@Piano With Jonny Can i use these magical chords and use this formula to the song "You Are So Beautiful" by Joe Cocker? I only been playing keyboard for a month and a half and i thought i would change the sound a bit. I'm a guitarist and know theory but some songs don't sound so well with guitar so I'm like in a different realm. I'm also a big fan of Gino Vannelli he writes beautiful music.!!
For anyone who prefers to think of it in a more conventional way, for major you build a major 7th chord and add the 2nd (so you can think of it as a 2-3-7 formula with 1-5 in the left hand), and for minor you build a minor 7th chord and add the 4th (or think of it as a 3-4-7 formula wirh 1-5 in the left hand). I think tricks like the one shown in this video are helpful to start off but in the long run it is much more beneficial to understand the degrees and why the chords work. Thanks to the uploader for the content.
Yeah I like Major: LH: 1-5 RH: 2-3-7 (9th) and Minor: LH: 1-5 RH: 3-4-7 (11th) better. I guess what is a bit unusual here is the that 9th (2) and 11th (4) are voiced under the 7th not above it. Very nice voicing.
@@rickhood Agreed - and worth noting that every chord in the video keeps the 7th up top and "buries" the 9th / 11th note next to the major or minor third note. Captures a cozy type feeling for me
As some one else commented, it's far way useful to use the plain degrees: root, 2(9), 3, 4(11), 5, 7 and so on... Also it's more informative and educational to name the chords(eg. 9th,11th) instead of using broad names such as magic, wonder. If the main purpose is to simplify for beginners, then the formulas 1 4 1 & 1 3 1 defeat the purpose as they require knowing at least the major scale in all 12 keys. That been said, I really appreciate the good contents Jonny puts in this great channel.
@ 2:41 formula 1-4-1? Really if you know your scale tones you know its a 1-5 in the left hand and 9-3-7 in the right i think people go a bit extra on giving it pet names when its much simpler then that. Root = C Perfect 5th = G Major 9th = D Major 3rd = E Major 7th = B Simple
If you are confused about the formula, For minor : play the sus2 of the relative major of the minor chord in the right hand side and 1+5 of the minor chord in the left hand.
Isn't it easier to say play the 1-5 in the left hand and the 2-3-7 in the right hand instead of first going to the first inversion of the chord in order to count down the 141 formula?
He is counting wrong. This should be: 141 formula = -1 -7 -2 C on top count -1 semitone down to reach B, from Bb count -7 semitones down to reach E and count -2 semitones down to reach from Eb to D. That's the right formula in the right hand. In the left hand play the root C and count +7 semitones up from C# to G, to reach the fifth. Chord-tones and tensions. Top ⬇️ B ⬅️ 7 E ⬅️ 3 D ⬅️ 2 G ⬅️ 5 C ⬅️ 1 Bottom When you start to count, never count the start note. Semitones Top ⬇️ G ⬅️ +7 F# ⬅️ +6 F ⬅️ +5 E ⬅️ +4 D# ⬅️ +3 D ⬅️ +2 C# ⬅️ +1 C ⬅️ 0 Bottom ⬆️ Counting direction That's how you reach the fifth.
Right, but, there are many ways to explain it. He is breaking it down to where you don’t even need to understand the number system yet to get the voicing. So, he explained it pretty well.
Always the best. Personnally I try to figure out the chords thinking about 9 and 11, but for those who are still not familiar with harmony this is a easy trick.
Great lesson and great chords! My next question - how you best deploy the chords against a melody, playing solo piano, where your right hands is dealing with the melody? Do they have to become rootless left hand chords, or can you only use them when they match the melody in the top note?
Play your right hand melody on top of the existing chord in the right hand (but stay in whatever key you're in), as you'd normally do when playing a song with chords in the right hand. For example, if your right hand is playing a regular C major chord and you're playing a 1st and 5th of that chord in the left hand, then with your right hand you would incorporate your right hand melody into and around/over the right hand chord. Say you're playing the C chord in your right hand with all notes together, then play the arpeggio of that chord and add notes around that arpeggio, whatever the melody is. It's easier to show you how to do it, but I don't have a video of it. Lol. The only other option is to do it like you would when playing something like "The Entertainer", where your left hand is playing both the bass chords and the mid-octive chords, jumping back and forth (left hand is working both jobs), while your right hand is free to play nothing but the melody. This is probably a little above beginner level but it's worth learning. Oh, maybe one more option! Play the entire thing, both left hand chords and right hand chords, and break them up into arpeggios and melodies, as the guy in the video is sort of doing when he plays the whole progression for demonstration. Nothing says you have to play all the notes of a chord together all the time. Break it up and make a melody out of it. Use both hands, be creative.
