Improv Class - Gary Burton

Gary Burton talks to Loyola University New Orleans students about his career and the different aspects of improvisation.

[@PlayLikeTheGreatscom]

4:33 “The truth is: There are 10 chord scales that are by far the most common and are used 99% of the time”: 1.-7. THE 7 MODES (listed from "brightest" to "darkest") _Useful over Major chords:_ *- 1. Lydian: 1 2 3 #4 5 6 7* → the C Lydian scale (enharmonic to G Ionian): C D E F# G A B *- 2. Ionian ("Major"): 1 2 3 4 5 6 7* → the C Ionian scale: C D E F G A B _Useful over Dominant-7 chords:_ *- 3. Mixolydian: 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7* → the C Mixolydian scale (enharmonic to F Ionian): C D E F G A Bb _Useful over Minor chords:_ *- 4. Dorian: 1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7* → the C Dorian scale (enharmonic to Bb Ionian): C D Eb F G A Bb *- 5. Aeolian ("Natural Minor"): 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7* → the C Aeolian scale (enharmonic to Eb Ionian): C D Eb F G Ab Bb *- 6. Phrygian: 1 b2 b3 4 5 b6 b7* → the C Phrygian scale (enharmonic to Ab Ionian): C Db Eb F G Ab Bb *- 7. Locrian: 1 b2 b3 4 b5 b6 b7* → the C Locrian scale (enharmonic to Db Ionian): C Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb 8.-10. THE 3 ALTERED SCALES _Useful over Dominant-7 chords:_ *- 8. Lydian-b7 / Mixolydian-#4: 1 2 3 #4 5 6 b7* → the C Lydian-b7 scale: C D E F# G A Bb *- 9. Altered: 1 b2 #2 3 #4 b6 b7* (assembled from the notes of the altered chord: 1 b9 #9 3 #11 b13 b7) → the C Altered scale: C Db D# E F# Ab Bb *- 10. Symmetrical-Diminished: 1 b2 #2 3 #4 5 6 b7* (built from the rule: alternate: half-step, whole-step, etc.) → the C Symmetrical-Diminished scale: C Db D# E F# G A Bb ... I hope this is useful to you

[@moritzs8132]

thank you :)

[@dopaminecloud]

Wholetone scale occurs often enough to be mentioned as well.

[@tatin71]

Muchas gracias, no hablo inglés pero entendí perfectamente su explicación de las 10 escalas, saludos desde Lima-Perú.

[@PlayLikeTheGreatscom]

@@tatin71 Perfecto, Javier, de nada! :D saludos desde Copenhagen-Dinamarca.

[@JairGomesFilho]

Wonderful tip.

[@dwbugher]

Man, the under 30 generation has no idea how good we've got it now! I remember paying $40+ to purchase videos like this and all of the other great material out there for musicians (DCI videos, anyone?). To be able to get lessons like this for free??? Amazing.

[@NelsonRiverosMusic]

Yes! I remember those videos I couldn’t afford them. Now they are all free

[@Piratebreadstick]

I hear you, but when we had to pay for them, we watched every second, treasured the video cassettes like family heirlooms and watched them over and over. There is so much on KZbin, it's sometimes difficult to stay with one thing for more than 10 minutes, regardless of how good it is. PS 3 and a half minutes later - when Gary started talking about Stan Getz, saying that the latter played by ear, adding that he had a limited knowledge of chords, I'm here for the duration!!!

[@donstanley9943]

Exactly. That's why we have so many child musical prodigies these days. KZbin and the internet has made learning anything so easy, that people in our generation had virtually no information by comparison.

[@ganazby]

Fact.

[@vaderjem]

Great isn't it! Why should knowledge be available to a privileged few!

[@ampeg]

Gary just gave all the secrets right here. The simple truth is most people think it’s raw talent. That will take you a part of the journey. The rest is what a lot of folks don’t like. The hard word, repetition, practice, thinking aka visualization and it takes a high level of intelligence to put the theory and muscle memory together and play in time with vibe and flow. You have to look at it like going to school to become a surgeon. You do not get a free pass, you cannot fake it, you have to put in the work.

[@virtualpilgrim8645]

Improv is just a series of cliches.

