Chordplay - 'The Chords of Frank Zappa'

[@adam872]

Zoot Allures is one of the best chord progressions I've ever heard in any tune.

[@cal_blac]

Yessss god it’s a chef’s kiss of a song

[@BillyZakk]

Agree!!!

[@seanbrennan5192]

The bass goes so well with it, true composer he was

[@spindriftdrinker]

I always thought that this tune stood out in the Zappa repertoire. Can't really compare it to any other Zappa piece, highly original and interesting and stands well the test of time.

[@brianeagle5156]

My favorite guitar solo of all time is at the end of Zoot Allures. What a dynamic piece of utter bliss.

[@Taldaran]

You are the guitar teacher that many of us wished we had when we were starting out.

[@bah667]

absoulutely

[@musicguimus8166]

"mind is like a parachute : it"s works while it's open" that's the best quote about art. Thanks master Zappa to always puch the limits of creativiity !

[@jillsteffes735]

This quote, which is often attributed to FZ, is actually much older.

[@christophersleight19]

Thank you. I want to share something that may help someone I hope. (Forgive me, it's going to take a few minutes to get there) When I was a pup, (born in '56) There were some abilities I had that seem to be natural, they were gifts but I didn't know that at the time. I thought that anyone that was good at something, just did them. Their abilities came naturally. I began to play guitar. I refused to learn other people's music, names of chords or practice scales. I was a moron. Instead of learning theory, how to read or write music, I played what I came up with, but I didn't grow. You just showed me "Sleep dirt." I'm now 64. It is a huge waste of time to dwell on the past. My point, all you folks who take the time to learn, I salute you. Teachers, I thank you. And I am grateful for the gifts I have been given. Even the gift of learning how my pride got in the way of me learning, I have learned. John 1:1, to the Maker of all things. The Ultimate Hero and Teacher.

[@voronOsphere]

Frank Zappa?!!!! Just when I think your channel can't get any better!!! Thanks again, David!

[@musicmotorskate7540]

I didn't get Frank Zappa's music until I was older. I discovered it through Steve Vai. When I first heard Vai's album flexible I was like what is this, but it grew on me. Then I started listening to Zappa and I could easily see how Vai was influenced. Zappa's music is really complex and is a journey for your ears.

[@sunnibird]

Same. I still have my original vinyl of Flex-able

[@kingberzerk]

These two albums in the background have been very important in my life. And: the chords which end "The Torture never stops" are really nice as well!

[@gingerjam2192]

I love Zoot Allures, ❤ and its bass line is so tasty. I used to play that tune on guitar 15-20 years ago, now I want to learn it again.

[@uncleremus5046]

Needs to get credit as a brilliant composer which he was!

[@dantean]

You sure no one credits him as a composer?! I think a LOT of people do and have--for decades now. Zubin Mehta, The London Symphony Orchestra, and countless others wouldn't have been performing his music going all the way back to the 60s otherwise.

[@Fuzzybunny-ki1cw]

a composer. uhhhhhhhh make it stop

[@thedave5748]

Saw Frank twice. Both unforgettable. MSG and CT. Always cool to occasionally see him sit and smoke and watch the band as they jam.

[@Nobody92421]

Holy Phuk... You deserve a rig rundown. My man. If you don't have a PhD in music theory.. I would be shocked. You are something.

[@eroger4]

Great overview of Frank's chords!

[@pomod]

Came for the E sus2 #11 stayed and learned so much more. Seriously. I'm in Zappa rabbit hole these days and was tying to figure out how to play this chord I kept hearing and clicked on this to see if you knew it and you did. Nice explanations I learned a lot here.

[@julieconroy7169]

I endorse what many of the other students say. You are the teacher that we all wished we had discovered in our early days of struggle with the instrument. Your Modus Operandi puts across the message in a very reassuring way….love it. Great Teacher.

[@chipispowdercoatingcharles8444]

I got to see frank zappa a few times and ill tell you Dweezle does a really good job of it. I saw Zappa plays Zappa and it brought tears yo my eyes. Dweezle has done a fine job

[@LateNightLessons]

That's totally awesome that you saw Frank! : o WOW : o I did catch Dweezil last year on his Choice Cuts Tour and it was spectacular. It was amazing to watch him perform his father's music with such a finely tuned degree of precision and a devoted focus with making it sound as close to Frank as possible. I was blown away. : ) Thank you again and take care!

[@chipispowdercoatingcharles8444]

@@LateNightLessons i like when he has the old players on.

[@1965JB]

I saw Frank 3 times in the 70’s and I’ve seen Dweezil twice. All 5 shows were just incredible. Dweezil is doing the world a favor by bring his dad’s music to so many more people than Frank could in his too-short life.

[@dantean]

Thanks for this. I'm grateful to have seen Frank several times at the end of the 70s and beginning of the 80s. The shows were magisterial!

