Easy 2-5-1 Jazz Improvisation with Pentatonic Scale

[@danwilson6890]

This lesson has totally blown me away!! You can learn all the theory and practice that all the universities and colleges of the world can offer, but until someone who knows and understands at this level can play it, teach it, and show you exactly what to do, it won't come all together. Oliver, you brought it all together for me. I am 56, earned a B.A. in Music Composition, but never learned the secret of playing this great genre on piano. Thank you, thank you, and THANK YOU!

[@cannabis1490]

great comment !

[@pippilotta3511]

Learning Jazz is like learning a completely new instrument.

[@henrychua6476]

I’m 75, started formal piano lessons at 5, played the trumpet and French horn at university brand. No one dared to teach this to me like you just did. I’m eternally grateful.

[@kristopherdetar3552]

@@henrychua6476 This guy is a genius, and so calming a voice to not scatter my nerves at age 62, when learning new material.

[@G_Demolished]

@@kristopherdetar3552He reminds me of the guy who does the triad pairs lessons, if that’s not him. Very chill voice and similar accent.

[@Captainhit]

5 YEARS of music conservatory and was never taught this - yes we had classes in ALL the major styles of music!! THANK YOU!!!

[@larryclair2195]

You lit up life. Started playing piano at age 12, 77 years old now. What a blessing your video is. Thankyou Sir.

[@alejandrobarros780]

I've studied music during seven years and never anyone teach me that the music can be so closely and easy to play, you don't know how much i´m grateful for what you've done with this video!!!

[@jessalvo6375]

You are the best...I wish I found you 60 years ago. You explained the basic of jazz piano playing better than anyone else. I'm 71 now but I wish its not too late. Hats off to you, kudos, bravos and a million thanks! And thank you KZbin. I wasted a lot of money on a lot of paper work. I'm glad I lived this long.

[@stephenbru]

Jes Salo...You are so right!!! I'm 68 years old and I was thinking the same thing!!!...

[@CudderMC]

It's not too late my friend !!!!

[@tomsgig-taxi5577]

There is only three "too late" points in life: once your fingers don't work no more, or your brain. Or you have passed the finish line. Everything else is a "just right" point :)

[@sheikhahmed2871]

Yes !! Keep movin n improvin mate

[@damirskrjanec]

It's not too late! You can type, you can play!

[@brunoamaral8881]

I am almost crying right now because of this lesson. A HUGE AHA moment turned out in my head. This is art. Thank you so much!

[@Livengoodproject]

I know

[@seanonel]

Mr Prehn, I've just watched this video again and am - once more - blown away by the quality of what you teach. My playing had improved CONSIDERABLY because of your knowledge shared with us. You are a true KZbin treasure. Please don't ever lose your humility and graciousness as so many successful KZbinrs do. Learning from you is like a guilty pleasure for me!

[@cedricfrancis5662]

More than a decade ago, I told myself that I wanted to learn Jazz. However, I wasn't finding anything on KZbin that showed the theoretical and practical patterns easy enough for me to follow. After watching this video and the one titled "the 10 steps to improve jazz", I learned so much that I couldn't believe that so much content could fit in 1 hour. I am so excited to watch more of these videos, but it will take me a little while to master what I have learned from just these 2. I have known about the pentatonic scale for years but never really saw the need to practice it. After seeing Mr. Prehn teaching the pentatonic hand grip and demonstrating it so beautifully, I immediately had a high level of respect for the scale and is now motivated to practice it. Its more than 5 yrs since I've had a motivation like this to practice. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and skills with us Mr. Prehn. I will definitely be following your videos as I have already suscribed to your channel.

[@TheAsyou]

Finally!!! a great music course (new jazz) after searching for 20 years. this is the best lesson so far. Some will pretend to teach you music but I feel like their main goal is to confuse you more or maybe they just lack the teaching skill who knows. but this guy is gifted for teaching music. Amazing . thank you.

[@henrychua6476]

It took 70 years before I learned this valuable lesson I’ve been in search of. I’m eternally grateful to you.

[@LeonardoGiordani]

Oliver, thanks so much for this lesson. It speaks volumes that as a guitarist I had to watch a video by a pianist to get a grip of the basics. Many other (guitar) videos begin flooding the lesson with scales, arpeggios, substitutions, you name it, all great and useful things, but very confusing for a beginner. It's also good to see that it's not just guitarists who think in shapes! Thanks a lot, keep up the good work!

[@cannabis1490]

Great, great, great lesson! Never seen it explained like this before in all my 40 years of piano playing! You have great musical skill. Awesome tutor/video/tutorial. Thank you for sharing.

[@cedricfrancis5662]

You are one of the best online music teachers that I've ever come across. Your ability to teach the theory and to demonstrate it so beautifully, is nothing short of exceptional

[@shaynealison3390]

Brilliant. After having played for 40+ years, your logical well articulated explanation of the simple tools behind the otherwise complex theoretical gymnastics has taken me to a new level of keyboard enjoyment !!!

[@RL82]

I've been a self-taught player for years.... this video might be the most impressive learning tool to start advancing my progress and taking it to the next level. Thank you so much.

[@korento3000]

I wish I had found this ten years ago!! The best YT piano jazz teacher so far. Until finding New Jazz I never truly appreciated the power of the circle of fifths, 251, church scales or pentatonic scales, or really understood how to practice them in a way that also strikes a chord in my head, pun intended. Fabulous. More please!

[@ГеоргийШу-с9щ]

Дорогой, Оливер ,где вы были 50 лет назад , как же мне не хватало этих знаний. Низкий вам поклон.

