How To Solo On Giant Steps By John Coltrane Part 1

In this episode I go through the steps to easily learn how to solo on John Coltrane's Jazz masterpiece Giant Steps. We first work on learning where all the chord tones are all over the guitar and then how to approach soloing concepts for any instrument. This is part one.
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[@Frederer59]

Debussy's genius was to divide the octave into 2 equal parts (2 tritones). Coltrane divided it into 3 equal parts (3 major triads). Both saw what nobody else did, though it was in plain sight. Well, maybe others saw it but didn't see the beauty hidden within. That's a pretty good definition of genius as far as I can tell.

[@dannielgiraldo5445]

Divide it by 4

[@justabeard3794]

@@dannielgiraldo5445 I declare you a genius

[@jackwilloughby239]

Debussy's Genius was Slonimsky's folly.

[@souldreamer9056]

@@dannielgiraldo5445, Yes already did that in Awaken (closing section).

[@Athraminaurian]

Man, this is by one of the best videos I've ever seen. You are a didactic giant, Rick. Thanks for the time you put into these videos.

[@MimicDaravon]

This is relevant to my interests.

[@lambdaman3228]

Who asked?

[@dakotaashe3184]

@@lambdaman3228 nobody did, but nobody asks for any yt comment honestly

[@doubleg100]

I feel proud that I am able to understand this. I have learnt all through KZbin and Instagram. Basically teaching myself. I want to learn more about music. It is so much fun.

[@biggusdickus1689]

Get a piano/keyboard if you haven't! Makes learning theory way easier.

[@doubleg100]

@@biggusdickus1689 I've been told so before by others. Thank you. Maybe I'll get one

[@robert22618]

Wow. this channel makes it really hard to complain about having had to drop out of music school decades ago because of money. Thanks Mr. Beato!

[@Nefilum]

This is above my playgrade.

[@mybiggrin]

Wow now you're teaching more in 21 minutes than I've learned in decades of playing guitar hahahah

[@gernblenstein1541]

This is one of the most instructive videos on this subject i've ever seen. Just brilliant. Understanding this piece should be a goal for any aspiring guitar player for the practice and theoretical instruction opportunities. Very well done, Mr. Beato!

[@erie9726]

please don't swipe this video ..it is gold! every 5 minuts are a weekly practice! I am gettin better! many thanks Ricks!

[@jamesfreeman1286]

This is amGREAT idea for any song. Joe Pass said he played off of chord forms... another good exercise is to run appropriate scales up and down in a limited, predetermined range, switching to the closest available at the change of direction. Choose different ranges. Harder than it sounds.

[@chriscullen6949]

so i dont know my inversions as well as i thought

[@davidscott1052]

I learned Giant Steps by starting off at a very slow tempo....than gradually speeding up....although even at slow tempos or as a bossa beat it still sounds really good !!!

[@vincentparrella272]

Rick........Ive learned so much from you over the past 2 years,Your Golden my friend........Blessings.

[@flyjoseph6355]

Thank you for these videos. They really help to inform my practicing in ways I don't always think about. And I appreciate the slower and thoughtful approach you have in these tutorials

[@MrThomasmayer]

Most in depth video, and best inspirational video on Giant Steps and it's voicings, Substitutes and so on. You covered the whole thing in a very educative way! Thx man

[@federicopenserini1028]

"Beato" in italian means , "Blessed", you are!

[@alanwatts8239]

god beatoed me

[@jabulaniharvey]

this shows how difficult this song is...37 minutes 11 seconds for the combined tutorials....an unique chordal permutation with attendant nightmarish possibilities for improvisers. flowering it up there with the triads...i suspect that Coltrane was being economical for the sake of musicality...the genius of this song is in the juxtaposition of a crazy chord progression and the "hack licks" used by Coltrane all while sounding musical...wow!

[@michaell2288]

This is an incredibly useful lesson! Love it. Thanks Rick!!

[@paulgibby6932]

Lot of stuff, really fast, but will go back over (and over and over). Thanks so much!

[@gigspigs]

Nice lesson. Been playing for over 40 years and always avoided jazz. This is a great into. Thanks!

[@mikemorrison281]

Great contact Rick as usual thank you so much for all you do for the young up-and-coming players and I sold has-beens I can’t play anymore it’s inspiring to know that you’re helping so many people find jazz and find Coltrane you’re very much appreciated

[@toneseeker87]

Thank you so much Rick! I learned a lot from your videos. :)

[@PPband]

thank you Rick it is starting to make sense to me thanks to you Amy Nolte and Jeff Schneider.

[@gpernarella]

What a beautiful guitar!

[@demondik]

Wow, this lesson ended up teaching me a plethora of usefulness! Thanks Rick!

