The Secret To Learning More Complex Chords

See the follow up, more in-depth video exclusively on Nebula now! nebula.tv/vide...
At least one secret, anyway! Upper structure triads are the best way I know to convey a huge amount of information in a very concise way. Jazz harmony might just become much more manageable for you if you try understanding it in this way. See if it works for you!
Sign up for my Nebula Class here: nebulaclasses....
Pick up my brand new single, as well as all of my recorded music here: linktr.ee/aime...
Video recorded using:
Earthworks SV33
Earthworks PM40
Panasonic Lumix G85
Pick up the Aimee Nolte Music notebook here: www.themusicia...
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

[@mbmillermo]

Fun trick: The notes of the major pentatonic of the tritone include the ♭7 and the four altered tones: ♭9, ♯9, ♭5 (♯11) and ♯5 (♭13). In C, the tritone is F♯ and the major pentatonic is just the black keys. So just play E-B♭ with the left hand and go nuts on the black keys with the right hand.

[@jivanbansi9640]

Beauty, thank you Sir, writing that down right now.

[@JesseDanielSmith]

Great tip - thank you for sharing this

[@brandonlewisguitar]

go nuts lol cool tip man cheers!

[@mbmillermo]

@KinstarFurniture -- I would like to help you, but I'm not sure what you want to know. Let me say a little more here and we'll see if it helps. The chromatic scale includes all 12 notes. A major scale uses 7 notes. That leaves 5 notes unused in any major scale. Look at the piano. You see all of the keys - the chromatic scale, but you also see white keys (C major) and black keys (not C major). But what are those "not C major notes"? There are 5 different black keys, so they can form a pentatonic scale. In fact, if we start on F♯, the scale formed by the black keys is F♯ major pentatonic. The note F♯ is a tritone away from C -- as far away as you can get in the circle of fifths. So in any key, say B♭, you can go to the tritone (E in the case of B♭) and play notes from that major pentatonic scale. The notes of that scale give you the altered tones for the dominant 7th chord (B♭7). Also look for information about the Altered Scale - a 7-note scale that includes all of the altered tones. Let me know here if you have any more questions.

[@stessosangue]

You dropped this, sir👑

[@fretlessman71]

I've been a bass player for 4 decades, and played jazz in some form for almost all of this time. This is the first time anyone has ever been able to get me to make sense of the crazy extensions I see on dominant chords in charts, and I can see that if I can memorize this idea AND use my ear to make triads out of the upper structures, I can start recognizing these complex chords by ear. Fantastic method, and wonderful demonstration!

[@YMESYDT]

Saying "this'll be a quick video" then making a 14 minute video is something I relate to very much as a music teacher

[@josephmartino9958]

I used to look at the keyboard and get all mesmerized playing 2 different chords simultaneously wondering "what's that?" Now I know...thanks Aimee! This is a great help!!!

[@waugsqueke]

I'm self-taught and always thought in this way - 13s and 11s confuse me but a C7 with a D triad above it is something I can understand right away.

[@bloodynin9757]

I found you while looking for videos on guitar theory and triads. Even though you are a piano player I’ve learned more from you than at guitar video

[@robinmiller7958]

Thank you!

[@divinesoul7]

I’m just beginning my self-taught journey and as someone starting out from the very beginning, this information is priceless. Not only are you an amazing player, but a phenomenal teacher as well. You make it make sense!!!

[@Ankerre]

Thanks Aimee, wonderful stuff

[@brettprice527]

Make sure to check out the Barry Harris stuff. Good luck on your journey.

[@divinesoul7]

@@brettprice527 thank you so much for the recommendation. I have checked out a couple of videos on Barry a while back, but unfortunately my head almost exploded trying to follow. Lol That’s a good problem to have though so I will be revisiting his teachings. Peace and blessings to you

[@brettprice527]

@@divinesoul7 Blessings!

[@brettprice527]

@@divinesoul7 Shan Verma at Jazz skills is a great teacher of his stuff for beginners.

[@davidwittie4177]

@13:43 "I've got both (ways) now." Both Theoretical & Practical. And I'm giving them to you whilst balancing a marker in my right hand as I demonstrate. 😊 Aimee Nolte, you are the best!

[@Allen2saint]

The best piano teacher online. You’re the best Aimee.

[@braelen9]

Being self taught, I didn't even think to conceptualize these chords in such a straight forward way. A lot of jazz harmony seemed inaccessible because of the complexity. What a great reminder that complex chords can be derived from simple patterns/construction. Thank you for the wonderful video!

