Intro To Block Chords

Рет қаралды 42,249

Күн бұрын

A gentle first step toward getting that "block chord" sound into your jazz piano playing with the “locked hands” method, just like George Shearing.
Sign up for my Nebula Classes here: nebulaclasses.com/aimeenolte
Pick up my brand new single, as well as all of my recorded music here: linktr.ee/aimeenolte
Video recorded using:
Earthworks SV33
Earthworks PM40
Panasonic Lumix G85
Pick up the Aimee Nolte Music notebook here: www.themusiciansnotebook.com/...
If you'd like to donate to my channel, please do so here: paypal.me/aimn
Follow me here:
Twitter: / aimn
Instagram: / aimeenoltemusic
Facebook: / aimeenoltefanpage
For all videos, worksheets, merchandise and info, my website: aimeenolte.com

Пікірлер: 87

@donschneider7953 Жыл бұрын

I saw George Shearing live "back in the day"...I was invited to his hotel room between sets and was struck by what a sincere gentleman he was...gifted and humble, gracious and present (in the moment)...and played those block chords with such ease and melodic fluidity...truly impressive...

@chrisrunners5388 Жыл бұрын

yall smash ?

@xyzyzx1253 Жыл бұрын

Fmajor6 = D minor 7 but stable! It’s a monk and Barry trick to see the minor 7 chords as inversions of the major 6! Super cool arranging technique and way of thinking about the different relationships between minor and major :)

@AimeeNolte Жыл бұрын

Oh of course! Thanks for that!

@sethmac8815 Жыл бұрын

For years I've wanted to know how to play block chords. Thx Amy. Greetings from INDONESIA!!!!

@simonezanella5953 Жыл бұрын

You explain - in a clear and detailed way - all that covers jazz theory and practice and make it available for the whole world. Indeed you are a real teacher. We'll never be thankful enough. Love always. ❤️

@Josh_Fredman Жыл бұрын

Just a few seconds after I was wondering to myself whether block chords need to stay in the diatonic notes, you literally change the video subject to that! What a cool cat!!

@Cartwrightsrule Жыл бұрын

Very clear, I know plenty of theory but this explains a lot of that ‘older sound’ veryyyy simply which is fantastic! Reminds me of my grandpa’s style :) can’t wait to get home and practice

@johnhurd3257 Жыл бұрын

Thanks!!! This answers alot of questions I had about this block chord sound. I think your lead vocal voice is truly special. I've listened to it and tried to dissect it to find what it is that makes it so powerful without being powerful. I'm still trying to figure it out. It's probably something to do with who you are unto yourself. Something so real and natural that it's totally fresh and invigorating to most listeners. Whatever it is, you got it. Thanks for all you share to help us musicians. I sincerely appreciate it.:)

@TheAmandasarahfahey 3 ай бұрын

gorgeous chords !

@julianho4774 Жыл бұрын

awesome, thanks Aimee.................................

@quailstudios Жыл бұрын

Awesome Aimee! That was a good lesson.

@tedturner03 Жыл бұрын

Maestro - I love that ya still Make the tutorials. You look and sound amazing. Love ya! Can’t wait to see ya live soon.

@pds002 Жыл бұрын

Thank you. So much very useable information. So many pieces of the jigsaw fell in to place on this one; a sound I love.

@pianoproductivitypeace Жыл бұрын

Great lesson thanks Aimee!

@ScottMeloney Жыл бұрын

Thanks Amy! I've been looking for a good explanation that makes sense and provides a way to practice it. You nailed it for me! I'm soo excited to start working on these to put into some of my tunes. 👏👏 😎🎹🤘

@75misael 6 ай бұрын

Great lesson!

@RochelleM491 Жыл бұрын

Amy, that was such a good video..!! The way you teach and perform a song; the video will never be too long..!

@richardharris8409 Жыл бұрын

Aimee you Rock!! You've inspired me in so many ways !

@barbiebeckford2988 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for this. I’ve always wondered about this sound!

@RocknRollkat Жыл бұрын

Excellent presentation, thank you !

@robertmayhew98 Жыл бұрын

Hi Aimee, thank you very much for this excellent tutorial 🥰

@kofidebrah7594 Жыл бұрын

THANKYOUSOVERYMUCH!!!!

@bobbygadourymusic5476 Жыл бұрын

Great video, Aimee. Thanks!

@lakegirlroxy9852 Жыл бұрын

Such talent, you’re Amazing!

@lanceturner9471 Жыл бұрын

really enlightening thanks

@kencory2476 Жыл бұрын

The block chord style is a favourite of big band arrangers, who write nice thick five-note voicings for sax sections, etc. Another pianist who plays a lot of block chords is, naturally, Oscar Peterson. See his album with Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (had to cut and paste that one!) called Great Connection.

@swlbarely Жыл бұрын

youre great aimee. this is valuable knowledge!

