Easy 2-5-1 Jazz Improvisation with Pentatonic Scale

We will learn a very practical method to improvise Jazz over the 2-5-1 chord progression in Major. We will also talk some nerdy jazz theory in between. But when we perform, we use simple pentatonic tools that automatically unfold the music!
Index:
00:00 Welcome
00:17 Listen to the sound we can make
01:59 The chords in use
02:31 The walking bass
04:59 The pentatonic hand grip
06:32 Where to place the hand grip
07:41 We play a solo
08:48 Where to place the hand grip - continued
10:40 The scales in use
12:44 The avoid note
16:44 Playing a solo with Lydian scale
18:14 The arpeggio technique
21:02 "Pep-up" the improvisation
21:55 We play "outside" on the dominant chord
23:48 The substitute dominant Mixolydian
25:19 More Music
26:52 Goodbye
References:
Tutorial about modal theory and the church modes:
• Modal Theory - The 7 C...
Exercises with the pentatonic scale and the hand grip:
• How to IMPROVISE JAZZ ... &
• Simple PIANO EXERCISES...
Often I use blue notes in the video above. That technique is explained in this lesson:
• Shortcuts to "JAZZ & B...
Donations:
/ newjazz
www.paypal.me/newjazz
Sheet music with walking bass:
www.newjazz.dk/xtra/2-5-1_Majo...
Many of you have requested a video tutorial using the "pentatonic hand grip" on the II V I chords. Finally I made the lesson - thanks a lot for your patience :) And thanks for always making great inputs in the comments and giving me great moral support :)
Warm Regards
Oliver Prehn

[@Captainhit]

5 YEARS of music conservatory and was never taught this - yes we had classes in ALL the major styles of music!! THANK YOU!!!

[@danwilson6890]

This lesson has totally blown me away!! You can learn all the theory and practice that all the universities and colleges of the world can offer, but until someone who knows and understands at this level can play it, teach it, and show you exactly what to do, it won't come all together. Oliver, you brought it all together for me. I am 56, earned a B.A. in Music Composition, but never learned the secret of playing this great genre on piano. Thank you, thank you, and THANK YOU!

[@cannabis1490]

great comment !

[@pippilotta3511]

Learning Jazz is like learning a completely new instrument.

[@henrychua6476]

I’m 75, started formal piano lessons at 5, played the trumpet and French horn at university brand. No one dared to teach this to me like you just did. I’m eternally grateful.

[@kristopherdetar3552]

@@henrychua6476 This guy is a genius, and so calming a voice to not scatter my nerves at age 62, when learning new material.

[@G_Demolished]

@@kristopherdetar3552He reminds me of the guy who does the triad pairs lessons, if that’s not him. Very chill voice and similar accent.

[@brunoamaral8881]

I am almost crying right now because of this lesson. A HUGE AHA moment turned out in my head. This is art. Thank you so much!

[@Livengoodproject]

I know

[@larryclair2195]

You lit up life. Started playing piano at age 12, 77 years old now. What a blessing your video is. Thankyou Sir.

[@jessalvo6375]

You are the best...I wish I found you 60 years ago. You explained the basic of jazz piano playing better than anyone else. I'm 71 now but I wish its not too late. Hats off to you, kudos, bravos and a million thanks! And thank you KZbin. I wasted a lot of money on a lot of paper work. I'm glad I lived this long.

[@stephenbru]

Jes Salo...You are so right!!! I'm 68 years old and I was thinking the same thing!!!...

[@CudderMC]

It's not too late my friend !!!!

[@tomsgig-taxi5577]

There is only three "too late" points in life: once your fingers don't work no more, or your brain. Or you have passed the finish line. Everything else is a "just right" point :)

[@sheikhahmed2871]

Yes !! Keep movin n improvin mate

[@damirskrjanec]

It's not too late! You can type, you can play!

[@nesschallis1909]

Phew! I need to re-wind myself now and start back at the beginning taking this one step at a time! Thanks and I look forward to giving this a try .....slowly!

[@manolorodriguez7858]

The Gift of teach. Bless you. Thank you Sir.

