NEO SOUL CHORDS EXPLAINED

I've got a new neo soul chord progression and beat for y'all. Watch me break it down and even do some improvisation at the end.
More on secondary dominants here: • How to Make ANY Chord ...
--
My Gear (but does it really matter?):
Saxophone:
Reeds - amzn.to/2byJByQ
Ligature - amzn.to/2b1uYll
Mouthpiece - bit.ly/2acqB6Z
Saxophone - Selmer Mark VI SN: 111XXX - bit.ly/29W1Srz
EWI - amzn.to/2b1EKXj
Production:
Logic Pro X - apple.co/2ddYCu8
Waves Plugins - amzn.to/2cG5ET7
Omnisphere 2 - amzn.to/2cG6RK7
Trillian - amzn.to/2cwDtbL
Keyscape - amzn.to/2i7eQmI
Native Instruments - amzn.to/2cOBGlo
Midi Controller - amzn.to/2bdjNtd
Studio Mic - amzn.to/2cK1LP4
USB Mic - amzn.to/2hwYXFn
Most important gear of all:
Hair - Bb Texture by Bumble and Bumble - amzn.to/2byJROm
--
Instagram: @JeffSchneiderMusic
Facebook: @JSchneiderMusic
Twitter: @JSchneidsMusic
www.JeffSchnei...

[@intensead]

Jeff, I don’t know what your central motivation really is. But I do know that your efforts will inspire both musicians today and the future of souljazz as we know it. Please keep doing what you do. You are writing to next generation of Real Books with every KZbin post. Your legacy will be cemented!

[@michelmusik]

This is incredibilly well put.

[@kdub3153]

Working on it All I'm gonna take a leap with this one and say it's most likely money

[@timmah4476]

Totally agree.. quantum leaping the jazz harmony skills in the age of quantum discoveries!! It’s awesome, I decided to finally start learning sax 🎷 right at the time when I discovered your channel and just soaking up the knowledge that you so very kindly, and with such great precision, humour, gusto and skill put out there!! You are someone who sees the absolutely epic potential in the internet and how we can use / share / up-skill / create networks / help and inspire - genuinely awesome! My sax technique is getting there and au just know I’m going to enjoy and learn from you in a piano / theory and sax sense for ages to come because of your generosity and passion! Thank you Jeff! Your Mum must be very proud, you are indeed a good egg!!! 😁👏👏👏👏

[@DavidDorenfeld]

agreed.

[@mesientogut6701]

@@kdub3153 gotta feed all of our people

[@SamRobson]

Dude that progression is fire

[@Ensorcle]

Hey man, just wanted to let you know you make the coolest chord progressions and your explanations are awesome. I've been really enjoying finding ways to arrange your progressions on guitar--it's really helped bring back my interest in composition and performance. Thanks man.

[@DarienFoo]

I agree with this comment haha #guitaristsunite

[@ApanKoro]

Bass player here, and I must (though it's hard) agree with the guitars here..

[@TheEcletickGamer7]

Acoustic guitar player(and a little guitarist too,lol) here. #stringsunite

[@chaoticgood9297]

Er... Drummer here passing by... Don't mind me.

[@elliotgwynne3890]

Ha!

[@infinty1996]

Sir you are a true hero. I'm an Industrial Designer but I have this crazy love for Jazz and music in general. I'm trying to school myself out of classical and I really enjoy your lesson structures. I hope all of 56,000+ subscribers are active and supportive.

[@Patdiaf]

Bruh, YOU and JT Jarreau24 are both the BEST teachers on KZbin....y'all kill me! BIG fan! Sharing your videos around me too....makes me wanna slap someones cuz its sooooo fresh! I salute you Jeff!