@markbaarsbergen36 Жыл бұрын

Great channel. You just explain stuff really well and have great skill. So thx

@kbmusic885 Жыл бұрын

Thanks Aimee.❤

@kiro9291 Жыл бұрын

this channel is just fantastic

@B3-R Жыл бұрын

thanks, very good explanation, as organ player I use it sometimes, give nice harmonies, of course Shearing is for me the best reference👍

@JohnsonkeyzMusicAcademy Жыл бұрын

This is very very nice ❤clear explanation 🎉all Great

@KalpaHettiarachchi Жыл бұрын

Wonderful ❤

@aeynghus Жыл бұрын

This was a handy video.

@KalpaHettiarachchi Жыл бұрын

Thx for sharing 🙏

@YotamPiano Жыл бұрын

Niiice and very well put vid Aimee :) One of my favorite examples of this style is "Take Me" by Casiopea - When the main piano melody starts.. another good beginner excersize I'd like to give my students is to implement block chords in "Don't sit under the Apple tree" (G. miller) using locked hands voicing. The phrase is short and repetitive enough to easily change keys with thus doing "work out" on all the keys in the same excersize while keeping it interesting.

@TonyThomas10000 Жыл бұрын

Love your explanation of block chords. Would love you to do an analysis of Norah Jones' playing. Triads in the left hand and octaves for the melody. Very elegant and sparse.

@vitulano Жыл бұрын

Thanks!!!

@ewallt Жыл бұрын

Nice explanation. I think of the E as a no go zone when F is the melody note, exactly as you said. When the E is the melody note, G mn 6 (or E half diminished, an inversion) is what comes to me. You put in the Barry Harris teaser. Of course if you use Gmn 6, in conjunction with Fmaj6, you’re setting up those beautiful Barry Harris diminished harmonies.

@regmunday8354 Жыл бұрын

Wow!

@nagomizik9358 Жыл бұрын

Sweet intro..

@billgrabbe9992 Жыл бұрын

I've seen so much Barry Harris content lately, which is fine, but it sounds distinctively like Barry Harris. It's been done by the best and others risk sounding like a lesser imitation (I feel the same about McCoy Tyner). This is a nice alternative approach that puts the melody in a more prominent place than the technique. Nicely done!

@JimDavidson1 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the great intro to block chords, Aimee. This particular type is known as "locked-hands" style. It was originated by Milt Buckner, and Nat King Cole was an early exponent of it. George Shearing is probably the most famous pianist to use it, since he built his early style around it, but he didn't invent it. Here's Milt Buckner: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ldB1h5ST156cqWw.html&ab_channel=Overjazz Here's Nat King Cole: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nKiVddCD0bSWeaM.html Ahmad Jamal and Red Garland used a different style of block chords, with comping chords in the left hand and octaves (usually with one or more notes in between) in the right hand.

@AimeeNolte Жыл бұрын

I should’ve mentioned that it’s called “locked hands” style. Can’t believe I forgot to say it. Thanks for your great comment!

@gadymarcus5297 Жыл бұрын

magnifica.

@Maurice75 Жыл бұрын

Block chords are a distinctive part of music. It makes, in my opinion, music seems a little more intimate. I don't know why I think about it. Other voicings, open voicings, seems more "acute" (angular) to me while block chords are more linear. I don't know if it makes sense but that is how I think about them. Call me an old timer. Ok, I'm 47, I am an old timer. Congrats, for one more amazing video.

@GizzyDillespee Жыл бұрын

I got into block chords when I was a kid, from being amazed by Django style guitarists playing chord melodies. And by Thelonious Monk. His faster stuff is surprisingly entertaining for a kid. Plus somehow it's easier to get both hands moving together when they're closer and both dealing with melody and harmony. Of course I never thought about it to this detail or thinking in quite this way. I noticed this video, but didn't have time, at the time. But I didn't forget!

@GizzyDillespee Жыл бұрын

But I don't always/often stay diatonic. That's fine. I used to be embarrassed about "filling in the in-between 3rds" because open voicings souned more "modern" and it wasn't fashionable at all to commit. I think it actually sounds better if it doesn't stay diatonic, and you let some tension ring out. I see you called moving out of key "potential problems" but it's actually potential freedoms, and you can blend old-timey with some newer accents and feelings. I think many many people can find some grace, by ear. It's not so hard, but my neighbors are grateful for my headphones while I explore.

@GizzyDillespee Жыл бұрын

I guess all the Barry Harris interest is making this idea more popular again... playing melodies and committing to specific harmonies, even if only for a moment. I mentioned headphones - electronic keyboards are great because of that. You can faff around for hours and nobody much will mind, so there isn't so much social pressure anymore to have to learn and practice in a classical style. I think that makes a difference in the sort of amateur musicians are in the world, and how you would approach teaching. This is a really good channel, and I also watch all of David Bennett's videos. I'll go on a gospel keyboard binge, electronic music producers. I've heard some amazing people that I never could have found in the past. I think that will shape music's evolution for the better. Have fun!

@ROBYNMARKOW Жыл бұрын

This is a bit advanced for me but I'm keeping in my files & will definitely try it out once I feel I can pull it off👍

@AimeeNolte Жыл бұрын

Maybe check out my Jazz Piano - Where To Start video

@StarQueenEstrella Жыл бұрын

Normally I reserve Maj6 (or maybe a 6/9, if I’m feeling adventurous) chords in my playing for when I’m ending a melody or a whole piece. It’s restful but it doesn’t quite have the color of a Maj7

@TheRealSandleford Жыл бұрын

My first music teacher taught what he learned from Chuck Wayne who worked with Shearing. I was disappointed when he could not do lessons any more.