[@alejandrobarros780]

I've studied music during seven years and never anyone teach me that the music can be so closely and easy to play, you don't know how much i´m grateful for what you've done with this video!!!

[@cedricfrancis5662]

You are one of the best online music teachers that I've ever come across. Your ability to teach the theory and to demonstrate it so beautifully, is nothing short of exceptional

[@tshider719]

I really enjoy your lessons, they help me understand more what I’m playing and how to apply the techniques you teach. Thank you ...

[@cannabis1490]

Great, great, great lesson! Never seen it explained like this before in all my 40 years of piano playing! You have great musical skill. Awesome tutor/video/tutorial. Thank you for sharing.

[@seanonel]

Mr Prehn, I've just watched this video again and am - once more - blown away by the quality of what you teach. My playing had improved CONSIDERABLY because of your knowledge shared with us. You are a true KZbin treasure. Please don't ever lose your humility and graciousness as so many successful KZbinrs do. Learning from you is like a guilty pleasure for me!

[@davidmarks509]

amazing what a great lesson. I enjoyed the music and your voice and I stayed with you the whole 27 minutes without any dozing off. The mark of a great teacher.

[@lukefischer3469]

Guitar is my primary instrument, but this visual presentation on piano along with the clear explanation has given me a clearer understanding of chordal and scalar substitutions along with a lot of ideas that I can instantly explore! Thanks so much!!!

[@yoelkristian222]

I'm not skip the ads to make sure u received the payment. U deserved more than that for lesson like this. Thanks a lot teacher!!!!!

[@user-wv5zg5ts7e]

Дорогой, Оливер ,где вы были 50 лет назад , как же мне не хватало этих знаний. Низкий вам поклон.

[@korento3000]

Prehn's Piano Grip Method for improvising jazz. Deserves wide recognition among pros and beginners alike!

[@billdollar6155]

I relly enjoyed this lesson, now it is time for me to practice thank you.

[@DJINTURN25]

The simple idea/tool of the pentatonic handgrip and using markers honestly blew my mind. Thank you so much for this.

[@definitiveentertainment1658]

I can’t possibly overstate how helpful this is. I’ve played by mostly ear for a decade now and proper jazz has eluded me for so long. Being able to use these scale relationships and transpose them to any key is a huge help. THANK YOU 🙏

[@robertomachado7581]

Top of the line! I wish I had a teacher like you 30 years ago; one million thanks!

[@AngelX]

I'm a guitarist and the concepts you teach here opens new avenues and ways of thinking on improvisation. Very helpful.

[@gustavopolmusic]

Muuuuchas gracias Oliver y a tus colaboradores también!

[@marksacco2002]

all these years I never knew anything about this....you explained so well - I am grateful for your sharing

[@Ryan93Lion]

I’ve been watching you for almost 2 years now. I’ve picked a few tricks of yours but in the first 12 minutes of this video, you literally “gave me the keys” I’ve been looking for to unlocking improv codes lol I knew/know almost any chord one could think of but this finally helped me connect all my theory knowledge. Thanks 🙏🏽

[@dadautube]

simple yet sophisticated ... plain yet not easy ... not so hard but not quite a piece of cake either ... thank you Oliver Prehn for such a truly beautiful performance and thorough as well as comprehensible explanation of one of the best music formats ever! this is exactly how i'd love to play jazz ...

[@berndderdrummer]

Best and most teaching lesson I've ever seen on YT so far. Thanx for that!

[@teemewgek683]

Today is the first time I can able to walking in the bass without sheet piano and it’s amazing when corporate with the R.H. Melody line, I’m from Malaysia. Thank you so much for teaching us the Simple Jazz, my music teacher Oliver Prehn

[@korento3000]

I wish I had found this ten years ago!! The best YT piano jazz teacher so far. Until finding New Jazz I never truly appreciated the power of the circle of fifths, 251, church scales or pentatonic scales, or really understood how to practice them in a way that also strikes a chord in my head, pun intended. Fabulous. More please!

[@simplyrenee50]

Wow! This video made me feel like I can actually pick up the piano again, and play. I feel such confidence with this lesson. Thank you so much!