[@shkyrbty]

Wow, mind blowing! Thank you Rick!!!

[@StephaneFernandez]

really cool to group all the chords, excellent as always Rick !

[@starblaster77]

Love your video's rick! Great stuff! Looks like I need the beato book.

[@theintuitiveguitaristfrank9202]

Really Awesome for me ... Most Greatful thank you ...

[@ronojames4548]

I have been trying to play this for twenty years - excellent teaching. If you put out a book of etudes on these changes I would buy it.

[@miraposajehano4309]

The incredible thing about Giant Step is also that it is played at 290 BPM. For guitar players, my favorite version has to be the one by Pat Martino...trying to replicate his solo is an art by itself; he is be-bopping all over the neck.

[@garrybrown7372]

Awesome! Thank you so much.

[@yngveknudsen7915]

RICK RULES! THANKS! SO MUCH KNOWLEDGE

[@toonew24]

Thanks, Rick! You’re a national treasure!

[@producerman10030]

First thing to do is listen over and over again to the Coltrane recording. Then transcribe and learn his solo. Then start playing your own thing over it.

[@jamesfreeman1286]

Yep. This is hot stuff, along with all you’re others. Incredible!

[@misterduiglens.fleetwood6610]

Whew. Way beyond me but beautiful great playing!!!!

[@Gregorypeckory]

Excellent lesson; thanks so much for the reminder to get back to gaining greater mastery of the basics. My takeaway: drill it till you can't get lost!

[@lukecurran5572]

When he started walking that bassline I was like ahhh yeah

[@johnsavard7583]

After watching your video about Sergio Mendes' Never Gonna Let You Go, I remembered I had seen a video about "the most feared song in jazz", so I looked it up, and of course you also did a video about that song. This one.

[@vincentparrella3424]

Rick,There are some Great players out there,But not a lot that can Articulate quit the way you do,Your a Stud,thanks for sharing your great playing and great knoledge.Peace and Blessings Brother.

[@josemolina959]

Thank you Mr. Beato.

[@SpencBeamon]

This is a very cool video. I will share this with my students.

[@mioszkarpowicz3012]

awesome video. Thanks

[@enricolongo242]

Rick thank you!

[@geminisax6115]

Thanks Rick , Yes ,I am a Sax player . I knew there is some mathematical formula to play this tricky tune . I will study your video ,and hopefully accomplish being "comfortable" playing this bear of a song !

[@pancho7422]

this is great !!! time to level up !!

[@willasbury]

A classic made simple!

[@aliyarici]

@Rickbeato when is the other 2 parts for this video is coming hahhaha. I have been waiting. Love your content

[@MrMjp58]

Too good for words.

[@dragolov]

Respect, Maestro!

[@ryangriffith7777]

Great video Rick. I like how you talk about triads and especially inversions and substitutions. When I first tried working through this over ten years ago, I thought "what could be done with this in a slow funk and R&B style while staying within a jazz tradition?" The end result was quite a bit of simplification, slower tempo and heavy use of inversions (both chordal and melodically) and many subs, like minor 7th's for major 7th's. So it had more of a minor bluesy feel. Passing tones were essential to connect melodic lines and general phrases in a more natural way as well. That said, I think that you mention excellent points about the essentials of this classic recording.

[@Jameskeith1972]

One of my favorite guitars other than my SG.

[@jean-mariefrederic3392]

Great vidéo !!! Thanks :)

[@Mr._Bassman97]

Love it

[@noahpinemusic]

Love giant steps!

[@GoblinKing2001]

I think this was the first Rick Beato video that I ever watched.

[@kimbill107]

Nice Rick!!!

[@gamzer]

Great stuff! I've been practicing the triad approach on the string sets for a while and it's really helped open up the song at faster tempos. Going to try out all those new inversions now!

[@toxicducky1060]

I would love if you could analyse The Mummy ost specifically the rebirth track considering as it has multiple themes in the one track or if not the main theme. On a side note maybe you could talk about Jerry Goldsmith in a specific video like you have done with John Williams. Fingers crossed you have enough time to create the video, keep up the great work!

[@tomatldt8248]

This is epic

[@johnlane2395]

With the timing of the song how does one sound 'new and fresh" with the phrasing? Love your channel, my only music teacher!!!

[@jack6136]

Musicians! Pay attention! This is how it’s done! 🎸😎

[@qeshm_karaneh]

my legend

[@srmd22]

This is goddamn awesome!!

[@arthurc1971]

Is that a Les Paul Special? That p90 sounds great.

[@kolobcanyon8920]

I understood probably like half a percent of that. Let me get better at guitar and theory and I'll check back with you. Mark Levine book here I come!