I find the "formula" way more complicated and vague than just indicating the degrees of the scale. Like: 2nd, 3rd and 7th for major and 3,4,7th degree for minor scales.
Yeah. Totally. left hand root and 5th. Right hand 2nd/9th+3rd+Major 7 is so much easier if you have studied your scales that way. Plus, talking about things more from a musicology POV sets you up better for understanding other methods and expanding, soloing, etc. I come from a guitar background - just learning piano and you def don't want to get stuck in shapes and patterns only.
I (almost) agree with Bernios ... except ... rather than suggest a "formula" approach is inferior in some way ... why not just ALSO express it in an ADDITIONAL way. Jonny does that all the time ... saying something like ... "another simple way to think of that beautiful C chord that we just made is as a C7 add 2". Probably unfortunately, Jonny didn't do that this particular time, but he's a master at it.
As far as I can see no one knows the theory like Jonny. I mean this guy’s utter and complete command of anything he shows is kinda of amazing. I think I’ll sign up next year sometime. Once I can do a blues run or two and work on a few other things. Great lesson Jonny!
Jonny, this is super helpful. Back to theory, for major, is this Cmaj9 abd then for minor is that for m11 such as Dm11. I like your 141 and 131 approach. Thank you so much!
So you just play a power chord with your left hand. Build another power chord from the third with your right hand ( and you have a four note seven chord ). For major add one left from that right hand power chord. For minor make that right hand power chord into a sus2 triad.
Thanks Jonny, you are a wonderful teacher. This lesson very helpful as I learn about jazz chords. The shapes I believe has value as playing has to become automatic using any tricks that work. So my take on it is that initial jazz coloring is to add a 4th note, the 7th either as dominant or major. And then adding 9's, 11's is like extra credit coloring. At around 9:45 you showed sheet with chord sequence marked as Cmaj9, Am11, Fmaj11, G9. So I believe all the 7th's are left out of the chord abbreviations and just assumed. So I was wondering about the 'maj' used in Cmaj9, Fmaj11 but left out of the G9. I've got some confusion on what the 'maj' is a reference to, the chord in general I assume. So if you wrote 'Gmaj9' instead would that be inappropriate? You do say while playing it it is a major chord. Is there a lot of variety in this chord labeling? Like would someone else maybe add in the 7ths as some part of the label? Anyways, thanks for passing on what you do, it's all very helpful.
I love your videos but this one is so confusing. I understand scale degree numbers and extensions but I’m afraid that learning this “formula” will totally mess up my music theory thinking process. Do most jazz musicians build chords this way?
I went to get your chord extensions course but it only allowed me to add a subscription but i just want to learn the extensions. can you buy course instead paying a monthly price?
He's making 9chords. So He's using the 1-3-5-7-9(2) of the scale of each chord. The 9th degree of the scale is the same as the second degree of the scale just 1 octave up. That is how he is deriving the chord tones. What he's showing here is how to space those notes to make the 9chords sound "magic". Honestly the best thing to do as a beginner would be to just learn some 9chords and their inversions so you can get the sounds you need for whatever song you are writing. One chord tone really won't cut it in the long run.
Jonny, big compliments to your channel. I really do enjoy every single video from you, very useful tips, right to the point. Please continue and thank you SO MUCH for your efforts and time you invest for "us".
Wouldn't the G chord you show in the first section use an f# instead of f? You show going down a half step on the other chords but a full step on the G chord.
A doubt: how comes that the formula gives chords with different "colour" just randomly based on the chord you are playing? I mean: the first note that you scale down in the formula (1-...) renders a coloured 7+ if you are playing for instance a C or F, while in a G chord it renders a 7 (so different colour!). Shouldn't it be calculated in terms of tones/semitones?
There isn't an F# in the key of C major. The C major scale is C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. If you were in the key of G major, you would use an F#. The G major scale is G, A, B, C, D, E, F#, G. Also in D major. D,E,F#,G, A, B, C#, D.
00:00 - Intro
00:31 - Standard progression
01:24 - Adding magic chord shapes
01:59 - Major chord formula
04:28 - Minor chord formula
06:42 - Practice progression 1
08:49 - Practice progression 2
10:07 - Magic chord exercise
11:32 - Play with backing track
11:56 - Conclusion
@Piano With Jonny
Can i use these magical chords and use this formula to the song "You Are So Beautiful" by Joe Cocker?
I only been playing keyboard for a month and a half and i thought i would change the sound a bit.