[@thomasgrady3103]

@@virtualpilgrim8645 The most common 1000 words in the English language make up the vast majority of all things ever said or printed, but genius lies in arranging those words to form beautiful prose which is more than the sum of its parts.

[@newagain9964]

@@virtualpilgrim8645 for you, yes. you’re a casual.

[@newagain9964]

@@thomasgrady3103 good analogy. Except language losses it’s meaning real quickly with certain amount of wordplay. Whereas musical performance appears to be limitless communicating meaning.

[@dgeps7969]

@@virtualpilgrim8645 Fascinating take...

[@TigiElmer]

40yrs ago I was meant to be his student at Berklee College of Music,but my mama changed her mind.The Big Apple was not for me. 40yrs on I sat in his class today.Thanks KZbin.

[@coryhill6575]

Berklee is in Boston

[@BiggyJimbo]

Hahaha yeah, Berklee isn't in New York lol

[@josh.lockhart652]

@@coryhill6575 LOL I literally said the exact same thing just before I read your reply 🤣

[@ChromaticHarp]

Uhhh Last time I checked, ‘The BiG Apple’ meant NYC, not Boston….DUH!!!!

[@XwpisONOMA]

I am replying to your comment no less than 9 years (!) later to ask you this: Big Apple is "nickname" for New York, but Berklee College of Music is in Boston, right?!

[@LukeTheringMusic]

Props to the guy at 1:09:00 who decides to turn the snare off-- thank you!

[@griffinsemple]

LukeTheringMusic Jack Giannini. He’s a phenomenal musician.

[@dannye2759]

Not the hero we asked for but the hero we deserve.

[@jimjiminy76]

THE BEST lesson on playing jazz, improvisation, and music in general I have ever seen. Amazing player and teacher. Thank you Gary Burton.

[@alistaircornacchio5727]

Agreed

[@skineyemin4276]

Go to Barry Harris Videos here on KZbin. it's just as informative for BeBop improvisation.

[@sigiriabeysekara8723]

@@skineyemin4276 thanks for the tip

@@skineyemin4276 I was about to say the same.

[@360bb7]

You ain’t seen nothing yet check out this cat Barry Harris.

[@patrickisswayze3446]

This is one of the best lectures ive heard tbh. Makes me realize how much doorbells give me anxiety.

[@thomas_samoht]

Highest respect for Gary, his playing, his teaching and his personality.

[@JeanWJoseph]

10:22 Learning the Scales and practicing them 16:43 Voice Leading - Getting from one chord to the next 30:27 Understanding Songs and Presenting them to your Audience 1:14:10 - Student Performance 2:01:00 - Gary Burton Critique and suggestions

[@likeabirdinthesky]

Thanks!

[@erlsuni2337]

It was 1974 I believe and Gary Burton had just won Jazzman of the year from downbeat magazine. I was working at a college in New York City and one of the things that I would do would be to book concerts. I received a call from a booking agent who said the Gary Burton quartet was in New York on its way do a European Tour and wanted to do an afternoon gig and perhaps do a little teaching to a jazz class. we didn't have a very big budget and even though they weren't asking for a whole lot just living expenses I went to the music department and they kicked in a few bucks. For about an hour and a half Gary talked to the jazz class and demonstrated on the vibes what he was talking about. sitting in the front row of the class were the four members of the faculty string quartet. at the end of the class the jazz professor came to me to say how pleased he was. He said Gary Burton emphasized the same things that he did in class and it was one thing for him a lowly jazz professor to say something but here was the jazz man of the year saying the same thing. Afterwards the quartet played for about a hour and a half. I have to say Gary Burton was one of the most warmest performers I ever encountered and I encountered many performers famous and not so famous.

[@juancpgo]

I started and couldn't stop. PRECIOUS info. I think this should be the first thing any student of jazz should hear.

[@heatherstub]

Perhaps every music student should hear this, especially those who are serious about composing and playing rich, melodic chords and orchestral movements. It's the universal language, and it's communication through music. It's even artful.

[@krioni86sa]

Not just students of jazz but music in general.

[@codboi3570]

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[@headlessheroes551]

I don't even play, just a lover of Jazz and huge fan of Gary Burton. Amazing to listen to him teach and pass on his knowledge to these students. He's truly a legend.

