Discovering Common Ground in Music Theory: Messiaen Modes and Harris Scales: Part-1

[@JazzStrat781]

Great content my friend 👍🎸 thanks so much, hope you are well

[@jazzwoodshed7574]

Thanks bro and same for you! It's always a pleasure to make videos when you know that there is even one person who appreciates it. :)

[@janmichaeljablonsky9847]

And exactly what does this have to do with music? Fish have scales...music enriches our lives.

[@jazzwoodshed7574]

Thank you for your feedback! You’re absolutely right that the title could have been clearer. This video series is indeed focused on music theory, where scales often come up as an essential concept. My goal with these videos is to explore the fascinating connections between the theories of these two gentlemen and to show how they can help us understand both harmonic and melodic elements in music - and also potentially gain a deeper understanding of our own instruments. Musical examples will come in later videos, but I wanted to start by laying out the theoretical groundwork. And yes, as you said, "music enriches our lives!" - I couldn’t agree more!

[@janmichaeljablonsky9847]

@@jazzwoodshed7574 I apologize for my lack of politeness but when the name Barry Harris comes up, I feel compelled to comment. He had a passionate dislike for some of my favorite jazz artists and the only reason he did was because they didn't play like him. In my view, Harris was jazz by the numbers which is the opposite of the art.

[@jazzwoodshed7574]

I completely understand you. His comments about John Coltrane, for example, are in a "class of their own". For me, as for so many others, Coltrane might be the "greatest player", if such a thing can even be said about anyone. In other words, I've let those comments go in one ear and out the other. But the reason I call these scales Barry Harris scales is that he brought them into general awareness. As I explain in the next video, Messiaen's Mode 6 is exactly the same scale as Barry Harris's Seventh Flat Five Diminished scale.

[@jazzwoodshed7574]

And the Major 6 diminished scale has likely been used by many composers without knowing anything about Barry Harris. I first learned it myself by listening to George Shearing and Wes Montgomery

[@janmichaeljablonsky9847]

@@jazzwoodshed7574 I'll make no more mention of Barry, but you brought up Coltrane. My favorite pianist (any genre) is Bill Evans and Harris not only hates Bill Evans, he's also appalled by anyone who likes Evans. I don't even look for Barry Harris sites on KZbin, for some reason they just keep coming my way. Enough said...I wish you the best no matter what you post.