Neo-Soul Concepts and the Art of the Sound

#funkyneosoul #neosoulchords #neosoulchords #neosoulpiano #learnpiano
Purchase Here - gospelmusicians.com/products/...
The Fundamentals of Neo-Soul Keyboard is one of the hottest and most coveted DVDs every made. Let's face it, musicians love neo-soul, because it is a genre that posses the smoothness of soul; the improvisational creativity of jazz; the grit of hip-hop; and the head-bobbing phenomena of funk.
You can't get these chords with your neighborhood piano teacher. These chords are "secret" chords that the streets possess and are shared only in underground basement shed sessions. For the first time, these secret chords will be exposed for all of it's funky glory. You get a little over an hour of the phattest neo-soul chord progressions that you hear on the radio or from your favorite neo-soul artists. We spent time in the studio showing the movements, then we took time to chart out all of the movements in a nice score. You get the MIDI files for your tracks and for your virtual MIDI viewer such as MIDIculous. Finally you get tons of theory booklets and resources so that you actually understand what you are playing. The notations are so easy to follow and very simple to understand.
From coming from a gospel background, we can all agree that musicians love neo-soul and these concepts that we teach can be applied to every urban genre of music from gospel to R&B. If you are looking to finally make some smooth grooves with your tracks and become an urban producer, then this DVD will give you all the tools to produce your first album. If you are getting a little bored with the same chords you've been playing all the time, now it's time totally transform your style by adding a touch of neo-soul to your keyboard playing!.
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Software
Virtual Keys Used: gospelmusicians.com/midiculou...
Pure Synth Platinum: gospelmusicians.com/pure-synt...
Neo-Soul Keys Studio 2 (EP Sounds): neosoulkeys.com/
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Video Equipment:
Camera Used - amzn.to/2YUILpz
Camera Lens - amzn.to/2AmOD1g
Camera Hardrive - amzn.to/38oDzND
Video Capture Card - amzn.to/2Ztwyax
Video Lights: amzn.to/2P1XetT
Soft Box: amzn.to/30Pnopd
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Audio Equipment:
Audio Interface - amzn.to/3gfXZuY
Keyboard/Synth - amzn.to/2BXpf2E
Monitor Speakers - amzn.to/30QyPNu
Mixer - amzn.to/2O2qccZ
Main Mics - amzn.to/3ivU0g7
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Misc Equipment:
Main Computer - amzn.to/2OUeEsm
Recording Drive: amzn.to/3jDJjZl
Bass Player: Jamaal Andrews:
Jamaal_R_Andrews on Instagram
Jamaal Andrews on Facebook
Jamaal Andrews on Twitter
My Equipment List:
Video Equipment:
Camera Used - amzn.to/2YUILpz
Camera Lens - amzn.to/2AmOD1g
Camera Hardrive - amzn.to/38oDzND
Video Capture Card - amzn.to/2Ztwyax
Audio Equipment:
Audio Interface - amzn.to/3gfXZuY
Keyboard/Synth - amzn.to/2BXpf2E
Monitor Speakers - amzn.to/3irsIak
Mixer - amzn.to/2O2qccZ
Main Mics - amzn.to/3ivU0g7
Singing Mic - amzn.to/31Fwya2
Misc Equipment:
Main Computer - amzn.to/2OUeEsm

[@tuneunleashed]

Jamal don’t disappear again dude. We are going back to 2007-2011. Keep doing Neo-Soul you’re giving me nostalgia!!!