[@pogchamp7983]

20:45 "this is what the listeners are doing, they deal in contrast. They can tell the difference between major and minor (happy sad), pulses (steady beat), fast/slow, dissonant/consonant, loud/soft... etc" This

[@jorgeley]

A class for a few people, with value for 350.000+ That's how good a teacher he is. Amazing talk!!

[@fuzzylightning]

I have watched this video a few times over the years and I understand it better and better each time I watch it.

[@brucesmith3740]

And yet Stan getz was one of the most entertaining, original, beautiful, and inventive improvisors.

[@pallhe]

Yeah, Gary talks very admiringly about Stan's playing in his autobiography. There are also some laugh-out-loud, surreal moments involving Stan in the book. But you're right, Stan was one of the most lyrical players I can remember.

[@victormusic01x]

..another one of the great videos on KZbin..when i was trying to learn improvisation at Berklee back in the 1970’s, there were very few options as far as good instruction goes besides expensive classroom learning, an amazing teacher, jamming with people that were way better than you, or if you were lucky, a parent or relative who would be able to pass their knowledge along..Gary Burton is the kind of musical guide who’s priceless..there are so many so called music teachers now on KZbin or online who learned a few blow away licks and can deliver them cleanly at 220bpm and somehow feel that they are qualified to teach others as self appointed experts!..ego bullshit in it’s most basic form..in music, you got to work hard, eventually find your own voice, and then go beyond emulating the same 10 or 20 stereotypical people a lot of folks are stuck on.. Thank you for sharing this video..incredibly valuable if you really want to learn..stay safe an stay strong..music is life, jazz lives..New York November 27, 2021..

[@newagain9964]

Who are some of favorite improvisers/musicians?

[@MrRjf1953]

Gary Burton, what a great honest human being!! I am a Berklee Alumni and I'm very proud to have shared the halls with Gary Burton. We are always learning, music is a life's journey. Today I've learned even more from Mr. Burton. Great information about music, life and our responsibility as musicians. Thank you Loyola U for this great clinic. Always remember you can't fake it. I love this. LISTEN! Ralph Fava guitarist of 52 years.

[@yusefandersen]

Simplicity, common sense, ears, mastery - A real human being is indeed Gary Burton

[@heitsi-eibibogun7168]

Gary Burton is a great player. It was good to see him, teaching and sharing. Thanks Loyola University for sharing this video.

[@leegollin4417]

Love this. He touches on most of the important things in this one class. When you think of all the greats that emerged from under his mentorship as a teacher and bandleader, it's staggering.

[@MrMusicaLover]

Gary is a fantastic player!...after watching this video I can say he's a great teacher and a very inspiring human being too!

[@denisbarsalo]

No kidding..... empty seats! Any aspiring musician would be crazy to miss a chance to listen to Gary Burton talk about improvisation. Probably the improviser and jazz educator of our generation!

[@vprajapa]

I can't believe this is free. Explained all the topics so well and covered everything that I always took for granted.

[@musamor75]

Lovely to spend precious moments with this great musician. Thanks for your great pointers Gary.

[@jonathandeutsch3991]

what an amazing masterclass. I went to music school and can't remember a class being so informative and positive. Thank you to gary and Loyola.

[@chefboyardeesnuts277]

I’ve recently been watching Comedy improv and thought this recommended video was a master class on comedy. As an amateur musician, I’ll keep this video on my watch list

[@davidwhite2949]

I’m struck by the parallel between improvising and composing music. Similar to the parallel between speed chess and classical slow chess.

[@jeremybroadbent8997]

Wow how I feel this comment

[@Motty1066]

Improvising IS composition. It’s just not written down immediately. Mozart didn’t write things down immediately.

[@staringcontest9733]

Schoenberg wrote an entire book dedicated to finding different ways to develop musical motives and phrases.

[@ivolime]

@@staringcontest9733 wow! which book is it?

[@Whatismusic123]

Most 16th-19th century composers did both

[@brynax170]

from the bottom of my heart! thank you so much for this video, after 11 years this is so enlightening!

[@robinjames29]

lucky kids for having such a great guy doing a seminar and lucky us for you tube so we can all see it

[@PabloTarantino]

Probably the best and most practical explanation about improvisation we'll ever have. Thanks Gary and Loyola, this is gold!