[@michaelz8795]

This is simply THE BEST jazz improv lesson I have ever seen, opened my whole mind to Jazz in a whole new way!!!!

[@shaynealison3390]

Brilliant. After having played for 40+ years, your logical well articulated explanation of the simple tools behind the otherwise complex theoretical gymnastics has taken me to a new level of keyboard enjoyment !!!

[@Fogertian]

Now I need translate that "grip" to my electric guitar. That pentatonic scales are easy to follow any time. It's NOT boring learning this way ... if you want to play it on guitar. Best teacher in the world !!!!

[@LeonardoGiordani]

Oliver, thanks so much for this lesson. It speaks volumes that as a guitarist I had to watch a video by a pianist to get a grip of the basics. Many other (guitar) videos begin flooding the lesson with scales, arpeggios, substitutions, you name it, all great and useful things, but very confusing for a beginner. It's also good to see that it's not just guitarists who think in shapes! Thanks a lot, keep up the good work!

[@jakatak9329]

I am as moved and excited as everyone else. The power of music is mind blowing. The chance to actually create music is so powerful. This video lesson helps in-measurably in helping me create music. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge in a way that makes so much sense.

[@mrkeeny]

Amazing. You learn more each time you rewatch a lesson. Years of haphazard learning condensed into one short lesson. Bravo Oliver.

[@RL82]

I've been a self-taught player for years.... this video might be the most impressive learning tool to start advancing my progress and taking it to the next level. Thank you so much.

[@randolfndamo8867]

SUCH AN AMAZING TEACHER

[@StephenBloomfield]

Wow - you are a Master Teacher - taking the impossibly difficult and making it beautifully simple. Thank you for sharing you gift.

[@paulelliott6488]

Wow. I've been noodling with Jazz for 20 years now and this is the first secret I've seen unpacked so well. Thank you

[@luisdoradomanzano2859]

Estoy impresionado de la maravillosa creatividad en las manos de un gran pianista y maestro. Ahora que puedo entender mejor la técnica empleada, me asombro y maravillo mucho más viendo la sencillez de este esquema armónico que permite utilizar las distintas escalas pentatónicas sin importa la base armónica en que se encuentre el bajo. Gracias por esta magistral clase.

[@ebhd33]

Brilliant. Finally someone manages to decouple improv from the pure theory.

[@MetalusCinder]

I've been trying to learn this stuff forever and it never clicked BUT WITH YOU it all makes sense and comes so naturally. Thank you!

[@amrum01]

I don‘t remember having heard a lesson more important in many years.Great stuff.

[@TheAsyou]

Finally!!! a great music course (new jazz) after searching for 20 years. this is the best lesson so far. Some will pretend to teach you music but I feel like their main goal is to confuse you more or maybe they just lack the teaching skill who knows. but this guy is gifted for teaching music. Amazing . thank you.

[@MarkPeters]

I was a composition major so I've got a strong grasp of theory (a long time ago) and like to just improvise. Your approach is genius and incorporates theory in a way that frees up the mind to just sing inside. THANK YOU!

[@SonyaUddin]

Wonderful. Beats every in person piano lesson I've ever had by FAR. Thank you for this.

[@cajonaconaquetebotou]

Your lessons are a must, clear and full of harmony information. I love this smart talking hands. Thanks a lot.

[@rickhood]

I love the reflection versus performance distinction. I have learned so much theory from you because you approached it this way. Starting with theory first is not the best way to get into it. First, hand grip and performance, then after, I want to know "why does that work?" ...and so then is the time for theory and reflection. You are the best piano teacher ever!

[@juwonnnnn]

Thanks!

[@clmntlc2892]

Now I'm crying...This is amazing.

[@ricaielli]

BEST LESSON EVER! God Bless you for sharing this.

[@jackcui9022]

Amazing! I have been trying to get into jazz piano for a while now from a classical background. Everywhere online, people will direct you to jazz theory books or tell you the best way to learn to play jazz is to listen (which I don't doubt, but it doesn't help a beginner who just wants to play some jazz). It made jazz improvisation appear extremely complex and something only to be achieved when you have a vast collection of jazz knowledge. Your videos make jazz approachable and not such an impossible feat.

