Coltrane's GIANT STEPS: Revisited. Analysis and Exercises for Jazz Improvisation.

GIANT STEPS: Revisited. Analysis and Exercises for Jazz Improvisation. Iconic, classic jazz standard (1959) by John Coltrane. Played in 2 tempos. Go to website for free scores and to view Jazz Piano Book. www.kenthewitt...

[@tjbuege]

This was absolutely incredible, and so helpful! Having actual step by step exercises on how to approach learning jazz improvisation is going to be a major help, and possibly a breakthrough with me. Your videos just keep getting better and better, and practical. If these past couple videos are a sign of things to come this year, I won’t be getting much sleep at all. Lol. I have one request... can you spend some time talking about your backing tracks? I’d like to look into something like that (band in a box?) How do you go about setting up a backing track? Kent, as always, thank you so much and keep ‘em coming!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thanks so much, Tim. When I decided to do this, I thought ….well all the saxophonists, who might watch it, would question what I was talking about. I'm using Band In A Box, which has a difficult learning curve...I think because I'm not patient with reading tutorials...there's not one included with the download. However the great thing about it is that it has virtual instruments. so the bass player is an actual real person and captures his sound. Also I picked Terry Clarke for the drummer on my tracks...he's a Canadian jazz drummer that I played with on gigs years ago, so this is really him and his drum sound. So overall....even though I wish it was better and that it was easier to program...I think it's advantageous, particularly for the unit sound.... but also for getting your playing locked into a tempo feel....you dig?

[@ericliang4744]

@@KentHewittpiano88 you played with terry clarke? Wow! I just had the opportunity to play with him a couple of months ago. he's such a phenomenal player.

[@KentHewittpiano88]

@@ericliang4744 Yes, Terry Clarke ...Great drummer who played with the legendary guitarist Jim Hall, for years.

[@juliocesarvasquezgramajo7597]

Do u know u are the best jazz teacher out there right?

[@KentHewittpiano88]

It's definitely not obvious to me, because a lot more people get more views. Thanks!

[@ethanmulvihill7177]

Although he is great, Chick Corea is a Jazz teacher...

[@tomford1376]

greatness, maestro! thank you!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

You're very welcome!

[@guitargod6997]

As the Brits would say, "Just brilliant!" Not just the playing itself but the progressive exploration of the chord progression and melodic content is priceless. Thanks, Kent!

[@edwardvivenzio5843]

Thank you Ken,this is pure gold.......Wishing you long life,good health,and much creativity. Keep these videos comin’,really appreciate your work!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Pure gold; such a great term...I'm so glad to hear that, and hear your words of encouragement...keeps me going!

[@saadalhumaid3959]

I love John Coltrane gonna give this a try tomorrow. Efforts you putting in your tutorials are incredible and massive Kent thanks very much Sir🙏🏽

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Great comment and much appreciated!

[@terryalvarado1754]

Great lesson !

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Glad you liked it!

[@aloysiusgesiradja9414]

Thanks, Ken 🙏

[@KentHewittpiano88]

My pleasure!

[@Eguriasejames]

So much love for your tutorials, very helpful to me. God bless you

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thank you, and God bless.

[@elyelma]

Great tune, Great method, Great musician and teacher. Thank you very much. This year is my Giant Steps on French Horn.

[@charitybigaruka4180]

Hey, Kent, Thank you very much for this and all the other videos! I only just recently started listening to your videos, and think you have such a big, generous heart to share these gems! Many pianists like to shine without sharing! Take good care!!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Charity, I totally agree....although with all the years of practicing we've done, occasionally we need to "show off'. Otherwise we might be demoted. (joke). Many thanks!

[@teamnetwork5887]

Love this! Keep Swingin' Loose

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thanks so much!

[@fritzpageot8991]

Thank you !

[@KentHewittpiano88]

You're welcome!

[@CalebRumley]

Great video. Thank you.

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Glad you liked it!

[@alphonsodesselle212]

awesome lessom!! thx soo much!!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Glad you liked it!