[@LawrieFamily]

Fantastic analysis! Some of my absolute favorites here! Love Frank!

[@TruthSurge]

3:36 that exact chord shape is the first chord of a Satriani tune called Lords of Karma. It's more intimidating/scary because it is missing the maj 3rd. Lydian is a great sound. mystical, can make you cry even. The Watermelons tune by Zappa is probably a great example of it. nice vid.

[@christiantaylor4027]

Thanks for this lesson and sharing some harmonic aromas of a masterful musical chef. I'll have to refer back to this several times and I don't mind. Bye for now

[@stevengraham5454]

You should get a youtube award just for this guitar lesson

[@olddognewtricks7903]

That first chord and Lydian noodle gave me a massive flashback to seeing Joe Satriani playing Flying in a Blue Dream in Glasgow 30-odd years ago ! Having strummed for years you are inspiring me to actually think about the fretboard and PRACTICE. I owe you a great deal for that David. Thanks.

[@olddognewtricks7903]

(And before anyone comments that Satch was playing something else….remember I’m very much a learner….but it took me there to some amazing memories.)

[@mikeviall811]

Nailed it!

[@markingall842]

Beautifully presented chord structure, with wonderful disjointed Zappa sound and my soul washed in fantastic music. "God did Bless Frank" !!!

[@BeauJames59]

Thanks for taking the deep dive and bringing back the treasure.

[@stephenjames4937]

Thank you for this. I've loved Zappa since 1979, and can brag that I used to play Sleep Dirt almost note for note!

[@jeffbrett7849]

Besides the dreamy mesmerizing quality of the chords Frank's soloing was all about "tension & release"

[@thisklik]

Zoot Allures is Amazing!!And Sleep Dirt is a most sad,nostalgic Zappa song for me...Probably because of documentary just after his death..with that song in the end..

[@jeffmunn-giddings3211]

Great episode, thanks for an insight into the creative genius of FZ. Daunting stuff, but inspiring.

[@LateNightLessons]

Thank you so much and thanks for watching! : )

[@em-dashman4404]

What a superb video. Really floats my boat!! Beautiful chords, and has probably sent me off on a Zappa odyssey (something I’ve not managed yet, in fifty-odd years!!).

[@1965JB]

Welcome aboard the USS Zappa. You’ll be back from your Zappa odyssey in about the same time it took Odysseus to get back from his!

[@johngame2119]

I watch your stuff off and on. For me you are one of the most thoughtful teachers out there. I don’t even know if what you do is best described as ‘teaching’. Its like taking part in an interesting discussion. And then you go away and experiment. Love your stuff man.

[@suzannedelores6181]

Thank you, wow, so interesting breaking it down.... lovely resonances of Frank Zappa ❤

[@Kept_Crude]

Brilliant material. Thank you for sharing.

[@donaldmccoy49]

my favorite episode to date... we must correspond sometime... keep up the great work sir!!

[@brettclement9214]

Nice job! One interesting fact: in the Black Napkins solo, Zappa actually pairs the c# minor chord with the Dorian scale (rather than Phrygian). Therefore, the two scales C# Dorian and D Lydian state different diatonic collections. It’s a good demo of his preferences for Dorian and Lydian.

[@boboala1]

I appreciate your modal analysis on B. Napkins only it reminds me how dadgum rusty I am on my scales/theory! ;-( Another problem I have - kinda dyslexic - is that I played the trumpet in college when I studied music back in the 70s, and it's keyed in B-flat so I was always transposing up a step...so I have to not 2nd guess myself when you say C# Dorian to not start my practice on D#...if that makes sense? (Ha, the truth is really I need to 'get in the shed' and run all 12 of the bastiges in major, minor, then harmonic minor. Then pentatonic, diminished, +5...oh boy!

[@jusevibes3969]

FZ music is always full of inspiration ⚡️👍🏽

[@ubda1]

I've always loved those chords. Thanks for making them approachable. Your my favorite guitar channel. Your an awesome player.

[@1macirone]

totally agree!

[@DavidGolden99]

10:48 You can find 1975 performances of "Sleep Napkins" where Sleep Dirt was played before going into Black Napkins.

[@popogast]

What I learned from tis lesson: First compose, analyze the chord progressions later!

[@richb6291]

Thank you David what a wonderful insight - love those haunting chords - going to have to work on the changes.

[@bobtomlin6813]

Fantastic job ..... excellent excellent

[@petemeyers5342]

Great video!

[@roberts1346]

Roughly the 4 minute mark I hear the Zappa influence on Vai during the flex able era while you’re playing Pretty impressive man

[@adam872]

Totally. Salamanders in the Sun has Frank written all over it.

[@hansvandermeulen5515]

Little Green Men!