[@lucaskdf]

sometimes feels like he's trying to talk, but he can't stop playing

[@Stuup1dTheProducer]

This man is a national treasure!!! Really enjoyed this

[@GospelMusicians]

Stuup1d The Producer man humbled bro 👍🏽

[@MaxIsBackInTown]

Here a a few tips i picked up from this 1 ) He's playing pretty large chords that often have some sort of 2nd interval that give the chord a really nice bite to it, for example: Left Hand : Eb3, C4 Right Hand :Db4,Ab4,Eb5 The interval of a second is between C4 & Db4 and the chord is something like an Eb7sus4(13) 2) sporadic use of gospel cadences 12:30 3)lots of grace notes 4) arpeggiates the chord 5) Melodic ideas using 4ths 10:56 6) Mode mixture/modal interchange (this might be complex) Mode Mixture is when you borrow a chord or chords from a mode(key) that you’re not currently in but use it anyway. The progression starting at 10:33 has the chords AbMaj(9)/ Eb, Bbmaj7(9)/F, Dbmaj7(9)/Ab , Ebmaj7(9)/Bb. Many of these chords look like the come from F dorian however if you play the home chord of f dorian (F minor) at the end of the progression it doesn’t sound resolved. It sound much more resolved if you play an F major at the end of the progression. Essentially he’s taking chords from F dorian but using them in F major. There a several possible ways to interpret this progression but I’ve decided to use this because I believe most people will have better luck with this. 7) The Keys sound is very important

[@chaggle]

Love the analysis thanks!

[@thedonbishop55]

Dude, please teach me. You really know your music theory.

[@guidohlizzi06]

This guy plays top-notch neo-soul and simplifies the explanation so well, that with enough practice anyone can do what he does. He’s just TOO GOOD. And I’m an advanced player myself. Humbling to watch.

[@cornellcomer72]

I have been buying products for years because I support my people. I am glad that the product is outstanding. And I will continue to buy just so you know.

[@GospelMusicians]

cornell comer Brotha thanks so much!

[@jazzfunkhead6866]

Brother Jamal your work is fire as always! Young bucks out there please look, listen and learn. Check out the smile on his face! This is all feel and the love of music regardless of what keyboard you use. No better formula! If you're not feeling it the audience wont either. And for a bonus you get old school "Popeye the sailor" effects!! Keep it coming brother Jamal. Life long fan.

[@hyda-jameshill1035]

Man! I still watch your videos where you and the musicians are just jamming!

[@alexbonfield7630]

Flink it... flunk, flink and overlap

[@cliffordWinder]

Love the degree to which we see you love what you do!

[@anthonysamra7777]

I could listen to you play all day, Brah! So talented

[@GospelMusic4Life]

Nice to see you posting again.

[@accountantguy2]

It looked like Jamal was having so much fun that it was hard to end the video! The sound really comes alive with the bass! I would love a video on Neo-Soul bass.

[@Soundcloud765]

Thank you thank you thank you! Studying using your awesome tutorials ! Greetings from UK 🎹🧚‍♀️

[@debralynnpaxton5238]

Love it !

[@hasandarwish9342]

Dude this is awesome! Your tone, progressions, and knowledge is awesome, thank you for this content :)

[@wayneklassik]

I’m glad you’re back 🙏🏾

[@erictadashiabe1981]

Wow! Thank you for that!

[@fernandopowell1223]

Love this so easy to understand

[@wadesharp11]

This guy is high on life man😍❤️god bless brother thank u

[@zeekanyc]

Love it

[@GYPTXVN]

soo amazing

[@kdee5802]

love it

[@elianmusic7452]

This isnt super explanatory brother If you would do a series of videos that actually deeply explain whats going on, if youre in a key or not, what scale degrees youre using, what voicingins and how you chose them, what chord qualities etc ... it would be gold. Please do that id pay money for it. Please, id kill to play like this

[@lucasturney4269]

They have in-depth series' on the theory behind Neo Soul and Gospel on their site.

[@user-yq1yv3rr5y]

Jamal is primarily a guy who learns and plays by ear. That's why he sounds so good - it's embedded in his soul from years of listening to the greats, not studying theory books. But that also means that he may not be able impart his knowledge to us as easily as you may think. There are heaps of kids on YT teaching neo-soul theory perfectly, but i doubt they'll ever sound as authentic as Mr Hartwell.