[@seriocoster]

Strong lesson! Amazing!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Glad you think so....many thanks!

[@tobyaitken1941]

brilliant

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Many thanks!

[@terryalvarado1754]

It will be a giant step mastering this lesson Master Kent.

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thanks...it's a giant step for anyone...believe me!

[@marvinmadarang4622]

Hi there Kent! Thank you so much for your dedication to this channel. I've been watching for a few years now and your videos have been phenomenal. It's a rarity to find someone who creates such helpful, generous content and sticks with it. I think it would be really interesting if you could do a video on McCoy Tyner and his role/method of play/sound that he implements in A Love Supreme. In fact, I think any video on that album would be great! Do you think you could make a video about that album? I've been attached to it for a long time. Again, thank you so much. Have a great new year :)

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thanks for the kind words and the request, Marvin. I love that album but have not attempted to analyze it...it would be a rather daunting task, I suspect. I do have 2 videos on McCoy Tyner, also one on My Favorite Things. You might enjoy these: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3zYo5qQjbODqdE kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZaWaZerjdelbMU kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGGTd5lmd5uhias

[@okiepita50t-town28]

You’re awesome man.

[@emmetthouse5600]

Mr. Kent you are a genius I am definitely going to learn Giant Steps thanks to you🎵🎶🎶🎵

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thanks Emmett...you are the best, bro. This is a song you can really dig into, and it being a classic, when you get better at playing it, you have grown as a musician...guaranteed!

[@marilynharris4118]

💚💜💛❤️ BRAVO, Mr. Hewitt!! 💚💜💛❤️ XO - M

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Marilyn Harris is the best, all time!!!! (how do you post the hearts? XOXOX)

[@sinestudio9667]

Thanks for updating this video for the New Year - Awesome as usual!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thanks for the comment!

[@antonsavin72]

Thank you for your lessons, Kent! They are great!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thanks so much, Anton!

[@matthewtaylor808]

Blues/Jazz guitarist here learning piano as well. It’s crazy how tight you are man it’s really inspiring! Love your playing and videos!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thanks for telling me, Matthew, and keep watching!

[@garrybrown7372]

Great tune and great tuition! Thank you!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thanks so much for the comment!

[@bobvalicenti233]

Great tutorial, Kent! Thank you! I have struggled with this tune so much in the past, this really helps a lot. Now I would like to leave you with a saying; "Remember, there are three kinds of people in this world, those who can count and those who can't. " :-)

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Never kid a kidder, boss. No I love a jokester, and you immediately welcomed into the "elite club", Bob!

[@steventoddscorpiomusic5588]

Wise words Mr Hewitt..Amen!😀

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thanks for the comment, Steven...amen and swing loose!

[@steventoddscorpiomusic5588]

@@KentHewittpiano88 Got It!

[@JOUA1400]

PROFESSOR KENT!!!!!!!!!!!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Welcome JOUA1400, to the elite club!!

[@markjohnson9485]

Fantastic lesson, I play guitar and armed with what I've learned here, my confidence has received a shot in the arm!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

That's a very cool comment, and I appreciate it!

[@sauxphilippe]

Happy giant year dear Kent !

[@KentHewittpiano88]

I wish you the same, my friend (and swing loose!)

[@ArtRodent]

Although it's way way above my playing level musically, your method and tuition is such an inspiration. A place to aspire to, even if I never get close to these wonderful sounds. Explaining the complicated music by breaking it down with your clear technical explanation is fascinating. That's a real and rare skill. Also makes it easier on the hard of learning (like me). Thank you so so much again Kent.

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thank you, Stephen, for the words of compliment and encouragement. Being able to inspire or motivate others, for me is a blessing.

[@brucejeric6701]

Thank so much for a great tutorial on giant steps!! Great way to start the new year. Best to you and Herb and the rest of your clan!!!! Love the practice plan!!! More of that!!!!!!!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Great comment...Bruce! Of course you know you are in the "elite club". Wish we could "hang out" if only you lived close to me! All the best for 2019!