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

I'll never forget the first time I ever heard Vai play. I saw a friend in Berkeley across the street from La Val's north side pizza (owned by the Fogerty's, Johns brothers) with his boom box and he played me The Attitude Song. It forever changed what I saw as what was even possible on the electric guitar, and immediately became one of my biggest influences. Then we got stoned and listened to the rest. I was so hooked, and this also lead me to Zappa's music.

[@HoraceMash]

Thanks for this insightful and lucid journey to the centre of the Frank. I’m so excited to find this channel. Great work man!

[@nealgoldstein4578]

Great work. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you.

[@kevinhellon4348]

Excellent lesson!

[@romarainpublic6735]

Usually, I don't connect with one of my Google account Chrome profiles (I have fifty profiles, most of them local), but I had to do it to give you a thumb up. You did an amazing job showing us, with the sweetest calm and control, some of the coolest Zappa's chords. And as a fan, I own you one. When you played those two chords at 6:16, a subtle smile instantly popped on my face. I think 2021 will be the year where I'll really learn guitar and dig into Zappa's content, thanks to you.

[@dutchbannger6503]

More zappa please I love your video breakdowns!

[@jamie21641]

More Zappa please!!

[@hurricane6014]

Very nice and brief explanation of FZ work. Your chord play is so helpful. Glad that I found this channel.

[@AT-27182]

I learned so much from this. It really opened up some ideas and helped me to improve my confidence on the fretboard. Thank you very much.

[@miketayse]

Thanks for posting! Stuff I did not know and appreciate being able to go try it now.

[@briandavis9921]

u nailed Zappa's phrasing

[@robhead22]

Fabulous!! Thank you!

[@smkh2890]

I bought Freak Out at the time and saw the Mothers in London, at the Palladium. Absolutely Love the Hot Rats album!

[@TheMeow1099]

More Zappa!!

[@bensteyn8420]

Very cool and unagitated. Thank you and hope to see/ hear more.

[@CVGuitar]

I just watched this for the second time -- great stuff David -- FZ rules! I wish I could hit LIKE again

[@senasakura345]

なぜ特定の方法でつづるかの例が与えられただけです。また、これは少し焦点がずれていますが、鋭いキーの F、F# は文字通り誤称、または E# が正確な 4 番目の B リディアンです。12tETにこだわらない楽器のイントネーションはそのまま

[@Massigangster]

From 2:25 some real great information about the use of lydian!

[@chrisgulbranson5867]

Nicely done. Even though I did ok w theroy in college it was a struggle. Man I admire those like you that have it nailed. I realize it's all about putting in the time.

[@kevinharrington4009]

Wonderful

[@sixstringmarauder]

Thanks brother.

[@SmittysPlace]

Saw Zappa in 78' SUNY Stony broook. Been game on ever since! Still have ticket.

[@diegoka7943]

Fair warning and Zoot Alleurs ...buena combinacion amigo!!!!!

[@1macirone]

what a great lesson, thank you so much!!!

[@stogies3]

Dweezil is an amazing guitar player Saw FrankZ back in the 80’s with Steve Vai,great show.

[@michaelmaynard58]

Saw FZ 6 times. The best performer ever!

[@bob5951]

I'm finally back to playing - Jeff Beck passing really gutted me. Thanks for helping - i thought FZ used a lot of implied chords.

[@CVGuitar]

14:15 loved it

[@mnegline1971]

outrageously great lesson. even more so for Zappaphiles!

[@CVGuitar]

Dude if you did a Johnny Guitar watson video that would be awesome !!

[@markrobinson8410]

David you are my favorite guitar teacher by far.

[@chriskehoe6581]

Dude,... Thanks for this.

[@jasonmillion5970]

Frank Zappa's the greatest!!! His music was unbeatable!!!

[@GoodCorporateRobot]

I enjoyed this almost as much as i enjoy Frank Zappa. That's saying something!

[@leonb5497]

Wonderfull chords and a great video

[@azambuja]

Thanks!

[@nanordstrom]

I love the incredible guitar sound and the bla bla teaching!

[@dave6098]

Subbed. Great upload, hoping to see some more Zappa explanations and examples.

[@LateNightLessons]

Thanks Dave! I have had a few requests for more Frank and some Dweezil as well, so I'll see what I can do! Take care! : )

[@mbelmontes530]

Just heard “sleep dirt”....makes me wish Zappa played more acoustic guitar. This video makes it seem a little more manageable. Thanks!

[@jamescarter4175]

Very interesting! Thanks!

[@jkol323]

Make more Zappa videos for sure!!!

[@LateNightLessons]

You got it! : ) Take care and stay tuned for more videos!

[@QuikdethDeviantart]

Zoom Allures (on your desktop) is a great album! Find her finer, wind up working in a gas station... just a classic... “give me five dollar bill and an overcoat too, five dollar bill and a Florsheim shoe...”

