CONNECTOR CHORDS

[@ForkySeven]

I'm a music teacher and composer trained in both classical and jazz. I am an absolute music theory fiend and it's extremely difficult for me to find educational music materials that actually teach me something that I am not already familiar with. This video has answered quite a few of my questions about many things for me. It's amazing to LEARN something about music again.

[@michaelkeithson]

Ah, thanks for the kind comment 🙏 Really appreciate the support and encouragement. I'm glad there was good stuff in there for you. 👍

[@jasonbarrylambeth]

Also a music teacher, also classical and jazz. Also found so much about this useful and explained concepts I either didn't understand, or use but didn't know WHY. Really awesome content (as always) from Michael.

[@michaelkeithson]

@@jasonbarrylambeth Thanks Jason! Glad you're getting some value too. Thanks for the comment 👍

[@ChowdMusic]

Wow. Guitarist here. There were some real lightbulbs for me. Thanks! 🙏

[@michaelkeithson]

@@ChowdMusic Awesome! Glad it was useful. 👍

[@mr.kilpatrick2991]

you have a very effective way of teaching by pausing and explaining your rationale - the "why" it works. Great video

[@michaelkeithson]

Thanks Mr. Kilpatrick! Glad you're enjoying the vibe! 👍🎹

[@xsfusionx]

As i previously said, best music theory channel ever, with a grain of salt of comedy too. Love it

[@michaelkeithson]

🙏☺️

[@rogerleelewis3621]

Clear and concise and the graphics to illustrate what’s going on real time are some of the best I’ve ever seen.

[@michaelkeithson]

Thanks Roger! I appreciate the kind words. Glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@TheGreatAngler]

You dont know how grateful I am with your tutorials man. It's sooooo good and fun.

[@michaelkeithson]

Ah, thank you 🙏. That's really nice to hear. Glad you're enjoying the videos, thanks for the support 👍

[@DeGroove]

You make me play, experiment and feel good about myself doing it! Brilliant! Thanks for your generosity. Take care.

[@michaelkeithson]

Ah, that’s awesome to hear. Happy to be part of your musical explorations!

[@ryanwells2820]

There's a lot of theory videos out there on KZbin now, and i think i prefer your pacing over the vast majority. I appreciate that you covered so much but yet gave enough time for everything to sink in

[@michaelkeithson]

Thanks for the kind comment Ryan 🙏 Glad you enjoyed the video 👍

[@josephestes7076]

Dude I love the movement at 8:15 or so. That gospel sound is beautiful.

[@michaelkeithson]

Cheers Joseph! Glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@genekelly3961]

It’s a deep harmony/theory dive explaining how to dress up the ubiquitous I - IV progression. I love your videos!!!😊😊

[@michaelkeithson]

Thanks Gene! Glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@jasonbourne488]

Hugely brilliant. Lots of new stuff to experiment with. 🎉🎉🎉

[@michaelkeithson]

Awesome! Happy exploring!

[@crosstalkclub]

Brilliant! I love all your videos, but there is so much to absorb in this one. Thank you!

[@michaelkeithson]

🙏 Thanks! Glad there are lots of takeaways. Happy exploring! 👍

[@marcoanello4409]

Amazingly explained! Specially the discovery of all the alternatives and options. Amazing video…, once more… 🤩!!!

[@michaelkeithson]

Thanks Marco! Glad it was illuminating! 👍

[@davidmcgirr]

Those little asides during the lesson are really engaging. "Nice. So why does that work?" Do tell: I am all ears.

[@michaelkeithson]

😂 Thanks David, glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@realcreamysoup1386]

Been looking for a video like this for a long time, everyone complicates playing chords like this but you’ve broken it down very simply to understand🙏🏾 really appreciate this content keep going 🔥🔥

[@michaelkeithson]

Cheers Edi, appreciate the kind comment 🙏. Glad it was helpful 👍

[@BBTICKLER]

Basically, play any triads that are near your target chord that are outside the key.