[@stpisls]

Thank you for posting these videos. What an education KZbin can offer.

[@alichamas63]

So lucky to have a class with a legend like Gary, hope these young guys appreciate that!

[@giovanitheisen6883]

Fantastic class. Worth each minute. The secrets, detaiils, tips, real examples and so. Thanks Gary

[@CostcoComrade]

I had this in my watch later for about a year thinking it was for acting and only upon watching it now, I realize that it is in fact for music

[@pwg8379]

The BEST clinics ever on youtube on inside modes, chord scales, and common tone melodious movement on whatever complex piece of music that is in question, utilizing a basic vocabulary of the most used scale forms. AND----observing previous harmony/chords/keys esp. when there is no melody to guide what are the most inside smooth scales to utilize in those complex pieces of music.

[@Stepneydragon]

I am pleased and astounded at how generous top players seem to be in a teaching environment. What a treat to hear the straight liquor in performance and critique from Mr. Burton.

[@mikeharpist]

At around 56 minutes, he talks about listening to others in the band while accompanying. I’ve been on both sides of that gap, although not in a jazz format. It’s wonderful to always be tuned in to the rest of the band. But, on the other hand, sometimes if I am soldiering on, hitting the right chords at the right time, the soloist can find their way back to the song after losing the thread of what they are singing or playing. And, in another variation of that scene, we sort of both hear the problem and “move towards each other” on the rhythm or harmony. Gary explains so much here that even a person like me who is only a fan of jazz improvisation can get a deeper appreciation for the process and the joy of improvisation.

[@allysonhanks7367]

Hi Mike how are you doing today. I wish you a happy new year. I believe you are in good health. I hope this year brings happiness, good health, prosperity love and peace all over the world, I live in Duluth, Minnesota.

[@rik-keymusic160]

This is what i love about youtube… free education from a master musician… thank you!! 🙏

[@jcthomas1836]

Now THIS is a masterclass!

[@JackHandysideMusicUK]

I don't quite understand all the comments misunderstanding Gary's comment on Stan Getz.. There's more than one way to improvise. Gary Burton is showing how a knowledge of modes can improve your articulation in improvisation. By that extent, there's no one way to learn a language! Stan Getz's approach to improvising can't be considered wrong, regardless of his formula. You can be a great jazz musician just learning phrases, how and when to use them. Gary is showing how in a contemporary style, one can create lots of different flavours and colours using theory knowledge as well.

[@rapparoo]

Well it's interested us in Stan Getz's style anyway ... just been reading about him he practicised 8 hours a day as a kid ... sounds like a different approach

[@mathieu4734]

Thanks a lot. This is gold, lots of useful information. Gary is such a brillant musician and a great teacher.

[@eyelidman09]

Essential advice on improvisation for all jazz musicians’ from a jazz master. A masterclass of the highest order.🙏🌞🇬🇧👍☯️🙏2022.

[@malwebb1]

Ah, gosh, I loved all that. And particularly what he said about comping. And I love that the second combo played Land's End, written by glorious tenor player Harold Land (best known for playing with Clifford Brown). Fabulous tune.

[@KnoxBronson]

Wow. I bought a Gary Burton album over fifty years ago. I was seventeen, I think I liked the album cover, didn't really know what to make of it back then. So great to see him here. A wonderful lesson and what a recital of that Keith Jarrett piece! Simply amazing.

[@jackieodohertyagilityatany222]

This is BEYOND priceless. Thank you for this!! Gary, thank you for being YOU!

[@DarrylDomani]

This was refreshing, informative and absolutely one of the most interesting videos I have had the pleasure of seeing. Thanks so much.

[@roman14032]

this is actualy the best lesson in ltfe ive ever seen

[@lastdaysguitar]

I am going to have to watch this a few times, I don't want to miss anything in this lesson in virtuosity. :)

[@williamwallace2736]

That little farming town Gary is from is my hometown Princeton Indiana. He is a little older than me and was gone by the time I was going through school but I’ve followed his career from home. He’s simply the best.