I'm a guitarist and know theory but some songs don't sound so well with guitar so I'm like in a different realm. I'm also a big fan of Gino Vannelli he writes beautiful music.!!
For anyone who prefers to think of it in a more conventional way, for major you build a major 7th chord and add the 2nd (so you can think of it as a 2-3-7 formula with 1-5 in the left hand), and for minor you build a minor 7th chord and add the 4th (or think of it as a 3-4-7 formula wirh 1-5 in the left hand). I think tricks like the one shown in this video are helpful to start off but in the long run it is much more beneficial to understand the degrees and why the chords work. Thanks to the uploader for the content.
This comment should top over all the others
Yes, I definitely like it explained this way better using intervals.
They you for giving this comment I just put the trick in my tool bag now time to go use it.😂
Yeah I like Major: LH: 1-5 RH: 2-3-7 (9th) and Minor: LH: 1-5 RH: 3-4-7 (11th) better.
I guess what is a bit unusual here is the that 9th (2) and 11th (4) are voiced under the 7th not above it. Very nice voicing.
@@rickhood Agreed - and worth noting that every chord in the video keeps the 7th up top and "buries" the 9th / 11th note next to the major or minor third note. Captures a cozy type feeling for me
As some one else commented, it's far way useful to use the plain degrees: root, 2(9), 3, 4(11), 5, 7 and so on...
Also it's more informative and educational to name the chords(eg. 9th,11th) instead of using broad names such as magic, wonder.
If the main purpose is to simplify for beginners, then the formulas 1 4 1 & 1 3 1 defeat the purpose as they require knowing at least the major scale in all 12 keys.
That been said, I really appreciate the good contents Jonny puts in this great channel.
beautiful chord progression.
MAN I JUST LOVE YOU THANK YOU, I’ve been playing piano for the last 10 years and never discovered such beautiful chords, love it!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️
@ 2:41 formula 1-4-1? Really if you know your scale tones you know its a 1-5 in the left hand and 9-3-7 in the right i think people go a bit extra on giving it pet names when its much simpler then that.
Root = C
Perfect 5th = G
Major 9th = D
Major 3rd = E
Major 7th = B
Simple
Bravo on the explanation (thinking the exact same thing)
If you are confused about the formula,
For minor : play the sus2 of the relative major of the minor chord in the right hand side and 1+5 of the minor chord in the left hand.
You are so clear in your explanation. U are helping me sound great better with this lesson on shaping chords
Simple and amazing recipe to make standard chord sequences not so boring. Thank you Jonny!
That lesson is gold. Thank you.
Steely Dan’s signature Mu chord sound, explained! Thank you ☺️
Isn't it easier to say play the 1-5 in the left hand and the 2-3-7 in the right hand instead of first going to the first inversion of the chord in order to count down the 141 formula?
I said the same that’s so much easier to place it this way
He is counting wrong. This should be:
141 formula = -1 -7 -2
C on top count -1 semitone down to reach B, from Bb count -7 semitones down to reach E and count -2 semitones down to reach from Eb to D. That's the right formula in the right hand.
In the left hand play the root C and count +7 semitones up from C# to G, to reach the fifth.
Chord-tones and tensions.
Top ⬇️
B ⬅️ 7
E ⬅️ 3
D ⬅️ 2
G ⬅️ 5
C ⬅️ 1
Bottom
When you start to count, never count the start note.
Semitones
Top ⬇️
G ⬅️ +7
F# ⬅️ +6
F ⬅️ +5
E ⬅️ +4
D# ⬅️ +3
D ⬅️ +2
C# ⬅️ +1
C ⬅️ 0
Bottom ⬆️
Counting direction
That's how you reach the fifth.
Right, but, there are many ways to explain it. He is breaking it down to where you don’t even need to understand the number system yet to get the voicing.
So, he explained it pretty well.
@@mikepro500
Counting semitones is wrong.
This is really helpful Johnny, thank you! Pls make more vids like this concept
Thank you!!
So generous with your knowledge
Thank you
Omg thank you so much
Wow amazing saludos de 🇨🇴 Colombia
Another easy magic help which makes my simple piano playing sound much richer. Thanks a lot Jonny! Really love your exercises.
BLESSING JOHNNY
Never thought of doing sus2 add9 chords in that way. Very interesting. Re-arranging them in that way.
Great lesson. I always enjoy the secret sauce chord lessons you provide
Very nice Tutorial 🎹👍 I like the way of counting with the magic formulars 🎶✨ Beautiful sounds! Have a great weekend! Greetings from Germany
Namasthe,Very nice.Thanking you.🙏
Very helpful and easy to remember, thanks!
