As a longtime jazz pianist who struggles with hitting plateaus/repeating the same old voicings and licks, it's great to rewind and have videos like this that break down the art of basic voicings. Very simple and articulate. Thanks!
I had the pleasure of meeting Frank many years ago while I was a high school student. He thought it was funny when I asked him to sign my copy of his voicings book. He was a great educator and is missed.
Hey loved what you showed me, I have been playing the piano over 15 years and have often played these chords from feeling and by ear. I really appreciate how you broke it down. Thanks for the science behind the sound.
Thanks for a very systematic, QUICK, way to master the fourth chords!! This has been one of the final chord gaps finally filled in my playing (all self-taught with perfect pitch for just about 30 years.) As good as my ear has been in figuring out just a out any type of music, jazz, classic rock, fusion, blues, etc., the fourth chords were THE one type of chord I couldn't quite place in a consistent key. Now that I know that often times they route is not played his family so they 30-year mystery for me. And given me reason now to integrate them into my plane. Thank you very much for your very helpful tips.
These are just excellent, I really appreciate your sharing them. It will take me awhile to get these fourth voicings into my hands but I plan on applying them. Thanks for your time and energy!
Ah, this is just brilliant. Thank you for the videos! I'm trying to get into writing jazz music, and I don't know how to play the piano (I'm a guitarist), so I'm just writing by experimenting. This video really helps, thanks for the method! :)
wow.I had four semesters of theory in college but i didnt think of that so what chord when u said sevent chord.I will play these chords in all the keys to familiarize myself with their sound and do the fourths from top voice.Neat little video here so glad I found it.
Hi Garry. The beauty of my old metronome is that it doesn't tempt me to take practice breaks to check my e-mail and the internet. When I practice, I unplug.
Hi - Thanks for your willingness to share your knowledge with us wannabe jazz pianists. BTW, who is that (and what tune is) playing in the closing of this video?
Earl, just a subjection. It´ll be excellent if you can get a camera so the audience can see the keyboard from top so they can have a visual of what´s going on. Keep up the good work.
This is actually amazing. this helped me. way too much haha. By the way, Your Blackbird arrangement on your website. really good, amazing actually. Good stuff. Hope one day to take a couple of lessons with you. Your pal from the north. steve -
As an alternative to the "So What" minor 7 voicing, could you instead use a b3,b7,9,5,1 voicing (bottom to top A position) or a b7,b3,5,1,11 (bottom to top B position)? Is there a disadvantage to these voicings? or an advantage to the "So What" voicing? Thanks.
A voicing is with 3 rd of the chord as the lowest note and B voicing is the 7 of the chord...( as opposed to the top notes being root or 5th..) But the explanation for the minor 7ths do not go with this explanation....
why is C13 (dominant 7 4ths) - 1,5,9 b7 3?? im so confused please explain and why does he call the C6/9 not C9/13 as in this one he is actually using a 13. seems very nonsensical chord embellishment to me
I can see how this might be confusing. The symbol C13 implies no use of alterations (altered 5's and 9's). Its a pure dominant sound, derived from the mixolydian scale. No, there is not a 13 in this specific voicing, although the soloist you are accompanying might be playing that A natural. I hope this helps.
As a longtime jazz pianist who struggles with hitting plateaus/repeating the same old voicings and licks, it's great to rewind and have videos like this that break down the art of basic voicings. Very simple and articulate. Thanks!
I had the pleasure of meeting Frank many years ago while I was a high school student. He thought it was funny when I asked him to sign my copy of his voicings book. He was a great educator and is missed.
This info is also in the Frank Mantooth book. I love the metronome exercise, playing both positions, in time, through the circle of 4ths. Nice!
Hey loved what you showed me, I have been playing the piano over 15 years and have often played these chords from feeling and by ear. I really appreciate how you broke it down. Thanks for the science behind the sound.
Don't stop singing there, Earl, you've got a great voice too! Thanks, great lessons.
Thanks for a very systematic, QUICK, way to master the fourth chords!! This has been one of the final chord gaps finally filled in my playing (all self-taught with perfect pitch for just about 30 years.) As good as my ear has been in figuring out just a out any type of music, jazz, classic rock, fusion, blues, etc., the fourth chords were THE one type of chord I couldn't quite place in a consistent key. Now that I know that often times they route is not played his family so they 30-year mystery for me. And given me reason now to integrate them into my plane. Thank you very much for your very helpful tips.