[@Tempo31512]

Game changer right there....merci, Oliver.

[@nelsonjuliangomezgiraldo7852]

Divine Master! Bless be your mind and fingers! You are such a generous genius!

[@jpb93360]

Thanks for all the LOVE and time you put in the making of these really inspiring tutorials. You open paths...

[@kellyakakells]

Damn, I’m just now finding this channel. This is the most in depth but yet very simple tutorials I’ve ever come across. You’re a great teacher sir, you have a gift

[@langsuyar19]

That has helped me in so many ways you can't even imagine. Thank you so much!

[@Imp_G]

BEST PIANO LESSON I FOUND, EVEN SUPERIOR TO THOSE I PAID ! THANKS ! GOD BLESS !

[@camillesindell2740]

Excellent explanation of the relationships between the minor pentatonic, 3 modes, and a tritone sub. Love the hand grip idea’ and I sure appreciate the comment about theory versus performance. Thank you!

[@Virtual-Tiger]

Hi Oliver, I think we are blessed to have you as our mentor. I followed all your lessons with great interest wondering how far your different minor pentatonic-hand grips will take us. The 2-5-1 Jazz Improvisation Lesson - in a Single Hand Grip of Dec 13, 2017, demonstrates your teachings very effectively. Thanks and God Bless You, Oliver.

[@PaulTheTrombonist]

Thank you! Wow incredible presentation. You deserve an award

[@NewJazz]

Thanks, and really nice "trombone channel" :) cool ;)

[@saramusique315]

Fantastic

[@vincentcouture7197]

I agree 👍

[@jamieharris8075]

I agree with Paul . I follow his channel for trombone players

[@seanonel]

Thank you SO VERY much for all that you have taught me through your videos Mr Prehn. The knowledge is priceless...

[@realkoko-loco]

You're the Bob Ross of jazz piano. I very much enjoy your teaching style and peaceful explanations. Thank you!

[@lorenzotosseyn8253]

Man, your lessons are so usefull and cool. I play jazz for years and I had NEVER seen a real jazz youtube channel. Well you are the reference and I just suscribed. Thank you for everything

[@christianhurtado1978]

The best jazz teacher in the world. Thanks!

[@mikhailmascarenhas3917]

The most practical jazz tutorial ever!!! Thanks Oliver!!!

[@lunaris2]

This is the best improvisation lesson ever. Thank you so much. You're genius!

[@cedricfrancis5662]

More than a decade ago, I told myself that I wanted to learn Jazz. However, I wasn't finding anything on KZbin that showed the theoretical and practical patterns easy enough for me to follow. After watching this video and the one titled "the 10 steps to improve jazz", I learned so much that I couldn't believe that so much content could fit in 1 hour. I am so excited to watch more of these videos, but it will take me a little while to master what I have learned from just these 2. I have known about the pentatonic scale for years but never really saw the need to practice it. After seeing Mr. Prehn teaching the pentatonic hand grip and demonstrating it so beautifully, I immediately had a high level of respect for the scale and is now motivated to practice it. Its more than 5 yrs since I've had a motivation like this to practice. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and skills with us Mr. Prehn. I will definitely be following your videos as I have already suscribed to your channel.

[@the1realanalogman]

Greetings Oliver! This is by far the most well ordered, perfectly articulated and readily applicable tutorial I've encountered! I'm excited to explore everything you share with us! Best Regards and happy holidays!

[@alanohagan6999]

This is verging on revolutionary - thanks for sharing

[@fazzodude]

Incredible explanation of playing jazz on the piano and scales used. Thank you very much for putting a great tutorial together.

[@Jkljkl2009]

This is a wonderful tutorial! This was extremely easy to follow and a very, very thorough tutorial! Thank you very much

[@matthew1040]

Amazing presentation Oliver. I learned a lot, I can easily incorporate your theory to Saxophone improvisation. Great Job. I've been looking for a lesson like this thank God I found it at your channel.

[@strax71]

These are the best piano video lessons to find on the internet. Thank you for the work you do for us.