[@Apparentmusic]

reminds me of hiatus kaiyote

[@midinerd]

kinda reminds me of janet jackson anytime, anywhere

[@marquism685]

reminds me of music soul child

[@jstock]

Apparentmusic or Moonchild

[@saravananv9375]

Greatest neosoul band imo

[@dinosaursandi]

This is the best piano lesson teacher I've ever seen on KZbin. I'm not even kidding. LOVE the fact you explain the WHY. Brilliant, thank you so much!

[@Davidkaisermusic]

I let my school's jazz studies professor know about this channel and he's been referring students since then

[@neverready7504]

This makes me want to really learn how to play. I have been dilly dallying on piano for as long as I could remember but I can't play anything like this

[@denizkahyaoglu8156]

u teach complex jazz harmony in such an easily understandable way man ily

[@BiggerPink]

Just watched this whole video. Need to go learn how to play piano. brb.

[@kingasaurio3597]

BiggerPink did you learn?

[@reluct1ntation46]

guess not

[@Zack_Taylor]

learned yet?

[@juantalonaranjo5782]

@@Zack_Taylor dont think so maybe later

[@sanchobob4913]

so have you learned it

[@DoctorlyCargo39]

Loving the videos Jeff! Really informative and inspiring, keep it up! Team Diehards

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

Thank you!

[@jeffreydery]

Thank you so much Jeff. I am impressed at how detailed and yet easy you make this chord progression understandable to someone like me who has no training at all and a very limited understanding of musical terminology. I have become and instant fan !

[@stayover7315]

I like the mixes on your background tracks. Not a ton going on usually, but always nicely mixed.

[@GiovanniBottaMuteWinter]

Very cool progression. I was wondering how you decided to resolve to the Eb via the Db at the end of the progression instead of choosing a 2-5-1 instead. Is this a common soul device?

[@Blargonson1]

Giovanni Botta The most common circumstance I know of which uses a bVII chord is in a "back-door ii-V-I", which isn't really what he's doing here but it's sort of a similar idea I think. Could be worth checking out. I'm also kinda just commenting here cause I wanna know the answer too

[@bingefeller]

The way I think of it, and I could be wrong, is a b5 sub. OK, the resolution chord is Eb major, right? So, C minor is the relative minor of Eb major (and a common substitution for Eb major) and G7 would be the dominant of C minor. Db would be the b5 sub of G7. Plus, you have the consonant structure of Db major going to Eb major, the same shape of chord a half step below, and a strong bassline and everything resolves nicely.

[@alejandrorada4206]

I also wanna know! : )

[@ThePurpelephant]

reminds me of the 'mario cadence' made famous or used a lot in Nintendo music anyways it's a bVI, bVII, I.

[@FreeTheJambon]

Jake Peake Interesting comment about that Mario cadence, do you have any example in mind ?

[@Gutierrez_Felipe]

A McClane from Brazil here! Love your videos

[@TheDrFunkenstein]

Your channel got me laid. I still suck at playing piano but I learned this progression and others and it helps so much in having fun and keeps me practicing. You're the best man.

[@rolandgerard6064]

A real talent for tutorials, great content, thank you.

[@nephuraito]

Not even my musical style but taking the notes, amazing chords

[@georgemandrin3366]

Excellent teaching style Jeff. You the convey the information very thoroughly. Love the use of the bVII as Maj 7. I use it as a sub for I

[@WillsJazzLoft]

Although I know many of those chords, I still need to pay attention to what you're doing and how you're getting it done.

[@JariSatta]

Yahtzee! I like to turn all heptatonic scales into chords and arpeggios, that's 413 scales and chords (w/ max major 3rd leaps) For example, E Phrygian Chord Em11(b9)(b13) E,G,B,D,F,A,C,(E) There's much to learn. (59 scales x 7 modes)

[@humblewerks]

Ditto, just want to say thanks, enjoying the progressions, more, more, more!