[@lauraroberts2250]

Thank you, Michael. Entertaining and clear, as always. I will have to rewatch the lessons on the backdoor thing. I'm sure I understood it at the time but... getting old! 😁

[@ForkySeven]

it's just an incomplete ii-V-I . So, normally we'd have Bbm7 (ii) Eb7 (V) Ab (I). But instead we have Bbm7 (ii) Eb7 (V) F (Target). It's kind of like jazz's deceptive cadence.

[@michaelkeithson]

Hey Laura! Thanks for the comment. That's the problem with a lot of this stuff, if you don't start to use it and have reason to implement it, it can quickly slip the mind, I've been victim to this too!

[@sergiyseletskyy5875]

I keep getting insightful smile while watching your videos. Appreciate a lot your work.

[@michaelkeithson]

Ah, thanks Sergiy, your comment made me smile too. Thank you 🙏

[@AliAJafari]

Your videos are so inspiring. Thank you ❤

[@michaelkeithson]

Thanks Ali, that's great to hear. Glad you liked this one. 👍

[@Legendoftherock]

And there are still probably 15+ alternative harmonic ways to navigate through these chord changes. Music is awesome. Solid video.

[@michaelkeithson]

For sure! Thanks for the comment, glad you enjoyed the video. 👍

[@HarrissonMkristo]

You are one of THE best piano teachers. Thank you for sharing.

[@michaelkeithson]

🙏☺️ Thanks Harrisson, that's very generous! I'm pleased you're enjoying the videos. Thanks for the comment.

[@floggymosco13]

You deserve a million subscribers. This content is worth every bit of minutes.

[@michaelkeithson]

🙏 Thank you. That would be nice although I'm not holding my breath!

[@brad724p]

One of the most useful music channels on youtube; thanks.

[@michaelkeithson]

🙏 Thanks Brad, that's very kind ☺️. Glad you've been enjoying the videos.

[@theopinionmachine606]

You have about the most pleasant demeanor of anyone on KZbin. Good tips too!

[@michaelkeithson]

☺️ Thanks for the nice comment. Glad you're enjoying the content 👍

[@theopinionmachine606]

@ enjoying them I am. You make it look so easy that it can be a smidge frustrating that it’s not that easy once I get playing. What have discovered, and what you have aptly demonstrated, is that anything a semitone away from your target chord is likely to work. I just think of it as sneaking in slowly. There are exceptions, but that’s the idea.

[@davegarski1548]

This is an incredibly helpful video. You wouldn't think it would be this simple, but it works. Thanks Michael!

[@michaelkeithson]

Thanks Dave! I appreciate the nice comment, glad it was helpful 👍

[@davegarski1548]

@@michaelkeithson I will be using this lesson for a couple of my guitar students who are presently learning how to write jazz progression compositions. I'm also going to do a Substack article on this lesson as well, and I will link this video to it.

[@michaelkeithson]

@@davegarski1548 Ah, that's great to hear. Glad you think it's worthy of your students! 🙏

[@ryan.noakes]

"a bit of dissonance and a bit of tension isn't a bad thing." Preach!

[@michaelkeithson]

😂 👍

[@dannyprasetya2496]

I got tons of permutations of improvising over a simple chord changes now. You sir, is a work of wonders.Thank you as much as always Michael!!!!

[@michaelkeithson]

Thanks for the comment Danny! Glad you enjoyed it and that it's given you some stuff to explore!

[@blackberryway]

I got so bored with my chord progressions in my songs, now this is really nice to spice things up, great ideas in this video, thank you

[@michaelkeithson]

Thanks! Glad it was useful 👍

[@Maesdy01]

I've watched a similar video called 7passing chord etc..and i can say man. This is like a powerfull supplement For me..And i think yours is simple to understand.the way you teach is just incredible..I would be a good student if i was in a class you teach 😄thank you from Haiti.