[@henrychua6476]

It took 70 years before I learned this valuable lesson I’ve been in search of. I’m eternally grateful to you.

[@hectoraguilar770]

Oliver, I like your explanations, the hand grip, the scales, the 2,5,1 theory. With these tutorials I learned to connect with the 4th finger the hand grips and the minor chords. your lessons are awesome! you are a great teacher. I'll keep using the tools to learn to play jazz. thank you very much, God bless you and greetings from Mexico City

[@ProCuban]

❗I've learned in 30 minutes, what I haven't learned in 30 years❗👌🙏 THANKS A LOT

[@stevedurie7622]

This is brilliant. A clear and powerful exposition of practical jazz improvisation technique🤗

[@evandromanara]

Simply amazing. Thanks, Oliver.

[@elliotaxelman2767]

Wow. This is one of the great piano videos I've seen. If this is jazz, I love jazz! Never heard it sound so good!

[@jsmith25061]

I have been watching your videos now for 3 months just to see what was going to happen to my playing.....I have to say I have made more progress with these lessons than any lessons I have had in years....you make it fun, make it look easy, and your patient voice soothes me, you take your time and we feel that you really enjoy doing these videos and playing music and alleviate the fear of learning because learning music can seem so complicated......You are awesome....!!! I can't thank you enough....!!

[@NewJazz]

Thank you so much Jerry :) I'm so glad that I can help you and my work is somehow useful :) :) Warm regards Oliver

[@ajijixe]

BEAUTIFUL gift of talent, thank you!

[@Alex-rx5uh]

Wow, wow, wow!!! Thank you so much. What a gift...

[@alfredbellanti3755]

This is exactly the kind of Jazz Piano I like.

[@michaelaldrid]

Oh man I thought I had heard it all or that "jazz" technique were to complex but this lesson makes it so accessible!

[@robertmichalscheck3072]

Great stuff,great lesson by Oliver.

[@hilarytoussaint7295]

This is the kind of video that tells exactly what you need to after watching. Go to music closet with your music sheet of 2/ 5. Practice and have fun over the weekend. Time musically well spent. Thank you so much. BRAVO. 🎓🎓🎓🎓🎓

[@angelolasconi5993]

Wahou !!! Long life to you, you’re a great teacher :-) Attractive voice, wonderful video quality and marvelous technic teaching !

[@jarvisjamieson9411]

Wat. This is so beautiful. By far the best piano lesson ever.

[@virg-anndeppstanton1571]

Thank you for the music lessons!

[@bhekilanga-econoculture6483]

Thank you very much. This is a very enlightening lesson. Best lesson so far I've had on improvisation.

[@simpsimpson5175]

excellent lesson.. amazing really..

[@AndrewColyerMusic]

HOLY CRAP!!! I've been looking for something like this for YEARS!!! I totally LOVE music theory, and know it so well that my college theory teacher told me that in 20 years of teaching, I was only one of two people who he thought could actually teach it. That's how well I understand it. HOWEVER, it NEVER really translated into IMPROVISING!! I have always been trying to figure out ways to get better at soloing. THIS IS IT!! I can't wait to get into the studio and start PRACTICING and PLAYING with this AWESOME new METHOD!! Thank you so much!! Andrew Colyer, New York

[@mister_moi]

I've seen some of the other videos, haven't seen this one yet, so exciting to read these comments!

[@korento3000]

Just checked your music out, and am in love with Circuline now.

[@stijnisgoed]

Thank you, this is exactly at my level! I'm a blues player trying to learn some 'jazz' modes to expand my playing.

[@ronlister4033]

Incredibly beautiful sound, I can listen to you for hours , superb master class. Thank you so much.

[@AngeloYeo]

Thank you so much! No lectures have been such helpful than yours! Many many thanks :)

[@jacolon61]

amazing lesson! So many people who teach and never even mention something as simple as the "pentatonic handgrip"

[@kykwan49]

You are right sir, this concept really frees up the mind so it can really concentrate on create cool sounding melodies, especially using patterns and sequence. Thank you so much !

[@noisejunkiesofficial]

This is probably the best jazz improvisation tutorial video on KZbin. Cracked it!