[@PhilWilkinsonMusic]

Sounds so dope. Moving all those dense minor 11 chords around in parallel like that. You gotta hear that top note and sing it! The chords follow the top note so working from the top down. So much going on in your playing right there. What you just played could fill a book. Love it! God Bless.

[@jacobdavis4017]

Beautiful sounds, video and insight

[@pianoproductions9059]

Thanks so much will try out some of this stuff definitely! :) That patch sounds awesome

[@SirMayaba]

Thank you so much for the lessons sir. Been watching almost all of them. All the way from South Africa.

[@oluwafemiolumide1365]

Sweet neosoul

[@XXXXBossXXXX]

Man i love your videos! Been locked up in this house, thank you for all the teachings and wisdom in music! 🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@phronesiskofi7382]

Keep the great work sir

[@jotabearantes]

I just love it, monsters!!!!!!!!

[@Aleredes]

Fantástico!

[@user-mi2jj5iw2x]

That bass slide at 9:53-9:55.

[@bossalicious6821]

Laying it smooth

[@vonmadeit7395]

Most legendary musician of our generation ✊🏽💯. Super GOAT. Hope all is well OG. Much Respect.

[@GospelMusicians]

Man I'm humbled bro!

[@bridgeforthsolutions3034]

That was sick like butter.

[@beatrocka5]

Shout out to the bass player!!

[@dwaynemusik]

Definitely that mr Roger's smooth jazzy sound

[@doce7606]

you were there at the beginning i remember you and Mike Bereal churchin' me... your sounds and ideas are even hipper now wow... subscribed...

[@RogerontheKeys]

Super nice

[@InspiraDrone]

Thats too many magic envolved!!!! ;)

[@brianclements7276]

Would love to see you do a collab with Doobie and Kevin Powell. So many ears are waiting for the that blessing!!! Another awesome tutorial !!!!!!

[@davidblanc458]

It's so cool your overlapping the two hands technique, I just tried overlapping with the left hand doing a bass+ fifth+ tenth, because I don't have a bass player, and even on normal piano it sounds great! I had no idea these chords existed XD

[@sahrkellie9726]

Great lesson mannn i love Pure Synth. Purchased it back in 2018. Im here to learn music theory for Sync Licensing

[@DragisaBoca]

Shout out to the killer basist! :)

[@francineparris9503]

Nice,!

[@CatPhil]

Tremendous

[@terrashae5300]

Lol your vibe is off the charts

[@mrgooakalegooster]

nice and sweet

[@tavaresbarnes77]

wow.. Jamaal Andrews ...

[@jaudiosolutions6701]

I love when you play, the sky goes down

[@GospelMusicians]

Thanks so much

[@lifeword2434]

Jamal we need , an additional fingerings barre, showing your hands over keys

[@aryan-vh6vy]

Hi sir this is literally spiritual! Amazing and I’m so grateful to have come across this video! Had a quiiick question.. Whose EP were you referencing? I think you said Mr Rogers but I wasn’t sure

[@BlaickXD]

Dude, just watching that guy smile when jamming is curing my depression, I'm totally composing a neo-soul tune now fuck it x)

[@GospelMusicians]

So honored....stay encouraged man!

[@charisma8348]

This is great! You should do some simple gospel movements next

[@michaelhunt7657]

Would love to have a camera view of your hands, especially for demonstration of the overlap.

[@geebee44]

Boy you're cold! funky cold spiritual mugician!

[@KeymanMane]

Back in his element

[@angelofthishouse]

Yessir

[@mrbrickmore]

Well Church..... This is video is a true blessing 🙏

[@MichaelWilliams-vq1bh]

Hey I dig what you showing I'm taking you serious

[@easypianolessonswithivotom1973]

What a creamy NeoSoulish feel😍

[@creativeroom365]

You should’ve like an overhead camera just to show your fingers on the keyboard

[@bossalicious6821]

I noticed the chords you play have a lot of IV stacked on top of the I, and then adding extensions on the IV. Is that the right way to look at it? Where can I learn more about playing neo soul chords? Thanks!