[@BennettYancey]

Same!

[@corporal1107]

Didn’t learn this from college theory. It makes sense and removes the complication of creating chords. With practice it becomes second nature. Thank you.

[@Ebi_J]

Thank you for explaining it so well. The fact that you tried every triad and explained why some did not work gave me a formula for understanding and experimenting on my own. Thank you

[@musical_lolu4811]

I've literally been telling people this, for ages! It's not enough to say you can name what a harmony is e.g A7b13#9 or Dbm7b5(add11) and all that jazz (pun intended). If anything, that kind of exercise can become counterproductive. Knowing how to voice chords from an orchestration/arranging standpoint is where the money is at. That's where knowledge of upper structures (among other voicing techniques) and how to navigate them becomes golden, whether it be arranging for a band or playing on the piano.

[@quezquez3084]

Can you give some examples of the orchestration/arranging technics?

[@ulfsvensson9710]

Just what i am experimating with at the moment. Self tought so i realy don't know what is "right" or not. Thank for an understanding to name it.

[@sanfernvalley619]

You are such a good teacher even if you were self taught!! Thank you for your point of view

[@alienheadband1808]

this is helping me think less and explore more. Awesome!

[@AimeeNolte]

Both are good. But sometimes you need more of one than the other.

[@Mooseboy08]

This is just what I needed at just the time I was ready for it. I'd already been experimenting with relative Major 7ths over relative minor 7ths, and this is way more fuel for thought.

[@davidmiller3652]

Nice job Aimee ! Very succinct, concise, thorough. All players should be thinking this way, cuts out the clutter and ambiguously wasted time. Although I do like those minor 9's in scary movies :)

[@MisterMoccasin]

Really cool!

[@jessesingersongwriter]

Pure gold, thank you so much! Off to Nebula.

[@md-ps2hx]

Another excellent clip.

[@martinfinnmusic]

This has given me a lot of clarity on these kind of voicings. Thanks!

[@lawrenrich6419]

I f’n love this video ! She’s one of the most infinitely patient and simply gifted teachers on KZbin. You can just hear it in her voice. I’m a guitar player and I highly value that approach and learn so much for my instrument also.

[@willmcbride4435]

Oh wow! I really like this. I am a string player and I’m self taught on piano chords. This really is an excellent way of looking at it. I doubt I’ll ever memorize any of it but I for sure can build or pick apart extended chords now. Thank you!

[@juantejadapng]

Aimee, you are such a blessing. I have been wondering how to voice these complex chords for my entire life lol (I study at a conservatory and I haven't learned any of this before). Thank you very much!

[@jaumerossellomusic]

I think this is an underspoken topic in jazz education. Thanks for the video!

[@johnnycockatoo1003]

thanks Aimee great to know

[@minigooshey]

What an incredible way to look at this. I always knew there was some pattern with these, but to see how you lay it all out shows how simple it can be. Well, simple to learn and utilize, but I'm sure quite hard to master. You make some of the most helpful and elegant content about music Aimee, thank you very much :) I watch all your videos

[@pnojazz]

Loved this lesson Aimee! It’s simple, direct, and to the point! Thank you for teaching this to students who desire a peek further inside the music! You’re the greatest!!!

[@banaabekwegirl5731]

ooh.... this is great knowledge, thank you so much.

[@Jabbersgood]

You are a BLESSING.

[@arthurmee]

I recently learnt this from Joe Hubbard, a great bass teacher. Of course we play the arps . . . Love your tutorials Aimee

[@rustydomino]

new jazz piano learner here. This is a game changer for me!

[@jakehendriksen2841]

I really enjoy and get a lot from your videos.

[@flaviowilner1288]

Very useful and clear, no doubt.

[@quezquez3084]

This is the best video on upper structures I have seen in my life! Thanks, Aimee!

[@holliesheet3182]

This really makes sense for this awkward triad novice. Thanks.

[@tedturner03]

Omg - This is so cool, and a great way to learn this wacky stuff. That said - this could be a series of videos. Gonna start exploring this. You are the best Aimee Nolte! I can only say - thanks yet again maestro!!🙏🙏

[@TonyThomas10000]

Awesome info!

[@nutopiansg7613]

YOU ARE THE CLEAREST JAZZ THEORY TEACHER-SIGNED MR PENTATONIC

[@gloryrow100]

Thanks Aimee

[@DNETOMAIL]

How dare you explode my brain like that?!! Never thought it could be so easy to think and with so many possibilities. Many, many, many thanks!