[@michaelkeithson]

Cheers Maesdy! Glad you got some value from this one 👍

[@Knowyourintent]

I'm always excited to see a new video release from you Michael. Your content and production is always first class. This video is no exception. Thank you for all the work you put into making these. Much appreciated my friend.

[@michaelkeithson]

🙏 Ah, thanks man. I really appreciate the kind comment and glad you enjoyed this new vid too. 👍

[@tres938]

You keep everything so simple and easy to understand. Thank you . God bless

[@michaelkeithson]

Thanks for the kind words. Much appreciated, glad you enjoyed the video

[@diaservices3454]

Really well done. I’m a mediocre hack and was stuck on too rigid a play scheme- these passing concepts make piano progressions come to life. Thanks

[@michaelkeithson]

Thank you! I'm glad the video was useful. Thanks for the kind comment. 🙏

[@melissaharrispiano]

Thank you for explaining things so those of us who were classically trained can actually follow you!

[@michaelkeithson]

You are most welcome Melissa! Glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@parkerchace]

I'm going to do this to every song and progression i ever learn. So amazing. Connects so much I've been learning lately! THANK YOU SIR

[@michaelkeithson]

Thanks for the nice comment Parker. Glad you enjoyed it. Happy explorations!

[@ghfdt368]

Great lesson! and lots of things here to keep us busy for a while. At 3:48 I absolutely love that idea with the 2 5 1 of the Am chord. I also realized that with that E7 altchord you can change it to an E augmented chord, just an ordinary dominant 7 chord or if you want to be really spicy E min/maj 7 also sounds really really nice.

[@michaelkeithson]

Nice! Glad there was some good stuff in there for you. Happy exploring!

[@danielo174]

This is a wonderful simple idea to deep dive on and reveal the mystery of this 1-4 harmony. Another amazing lesson you give us. Thanks so much. Brilliant well explained material. Hats off!

[@michaelkeithson]

Thanks Daniel! Really appreciate the kind comment 🙏

[@TDavisOfficial]

Man, you never miss. Thank you for your explanations and examples 🙏🏻

[@michaelkeithson]

Ah, thanks man. Appreciate the kind comment 🙏

[@healeydavid3080]

Honestly, your content is inspirational. This is invaluable as a reference for expanding harmonic repertoire - thank you!

[@michaelkeithson]

🙏 Thanks man! It’s to hear you feel that way. Glad you’re enjoying the content 👍

[@ben_burnes]

This is fantastic, thank you for sharing all this. It's fascinating how a lot of this harmony is very similar on a technical level, but the position of the bass tone can really recontextualize the whole approach.

[@michaelkeithson]

Thanks Ben! Glad there were some takeaways for you. Cheers for you support 👍

[@simonbailleur8835]

Brilliant, this is what I needed! Thank you!

[@michaelkeithson]

You're very welcome Simon, glad it was helpful 👍

[@tijnalthoff2260]

Always working from C major is super helpful, cheers Michael

[@michaelkeithson]

👍 A few people have mentioned this so I figured it makes sense to stick to it!

[@AmodeusR]

Thanks to all your other videos talking about all these theories and also the explanations in this video itself I could comprehend what was happening in essentially all the cases, thank you very much for sharing this knowledge for free, otherwhise many people including me wouldn't be able to have such knowledge 🙏

[@tidaltrigger9538]

Wow! Incredible video that ties together so many pieces of the music puzzle! It has transformed a lot of my passive knowledge into usable techniques 👍🏻 Thanks!

[@michaelkeithson]

Awesome! Glad it was useful 👍 Thanks for the nice comment!

[@thephunk1]

Fantastic as usual!

[@michaelkeithson]

🙏 Thanks George!

[@OriginalWireman]

Semitones. So under-rated, yet so important. Great video. Faved.