[@vonmadeit7395]

There are a few (white) cats on youtube “teaching” neo soul (if that’s even possible) but they just don’t have it. We need you here brah. These videos influenced MILLIONS everywhere brah

[@TheTopProgrammer]

Im a white cat tryna learn soul lol. I need to practice my scales alot more though and understand music theory better than I do now

[@amorphouskaron4777]

It has nothing to do with color. It’s feeling. (Soul)

[@TheTopProgrammer]

@@amorphouskaron4777 Yeah but in the original comment it clearly states it is kinda about color. I was trying to toss out the notion that it was cause its not, its about the feeling like you said.

[@miraclessaint-hilaire4941]

Like no white cats have soul lol

[@Art--Deco]

Dayum, the beat is SO incredibly silky...... got me sayin' DAMN DAMN DAMN! like Florida Evans.

[@KwoliToli]

This dude can go all day lololol

[@davidcesar2044]

Are ya’ll gonna put new soul keys II on discount/sale during Labor Day? Asking for a friend! Love your content!

[@GospelMusicians]

We just launched a sale today......Need to joint our mailing list. Use Coupon code: BACK2SCHOOL2020

[@sonikblaksmif]

Neo Soul Midi Files? Please.. Been rocking wit u yrs n yrs watching u go full gray LOL.. Brotha in Christ n Tech

[@ball4GOD]

Can you show us your video and audio set up?

[@pajrinrizki]

I want to ask sir, please reply🙏 Is that software Work for my Keyboard "Roland Juno DI"? Or u can tell me what the software can I use in my Keyboard "Roland Juno DI" 🙏 Sorry my english so bad, I'm from Indonesia. I'm so glad to know u sir😇

[@dcplyr]

Not bad at all.

[@rocsire]

Peace ,Yo Jamal , will I get all of these sounds (suitcase , stage , etc .) if I download Jamal's Flash and will it work on the Montage ? Are there any performances with drum groove on the flash ? Peace God Bless you man

[@johnjohnson7122]

neo soul is gospel + jazz

[@artonion420]

+ dilla beats

[@michaelopara470]

What app are you using to tune the piano?

[@GospelMusicians]

It’s the Suitcase Expansion in Neo-Soul Keys - gospelmusicians.com/products/suitcase-expansion

[@diggyonutube]

Need that T shirt. Is it available?

[@oyeyemioyelere9193]

What is the name of that sequencer

[@JBRitchie8]

How do you come with chords so easily without even thinking? How do I practice?

[@callumwalsh6184]

I think from watching his past videos is that he takes common chord shapes like his minor 9 chord he mentioned, making sure that the 9 is next to the b3. A way to think about this is in a C Min9 chord, the notes are C, Eb, G and D, being the 1, b3, 5 and 9 respectively. However he plays them in a different order or voicing, so that the D and theEb are next to each other, creating that dissonance that you may hear, and gives life to these chords. From this point you take a musical scale like C Dorian as he mentioned (which is the Bb major note scale starting on the second note giving us C, D, Eb, F, G, A, Bb) and from hear, play chords like the minor 9 chord I mentioned earlier and play it on any note of the scale. Some chords will sound better with this technique, and others will feel quite spicy and a way to this about this is looking at the minor chords in our scale. The minor chords in C Dorian (or Bb major) are G minor, C minor and D minor. this means that the less spicy chords will be the chords like GMin9, CMin9 and DMin9. Of course you can choose other chord types than minor 9, for example Min6/9 which is a chord often found in D’Angelo songs, especially in the intro to sSpanish Joint, which features a repeating vamp of CMin going to FMin6/9. Other available chords are min7, min11 and of course many other chords that may be altered, or major, but major sounds are less prominent. A knowledge of this, I imagine, is built up through personal preference, knowing what chords sound good together, and which do not, and often this is subjective. I would try moving chord shapes around the keyboard (or whatever instrument you play) first and from there looking to include different voicings of the same chords, and grace notes as he explained. This kind of technique where you move the same chords around is called locked hands technique and is something that can be seen across Gospel and Neo-Soul. Hope this helps, happy practising :)

[@caleb5780]

Reminds me of when you turn on a gameboy advance

[@seljoypro]

So is this NICEMS patch in Neo Soul Keys 2 on the iPad? Is it renamed? I need this man!