[@fleet4fingers]

There was a line i learned from my brother that i kept wondering where it fit and i found out it fits over Giant Steps. Its a Woody Shaw/ Jackie Mclean lick. if you play(ill use concert for anyone not playin guitar) off of the ninth of the first chord b major and play a whole tone descending then a fourth then another whole tone and keep repeating, it could be used over the difficult parts of the song9i hate calling it a tune). So, D-C-F#-E. then move down to the whole note and play, B-A-E-D then, A-G-D-C then the last is G-F-C-B flat, then resolve it to E flat major. if i've messed up, play from the ninth of b major a whole tone- a fourth down then another whole tone from there, then repeat starting again a whole tone from where you started.

[@jimbosteen2935]

Nice walk

[@gernblenstein1541]

Would love to see you break down Holdsworth's "Mr. Berwell," which follows some of the same lines, I think.

[@WilliamSlaght]

Is this really how you teach one to solo over Giant Steps? Teaching to follow the changes so vertically I personally find.

[@BubSands]

I really wish you had given the advanced level lesson on this song….lol. Excellent work. My head is spinning.

[@producerman10030]

Barry Harris has a simpler approach. Instead of hitting every chord he goes down in whole steps. B Maj, A min G Maj F min Eb Maj. Then G Maj, F min, Eb Maj , Db min B Maj. very simple. Michael Wolf did it even simpler, for the first part B Maj, D 7 G Maj Bb7 Eb Maj 7 for all those chords just use Bb Diminished scale to Eb Maj 7, the for the next part use F# dim scale to B Maj 7. Then just play ii Vs.

[@MRMOTOFOTO]

That's awesome....Barry Harris is so great

[@davidrumpler5528]

Interesting. Will check it out.

[@whatilearnttoday5295]

Yeah this is typical Rick Beato. Completely off target massively over complex post-analysis. Guy doesn't actually play.

[@fleet4fingers]

You can also use wholtone scale off of the five or dominant of E flat major. Also symmetrical dimminished but you get a major over the domminant chords youll have to flatten the seventh degree. also Sheryl baily uses the Augmeted scale.i havent check that yet. check them and get back to me. Thanks for checking.

[@davidrumpler5528]

any video or pdf examples?

[@mlm9964]

Great vid, thx. These days for me it's all about the chords, having them down cold, ice cold. If I have the chord loop in my mind it's easy to solo because I always know where Im supposed to be and then play where I'm not because I know where I am. I am going to spend at least a month on this tune. If anyone plays jazz and can't play GS well, whats the point

[@gabuslt7844]

rick, sorry if it is a dumb question, what is the best resource I could get for memorizing all those kinds of chord voicings until they become second nature and actually know when to use them? I mean, I understand all the theory behind but when playing I'm stuck with the basic shapes with the root on one of the last three strings. Nice vid!

[@mysterybotts]

I know this is a long time ago, but you gotta study your drop 3 voicings on the 6 432 strings, and I’d also do the drop 2 voicings on the 4 highest strings. I’m still trying to digest them myself when I get enough time to practice. The more consistent you are the more your learning will snowball!

[@jamesedmonds3767]

The thing is that to apply this, you need expert knowledge of all chords and voicings all over the neck. This is many years' gruelling work for most people.

[@Acekorv]

Nobody claims that learning the fretboard is easy. It takes a lot of time tbh.

[@KnjazNazrath]

tfw YT recommends you a Bob Ross video after this 'cause it knows you're gonna need to relax a little.

[@CarlosNaranjoMUSICCHANNEL]

Giant steps is more than a standard for me. Is a 'baptism of fire' to anyone who claims to be a jazz musician. But also it forces you to look yourself at the mirror and see that you're: a guitarist who only see patterns, scales, frets or a musician who see and understand the music and it's true objectives. Despite the tricks & resources (I've seen too many and all they're good because are based in the music itself) the point here is to do as whatever the standard or situation in music: learn the chords and the melody line, just LEARN the song itself! Then you could apply whatever a 'trick' u want but with the knowledge about that you're trying to do in it's very context

[@joelfeinberg2035]

Can someone explain how he chose the additional notes for walking the bass? Do you reference the scale from the existing chord? or the next chord you are moving to in order to select the correct connecting bass notes? Thanks ..Jazz noob ...but I think I can start with this lesson.

[@broor]

from the last chord (but then you can add lots of half steps if you have too much time left) (or skip notes if you wont make it to the root in time) just make sure you land on the root on the 1 beat

[@joelfeinberg2035]

@@broor Perfect. That's what i suspected but wanted to make sure before I jump into this.. I'm sure my ear would have given me the correct answer but it certainly hekps to have a bit of a framework. This will be confusing enough as it is! ;- ) Thanks Brorsan!