[@PeachyKeena_]

i'm high and just got done watching Whose Line Is It Anyways clips and it took me an entire two minutes to realize this wasn't about improv comedy. But I'm also a musician who needs to learn about improv so I might stick around.

[@AndreComtois]

The golden rule of improvisation: every bad note us just a half step up or down to a right note.

[@urbansamurai3609]

This is great ! Thank goodness for KZbin.Thanks for download CFMAE.

[@doctordrummerdude]

Mr Burton - What a master educator - this is gold - it would be useful in any improv class.

[@exeffourone9216]

I am not a very good "musician" ..I realize this, But I love to play and I got So much from this!!! Changed me!

[@pastry8281]

Your performance at around 1:10 brought tears to my eyes. You really brought that sad, hopeful chord progression alive!

[@pastateconstablesoffice]

The segment from 1:12:12 to 1:13: 12 and beyond ... is a snippet from a piece by Gary that I've been haunted by for 45 years ... back in 1977, while I was in High School, Gary gave a workshop at the Hilton Hotel in Pittsburgh, PA and played a composition that I believe he introduced as "Arizona Sunrise" or "Santa Fe Sunrise" or something similar ... I'm hoping a fellow fan might provide the correct title and album that I might find it on ...

[@henrygarciga]

Gary can play anything. And with anybody. Whether Tango or Classical Jazz , Chic Corea or Bela Fleck, most versatile player on his instrument, class of musicianship second to nobody.

[@lukasaldrian3307]

Fluteristic he is technically the best player of his instrument

[@asafbeeri4037]

Thanks for the upload, this lesson is very helpful, interesting and fun! Watched twice in a row.

[@wk4240]

Mr. Burton made a very good point, about Stan Getz's overall knowledge of chords - he figured out what to play, very quickly at the moment, based on what he heard. That's what we call Jazz! 😊

[@pallhe]

Lots of very useful stuff here, as well as insights into Gary's thinking about improvisation and into his history. I would advise beginning as well as intermediary and advanced improvisers to really think about everything that Gary says and revisit this video. It's a useful roadmap for the big improv picture.

[@QalinaCom]

very inspiring, thank you Gary and Loyola University for sharing this!

[@RobRippa1]

Gary is amazing at teaching and playing ! His voice always reminds me of warren buffet for some reason lol He does have a wealth of musical knowledge. :)

[@Scias]

In order of brightness: Lydian Ionian Mixolydian Dorian Aeolian Phrygian Locrian

[@lordmatthews69]

Lydian(#fourth)[use with major chords] //Ionian(simple major)[same] //Mixolydian(b seventh)[use with 7 chords] //Dorian(b seventh & third)[use with minor chords] //Aeolian(b seventh, third & sixth)[same] //Phrygian(b seventh, third, sixth & second)[same] //Locrian(b seventh, third, sixth, second & fifth)[use with half-diminished chords] //Lydian b7(# fourth, b seventh)[use with 7 chords] //Altered (I-bIX-#IX-III-#XI-(V)-bXIII-bVII)[same] //Symmetrical diminished(I-bIX-#IX-III-#IV-V-VI-bVII)[same

[@seri1897]

I could have filled that empty bench. Such a great class class. Gary Burton is such an awesome teacher.

[@miro108]

lesson for life for these lads in the combos. Real Master class. Thanks CFMAE for sharing.

[@tonygonzalez112]

This is absolute gold.

[@Zoco101]

I'm surprised at the comment about a certain famous saxophonist, for two reasons:- 1. A musician of his school and calibre will normally be so good at playing by ear that there is real flow except on any new tunes with esoteric harmonies. The solution is: practise improvising over that tune by any method that works for you. It helps that basslines lead the harmony and there are predictable patterns. 2. Learning fancy scales for a chord (vertical impro) or group of chords (horizontal impro) is just a shortcut for discovering the improvisational possibilities. The downside is playing isolated phrases and notes you don't feel until you find better ones. Maybe you play too many notes as well, though supposedly, that's not a problem in bop. You can still discover all the possibilities if you practise improvising by ear, but it takes longer, and maybe you never get to play quite as quickly as Gary. The upshot is you play more of what you feel from day one, and you are freer to go out on a limb and discover things that just ain't in the scales. Contemporary jazz musicians often struggle to play early jazz because they overthink it. If you can never play a piece by ear without thinking of all the chords & scales then you have not internalised it and your instrument is still playing you. I say this with the caveat that musicians performing a harmonic accompaniment role may need to stay closer to the proverbial safety rail (think more about concrete chords) at least on the trickier pieces.