[@GospelMusicians]

I didn’t change any patches. This patch is on the Pure Synth Suitcase Expansion. Don’t worry, I’m bringing this expansion to NSK Soon.

[@laptop2456]

Yo @ The OG Jamal is still that guy! ✊

[@GospelMusicians]

Matt Fields Man think you so much. It means a lot

[@laptop2456]

Yes sir most definitely!

[@terrymiller111]

Electric piano with some extra color.

[@aiwnkeyzgm3707]

HEllo Jamala, You are the world I love your produktion GM and OYur Plugin Instrumet is Bets of best ! please i have Pure synt PL2, Please where can I find your Suitcase Cream ?

[@GospelMusicians]

Https://NeoSoulKeys.com

[@prodbyfelixhien]

hey man, what is your suggeastion to practice all these lush voicings. any systematics?

[@mattytrane]

Joe Pass talks about this in simple terms. Think about any chord as having a function, major, minor or dominant. Any extension or alteration to these chords provides access to another "color" or melody note that can add all kinds of tensions. In major tonalities 6th/9ths are really nice and lush, you will hear these in lots of Django Reinhardt's stuff. I like a lot of minor 9ths and 11ths particularly in jazz/modal pieces (Say Miles Davis e.g.). Likewise for dominant chords and substitutions. To practice this stuff find tunes/loops/backing tracks that have classic chord progressions like e2-5-1, minor 2-5-1, 1-6-2-5 etc and practice superimposing these fuller voices into them. Each time through try changing something about your approach. Find out the 'sound' you like, and try and figure out WHAT IT IS about that sound that is fresh to you. If you pay enough attention you'll be both learning AND developing your own sound. Good luck!

[@starrybenchstudios]

@@mattytrane very helpful thank you

[@oscaranaya-aguirre6142]

How do I make my piano sound like this

[@GospelMusicians]

You mean the sound of the EP or the chords specifically?

[@saturnsabyss]

Find a Rhodes EP VST

[@pshabza9191]

Plz release neo soul albums plz

[@GospelMusicians]

music.apple.com/us/album/neo-sould-out/485976180

[@AceeSoul]

He already did and it was Creamy to the max

[@gereilanderson4815]

@@GospelMusicians would be nice to do a virtual live Neo Soul concert on Social Media platforms, I think that would be awesome !👌

[@Melloremnant]

Yo Mr. J, which dvd do you have the breakdown the gospel number system for keyboard

[@mikegraham92]

Fundamentals of Neo Soul

[@michaelhunt7657]

Tried some of the Amazon links in the description and not working. Can those links be updated?

[@GospelMusicians]

Tested the links and they all seem to be working. Which links in particular are not working?

[@michaelhunt7657]

I was looking at the computer link and no computer came up.

[@michaelhunt7657]

It’s a link to Amazon “Deal of the Day”

[@GospelMusicians]

@@michaelhunt7657 Ok thanks for letting us know. We updated it - amzn.to/2OUeEsm

[@bumchong1]

2:52 ill

[@kabelomkhabela4766]

Is this preset currently available?

[@GospelMusicians]

It is available a the Suitcase expansion for either Pure Synth or NSK

[@kabelomkhabela4766]

@@GospelMusicians Awesome. Thanks for the prompt response.