[@PeterFnPorker]

love ur teaching style! it just makes sense to me and I'm very hard to teach

[@VicRoseMusic]

I'm learning neo soul from a white guy and couldn't be happier cause this is a great lesson

[@VicRoseMusic]

facts! I know bro it's funny that a white guy is teaching but he's pretty good and gets a pass lol

[@dwaynemusik]

just cause he's being taught by a white guys has nothing to do with any thing music is universal

[@PhrygianPhrog]

The history of music is ENORMOUS, from Japan to Java to the Steppes of Russia to Africa to Europe.

[@vintageelementzonline7597]

kb productions well apparently it means something to him right or he wouldn't have said it..? what you meant to say was it doesn't mean anything to you... Music may be universal in theory but there's no question that diversity of people is the root of diversity of musical styles.

[@WhydoIneedafuckinghandle]

Miles ahead

[@MrMargaretScratcher]

Just about got this now after sessioning it last night for a few hours, and now for about an hour at lunch, including the little turnaround/run down at the end of the two bar pattern. Amazing how quickly you can progress, also very annoying that I haven't been doing this the last 20 or so years...

[@h3rzmus]

I love those chords, but I think this video lesson is still too advanced for me being a novice. Guess I'll check out your other videos! Big thumbs up to your hard work and efforts!

[@Srcsqwrn]

I have NO clue what you're saying about the chords. But I love how this sounds. I'm just trying to learn how to play the keyboard, but it's tough. I hope I can one day make amazing sounds like this.

[@adamp_]

It's been 2 years since you made this comment, are you still playing? Have you achieved what you were hoping for in this comment? Curious to see what happened.

[@gabethebabe8187]

It’s been three years now! We need updates!

[@Srcsqwrn]

I definitely haven't learned piano chords. I don't have a keyboard to practice on. I had also been depressed, and lost mobility in limbs randomly last year, and then got it back. So it's been an uphill battle. I've spent years learning ukulele. Starting guitar lessons soon. But, I have learned a bit more about some chords, starting to learn music theory. I'm trying to take the time to learn the things I care about, now. Maybe in another 3 years I'll be more knowledgeable!

[@gabethebabe8187]

@@Srcsqwrn aw dude I’m sorry to hear that. And that’s great that you’ve kept music in ur life it’s never too late to learn anything! Good luck man

[@Srcsqwrn]

@@gabethebabe8187 Thank you! :D We need to keep pushing ourselves to be better. So, I'm doing my best!

[@K-MoBeatz]

Just pervers. I can't handle that kind of over welmed Chords. It's tooooooo dope. OP-1 German Style Love your stuff.

[@leesmithreviews7179]

Absolutely incredible lesson!

[@William_sJazzLoft]

I'm glad that I'm familiar with most if not all of the chord types represented in the video. I guess I was blessed to have had a father who loved listening to Miles, Trane, Horace Silver, Donald Byrd and Hugh Masekela. As always excellent presentation Jeff. Thx 4 what you do many blessings 2 u

[@jackbeattie3886]

Hey Jeff, Love this vid. Any chance you can upload the backing track so I can jam along with it at my own leisure?? That'd be fantastic! Cheers dude

[@isaacstalling6942]

Just learned this on lap steel! Thank you so much for this tasty goodness

[@Piano_Kid90]

Thanks so much! This groove is so good!!! Using this tomorrow at church

[@viporal7898]

ew

[@benimoo7894]

@@viporal7898 ew yourself indeed

[@viporal7898]

@@benimoo7894 ew an amongus player

[@benimoo7894]

@@viporal7898 ew a kid who’s still in the among us hype

[@viporal7898]

@@benimoo7894 yeah, you

[@danieldavis4120]

omg, what is that lead patch???? it's perfect

[@TheBorgioso]

Yes! please let us know! it was amazing.

[@ociosojones7714]

You could make something similar with a vst that simulates a Prophet/Moog. Decent attack and high speed on the Oscillator LFO modulation for that funky sound :).

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

Funky Guy which is exactly what I did!