Always the best. Personnally I try to figure out the chords thinking about 9 and 11, but for those who are still not familiar with harmony this is a easy trick.
Thank you Sir .
Wow!! This is brilliant.
WOW! Just what I was needing and looking for! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!
Great lesson and great chords! My next question - how you best deploy the chords against a melody, playing solo piano, where your right hands is dealing with the melody? Do they have to become rootless left hand chords, or can you only use them when they match the melody in the top note?
Can you play stride style in the left hand?
Play your right hand melody on top of the existing chord in the right hand (but stay in whatever key you're in), as you'd normally do when playing a song with chords in the right hand. For example, if your right hand is playing a regular C major chord and you're playing a 1st and 5th of that chord in the left hand, then with your right hand you would incorporate your right hand melody into and around/over the right hand chord. Say you're playing the C chord in your right hand with all notes together, then play the arpeggio of that chord and add notes around that arpeggio, whatever the melody is. It's easier to show you how to do it, but I don't have a video of it. Lol. The only other option is to do it like you would when playing something like "The Entertainer", where your left hand is playing both the bass chords and the mid-octive chords, jumping back and forth (left hand is working both jobs), while your right hand is free to play nothing but the melody. This is probably a little above beginner level but it's worth learning. Oh, maybe one more option! Play the entire thing, both left hand chords and right hand chords, and break them up into arpeggios and melodies, as the guy in the video is sort of doing when he plays the whole progression for demonstration. Nothing says you have to play all the notes of a chord together all the time. Break it up and make a melody out of it. Use both hands, be creative.
Merci for this.
Omg, you teach me a great new lesion, Thank youuuuuu
sooooo much🙏🙏🙏🙏💐💐💐🌟
This is pure magic! Wonderful!
Thanks you awesome
Thanks for watching!
Thank you.
I find the "formula" way more complicated and vague than just indicating the degrees of the scale. Like: 2nd, 3rd and 7th for major and 3,4,7th degree for minor scales.
Yeah. Totally. left hand root and 5th. Right hand 2nd/9th+3rd+Major 7 is so much easier if you have studied your scales that way. Plus, talking about things more from a musicology POV sets you up better for understanding other methods and expanding, soloing, etc. I come from a guitar background - just learning piano and you def don't want to get stuck in shapes and patterns only.
I (almost) agree with Bernios ... except ... rather than suggest a "formula" approach is inferior in some way ... why not just ALSO express it in an ADDITIONAL way. Jonny does that all the time ... saying something like ... "another simple way to think of that beautiful C chord that we just made is as a C7 add 2".
Probably unfortunately, Jonny didn't do that this particular time, but he's a master at it.
Totall agree!
New subscriber. Extremely helpful lesson. Immediately useful. Thank you. Looking forward to part two.
Amazing! Thank you
This reminds me of Chip Davis' arrangement of Silent Night.
Interesting,thank you
Lot off knowledge I goted.
Thank you Jhonny sir. I always your fans
Great ideas...thanx!
You rock Jon !
Dam! I want to buy Johnny s blue shirt! 💵💶💷💷
Wow! This is great!
Thank you for everyting
Great Lesson ... Thank You 👍
Helpful as always
thank...u sir...
.awsome session....
Thank you so much 💜💜💜
1.4 .1 counting down from the higher major key or 1.1.4 Counting up from the lower major key
Wow! . . . nuff said!
Awesome lesson! Formula was not complicated at all. It was clear, easy to understand and beautiful to learn to play. Thank you!
As far as I can see no one knows the theory like Jonny. I mean this guy’s utter and complete command of anything he shows is kinda of amazing. I think I’ll sign up next year sometime. Once I can do a blues run or two and work on a few other things. Great lesson Jonny!
Jonny, this is super helpful. Back to theory, for major, is this Cmaj9 abd then for minor is that for m11 such as Dm11. I like your 141 and 131 approach. Thank you so much!
Awesome
Amazing and makes the music sound out of this world 😍🎹🌟
Thank you so much Jonny very useful lesson
Extremely helpful! Thank you 😊
Hola Jonny, el curso que se compra desde México lo envían traducido al Español?
your enthusiasm is as loud as your shirt! Gorgeous!
Thanks a lot sir
Thanx, Maestro 🌹🌹🌹😎
@3:52 I'm pretty certain that meant to be f# instead of f. With the f it's a dominant 7th as opposed to a major 7th with the f#.
all these extended chords (9,11, 13) have a minor 7th (i.e. are dominant) by default
Amazing lesson .....waw
Ok, ready to try it! Please tell what is the make of the piano you are using? Great sound on it. Thanks.
