeusestveritas2022
    @fraterdeusestveritas2022 2 года назад

    Great video and channel. Subbed.

  • @martinspianovibes
    @martinspianovibes 2 года назад +1

    Oh I love this guy. The way he expresses his disappointments in the modern world music stuff... Funny

  • @hwanshobbystorage861
    @hwanshobbystorage861 2 года назад

    Thank you!!!

  • @jameschesterton
    @jameschesterton Год назад

    Another way to think of it is just V-I-V-I.....and the b13 in the V chord gives it a little more resolving ooommmf

  • @Jina4491
    @Jina4491 3 года назад

    Very niceeeee.

  • @ing_at
    @ing_at 9 месяцев назад

    Can someone pls explain why the f# works on the 2 chord?

    • @JohnColonnaMusic
      @JohnColonnaMusic  9 месяцев назад

      It’s a D7, so the F# would be the 3rd of the chord.

    • @ing_at
      @ing_at 9 месяцев назад

      @@JohnColonnaMusic thanks, that's what i thought! but i wasn't sure why you subbed the ii for a II. are you thinking of it as a secondary dominant?

    • @JohnColonnaMusic
      @JohnColonnaMusic  9 месяцев назад

      Yeah exactly it would be a secondary dominant

  • @brancaleon7636
    @brancaleon7636 Год назад

    This is done all the times in bossa nova, isn't it?

  • @777Witness
    @777Witness 2 года назад

    Can I please know what you use for your piano sound?

  • @srglmkn2922
    @srglmkn2922 7 месяцев назад

    What u playing at 5?