Solved the 30 year mystery for me. Now I can confidently integrate them into my playing. Thanks.
The 4 th s are such a great jazz sound. Only discovered this in the maj. recently & happy to expand to the dom. chord & min. 7 th.
These are just excellent, I really appreciate your sharing them. It will take me awhile to get these fourth voicings into my hands but I plan on applying them. Thanks for your time and energy!
Very valuable instructional materials. A good supplement to Mark Levine's books.
Really cool vid! I enjoyed watching it, thanks a lot for this!
Again, very good video...Much thanks...
This lesson is very helpful. Thanks.
Ah, this is just brilliant. Thank you for the videos! I'm trying to get into writing jazz music, and I don't know how to play the piano (I'm a guitarist), so I'm just writing by experimenting. This video really helps, thanks for the method! :)
thanks for that lesson, Mr. MacDonald.
Thanks for posting. You are very talented with this. Thanks
I'm glad. Good luck with your music!
Great lesson many thanks.
Very good, indeed!
Many thanks Earl, extremely helpful video !!!!
wow.I had four semesters of theory in college but i didnt think of that so what chord when u said sevent chord.I will play these chords in all the keys to familiarize myself with their sound and do the fourths from top voice.Neat little video here so glad I found it.
Thx 4 posting, Mr MacDonald
Thank you for this!
Hi Garry. The beauty of my old metronome is that it doesn't tempt me to take practice breaks to check my e-mail and the internet. When I practice, I unplug.
Super Teacher! Love these methods and techniques. -great respect. -educapro
Hi - Thanks for your willingness to share your knowledge with us wannabe jazz pianists.
BTW, who is that (and what tune is) playing in the closing of this video?
Killer, Earl. Remembering our days together in the Murphy's place orchestra in Toledo.
Hey, thanks Brad. Great memories indeed! (not to mention a very fun band) Hope you're doing well.
thanks, very helpful!
Just brilliant! :) thx
good stuff, thanks
Great many thanks.
Great idea! I'll try to incorporate different camera angles in my next videos. Stay tuned.
nice one
Great, thanks.
Earl, just a subjection. It´ll be excellent if you can get a camera so the audience can see the keyboard from top so they can have a visual of what´s going on. Keep up the good work.
This is actually amazing. this helped me. way too much haha. By the way, Your Blackbird arrangement on your website. really good, amazing actually. Good stuff. Hope one day to take a couple of lessons with you. Your pal from the north.
steve -
@dadduorp You're welcome. The song at the end is "Mr. Sunshine" from my last CD, "re:Visions". It is available through CDbaby.
I'd love to get a hold of your jazz arrangement for blackbird! Any way I could purchase it?
Over the summer months I plan to add some more lessons to my web page. I will try to include something on the topic of reharmonization.
excellent lesson!! how could someone pushed the dislike button. mindless haters..
great! I think it'd work with larger ensemble...
Thanks! Chick is one of my heroes too.
Great stuff. Not a pianist myself. I'm a drummer and piano noodler. (Sounds dirty, I know.) Very helpful!
Frank Mantooth would be proud!
Maybe I should have made this more clear. It is in the handout on the web page.
As an alternative to the "So What" minor 7 voicing, could you instead use a b3,b7,9,5,1 voicing (bottom to top A position) or a b7,b3,5,1,11 (bottom to top B position)? Is there a disadvantage to these voicings? or an advantage to the "So What" voicing? Thanks.
I checked those out, and they sound fine.
Why would you use these voicings as opposed to any other?
In other words what do they contribute to a soloist that other voicings don't.
The ending was hilarious.. Nice video though!
Ironically, I am a pianist and a drum noodler. :)
A voicing is with 3 rd of the chord as the lowest note and B voicing is the 7 of the chord...( as opposed to the top notes being root or 5th..)
But the explanation for the minor 7ths do not go with this explanation....
Exactly.
why is C13 (dominant 7 4ths) - 1,5,9 b7 3??
im so confused please explain
and why does he call the C6/9 not C9/13 as in this one he is actually using a 13.
seems very nonsensical chord embellishment to me
I can see how this might be confusing. The symbol C13 implies no use of alterations (altered 5's and 9's). Its a pure dominant sound, derived from the mixolydian scale. No, there is not a 13 in this specific voicing, although the soloist you are accompanying might be playing that A natural. I hope this helps.
Hi Hector. Send me an e-mail message through my website and I'm sure we can work something out.
Great lesson thank you so much