[@brucejeric6701]

Yes you are in my elite club to!! You know that. I sure wish we lived in the same area. I sure we’d be good buddies

[@brucejeric6701]

Hit the send button before I finished. If I lived close I would hope I could be your student? Would love the one on one study!!

[@Tabu11211]

Excellent video as always. You should check out Barry Harris on giant steps, it might inspire you a bit for your gig.

[@Tabu11211]

@Tom Silver right! I live his explanation of how it was an ending trick by the end of the video.

[@Tabu11211]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4W3f39jh614g9U

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thanks...cool cats ....hope you know I did 2 videos on Barry Harris....so I will be sure to watch it! Peace and love!

[@Tabu11211]

@@KentHewittpiano88 they are the best around!

[@jazzteto]

Muchas gracias Kent.. eres grande..!

[@KB-uv7wj]

This is really informative. Thank- you.

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thanks for the comment!

[@nitideidee3380]

we need u man ! Be all the fingers enlighted by your knowdlege and spirit!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Nitide Idee, you are poet. May you have many blessings and swing loose in 2019.

[@brucegregori]

You are my hero! I was just going to ask you for this one......................

[@KentHewittpiano88]

We are in sync, brother...and I love you for that!

[@brucegregori]

Yes sir!

[@elprofeelger7533]

thanks master you are amazing...saludos desde "COLOMBIA"

[@KentHewittpiano88]

You are amazing too...I wish I knew you! Thanks!

[@gratelife]

Great video. I play the chords all the time but could never break out into improv. This helps thanks.

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thanks for telling me that this helps. That makes all the work I do on these worthwhile, believe me!

[@GME17i]

Fabulous! Loved it. Wish I could have been at your New Year’s Day party. I know you invited me last year. Wish I didn’t live so far away. Anyway, I wish you a very Happy 2019 too Kent. You’re the best. Hey.... I think I’m improving - 😊. Thanks to you 👏👏👏

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Our New Years Day party is the best kick off to the new year. We're lucky to have so many musical friends…...you are family, Corinne. Hugs!

[@mamikostewart6441]

Very nice tutorial

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thank you!

[@eternalrainbow-cj3iu]

What you do at 17:59 we call it the Big Scale, here on Prins Claus conservatory & the piano Teachers, i had lesson from a student, and played frequently with those guys, so i learned a lot from them, also in Groningen they decided to bring new York teachers to the city this was a very sane decision it is cutting edge for some years now if you click Green Jazz Apple on youtube you get at 24:00 the Hubbard version of Giant Steps, Dear John, you could say that I miss out now and then on the theme(this was the first time I played this on stage, Giant Steps I had played 15 years befor...later we use also a different chord analysis: Ebm7 Ab7 Abm7 Db7 Ebmaj7 etc and later on each dominant chord we play a III mi7 if you are able to listen the hole recording than on one behalf you see the experimental aspect, but maybe you could aslo see the advantage of the fresh colours that it brings..maybe in an advanced stage it sounds realy great, this chord change is well known with some jazz musicions, so I didn't invent it my self.. But normally they play Ebm7 Ab7 IBm7 E7 Gm7 as a substitution for Bmaj7 D7 Gmaj7 Bb7 Ebmaj7 so in a way the Abm7 Db7 was my tribute maybe it is too far a way, it's up to every body to decide about that one, of course you could improvise Abm7 Db7 over Gmaj7 Bb7 but in our case I choe to let the musicions go woth those chords...