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXfQmGyoa9Rgqsk

[@melsoro7311]

I have a keyboard and it has 67 epianos on it . there's a patch called "60's epiano " when I press the keys hard it makes a lead sound

[@sebastiendavis-vangelder1946]

WoW... thanks for taking the time to share all this!

[@howartthoumusic]

You, my friend have a SUB!!! Love dem chords homie. I am all up in this channel!

[@aorules]

Nice chords and great lesson. The notes lighting up really helped as well.

[@georgius65]

Awesome video Jeff! Thanks a million! your lessons are so inspiring!! Greetings from Brussels, Belgium

8:49 leaving this so I can enjoy the solo again later :)

[@SomeFunkyDrummer]

Sound like cory henry!

[@MAYAmusic144]

love your videos! you have such an inspiring, humble and funny way of teaching!

[@Patricknotfound]

came here 6 years late but glad I got to watch this :)

[@LProds]

New subscriber here! I liked that you gave us a little theory and reasoning which for me is the most importante thing, since I don't wanna just copy this progression but be able to understand it and come up with some of my own. So thanks a lot. Very helpful video.

[@yzimsx]

If you don't happen to like "neo soul", try Donald Fagen and Steely Dan for similar harmony progressions.

[@brucemorrison7023]

Found out the best way to learn musically about Fagen/Becker is to look up these "neo-soul" videos lol!

[@roundbaby4749]

Its basically jazz... I guess when you add an electric piano its called "Neo Soul", and if you add words and electric piano you get Steely Dan

[@andrewyerkes4287]

Great playing, clear explaining. Many thanks for the ear-expanding lesson.

[@edphaze6550]

Great stuff man. I have fun finding these voicings on the guitar. And yes, I made it all the way to the end!

[@mrbrickmore]

This guy is my best friend 4 life. . . I love this guy! ! !

[@Furiouslyfunnyfizzix]

This is just great! Well done man. I would call myself an absolute beginner - can barely play the piano, but I love these sounds.

[@suntalkNYC]

Didnt you make that song "Simple Lady" I loved that tune. Killer progression!

[@rapinncapin123]

The solo was nasty, Thank you!

[@JamesDittrich]

Jeff, you should have a million subscribers, great lesson! I was wondering what you're using for the keyboard overlay, I'd love to show people I'm jamming with what I'm playing in realtime???

[@darelleholden4023]

This might be love! Thanks Dude!

[@fjosip1]

Any CHON fans here? :)

[@mirkothrowback2705]

Filip Josipović A total Fan of These guys 🤩

[@danielsemmelrock7808]

hell yeah

[@bubblegumdropout7221]

very nice playing and great explanation I noticed that the chords written are 9sbut you refer to 7s just wanted to point that out in case someone slow like me gets confused as well. thanks for the cool information.

[@havokmusicinc]

Bubble Gum Drop Out when you use a 9 chord, the b7 is assumed. This is because the 7 is an important note like the 3rd - since the 7 can massively change the chord's tonality. A 9 chord without the 7th would be notated as add9 (C E G D), and a 9 chord with no 7rd or 3rd would be a sus2 (C D G). The same goes for other chords - 11 assumes the 7 and 9, and so on.

[@gslondon]

Havok he's referring to what's written on the screen. Jeff says 7 screen says 9. I also got a little off track but stuck with the 9s. Has nothing to do with what you said.

[@stacystacksbeats999]

Hey Jeff thx again. My question is how do I get from self taught to actually making things work and comprehending them. I can write songs off the top of my head, with actually no effort at all. You could walk up to me and say make up a song and I could do it easily. I can also make up songs on the keyboard or drum machine easily, but I need movement of chords you know changes in the song like arrangements. Bringing it to life and learning styles. Can you help me understand my self in not only creating but finishing with knowledge of what I'm doing. Plz. It feels like I'm trapped.

[@FrankSax77]

My Bebop Theory book makes a big deal of how the focus needs to be Movement over Chord Changes, like you say (not on individual chords). As a jazz player, I feel you on the sweet voodoo of creating chord movement--like in these here Neo-Soul changes by Prof Schneider!