This’s amazing
Love this
amazing
Brilliant
Every other ad before this video trying to talk abt how to play the piano dont hold a candle to jonny may!
So you just play a power chord with your left hand.
Build another power chord from the third with your right hand ( and you have a four note seven chord ).
For major add one left from that right hand power chord.
For minor make that right hand power chord into a sus2 triad.
Muito bom parabêns
Thanks Jonny, you are a wonderful teacher. This lesson very helpful as I learn about jazz chords. The shapes I believe has value as playing has to become automatic using any tricks that work. So my take on it is that initial jazz coloring is to add a 4th note, the 7th either as dominant or major. And then adding 9's, 11's is like extra credit coloring. At around 9:45 you showed sheet with chord sequence marked as Cmaj9, Am11, Fmaj11, G9. So I believe all the 7th's are left out of the chord abbreviations and just assumed. So I was wondering about the 'maj' used in Cmaj9, Fmaj11 but left out of the G9. I've got some confusion on what the 'maj' is a reference to, the chord in general I assume. So if you wrote 'Gmaj9' instead would that be inappropriate? You do say while playing it it is a major chord. Is there a lot of variety in this chord labeling? Like would someone else maybe add in the 7ths as some part of the label? Anyways, thanks for passing on what you do, it's all very helpful.
C9 uses a flattened 7th doest it?
You're Awesome
I love your videos but this one is so confusing. I understand scale degree numbers and extensions but I’m afraid that learning this “formula” will totally mess up my music theory thinking process. Do most jazz musicians build chords this way?
Great Shirt man... Love it
Is there another name for the magic chord? They sound great but what if I need to talk a put them? I really like this video
You can find them all in the Quick Tip: pianowithjonny.com/piano-lessons/magic-chord-shapes-major-minor-piano-chords/
Wow cooool
this lesson only took 12 minutes, but this is very useful
Whats the price to join as a member? There is the free trial button but monthly fees is not mentioned.
hi there, i don't get it. :) Why 1, 4, 1 & not just 6? same thing?
First watch . Great!
I went to get your chord extensions course but it only allowed me to add a subscription but i just want to learn the extensions. can you buy course instead paying a monthly price?
8:02 intro Zelda
Indeed! I thought it sounded familiar!
Good
Jonny I know this out of context but can u make a video on playing different type of left hand more yohan kim
great
Is it 141 on the scale of the chord? Or the scale of the key you are in?
He's making 9chords. So He's using the 1-3-5-7-9(2) of the scale of each chord. The 9th degree of the scale is the same as the second degree of the scale just 1 octave up. That is how he is deriving the chord tones. What he's showing here is how to space those notes to make the 9chords sound "magic". Honestly the best thing to do as a beginner would be to just learn some 9chords and their inversions so you can get the sounds you need for whatever song you are writing. One chord tone really won't cut it in the long run.
@@Derekmortenson THANKS! That was such a simple explanation that was more clear than a 12 minute video!
@@Robertlavigne1 No problem.
Omg I guess I’m supposed to play these with my two hands LOL I was trying to get it all under my right hand lol
Hi. How do I email you as I would like specialized lessons. Thanks.
You can email support@pianowithjonny.com
the third and seventh is lifted an octave.
Jonny, big compliments to your channel. I really do enjoy every single video from you, very useful tips, right to the point. Please continue and thank you SO MUCH for your efforts and time you invest for "us".
I appreciate that!
Nice. Your g example was a g7 not gmaj7
Wouldn't the G chord you show in the first section use an f# instead of f? You show going down a half step on the other chords but a full step on the G chord.
Fun fact, "Gorgeous" is Johny favourite word.
A doubt: how comes that the formula gives chords with different "colour" just randomly based on the chord you are playing? I mean: the first note that you scale down in the formula (1-...) renders a coloured 7+ if you are playing for instance a C or F, while in a G chord it renders a 7 (so different colour!). Shouldn't it be calculated in terms of tones/semitones?
The chords are diatonic to the key. So the "color" of the chord matches the function of the chord in that key.
That implies sus 2 chords someways....on minor. As we know C sus2 shares same note as G sus 4 instance.....
Ralph Fiennes teaching me piano.
"Isn't that _gorgeous_ ? Let's do a _deep dive_ ... It sounds _way better_ !"
For G9 chord, why F? Not F#?
There isn't an F# in the key of C major. The C major scale is C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. If you were in the key of G major, you would use an F#. The G major scale is G, A, B, C, D, E, F#, G. Also in D major. D,E,F#,G, A, B, C#, D.