[@danduncan7950]

Really, really helpful, Aimee! Thank you!

[@scottfoster3643]

Excellent lesson, thank you much

[@scottfoster3643]

Please do the math/white board for us on major7 and minor7 chords with upper structures :)

[@shaynefernandez7145]

Hands down you are simply the BEST teacher on KZbin!! Thank you for sharing tricks and tips so freely that helps a lot of us. If you're ever in the Dallas area performing will definitely come see you..

[@JohnnysMusicGarage59]

THANK YOU!!! So much for sharing this, what a concept. Especially from a guitarist point of view for scales over triads WOW mind blowing...

[@frozenspade417]

Thanks for the video Aimee! Been trying to write a Big-Band chart and this has really got my mind cooking

[@midoramma]

Great info Aimee. Thanks a lot!

[@cwize]

This is so cool! I really thank you for explaining how these upper structures can be found/learned. I’ve heard people say in passing “oh that’s just C7 with an Ab on top” or whatever but never heard them explain why. I’m a guitar player, not piano, but this insight will be a huge help as I try to get these upper extension chords under my fingers. I know the 7#9 because of Hendrix (like all guitar players), the 7b9 because of “Breathe” by Pink Floyd, etc. but this gives me real, usable, meat to chew on. Thanks again! Awesome.

[@lars07670]

Great lesson! Steve Lukather talks about this concept in the new Rick Beato interview (from minute 17:30) and that he learned to think that way from Larry Carlton. It is so much easier to teach beginners, just play an E-major-triad in your right hand over your G7. I would love a second video with some more details, maybe how to use this in some standard turnarounds, 2-5-1 etc.

[@gernblenstein1541]

Thanks for Beato link, brother! And thanks, Aimee, for the content.

[@idiavworeefetoborejeremiah2618]

Wow... this is very insightful. Even though I don't play jazz, you've given me the understanding to add some of these cool voicings to my gospel chords. Many thanks, cheers!!🥂

[@truefilm6991]

5 star content as always! It's daunting going through all possibilities and there is the looming: "Now do this in all keys!" LOL. But your videos are always very inspiring, making it so much less painful. Thank you!

[@cedzimagination]

Aimee you have no idea how much your videos have helped me grow in piano!!!! You are Heaven sent indeed!!! Have an amazing year ahead. And big up to everyone loving the keys🙏🏾🙏🏾💕

[@JLAGAN49]

Terrific! I am self taught and retired now, I play every day searching for complex jazz chords. This video has given me a much better hit (success) rate. 👌

[@frederf69]

Just in case you haven't; try PMG with Lyle Mays 😉😉

[@JLAGAN49]

Saludos from the UK Fred. Lyle is amazing I agree. I also play saxophone but at a more leisurely pace 😴😁

[@LingziChong]

I love your explanation, Thank You !!

[@jakegatesmusic]

Your channel is a gem.

[@ShaneParish]

Thanks for sharing this info in such a clear and succinct way. I see myself immediately applying this to fingerstyle guitar improvisations, using the lower strings as open drones in different tunings to hold down the lower triad, while moving around arpeggio patterns in the upper structure triads on the higher strings. Good times. :)

[@juangarcera2544]

this is awesome!

[@theelectricant98]

THANK YOU FOR THIS, reinvigorated my will to practice more and challenge myself

[@JoseLopez-op4gn]

Amazing

[@bobfarmer9120]

Now that is very cool 😎

[@Anossov]

Another thing that might be good to mention is that every valid upper structure is also a valid upper structure (of opposite spicyness) in the tritone sub US II over C = US ♭VI over G♭ ♭III = VI ♭V = I (just the major triad a tritone away obviously) and the other way of course, ♭VI = II VI = ♭III I = ♭V So if you know your tritones, you only need to memorize three

[@Alic4444]

This wouldn't hold true for any upper structure that contains the sus 4 in it, since over the tritone sub that note would become the major 7. Although I do occasionally find a spot where an incredibly dissonant major 7 inside a dominant chord does sound cool.