[@samgendler]

Bebop theory book? Got a link?

[@FrankSax77]

Stacy and Samuel, book I got is Joe Riposo "Bebop Scales" now I'll try to play the link-- www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/Bebop-Scales-Jazz-Scales-And-Patterns-In-All-12-Keys-sheet-music/19121292?d=sem_sidecar&popup=false&d=sem_sidecar&popup=false&country_code=USA&scid=scplp19121292&sc_intid=19121292&mkwid=s|pcrid|88276238542&kw=&gclid=CjwKEAiA_p_FBRCRi_mW5Myl4S0SJAAkezZrxTVsE4b4dDaTgetBQ7bMLYM8Js6uRKDOm3Oc5amNkBoCgd7w_wcB

[@stacystacksbeats999]

Thanks very much!

[@stacystacksbeats999]

Thanks very much!

[@gbear67]

Just found you channel. You’re the best. Very motivating stuff.

[@randykinder268]

This was quite helpful and inspiring - I was playing along on guitar. Cheers!

[@witttrantum1298]

im a diehard!! and this is amazing....definetally stealing some of this. sorry, not sorry>:)

[@trumanwealth]

Neo chords were used in Sorry Not Sorry by Demi Lovato lol

[@FreshRichi]

That was fun to watch and listen to!!! Bless!!!

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

Thanks so much!

[@FreshRichi]

You're more than welcome!! 😉✌🏾

[@pmatz]

excellent teaching and explanations. thanks man. i dig it!

[@kurtdiedericks5712]

This is so great thank you !

[@jeanounou]

Very nice, very nice! Music for grown-up ears.

[@foreverfricasee]

Keep up the great work bro.

[@airy_610]

Thank u for doing those video. it:s really helpful, i really really appreacitate. You have no idea how much i wanna learn, and u just explain them so clear, thank u!!!

[@ThePianofreaky]

You can also play the Db Lydian scale over the Db maj7 which has the same notes as an Ab Maj scale.

[@lolobuggah2670]

Can you explain how you arrived at the DbMaj9? How does it relate?

[@rapinncapin123]

Bb minor 9 Bb, Db, f, Ab, C The Db chord relates to the upper structure, the 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th.

[@paxwallacejazz]

Hey, man don't rain on my parade I didn't know that that was a cliche line I use it instinctively because it so nicely defines that melodic minor tonality/diminished whole tone/super-Locrian tonality oh well I guess I just hear it.

[@jorrelsgenun4423]

So amazing. I'm so interested

[@rossjlennox]

Thank you Jeff - I've played piano (at a mediocre level) for years, and wanted to know the 'secrets' to these voicings since I was listening to hip-hop back in the mid 90s. You clearly have an exceptional ear and the way you break the theory down for us mere mortals is second to none. Thanks again, brother.

[@draunt7]

If anyone wants to hear a song that incorporates this a bit.Search up Steppin on my rhyme by Skiggy Rapz and Tienus

[@yangxu8954]

I learned so much from this, thank you!

[@TheBorgioso]

I must know what synth lead that was. PLEASE.

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

DrZaius I made it with a Moog emulator!

[@mrm3861]

Do you have a link to it?

[@omarrochet]

DrZaius Go home Harambe. You're not a meme anymore.

[@Justin.002]

That was really sick...

[@AmagrasMUSIC]

Been years since I tried to play that Cm11 voicing in the guitar, you can only do it on F#m11 without a capo using open strings. Cool lesson!

[@tempgig]

Great lesson for an old school guy like me!

[@davidk.5555]

THANK YOU! Surprising difficult trying to find a succinct, yet thorough explanation of the jazzy ideas behind "neo-soul." The music theory behind jazz is crucial and your videos satisfy that need. A lot of videos out there are littered with abrupt playing and unfocused teaching. Sure, this is youtube, but in this case beggars CAN be choosers, and we choose you Jeff - thanks again!