[@WarrenByrdSpeak]

One of the most miraculous concerts I’ve ever seen was Gary Burton/Chick Corea Duo at Montreux 2007. He runs down the basics so well, so thoroughly, and insightfully-a fine clinician. However, I honesty question a lot of what he shared with the ensembles and SOMETIMES wondered if he had any understanding of each musician’s goals or if he had any “ears”. Perhaps, that would have to be “next-level” teaching.

[@BrainToMush]

Wow! I wish I could go to a Gary Burton class!

[@JoshuaStewartPiano]

Great lecture. Gary is amazing. So great to hear from an improvisor that really understands the importance of melodic structure as well as scale knowledge. I have to say, I always wince when people refer to the altered scale - the 7th mode of the melodic minor - as "The Berklee Scale". That's a little like calling a blues progression the "Jerry Lee Lewis progression". Actually, that would make more sense than calling the altered scale the Berklee scale.

[@walt686868]

You WINCE?? 🙄🙄🙄🙄

[@balisaani]

We never called it "the Berklee Scale" (at Berklee). We called it the Altered scale, and the 1/2 symmetrical diminished we called Demented.

[@josallins1]

Seek and Listen! Thank you Gary Burton!

[@AlchemicalAudio]

Soo appreciative of this lecture!!! I have been looking for something like this for a long time… so direct and helpful!!!

[@luizjanela]

I would change the name of the video to "Gary Burton Music Class", he is talking about many important aspects of being an musician, about studing, about stage etc... Great class!

[@sundararajureddi8303]

I had the good fortune to hear Gary Burton playing with Chick Correa at the Barbican Centre in London. What came across was a dialectic being refined. It was a thoroughly enjoyable occaission. “ This is what we’re going to fool around with” he said during the course of the evening. ‘Fool around’ some more Sir.

[@roman14032]

this is the best music class i've ever seen, not just the video, but the coments too. you guys are awesome

[@suricatafari]

what a privilege to watch this masterclass!

[@horbergus]

Man I love the guitar solo, simple, groovy, loots of feeling

[@lordmatthews69]

Lydian (#fourth) - use with major chords Ionian (simple major) - same Mixolydian (b seventh) - use with 7 chords Dorian (b seventh & third) - use with minor chords Aeolian (b seventh, third & sixth) - same Phrygian (b seventh, third, sixth & second) - same Locrian (b seventh, third, sixth, second & fifth) - use with half-diminished chords Lydian b7 (# fourth, b seventh) - use with 7 chords Altered (I-bIX-#IX-III-#XI-(V)-bXIII-bVII) - same Symmetrical diminished (I-bIX-#IX-III-#IV-V-VI-bVII)

[@bedtr]

Thanks for sharing this wonderful video. Very helpful to many serious musicians. I love Gary Burton.

[@womacro]

I greatly appreciate him for sharing his genius!

[@michaeldempsey3281]

This is an astounding lecture. Incredibly valuable

[@reggaefan2700]

I thought Loyola University was in Chicago?

[@michaeldempsey3281]

There's more than one Loyola.

[@JOEYNOSEBEATS]

Yeah, Gary Burton is teaching my class today. No. Big. Deal.

[@juaniunzu]

This is pure gold. I cannot understand why this video has 85 downvotes.

[@Andrew-cu3xd]

Because it is complicated and requires thinking, learning and time. That is my problem but I did not thumb it down. LOL. It almost has to be a natural thing or you have to play music every day for hours to get this stuff. I don't have the time to know it this well or the talent to get there.

[@joe-vz6hx]

I wonder if these kids really know how lucky they are just to be in the presence of such a legend, never mind being taught by him.

[@sameash3153]

My friend was a student of his

[@garyhoffman1]

We knew how lucky we were. I did both my bachelors and masters there and we had a master class every semester and performed concerts with them. Not to mention the staff who were masters, as well.