[@ronfrey6639]

Just spell binding Kent Its way over my head but Im trying to see it and I know the tune by memory or can almost sing it or mock the horn lines so 2 51 25 1 ba da ba da baa ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba baa ba ba baa ba ba baa ba ba .. So really cool to see hear and know what chords and why... Im swimming in waters over my head but I can grasp 251 251 251 and am trying to see which chords your using left and right hands it goes bye fast but the point is Im looking really hard to see and try to grasp the whys. Theory is king.. Knowledge is king.. Coltrane soars.. Kent shows how and the whys super informative Kent I would love to know each chord shape and which inversions your playing literally frame by frame to stop it and study ok hes using this chord usually on left hand and then this on right.. This will be in my head all day one time I saw this mcCoy Tyner video and he was playing this and I saw this concept on guitar and was moduating it to other keys but would run out of neck or fretboard space but for a brief night I could see that pattern and how to move it around. Shawn lane did this on guitar and piano which is kinda where I saw the chords and him singing it out.. Just the chords being moved around and modulating you eventually could move the shapes and just work the distances. Which makes me think its gotta be the same theory wise.. I have to slow this down using the speed cog located next to CC... Im biting off more then I can chew but im eating with both hands.. This is deep as the ocean and so cool its just so cool...

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thanks so much, Ron, for sharing your thoughts at length. There's many videos on You Tube dealing with this song. It's probably a good idea to check them out. Also maybe learning this song in a few different keys, would help in knowing it in more depth. I haven't tried that yet.

[@IlarioSchanzer]

Oh WOOOOW ....GREAT !!! SUPeeeeeeeeeeeeeR

[@xxxrdc]

The Melody that works with "Giant Steps" has already been written and is out there...it's from Richard Rodgers...the bridge of 'have you met miss jones' ...did Coltrane realize? Maybe you were aware? Swing loose, but don't let your meat loaf...LOL

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Good point....great question...did Coltrane realize?

[@xxxrdc]

@@KentHewittpiano88 so, is jazz now to be evaluated as being , the faster and more frenzied the better? Listen to Harry Partch 43 step scale....maybe music will be evolved to machine-like sounds...sort of like a Moore's Law for sonic status. How many notes can be crammed into one measure? I don't get it, but ten year old Joey Alexander may be a portent of future jazz development...I like to believe Duke, don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing....Kent still doing God's work...

[@erikbrodin2198]

@@xxxrdc loaf here, just checking in

[@jeffreyjdesir]

wow. besides playing around the chords in arpeggio, Giant Steps' always felt a little too far out of touch to understand intuitively (as opposed to a 'laxed I-VI-II-V like Polkadots & Moonbeams). This helped bring it down to earth a little as far as what 'key' centers to think in. A thousand thanks ~

[@FrantzesElzaurdia]

You should check out barry harris's video on giant steps, it's great as well

[@KentHewittpiano88]

I love Barry...so I will check that out! thanks!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

I appreciate you're telling me Jeffrey. I always learn something new from every video I do, because it requires more to teach it than to know it.

[@forwardmotion11]

What Backing track are you using ?

[@dkwvt13]

great lesson on a daunting piece, slightly off subject, the slow straight 8th piece toward the end had such a ballad feel it caught me off guard. How much you can change the presence of something aria tins in the tempo and rhythms... Thank You!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Oh yes, that really makes the whole thing so much more interesting. I hope you'll watch my new video and see how that concept is working. Thanks, Donald!

[@Bluzian74]

12:15 "Y'see how I'm doing that now? ... So let's continue..." LMAO

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Are you goofing?

[@bezuglich]

Yikes, thanks! I - we - are humbled, enlightened, edified. Not to quibble but @ 4:29 you say Bb instead of B. It's great you're covering Giant Steps; maybe do its brother, Central Park West? Or its stepmother, Miss Jones? I always thought this was, within the 100-mile-an-hour tempo and the darting chord changes, Coltrane's parody - of cocktail-lounge schmaltz, of 2-5-1 prison, of don't-give-up-the-day-job Bird/Garland imitators. And what about that cadenza? Like something out of Opera Buffa. It's also great that you use extensions - Bb 13, Eb 6/9 @ 4:54 - adding to the complexitacity. Please cover more non-Tin-Pan-Alley stuff - Line Up, Twelve Tone Tune, Ezzthetic, Pinocchio.