[@michaelkeithson]

👍. Thanks glad you enjoyed this one.

[@Timtime67]

Playing along with my guitar 3:57 in, I had to subscribe. This video is like gold to me. Thank you.

[@michaelkeithson]

Thanks for the sub! Glad you enjoyed the video. 👍

[@CounterRhythms]

There are a lot of great piano instructors on KZbin but you're in my tippy top.

[@michaelkeithson]

🙏☺️ Thanks Eric! Really appreciate the kind comment.

[@gregoryhaddock5395]

You are such a great educator❗️Thank you 🙏

[@michaelkeithson]

☺️ Thanks Gregory, really appreciate the generous comment 🙏

[@MarshallCharloff]

You da man! Thanks for this blessed content ❤

[@michaelkeithson]

🙏 Thanks Marshall, I really appreciate the nice comment. Thanks for the support 👍

[@makingmusiconline2309]

I've been searching for this lesson for ages. Just the sort of thing I need to pep up my jazz and acoustic guitar playing as well as working on vocal harmonies for the choir. I will have to see your other recommended videos and learn more of this, thank you!

[@michaelkeithson]

Awesome, great to hear. Glad it was useful. 👍

[@markmallory2528]

Stunningly Good! Thank you! 🥹🫡🫡🫡

[@michaelkeithson]

Thanks Mark 🙏 Appreciate the kind comment, glad you enjoyed it.

[@motif123456]

Where have you been sir in all these years... Your knowledge base is unparalleled... Thanks for your brilliant explanation...

[@michaelkeithson]

Thanks for the kind comment. Glad you enjoyed the video 👍

[@poobens]

Such a great lesson. Thank you so much. I absolutely love your teaching style.

[@michaelkeithson]

Thanks Paul! Glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@stevenflamenco9859]

Exellent teaching and lots to explore. Thank you so much!

[@michaelkeithson]

Thanks for the comment Steven, glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@JohnWilson-ru7xd]

Beautifully and concisely explained.

[@michaelkeithson]

Thank you John, appreciate the nice comment 🙏

[@svilrs]

This is fantastic Michael! I'm an amateur guitar player but the way you present these ideas help me expand my musical horizon. And I intend to buy a piano now :)

[@michaelkeithson]

Hey Svilen! That's awesome, glad it was helpful and really pleased it's inspired you to get a piano!!

[@giandrummer]

This lesson is a gem! Very very helpful. Love your channel

[@michaelkeithson]

Cheers Gian, glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the comment 👍

[@philipmensah4059]

Excellent video, am always learning new things from you. Keep it up. Kindly create a series on connecting all chords for each scale degree, thanks in advance

[@michaelkeithson]

Thanks Philip! Glad you’re getting some value from my videos. 👍

[@amado1swgi]

Awesome instruction!!! Thank you for your clarity and sharing of insights. Blessings, GV

[@michaelkeithson]

You are most welcome! Thanks for the kind comment 👍

[@astrolappio]

that iiiØ really lands so sweetly to IV Always inspiring

[@michaelkeithson]

Thanks Fabio 👍

[@FranckCeranjerusalemy]

You right about basic chords, should not be ignored! 😅

[@Dr.RolyndDellaSylvan]

@michaelkeithson Thank you for your artistry and insights. You have inspired us with your playing, your lessons, and your passion. Thank you for a wonderful year of videos (I realize that it’s very time consuming and takes much energy). I wish you health and joy. And, many more rapturous musical moments in 2025 ! -Dr D

[@michaelkeithson]

🙏 Dr D! Thank you for such a kind comment. I really appreciate the support and encouragement. Glad you've been enjoying the videos. Thank you! ☺️

[@ephjaymusic]

Outstanding as usual! Thank you!

[@michaelkeithson]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@davidrowe3966]

Helping my ears! Thank You !

[@michaelkeithson]

You're very welcome!

[@jeffhubert5555]

So fun. Loved this!