[@pokemaughan]

Uhh, yeah, you don't end up in a program like this without wanting it lol

[@heyheyhey40]

I thought this was about improv theatre. But I also play the piano so this still extremely helpful. I have definitely learned a lot to incorporate into my playing.

[@SweetTsilence]

Being self taught for 15 years, coming to this video and understanding each aspect of this class, and I have to say it is very insightful, exactly the lecture I was looking for to improve my improvising ability! Thanks for posting this!

[@oliviernouspikel1013]

Would love to benefit from so honest and to the point feedbacks. Not only a great artist but a great teacher too. Question of high awareness and humility. Top notch!

[@TIO540S1]

I saw Gary live many years ago at a small venue in Evanston, IL. We were both a lot younger then, but he was amazing then just as he is now.

[@jusbecuzz2948]

Improv is very useful when it comes to songwriting and arranging melodies in song form. I will be very happy when I can express exactly what's on my heart with the use of proper scales.

[@Beedubyayardee]

First, let me say how much I value this video. It has solved a number of persistent conceptual problems for which I have not received answers in the past. I refer back to it and have taken lots of notes. I am extremely grateful to Mr. Burton and to Loyola for making this available. However, it has raised a question, too. At 14:00, he says to find the notes of the appropriate scale for a chord and play around on it. I understand the importance of the play element in order to have the sound and shape of the scale become reflexive for the player. I also get that practicing the scales rotely in a specific pattern is not the way he advises to go. But can anyone point me in a direction to get started with just fooling around? I understand his advice and am able to fool around. But 10 scales in 12 keys is a challenge that may require some organizing principle. One idea might be to break down a standard to its chord scales, then fool around with them in the context of the song, and then transpose into other keys. You might not get them all, but you will certainly make progress. Any thoughts?

[@john_schex]

Just start with a few! It seems extremely overwhelming at first, just now getting into this tonal stuff way more after drumming for the past 11 years.

[@ElrondHubbard_1]

If you're learning the scale shapes, formulas and intervals, why do you need to practice them in every key?

[@jacksonmanning5477]

@@ElrondHubbard_1 you must be a guitarist. Playing scales in different keys requires different fingerings for other instruments

[@ElrondHubbard_1]

@Jackson Manning lol. I was wondering what I could have said. Busted! Yes; guitarist. Isn't everyone? 😉🙃

[@charliecampbell6851]

@@jacksonmanning5477 if musicians are listening to this and are at the appropriate level to really learn from it, they already know their scales

[@capomatrice]

i had a similar experience when dave liebman gave a clinic at my university. out of 20,000 or so people, only maybe 12 of us showed up in a room slightly bigger than the one in this video. unreal that every single sax player in the music department wasn't there. i was neuroscience and i was there 30 min ahead of time because i thought it'd be packed.

[@fx8f]

Perfect. cant stop watching this awesomeness. Gary is Great.

[@jamesmorris4396]

I thought it was great that he pointed that in high school and middle school band most do not watch the conductor. I always wondered why no one watched the conductor. Thanks for pointing that out Gary.

[@heatherstub]

I've found this to be the case in some church choirs.

[@Freeknowledgefan]

I am going to steal so much of this for my students. Great musician and great teacher.

[@JJamJ]

Thank god there was a bass solo in the upload as It gave me time to make a cup of tea😉

[@wolfpants]

I can't remember how I got here, but am glad I did. I honestly didn't really didn't know of Gary Burton, but this was eye-opening. He's just one of those obvious genius/prodigy types -- which can be a bit depressing, actually. Sobering to realize that maybe, to actually make as a top tier artist, you need you not only have to practice your ass off and be completely fluent in the craft and business of jazz, but you also may have to be born and raised a genius.

[@Astavolamusic]

Gary Burton... what a great tecaher speaker and lesson,,, please watch this i promise

[@Cigarsnguitars]

Great information. I’m a self taught guitarist, playing now in my 53rd year. Beautiful to see/hear this info. I’ve been playing it but never knew the names associated with the chord scales. 😎🤘

[@MrSteveHobbs]

I love Gary's explanation here. I wish he would come back to performance. I realize he needs rest, but we need him!

[@williambent9636]

Steve, did you used to live in Ft. Collins? I think I played a gig with you for a weird country singer contest. you played drums, not vibes.