How Jazz Works: Barry Harris 6th Diminished

[@JoshWalshMusic]

🎹 Check out my Jazz Fundamentals course and get 30% off your first year/month with the coupon code below. - courses.jazz-library.com/ - Coupon Code: ytsub

[@diogocostajazz2234]

Did you notice that in Barry's clip at 14:00, it's the move in the intro for the Charlie Parker Relaxin at Camarillo?

[@patman0322]

Well, I just spent, like, five minutes noodling around with this concept on my guitar and this is like magic. I’m just gliding up and down the neck on the 3 high strings for now but it’s, at the risk of repeating myself, magic how you can seamlessly and effortlessly glide from one inversion to another passing through the diminished chord.

[@JoshWalshMusic]

Yes!

[@charlesbarry971]

Barry Harris , greatest teacher.

[@bradylloyd3197]

The most helpful breakdown on this concept online! Thank you for the insight into the thinking of Barry Harris!

[@jeffreygreenberg4505]

Brady I’ve been looking at videos regarding Barry Harris’s teaching literally for years. I have found your explanations and presentations the best I have come across. You somehow have untangled in retrospect this relatively simple concept into simple explanations. I am in debt it to you. JeffreyGreenberg retired neurological surgeon and jazz pianist working professionally. Thanks again

[@JoshWalshMusic]

Jeffrey, thank you! You made my day. I’ve spent so much time digesting it myself, that I felt obligated to break it down for others. If you have more questions or get confused about more Barry theory, I’d love to hear from you via the contact form at jazz-library.com. I’m always looking for new video ideas. My names Josh by the way :-)

[@LINKPRODUCTIONS]

I'm at the beginning of my jazz piano studies, though I have studied some jazz guitar. These concepts are unlocking the piano for me, slowly, when I play these methods I hear more beautiful music coming from my instrument than ever before, I'll play something and genuinely be surprised at how amazing the instrument can sound. Barry Harris was a genius, and the fact that he took the time to teach other people how to play what he helped to discover is amazing. I've always liked the musical stylings of Chopin, Django Reinhardt, Joe Pass, and Wes Montgomery, as well as the bass playing of James Jamerson. What all of these cats have in common is this technique, and you are teaching it in a way I can easily grasp these simple, yet complex ideas. Thank you.

[@JoshWalshMusic]

Well said.

[@BruïnGebakken]

You're an excellent teacher.

[@JoshWalshMusic]

Thanks Henry. I appreciate that!

[@paulolevisilveirateixeira2903]

Lovely explanation, thanks a lot

[@harrypalmer3481]

I know this concept to some reasonable degree but I sort of had to learn-discover it the very long way! I wish I'd have had access knowledge of this as 'the Barry Harry Dim 6th scale' & KZbin many years ago. You explain this so clearly & well, I'm envious (without begrudging/glad for) people who now discover it through you! Excellent teaching. Top bananas! Thank you.

[@JoshWalshMusic]

Thanks Harry!

[@TheRealBalloonHead]

All I know is that Ab in a C Major scale is special, it’s clear to my ears. Now I’ve got a few years work cut out for me.

[@mathmusicstructure]

Oh wow I've been playing guitar for about 30 years and have noticed that I started using #5/b6 a lot. Boy oh boy does this help expand that idea.

[@CharlesAustin]

I like the clarity you’re giving .. as principles are learned, tunes will follow.. Bit by bit !! Thanks !!

[@martynramsden]

Excellent explanation of Barry Harris's diminished 6th scale - you explained it so well. This is clearly a deep subject and years of learning ahead. Thanks for the introduction into this Josh. I'm off to watch your 6th on the 5th again! I'm looking forward to your next video 😁🎹

[@JoshWalshMusic]

Thanks Martyn!

[@user-ov5nd1fb7s]

I recently discovered Barry Harris. A lot of people that can play well seem to like his ideas. I heard him play and he sounds really good. I am not a guy who listens to that style of jazz often but i really liked it. What i didn't get was why he kept putting down musicians who are regarded as legends by everyone that happen to be after his generation. He talked down on Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett and so on. This is a complete sacrilege. I thinkg there are good things to learn from him but i can't take his opinions seriously, specially when he looks like the old man yelling get out of my yard. If it was up to him, basically, everyone would forever play the same style of the 40s and 50s.

[@JoshWalshMusic]

He was a man of strong opinions. HAHA.

[@RO-Channel]

Great lesson!

[@MomLAU]

Josh, thank you for this lesson! It was very good and very thorough!

[@JoshWalshMusic]

Thanks Laura.

[@guitariste47]

Sounds really nice

[@andrewblatt6344]

Thank you! You are an amazing teacher!

[@richoneplanet7561]

Great explanation 👌 I have studied this from other pianists - love this concept ! 👍🏼 thank you !

[@JoshWalshMusic]

Thanks Rich

[@greggakkerman]

Thanks for the review. But I watched this video because it said “examples” which turned out to just be another series of drill to practice. This seems to be the flaw in all the videos teaching the Harris method. Plenty of drills but no examples of what to do with them when you’re done. Maybe you could play a complete song with an intro and ending and along the way just shout out which Harris concept you’re using. Don’t worry about teaching all those individual ideas, just present it in a manner that says “this is the big picture so you know why you should spend the next couple years practicing these things in all keys.” Thanks.

[@JoshWalshMusic]

Thats a great idea, I appreciate the feedback. Thanks!