[@michaelkeithson]

Thanks Jeff! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@neurotic4]

Very clear.

[@philiphoule7170]

Your instruction is excellent in spite of my propensity to be a dimwit with regard to music theory. Brilliant!

[@michaelkeithson]

😂 Thanks Philip! Glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@jenumclucas7014]

This one video has saved me a lot of time

[@michaelkeithson]

Glad it was helpful

[@TruckerDa415]

I love the blend of consonance and dissonance in jazz particular. One aspect I always respect is the freedom to choose any chord your ear desires and alter notes without strict rules, unlike classical music. Just be mindful of the melody, as you mentioned. This leads me to a question: Would you say melody is king, or is rhythm the true king? 🤔😂

[@michaelkeithson]

Harmony is King 😂. No, seriously, I think that it depends, I think you can make one more important than the other depending how you use them but I don't think that ultimately one is more important than the other.

[@LZMAmzelle]

amazing stuff, wrote it all down in my book to do with my more advanced students next week!

[@michaelkeithson]

Awesome, glad it was useful! 👍

[@cngefrzn8758]

how does this video only have 3000 views??? this is amazing

[@michaelkeithson]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed. Views are slowly racking up. You must have been an early bird, to date this is my best performing video in the first 24 hours! Thanks for the support 👍

[@ryanharris2462]

Another absolute gem. Loads to pick up and practice here. Thank you! (So many options - makes me wonder what wouldn’t fit between I and IV 😂)

[@michaelkeithson]

Ha! Thanks Ryan! Yeah, good point - maybe that's another video! 😂

[@blake4460]

i just wanna say i love you man your videos are incredible

[@michaelkeithson]

☺️🙏 Thanks Blake! I really appreciate the nice comment. Glad you're enjoying the content. 👍

[@Roman-is4jj]

Many thanks. Very helpful for me as a guitar player.

[@michaelkeithson]

Thanks for the comment Roman, glad it was helpful 👍

[@gsnjpn]

legend for this, thank you michael. Please can you do it for the minor key typical progressions and how to spice it up if possible . thanks once again you are a star

[@michaelkeithson]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@PeteMel1875]

Really enjoyed that 👍

[@michaelkeithson]

Thanks Pete!

[@vendel0707]

At 9:34 am I the only one who heard "the lick" right there? 🤣 Very helpful course btw, thanks!

[@michaelkeithson]

Completely unintentional if it was there! 😂

[@Sing4DLaughter]

You rock man!

[@michaelkeithson]

☺️ Thank you!

[@mybiggrin]

This is over a year's worth of jazz theory in 30 min lol

[@Herby-vd6ek]

Once again..awsome!

[@michaelkeithson]

🙏 Thank you ☺️

[@MissNorington]

Just what I needed

[@michaelkeithson]

Awesome, happy to help! Anything else you need?!

[@MissNorington]

@@michaelkeithson Well, I understand chords, can compose songs. But I am unfamiliar with the "I IV ii" stuff and that gets very technical and confusing to keep up with. I found your channel because of luck, since KZbin doesn't do anything to help creators. Your videos are genuine and entertaining, and definitely teaches the valuable things, but there is no way to see that from KZbin titles and thumbnails (I wish there was a way, I blame KZbin for this)

[@michaelkeithson]

@@MissNorington Someone else also recently mentioned a little confusion over the roman numerals, may it needs its own video! I'll add it to the list. 👍

[@brianfuller7241]

Another great lesson!

[@michaelkeithson]

🙏 Thanks Brian! 👍

[@mrcego1309]

awesome video, as per usual

[@michaelkeithson]

🙏 Thanks man, appreciate it 👍

[@lorenzo.n]

beautiful lesson, thanks.

[@michaelkeithson]

Thanks Lorenzo, appreciate the comment 👍

[@djimnasty1509]

Amazing maaan🙌

[@michaelkeithson]

Thank you!