[@ludwigmusic97]

Sous titre français please

[@jeremyvanbriesies1940]

at what particular point do the bassist come in ..🤔...how does he know where and how to play ...he's sharp

[@Dadee3]

*Screens, audio, etc. You know, super common technology we have today in 2020. Smh lol.*

[@rustyshield]

That's all feeling. the empty spaces, fills, keeping in rythm with the drummer. Sometimes, you would let the pianist play a bit, and you play under them, then they would let you do a few bars.. but this bassist is playing as the teacher plays to add to the lesson, and then he stops when the pianist stops to talk about what he just played, really that's what's happening in this vid. Also, they may have practiced before the vid, so the bassist knew the keys before hand.

[@basspicker26]

Honestly I just picked the spots I felt comfortable playing over and went for it. No rehearsal, I heard what he played once and the I started vibing out. Also I've been playing bass for about 30 yrs now, so hearing what to play is pretty much natural at this point. Thanks!!

[@P4boot]

@@basspicker26 OMG you guys are insane! 😂 what key is that even in?? All I can see is him jamming every adjacent key! Lol I watch these to calm my anxiety in life and watch him smile. I don't hope to learn anything too advanced!!

[@alexanderyozzo]

@@P4boot I think he’s doing F Dorian mostly(F major with flat 3 and flat 7) same as (F minor with raised 6) but he plays outside of the scale notes too, sorta “breaking” the rules when you know how. - edited, F dorian not G dorian

[@FUFUWO]

...you can do this, you can do that.... UMM HOW?! how are you building the chords? What is your thought process, etc... no concept here brotha. sounds cool but no theory.

[@MaxIsBackInTown]

1 ) He's playing pretty large chords that often have some sort of 2nd interval that give the chord a really nice bite to it for example Left Hand : Eb3, C4 Right Hand :Db4,Ab4,Eb5 The interval of a second is between C4 & Db4 and the chord is something like an Eb7 sus4(13) 2) sporadic use of gospel cadences 12:30 3)lots of grace notes 4) arpeggiates the chord 5) Melodic ideas using 4ths 10:56 6) Mode mixture/modal interchange (this might be complex) Mode Mixture is when you borrow a chord or chords from a mode(key) that you’re not currently in but use it anyway. The progression starting at 10:33 has the chords AbMaj(9)/ Eb, Bbmaj7(9)/F, Dbmaj7(9)/Ab , Ebmaj7(9)/Bb. Many of these chords look like the come from F dorian however if you play the home chord of f dorian (F minor) at the end of the progression it doesn’t sound resolved. It sound much more resolved if you play an F major at the end of the progression. Essentially he’s taking chords from F dorian but using them in F major. There a several possible ways to interpret this progression but I’ve decided to use this because I believe most people will have luck with this. 7) piano sound is very important

[@beatrocka5]

The site has a Neo Soul DVD that explains a lot of that stuff, FYI.

[@lucasturney4269]

@@beatrocka5 I was about to add that they have in-depth series' on the theory behind Neo Soul and Gospel. Did no one check their site? XD

[@beatrocka5]

@@lucasturney4269 I have. I've spent a lotta money on his stuff.

[@lorenzogrilli21]

which preset were you using? Where can I buy the preset pack of it for my pure synth platinum 2?

[@GospelMusicians]

Pure Synth Platinum with the Suitcase Expansion

[@lorenzogrilli21]

Just bought it! ❤

[@P4boot]

So neosoul is basically mashing all the keys in the scale? How come it doesn't sound right for me?? 😂

[@SeoFam01]

Creamy.

[@rokocekalovic5342]

Great stuff! Could you please tell me what is the software you use for the keyboard display that is shown in the lower half in the video? Thanks!

[@GospelMusicians]

Links in the description

[@afrikaansekind]

It’s almost like he’s playing abstract chords. Abstract chording

[@HarmoniqMusiq]

Hey. Think maybe it seems like harmonizing melody with not changing chord function...

[@JSoulKeys]

I think, we should create a neo soul expansion pack for PSP2 ;)... let's get to it bruh haha

[@GospelMusicians]

Vikesh Tailor Great idea my friend