[@KentHewittpiano88]

I often make mistakes, but I appreciate the correction...it's usually what I meant to say, but comes out wrong in the stream of consciousness. Thanks for watching this and sharing your thoughts

[@Hi-xs7wm]

♥♥

[@KentHewittpiano88]

THX.

[@Eddie71883]

Spetacular

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thank you!

[@JOUA1400]

3 WAY split??

[@d0cn0tes]

@14:03...I feel u lol

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thanks so much!

[@yourordinaryme]

I could definitely use a new nose lol

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Ha Ha..thanks for hearing all of my video!.

[@yourordinaryme]

@@KentHewittpiano88 Thanks for sharing your amazing content with us, it is much appreciated and certainly doesn't fall on deaf ears!

[@CARLTONMOXLEYUnknownpianist]

Hey man I've been gone a while the landlady burnt department building down the good news is that I got a fancy apartment that I never could afford a swimming pool on this roof all of my Quitman is still in the apartment I can jump through the windowHey man I've been gone a while the landlady burnt ApartmentApartment t building down the good news is that I got a fancy apartment that I never could afford a swimming pool on this roof all of my Instruments and wardrobe It's still in t he building they didn't get burned up it's just wet from the water Very high-class neighborhood right next to the church to have the jam sessions I can set in and cut my teeth I got three months to woodshed I saved up my money I miss you so time for me to start getting back to work I might need another book thoughVery high-class neighborhood right next to the church to have the jam sessions I can set in and cut my teeth I got three months to woodshed I saved up my money I miss you so time for me to start getting back to work I might need another book though I miss you and your lessons in your humor I have to get dressed up like a construction worker and go through the back door of the Bernadette apartment building and retrieve my equipment well I'm doing just fine thank God say hello to all the dominant manI have to get dressed up like a construction worker and go through the back door of the Bernadette apartment building and retrieve my equipment well I'm doing just fine thank God say hello To da l the dominant man

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Hey Moxley, thanks for telling me about your good fortune. The altered dominant ego man has 4 words for you:.... God Bless You, Brother! Divine Providence works in mysterious ways.....and our lives go in different directions and we can only be ourselves and hope life and God will be good to us. Swing loose!

[@legacycreditfirmllccompany8646]

This is a master at work. God Bless those hands

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thank you so much!!!

[@Rafaelfo.]

absolutely boss improvising

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Great compliment...thanks!

[@ronfrey5327]

Excellent Kent hope you are doing well I enjoy your playing its aces !

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thank you!

[@duderserious]

Great instruction! Great playing! Thanks!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thank you!

[@eternalrainbow-cj3iu]

Hi Kent! Why not learn dear John the contrafact over Giant Steps By freddie hubbard It sounds as a letter to John(in heaven) if he was aloud to write a sort of a Charlie prker Theme over The chords of Giant Steps, same key 16 bars! My wish is to be helpful, and bring everything to a Higher level

[@שיאלון-ט4ד]

You wrong the B major scale is the most easy scale

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Easy to play scale but try improvising on it at an up tempo...just the black notes...right?

[@mysticman07]

what's the name of that song in the introduction?

[@KentHewittpiano88]

That's just a vamp I made up to compliment the concept of the video.

[@joejazz67]

This reminded me of Star Trek "James Doohan" Scotty I need more Capt I'm giving it all she got the engine is going to fall to pieces LOL

[@robertoferrara3470]

Hello dear Kent, I want to thank you for the most valuable and selfless work to share this precious gem. I will never cease to be grateful for all the material you have created and shared, you have given me the happiness and joy of playing this and other pieces.

[@KentHewittpiano88]

You are very welcome...thanks for such a wonderful comment..so helpful to me!

[@eternalrainbow-cj3iu]

hi Kent do you also use plaining? Areharmonising like backdoor atritone subs etc.

[@eternalrainbow-cj3iu]

why do I ask. Cos I am trying and could be inspiring for me to see how you woukd use those methods . Maybe in a modrate tempo?