[@melvinyee2796]

this is GOLD

[@michaelkeithson]

Thanks Melvin, glad you enjoyed it.

[@chantguitare6007]

Thank you very much for this knowledge ! It’s Great ! 🤩🎶🎶🎶

[@michaelkeithson]

You are very welcome, glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@UserZO5672]

Brilliant!

[@michaelkeithson]

Thanks!

[@erickaplan711]

Thank You!

[@michaelkeithson]

You are most welcome. Glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@johnbirkby2913]

I watched you "back door dominants" video several times the other week (because I didn't 'get it' at first). When, in this video you played the Eb7 I yelled "backdoor dommy". Who felt super chuffed when you confirmed it! But then I thought I didn't understand at all because you followed this up with "the two chord of Eb is Bb". My head exploded. Watched that bit several times. Please, please tell me that the Bb is the two of an imaginary Ab. Because that's how I got my brain to understand your "back door dominants" video. Pretty please. I'm not a pianist at all but love the theory you explain.

[@michaelkeithson]

👏 Well done John for spotting the backdoor dominant - 10 points to you. So the confusion is my fault and probably due to the way I think about it and named it. Here's goes trying to explain: Any dominant 7 chord can be thought of as a V chord as there's only ever one dominant 7 chord in a major key and it's always on the 5th degree of the scale. The inherent tension in a dominant 7 chord means it usually functions as a means to lead us somewhere. If we think of a dominant chord as a V chord (the fifth degree of a scale) then it's really very common to precede it with a ii chord - a chord from the 2nd degree of the scale. In the key of C major, G7 is our dominant or V chord and Dm7 would be our ii chord. If Eb7 is our V chord (which would be the 5th degree of Ab) then our ii chord would be Bbm7. The movement from the ii to V chord creates very pleasing voice leading ushering us from one chord to the next. As you can see earlier in this video I used C7 as a secondary dominant to the F but then in the next example I added in the Gm7 too. If we think of the C7 as being a V chord (of F) then all I did was add in the ii chord - Gm7. That's all I did in the backdoor example. I began with a backdoor dominant - just the dominant 7 chord (which we could think of as being a V chord) and then I merely added in the Bbm7 as the ii that would lead me to the Eb7 and therefore created a backdoor ii-v - not just a backdoor dominant. Hope that hasn't made things more confusing!

[@johnbirkby2913]

That's great. Thank you.

[@sab8328]

Amazing

[@michaelkeithson]

🙏

[@taquitoburrito6335]

Youre a great tracher ☺️ i learned a lot

[@michaelkeithson]

Thank you! 🙏 Glad it was helpful 👍

[@kcmet79]

Whenever i stumble upon a v (or v7) in place of a V (or V7), i think, that is lovely/useful, why do i never think to do that? lol The use of the flat III(7) is spicy! Great video with all the permutations, and well explained.

[@michaelkeithson]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@brnsnaribm1371]

That gives me a very good idea to play my one two note melody in between and add variations or chord substitute single note melodies

[@michaelkeithson]

Awesome, glad it was useful 👍

[@moogfooger]

I like chords that are not connected. They just dangle there is space with no strings attached! Cheers

[@yozy4996]

Great tutorial... Thank you

[@michaelkeithson]

Thanks, you're very welcome!

[@jenumclucas7014]

The jist of this vid for me was to practice all of my 2-5-1 phrases, because you can just link them together as one way of using passing chords. It’s like inception 😂 a 2-5 inside of another 2-5

[@Jime0326]

Thank you.

[@michaelkeithson]

👍

[@maxbonsi976]

"THE" teacher

[@michaelkeithson]

☺️🙏 Ah, you're too kind!

[@colmcq]

very nice

[@taquitoburrito6335]

@5:40 the C Ehalfdim F always reminds me of a C C7 F.. because boom... Ehalf dim is a C7 without a C note.