[@leebooker3288]

Awesome!!!AweSOme!!!Awesome!!!

[@mooremoneymakin]

Dude, loving these videos! I'm a songwriter getting into more jazzy chords lately and this is all super useful to me :-).

[@batlin]

Omitting the 5th of the Db and Eb major 9th chords worked really well here!

[@wastedninjadude]

The 5th is often left out in jazz and jazz influenced music so all the extended tones are accentuated.

[@HeavyGee84]

bro, you are the sickest, illist, omfg....i love this. it helped me so much on my guitar playing. Music is win sent me

[@dhpbear2]

It gets quite Pentatonic near the end! (7:55)

[@davidguerre6896]

really cool chords and well explained, perfect for someone like me who hasn't been playing for a long while ;) cheers! just subbed ;)

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+david guerre welcome to the channel. Glad you're enjoying the chords!

[@robinmiller7958]

You are channeling Donnie Hathaway, glad I came across this video! The explanations are a little too technical for me but the playing is great.

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

Thanks so much! Love Donnie!

[@WillsJazzLoft]

OK, I know which preset you're using! It's the 'reed' EP

[@fernandomoreno7753]

wow thats beautiful man. as a guitar I feel so stuck to block non colorful chords

[@gleeps91]

awesome video, man! chord progression sounds like Moonchild or Erykah

[@CamiloAparicioErnst]

that was very hiatus like! great stuff!

[@MeechyBrownProductions]

This is sooooooo dope!

[@LukeGaulMusic]

Using an Amin7b5 before starting the chord progression over might make the transition to the Gm different a slightly interesting!

[@Muzikmanflames]

Very nice. great explanation!!!

[@warrenthornton5131]

Sick...I love it

[@paxwallacejazz]

I have been experimenting a bit (one composition) with resolving up a whole step but using a dominant 7+11. This works because the Dominant7+11 is the perfect tritone substitution chord so in your case a Db resolving down to C minor is kinda the same as resolving up a whole step to Eb major7 relative major. Interesting kinda sorta oblique your progression.

[@ZacBarnesMusic]

Great video! What program are you using to track your midi input on the screen?

[@officergregorystevens5765]

as a piano player/keyboard player and guitarist including the bass.. one thing i've hated on the piano outside major and minor triads, anything like a 9 chord or more complex, is stepping up and down by a half tone etc, because it's so much easier on a guitar or fretted instrument, and the layout of a piano keyboard is kind of counterintuitive to say the least. it was really designed to play in not much more than one key

[@Eric1396]

Great teaching

[@sethatronifyable]

2:08 For the Eb13sus chord, why do you call the Ab a 4 instead of an 11? Also why don't you call the chord an Eb13sus4, so as to not get confused with a sus2?

[@robinbramlett110]

Jooby Tondray He was correct in calling the Ab a 4 instead of an 11 as the 4 is the foundation for a sus chord or sus4 chord in this case. As to his choice to use the Eb13sus terminology instead of Eb13sus4, in practice, it is usually implied that it is a sus4 unless a sus2 is noted.

[@CharlesK441]

You are the BOSS!!

[@alexkeegan5933]

Favourite use of Eb13sus is in 'John Coltrane - Naima' mmhmmm

[@havokmusicinc]

Alex Keegan Such a lush progression in that song, and a beautiful melody too. Coltrane was a master at harmony and regularly studied modern classical music for ideas. He used to carry around a copy of the famous textbook "20th Century Harmony" everywhere.

[@Kayan]

Yo this is sooooo good, written a spoken word/rap sort of song over this killer progression, is there some place where I could mail it to you? Your videos are super, keep me interested and wanting to know more! Thanks!

[@JeffSchneiderMusic]

+Ambika Nayak would love to hear! Please email me at [e-mail]

[@diamondwebb5749]

He knows that theory boi!