[@eternalrainbow-cj3iu]

the thing I kind of like is Reharming the 1st chords to Ebm7 Ab7 Bm7 E7 Ebmaj7 and the Ii V I into Fm7 Gm7 Am7 Bm7 C# m711 Ebm7 to ommit the the Dominant...now tobuse Back doors like acm7 F7alt instead of Am7 D7...Gmaj7 my last teiql is tobuse For instance F# 7+5 Gmaj7 Emmaj7#11 Emaj7 C7alt Bmaj7 then Am7b5 D7 Ebmaj7 but still diffocult donyou think I am on the right Track? f# G# A÷ B C# D as a melodie F#7 to Gmaj I like those atruckschluses ...iis Lydian Dominant better as scales with the Backdoor situations??? Those are the Topics I am stricing towords...also Ibtried A7b9nD7b9 Gmaj7 and usong altered scales and this lick on the Dominants D7 AbG F# A C gmaj B....BLESSED day looking forward to learn new things

[@KentHewittpiano88]

I think you are trying to over simplify the chord progression in a complicated way. Or I may not be understanding your meaning. Try to be very clear. There are always substitutions to a chord progression, and when improvising it is better to simplify the progression in order to play a better melodic line over an easier and condensed set of chords. There is a way to do this in this song.

[@eternalrainbow-cj3iu]

The last Link contains at 24:30 Dear John

[@bobblues1158]

This and other equal division of the octave ideas are all found in " The Thesaurus of Scale and Melodic Patterns" written by Nicholas Slonimsky. This song is based on the equal division of one octave into 3 parts. This is called the Ditone progression. The book was written for composers of fx. film music who needed a source of melodic and harmonic ideas. The book is kind of a condensed version of Schillinger system of composition based entirely on the mathematic elements inherent in Rhythm, Melody and Harmony. These books are absolutely worth understanding if one is a creative musician. John Coltrane certainly thought so.

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge, Bob. I remember the books you mentioned from some time back...guess it would be a good idea to go back to the drawing board (or woodshed). Learning never ends.

[@roykressin8229]

that last blowing chorus: it sounds like a b maj 7 triad pickup landing on g# over beat 1 of the b chord before d7 - but it sounds awesome.

[@roykressin8229]

near 22:42

[@KentHewittpiano88]

I'm not able to catch it, but I will say in general, if you think in tonal centers it's easier to improvise on this song than if you think of scales for each chord. And you can anticipate those tonal centers ahend of time to make a nice transition. I don't know if you understand what I mean, but that's what I was doing.

[@roykressin8229]

@@KentHewittpiano88 musical. Also like the triplet arpegios. Great lessons.

[@roykressin8229]

the timestamp I meant above was actually around 21:42 thx

[@KentHewittpiano88]

That's targeting on the 6th, which is fine, but not as common as the 3rd, or other chord tones. Technically that's okay, it depends on what follows.... and that in the course of a passage you have some strong target tones.

[@widi1998]

Great and great and great, now time to practice. Pattern, changing chord, and look for target keys..

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Yes, I'm glad to hear that this video is beneficial to you. Have fun practicing!

[@shaerens]

In the exercise with the pentatonics, it sounds a lot like Debussy harmony

[@KentHewittpiano88]

I know that Bill Evans was influenced by Debussy. He used a lot of whole tone scales and pentatonic scales. So I'm glad you heard that in the interpretation. Many thanks for the comment!

[@alaincherpin]

Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge. This lesson is really nice and useful :-)

[@KentHewittpiano88]

I'm glad you told me. Please check out all my categories. Under Playlists: kzbin.info/door/dmjw5sm9Kn83TB_rA_QBCwplaylists

[@JeffreySaxophoneTallNewton]

Have You Met Miss Jones? Did JC?

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Actually back in the 70's I met her, and she was visiting from Hawaii, and we had a "fling". She asked me to return w/ her to Hawaii. but my situation would not allow that. "The Road Not Taken" made all the difference. Peace, brother.

[@rubendez]

great lesson thank you sir.

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Much appreciated. Because this is not my forte...at least I have some soul left.