@rogeralleyne9257 Жыл бұрын

Block chords seem the most effective when the pulse of the tune is fast🤔🤔🤔 Great lesson 👍

@waugsqueke Жыл бұрын

I kind of learned how to play on block chords, and have had to learn more sparse and open style as I got older. A lot of my influences used a pop/rock variation of these chords, people like Freddie or the Supertramp boys.

@freddieblue6351 Жыл бұрын

Thank you, these are Laura Nyro’s MO.

@maxin7036 Жыл бұрын

I learnt

@truefilm6991 Жыл бұрын

12:14 - yep, it rubs with the top voice, which is the melody note. No bueno. :) Why not going with an old timey sound once in a while? BTW, If my ears don't deceive me, Nelson Riddle used this George Shearing voicing in the violins (and of course the french horns playing counterpoint) when they play the melody during an instrumental passage in some of his wonderful arrangements and it sounds fantastic. Great insightful video as always!

Жыл бұрын

amoooooo

@ornleifs Жыл бұрын

I think I saw Barry Harris use just two chords to harmonise the major scale. In C it would be - "C6" which covers the one, three, five and six of the scale and then "D diminished" which covers the two, four and seventh with the added flat 6 note thrown in there - this gives a very smooth sound.

@AimeeNolte Жыл бұрын

That’s right! I go into that in the next block chord video a little bit and in great detail in my Nebula exclusive video. I love Barry Harris!

@paulhorfilla Жыл бұрын

Good

@petezientz8586 Жыл бұрын

Did you cross your 3 finger over your pinky on the way up on the 8th bar at 6:25? And if so please give us a fingering tutorial. I don't think I could get my hand to move like that without breaking something. Love your stuff

@AimeeNolte Жыл бұрын

Oh don’t copy that. Lol my mind was on what I was going to say next and not on what my fingers were doing 🤪

@zbr76 Жыл бұрын

Block chords have always intrigued me too. C maj6 as a block chord is of course C/E/G/A/higher C, but is there a musical symbol that tells you block chords are different from regular voicings?

@AimeeNolte Жыл бұрын

No. It’s just a flavor that you can add to your playing. No one would ever indicate it on a lead sheet. It’s all personal taste

@johnkanzler6646 Жыл бұрын

The final notes of She Loves You, a major six harmony 1-5-6 i think, on the last “Yeah”😊

@AimeeNolte Жыл бұрын

That’s right!

@barbiebeckford2988 Жыл бұрын

Whew this is harder than I think it should be!

@barbiebeckford2988 Жыл бұрын

Just reading was so much easier.

@WoodyGamesUK 3 ай бұрын

@@barbiebeckford2988 Yeah, even though you're just playing 2 different chords (plus the 7 degree that is different), the inversions create very different positions and there's no obvious pattern. Each degree has to be learned and practiced, then you realise that they are just some options among many others, but if you want to start playing block chords you have to start somewhere.

@williampaganucci1084 Жыл бұрын

Hi Aimee, can you teach Alice's Restaurant by Arlo Guthrie for Thanksgiving? Also like Ripple by The Grateful Dead, and Rivers Of Babylon by Boney M. Thanks

@jesusislukeskywalker4294 Жыл бұрын

👍🏻

@user-tx2wr1in6u 4 ай бұрын

Can the left hand note be different from the top note? Like a 7th, 6th or 9th interval?

@AimeeNolte 4 ай бұрын

Not in the traditional block chord style, but if you want to play in drop two style, yes! I have a video about that as well

@chachaman4980 Жыл бұрын

What happened to the Dm7 and D7???

@patrickcunningham618 Жыл бұрын

🙂

@newyorkfilharmonik110 Жыл бұрын

I know a musician who thinks that "Lullabye of Birdland" is overexposed... :)

@williampaganucci1084 Жыл бұрын

Hi Aimee. I saw a lovely video a while ago of you singing You Are My Sunshine with your grandparents. I made a video about a month ago playing You Are My Sunshine with my parents, my sister, and a caregiver. Would love for you to check it out. Thanks

@roncallahan40 Жыл бұрын

Teach a man to light a fire and you'll keep him warm for a day Light the man on fire and you'll keep him warm for the rest of his life 😜

@XxalkatrazxX Жыл бұрын

B I L L E V A N S

@mikethomas3231 Жыл бұрын

play some block chords, Red

@AimeeNolte Жыл бұрын

Man he was really something

@matthewgoldberg1461 Жыл бұрын

Aimee I like the video but i always found George Shearing a bit corny. Hope you get to Red Garland. Guitarist Joe Pass worked with Shearing briefly about 1965. Shearing would write out precise chord voicings for Joe to play on guitar, to complement his own. Joe said in an interview, he quit because of that. Later in Joe’s career, Oscar Peterson had the sense to let Joe voice his own chords!