[@micciuranda]

Rick, do you want to bet that you can improvise on all Giant Steps with only one scale?

[@fxaarchable]

Rick where is part 2. Thanks

[@fleet4fingers]

Use symmetrical Dimminished off of the dominat of E flat over the whole section.

[@DerMarx]

This was the best video Ive watched where I didnt get what the hell was happening XD

[@Butts666]

I might be silly but I can't find Part 2 anywhere. Not to imply this hasn't already given me practice material for the next half year or so.

[@KnjazNazrath]

Likewise. Maybe it got copyright struck, maybe he never made it, or maybe he kept it for patreons or his own site. Can't expect a reply rly so your gues is as good as mine. A shame all the same, wherever one places the blame.

[@PhilippMoehrke]

Less talk - more music!

[@WassylAldais]

How to watch a Rick Beato video : - Grab your instrument - Grab a pencil and some paper - Grab a cup of coffee Hell fck yeah i'm ready!

[@soulvaccination8679]

Im probably 10 lights years from this..So far i know about 10.major chords..And fighting with barrs.Sometimes i wonder why i picked up a guitar truth be told..

[@propellerheadJW]

This reminds of the old adage "jack of all trades master of none".

[@stumbling]

Saving this for three years time when I actually understand a word of what he's saying.

[@ANTONSANMARTIN]

Hard times. not Giant Steps.

[@biggusdickus1689]

It is Giant Steps tho?

[@andymelendez9757]

Dear God! Reaching for the Slonimsky. Thanks

[@jimbosteen2935]

Fuckin beautiful Rick!!!!!!!!😂

[@permjoback2580]

And now let’s play some music 😉

[@elbowjames7625]

I'm almost a year late to this party, but why doesn't your Les Paul sound like a guitar in this video?

[@matthieurosso]

..... but when do you play giant step ???

[@ericwilliamsjazz]

Matthieu Rosso a major third is a pretty big modulation

[@Willco710]

Yes

[@shubhadeepx]

"ONLY 3 keys"

just play some a minor blues pentatonic guys

[@brankostanojevic7421]

What "inversion of a chord" mean ? Please, someone. What is 1st and 2nd inversion of Am7 and why ?

[@jsamc]

which note is on the bottom

[@camdencaudillo342]

It means which note is on the lowest octave. The notes of Am7 are A B E Gb. A 1st inversion would make the B the lowest sounding note instead of the A.

[@brankostanojevic7421]

@@camdencaudillo342 thank you. I got it. But, is it relevant where root note is ? 7th chords are with 1 3 5 and 7. First inv.would be if 3 is lowest, second when 5... But is it relevant in what order are other 3 notes ? root note ? ( Long ago I was confused that with what you just explained above , and it stayed hazy until now. )

[@camdencaudillo342]

@@brankostanojevic7421 no the order of the other notes don't matter. All that matters with chord inversions is that the right note is lowest for whatever inversion you are using.

[@freecitizen2760]

Branko Stanojevic : The (close) inversions of triads are 1-3-5 , 3-5-1, and 5-1-3 but you could play those 3 notes in any order and it would be an inversion (or chord voucing). For 7th chords, the (close) inversions are 1-3-5-7, 3-5-7-1, 5-7-1-3, and 7-1-3-5. Those inversions are easy enough on piano but many (not all) are difficult, if not impossible, on guitar. So in Jazz college, we had to learn about "drop-2 chords". You take each of those close inversions and drop the second note from the top to the bottom of the chord. Here's what you now get: 5-1-3-7, 7-3-5-1, 1-5-7-3, and 3-7-1-5. Learn how to play these 5 seventh chords (Jazz is a 60-chord system meaning these 5 chord qualities/types multiplied by 12 keys). Learn to play all of these 5 chords in the 4 drop-2 voicings on 3 sets of 4 strings on the guitar, sets of strings 1-2-3-4, 2-3-4-5 and 3-4-5-6. So in total that's 5 types x 4 voicings x 3 sets of strings = 60 different chord shapes. Get some paper and graph them all out. It's work but, once it's done and memorized, you will be the master of these chords. Next step? 9ths, 11ths, 13ths, and altered 5ths. Also drop-3 voicings so instead of 1-3-5-7 becoming 5-1-3-7 (drop-2), it becomes 3-1-5-7. Save learning those for later. * "Because there is a string skip in every shape, drop 3 chords are ideal for solo guitar playing, as they keep the bass notes involved in your voicings, but separate them from the rest of the chord, allowing the melody line to stand out at the same time."

[@marcose1137]

If someone asks you for some basic music/chord theory, send them this.