[@alamolalamol9426]

I tend to agree with you. I am having the same issue with trying to apply the method.

[@inflatedear7131]

I agree. These guys are all concept without putting them into context, which means nothing.

[@gloriabrinkworth939]

u r wonderful clear & concise.

[@superdi1506]

Thank you for such a clear explanation. I’ve tried watching other videos but they start of slow and then hit the gas pedal to the max and they lose me.

[@andreasbreuss853]

great job man

[@karenstephens2047]

Excellent! Thank you

[@JoshWalshMusic]

Thanks Karen!

[@chrisharrison809]

Keep going!!!

[@WakadooPlaypen]

Excellent concept lesson. Well worth a subscription and a look at your courses.

[@JoshWalshMusic]

Thanks! Hope to see you in there. Cheers.

[@mwicks1968]

Barry was a genius. End of. RIP

[@francescomanfredi]

Great lesson! One of the best on the subject, what’s the next step? Waiting for the next video… maybe with an easy song to practice this concepts

[@JoshWalshMusic]

Hey Francesco, thanks! I have lots of things in the works, but would welcome your ideas. The 6th on the 5th video I mentioned has a song walkthrough supplement for Everytime We Say Goodbye which you could work on till next time. jazz-library.com/articles/6th-on-the-5th/ Cheers.

[@francescomanfredi]

@@JoshWalshMusic Yes I know all your videos and love them, but I suggest something really easy like a nursery rhyme for us to be able to transpose it in many keys without being discouraged :)

[@JoshWalshMusic]

@@francescomanfredi gotcha. So it would be helpful to take a simple tune and go through it together in a few keys?

[@francescomanfredi]

@@JoshWalshMusic yes! Anything from Mary had a little lamb to twinkle twinkle little star or a very easy standard as My little suede shoes 👟 ⭐️ thanks

[@m.vonhollen6673]

Liked and subscribed!

[@JoshWalshMusic]

Glad to have you here!

[@noswad75]

The best way to learn that is through playing songs. You'll be sitting at the piano for the next hundred years trying to learn it that way. Yeah some of it can be worked out like that but that tedious scale and chord naming and numbering and trying to work through that stuff like that will drive a person mad.

[@JoshWalshMusic]

You HAVE to play songs right away. I certainly did not intent for this to be taken as anything else. Exercises are essential to drill, but I agree with you, you’ll go mad without actually playing tunes.

[@johnmcnichol8330]

Another well-done presentation!

[@Hitsko]

Hi Josh, since you are familiar with most of the ways that are taught nowadays like Shan's (Jazz Skills / Barry Harris method) versus Jeremy Siskind (I see the book behind you) and for example JazzPianoschool course which focuses more on modes and voicings than movement. It really feels to me like two quite different ways of thinking. What would you recommend to beginning students? It can be quite confusing to think in movement instead of voicings, modes and altered chords. What are your thoughts on this, is one way 'better'?

[@JoshWalshMusic]

Hey. Good question. I’m friends with so many great educators including many of the ones you mentioned. Don’t miss OpenStudio too, who I also teach for. Of course, I’m partial to materials I publish. My Jazz Fundamentals class is exactly for someone like you who likes small, focused exercises to put into practice right away. Would love to have you join us. And it’s 40% off for the holidays. jazz-library.com/holiday

[@cianbuckley2474]

That g, whats going on there 😅 nice exercise though never realised am7 = c6!!

[@lyntedrockley7295]

Beautiful So... is this related to the Harmonic major scale. C major with an Ab instead of an A?

[@JoshWalshMusic]

Not harmonic major, this has BOTH Ab and A! Merry Christmas.

[@ivvrthehomeless]

is that G4 note an octave higher than it should be? lol

[@JoshWalshMusic]

My VST glitched lol. It’s only happened once ever and this was it.

[@jimmyhunt]

what notes are in a D 6th Diminished?

[@JoshWalshMusic]

D major scale with an added Bb (b6)

[@strattgatt5303]

Are you calling an inversion of a 6 chord still a 6 chord? Like a C major 6 inverted you don't call it an A minor?

[@JoshWalshMusic]

It’s both depending on what you need.

[@lancerigby3662]

I'm a guitar player not keys but I keep hearing Vince Geraldi with visions of Charlie Brown

[@JoshWalshMusic]

Guaraldi used tons of diminished harmony. You’ve got a good ear!

[@lancerigby3662]

Thank you! It's no wonder I love this approach to harmony. Thanks for your post! @@JoshWalshMusic

[@lighterwaves5659]

🔥🔥🔥🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽

[@JoshWalshMusic]

🤯🤯🤯

[@paulolevisilveirateixeira2903]

coolirtz, Write a book ! will purchase 5 copies from you

[@JoshWalshMusic]

Working on something better. And buy 4 get 1 free 🤣

[@paulolevisilveirateixeira2903]

@@JoshWalshMusic Awesome and good luck with your project

[@ClaudeWernerMusic]

This sounds awfully similar to the octatonic system of tonal organisation...

[@slapmyfunkybass]

Nice explanation, the melodic minor is different descending though, becoming the natural minor. Being pedantic, you wouldn’t use it to construct harmony either, but use either the natural minor or the preferred harmonic minor.

[@JoshWalshMusic]

Melodic minor is the same ascending and descending in the jazz tradition, different than classical. Threw me off when I switched from my classical training.