[@Anossov]

@@Alic4444 That's true, but also none of them would have a ♭7 in them (unless you add a 3 to your sus chords), so they won't be dominant

[@RameshKumar-ng3nf]

Oh God, i am old subscriber, seing you after 5 years as i was not much active in social media. Your fitness is amazing👌, you still looks the same i saw long back 😊 I learned a lot from your music tutorials 🙏. Am back to music learning again after a gap in my life. Was busy with studies. Looking forward for more tutorials from you 😊

[@joeblakeukeman]

Thanks, Aimee❤ I found most of these through my ear, listening to jazz piano players. (The first one I was shown by someone way back - that’s to stack a D7 on top of a C7, great as an ending chord.) The four I found were a thrill to discover and also that the roots were in themselves a diminished chord: C dim. In other words C Eb F# A. That’s a memory aid in itself. Stack these four triads on the C7 for that sweet open sound, not counting the Cmaj of course. One last word: the 2nd inversion (5/R/3) almost always sounds the best for the upper structure.

[@Goateeist1]

Great lesson, thanks.

[@ed.z.]

The most useful lessons since Barry Harris decided to teach. You are totally amazing.

[@AimeeNolte]

Wow, thank you!

[@Sargon949]

This is fantastic! Thank you :)

[@gregorynoumtinis4324]

Thanks Aimee, your vids are the best. We are extremely lucky to have you sharing with the world. All the best 😊

[@KenNickels]

Thanks for this cool lesson!

[@davidrosen9711]

so hip thank you Aimee,

[@glennbrown2830]

Great trick...love it...

[@bradfordmasters197]

Thanks. Great video👍🏻

[@camiloespinazo]

GREAT VIDEO

[@Li-pw2fg]

this is amazing, thank you!!!

[@guitar9310]

What an awesome vid!!! Thanks! As a guitarist this is so hard to utilize because I can't play poly chords lol

[@kingmarshmusic]

Excellent! Such a logical way to think about these jazz chords.

[@midoramma]

¡Gracias!

[@davidnolting1873]

Awesome lesson as usual. Will try out these triads for soloing ideas on guitar instead of just grabbing for altered scale, etc.

[@brandonlewisguitar]

what a brilliant teacher

[@DCPImages]

This is great!

[@dpwaldman3145]

Love this. So well presented. Thank you so much, Aimee. I’m gettin’ with the program!

[@krullr]

I like the neo soul sound, learning upper extensions from the ground up looked very time intensive. This video seems to provide a more efficient path.

[@gernblenstein1541]

Brilliant! As a bass and guitar player this helps me think in pairs of notes and diad/triad barres to get that Tri-tone in there below the “upper structure.” Very interesting. Thanks for sharing this content, love your spirit, and keep on keepin on!

[@han36solo]

This is great Aimee!

[@santiagochambi4692]

I know a few chords. But you explanation was MAGNIFIC!. Thanks for add this beautiful sonority in my library of chords.

[@cardinia1]

Sure love you shares Aimee been long time supporter and always get me thinking how wonderful

[@tomford1376]

This is helping me see things more clearly

[@michaeleaster1815]

thanks for another great video! I've heard the concept before ("oh that complex chord is just simple chord X with simple chord Y on top") but it was mysterious to me... this is terrific

[@ccarlisle08]

Incredible lesson. I never heard stacked chords explained this way. Thanks!

[@bertpeijmen6960]

This is very enlightening, just what I needed. Thanks Aimee!

[@pearsonart]

In guitar, Wes is famous for this. Lots of variations like playing a Bm9 over a G for a GM9b5 (or just think Lydian). I always liked Pat Martino’s general approach - converting as many chords to relative minor as you can.

[@456deniz]

It opened my mind!😮😮🤯🤯 Thank's for this lesson, Aimee! 😃😃

[@rhema4000]

Such a great system!! Thank you so much for sharing. Now I feel I will get in gear again!!😁🥳👍🏼

[@kenbagwell8551]

Thank you! Such a cool way of thinking about this. Great theory in there on why this or that doesn't work.

[@leeclarke8993]

You’re the Aimee Nolte of our day. Thanks love you since I got Nebula.

[@AimeeNolte]

So glad you’re liking it! Thanks Lee!

[@johnmcnichol8330]

Great lesson….thanks!

[@ect2012cool]

Aimee, great explanation and demonstration of the upper structure dominate chords.

[@room34]

This is really great. I'm primarily a bass and reeds player, but I dabble in just enough keyboards to flesh out my musical ideas, and voicing chords has always been a struggle for me. This video is like a magician showing you how the trick is done. (And I plan to reference it in my own next video… now I won't feel so dumb about the F13(#11) and G+7(#9) chords I have to deal with!)

[@danielpfeffer7707]

Thanks!