[@scottwaszak698]

Can really hear the influence on Vai's music

[@cal_blac]

The lick at 4:01 was an instant subscribe

[@StephenAntKneeBk5]

An easy and interesting way to generate Lydian sounds for Major or Major 7 (#11) chords is to use a Minor Pentatonic Scale half-step below the root of the chord. So, if the chord is C Major 7, play B Minor Pentatonic -- B, D, E, F#, A, B (Saw Frank many times in concert) :-) Good video, thanks.

[@LateNightLessons]

Thank you and yes - pentatonic substitutions are great! I learned them from studying some of Scott Henderson's lessons and ideas. Great stuff! Thanks for watching and take care! : )

[@StephenAntKneeBk5]

@@LateNightLessons I'll look for Henderson's work, thank you! He's a great player. Bruce Saunders has a great little book called Jazz Pentatonics. It's all good stuff. I use the Lydian Chromatic Concept by George Russell as my "big concept" and the Pentatonics are cool sub-sets within the larger scales. :-)

[@michaeldematteis3409]

Love these voicings.glad I've been studying alot of different chords.id be totally lost.lol.found some cool chords that actually fit in a major chord scale.major 7 flat 5s major13#11 major 9 #11s.on the 4 chord I believe

[@EarthAltar]

Excellent lesson, Dave. If you do a vid on his soloing technique please include the Mudshark arpeggio from Latex Solar Beef.

[@LateNightLessons]

Thank you BIG time and I'll see what I can do with that request too! : )

[@EarthAltar]

@@LateNightLessons I tried learning Transylvania Boogie, but memorizing all those nuances was making my brain hurt. Not physically impossible, but the phrasing makes it a real pain.

[@LateNightLessons]

I think the big thing with him (and others too) is that when he played it, that's just how he felt it and played it. So it just came out naturally (or unnaturally) like that, but when we try to play it we have to count/think and attempt to feel it the same way as they did when it just came out naturally for them. I think that's the hardest thing with rhythm and counting music (especially if it's complicated), as the truth lies in either being able to feel the rhythm of what you're playing or not. If it's an AC/DC song or a simple beat, that's one thing, but when it's something like Zappa or King Crimson (or whoever) it creates an entirely different hurdle and makes their music 100 times harder to play than something "average" or "basic." Mastering rhythm and groove is very hard for people, and it really is one of those "you feel it" or "you don't" scenarios. You can totally teach/learn it, but those with it happening naturally are almost always a hundred miles ahead of everyone else. And that's totally not fair - hahaha! Or at least, that's my two cents... : )

[@EarthAltar]

@@LateNightLessons Exactly!

[@frankystrings]

there's nothing to learn to his soloing.... other than he played modally, he wing'd it

[@fernandoguillerme3739]

good very intersant than´ks !!!!

[@Daniel-r9r]

Saw him in Pasadena. He seemed pissed off with his band and at one point he dismissed them all . Then for the next thirty minutes he tore the place to pieces with the greatest virtuosity I have ever witnessed. I cried , I laughed, I loved. Keep the faith and thanks for the video it was quite incitful.

[@thomasglynn9393]

hilarious , i not sure i understood too much , but his interview about mixing edgar somebody to music was happenning = "dancin' fool" was aNiMaTeD :-) .

[@billwilliams6338]

LATE NIGHT, can you make a video lesson showing a lot of licks that frank zappa used because I heard he used the lydian mode often but I'm not sure which licks or have examples.

[@RanBlakePiano]

Study George Russell .his book ,music

[@diegoka7943]

Zoot alleurs y fair warning .... buena combinacion!!!!!!!

[@rainfieldmusic]

crazy intelligent dissonance... so dark and sad, but beautiful. regards

[@Robowx]

I saw about 4 of Zappa's Halloween Shows at NYC Palladium

[@bluest1524]

Could you please post the chords and voicings for You Are What You Is? Post link here if you want. Thank you, love that song.

[@em-dashman4404]

Hey David, just started watching this (haven’t finished) and had to go grab my guitar! I immediately came up with a hard-to-play but cool-sounding 4-chord thing. How can I send you some chord diagrams?

[@breadfaybianfabian3597]

i feel like i met u at a frolf park. you shared your hackie-sack with me. we smoked out of a pop can. it was at a fest. glowsticks may have been involved. freeman fly but you can shred. bless

[@philcremer4709]

If you REALLY want to hear his understanding of chords, listen to his do-wop or other early stuff where you hear him truly playing rhythm guitar. Hear his his strumming on "Steal Away" to understand.

[@wooddragon55]

Brilliant! Diolch Brawd!!!

[@chizorama]

New guitarist here, looks like I have A LOT to learn, yarggg...

[@fractionstein]

Snappin"! Thanks

[@LateNightLessons]

Thank you!!!! : )