[@jakatak9329]

I am as moved and excited as everyone else. The power of music is mind blowing. The chance to actually create music is so powerful. This video lesson helps in-measurably in helping me create music. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge in a way that makes so much sense.

[@AndrewColyerMusic]

HOLY CRAP!!! I've been looking for something like this for YEARS!!! I totally LOVE music theory, and know it so well that my college theory teacher told me that in 20 years of teaching, I was only one of two people who he thought could actually teach it. That's how well I understand it. HOWEVER, it NEVER really translated into IMPROVISING!! I have always been trying to figure out ways to get better at soloing. THIS IS IT!! I can't wait to get into the studio and start PRACTICING and PLAYING with this AWESOME new METHOD!! Thank you so much!! Andrew Colyer, New York

[@mister_moi]

I've seen some of the other videos, haven't seen this one yet, so exciting to read these comments!

[@korento3000]

Just checked your music out, and am in love with Circuline now.

[@definitiveentertainment1658]

I can’t possibly overstate how helpful this is. I’ve played by mostly ear for a decade now and proper jazz has eluded me for so long. Being able to use these scale relationships and transpose them to any key is a huge help. THANK YOU 🙏

[@Virtual-Tiger]

Hi Oliver, I think we are blessed to have you as our mentor. I followed all your lessons with great interest wondering how far your different minor pentatonic-hand grips will take us. The 2-5-1 Jazz Improvisation Lesson - in a Single Hand Grip of Dec 13, 2017, demonstrates your teachings very effectively. Thanks and God Bless You, Oliver.

[@jsmith25061]

I have been watching your videos now for 3 months just to see what was going to happen to my playing.....I have to say I have made more progress with these lessons than any lessons I have had in years....you make it fun, make it look easy, and your patient voice soothes me, you take your time and we feel that you really enjoy doing these videos and playing music and alleviate the fear of learning because learning music can seem so complicated......You are awesome....!!! I can't thank you enough....!!

[@NewJazz]

Thank you so much Jerry :) I'm so glad that I can help you and my work is somehow useful :) :) Warm regards Oliver

[@korento3000]

Prehn's Piano Grip Method for improvising jazz. Deserves wide recognition among pros and beginners alike!

[@camara714]

This is a beautiful yet very basic approach to jazz improvisation. It will get old quickly and is only a start. In no way is this the basis of playing jazz like some have stated. Jazz is not linear. It takes YEARS to even come close to improvising efficiently. I will say this about the instructor, however.... Your voice, my friend... is captivating. Your patience and teaching style is remarkable. It sounds like you really care about helping people learn this great art form. Thank you

[@NewJazz]

Hi and thanks a lot :) And yes, correct - this is basic stuff, indeed. But yet, we must also remember that a solo does not have to be advanced or complicated to be a "good" solo - a very simple improvisation played by using only simple means can actually be very thrilling... But on the other hand you have a very good point; we cannot cook "Jazz" down to a 27 minute short lesson and think that Jazz is all about using this specific pentatonic technique - Jazz is so much more, that's for sure!!! So I totally understand and agree with you :) Warm regards Oliver

[@dadautube]

simple yet sophisticated ... plain yet not easy ... not so hard but not quite a piece of cake either ... thank you Oliver Prehn for such a truly beautiful performance and thorough as well as comprehensible explanation of one of the best music formats ever! this is exactly how i'd love to play jazz ...

[@erhanmusician]

Mr. Prehn, I cannot thank you enough. You have opened the door between two rooms full of information, letting both info flow and and mix, giving me a foundation to build upon, taking me at least two years ahead. I am a self taught musician who has learned bits of information from many sources, but associating the new with the previous, making them unite and solid but because my main instrument is guitar, guitar teachings I've had up today had led me think pentatonics and modal as two different entities. I knew I had to join them together somehow and been trying to work it a while but I was barely tampering with the lock. You have presented me the whole system of thinking so simple and effective. You are one of very few people who did that in my 20~ years of music life. Thank you very much.

[@NewJazz]

GREAT!!!

[@Ryan93Lion]

I’ve been watching you for almost 2 years now. I’ve picked a few tricks of yours but in the first 12 minutes of this video, you literally “gave me the keys” I’ve been looking for to unlocking improv codes lol I knew/know almost any chord one could think of but this finally helped me connect all my theory knowledge. Thanks 🙏🏽

[@Gustav-mh]

Years and years hearing boring classes with dull teachers talking the same things until find this video. No words to thank you.

[@markanthony2188]

Oliver, Excellent! This is the first Jazz technique that actually shows how to play through a 2-5-1 with class, and ease. New Jazz is just that; it's opening the door to a closed private club, and showing "especially new player's" that they can join the club too. You need to write "Piano Jazz Grips" by Oliver Prehn because this is your "foundation" technique that you will be known by. If you get a chance it would be nice to see this technique in the following: 2-5, and 1-4-3-6-2-5, Bossa Nova, and how to incorporate the relative Am, would make for a very good beginner's foundation to build from in one key CM. Once someone can play in one key quickly, they're encouraged to add another key with one flat, and then one sharp, and so on. Keep up the GREAT work!

[@quercusweblecturing]

I fully second that thought. You have a very interesting look on the fundamentals!

[@grady9752]

Oliver, I really hope you can sense the profound appreciation many of us have for you. Every once in a while someone comes along in your life and unlocks a door you have not been able to find the key to. You know in your heart that there is something wonderful behind that door, beckoning for you to come in. I am a guitarist! I don't even play piano. The music doesn't care how it gets out, it just needs to have a means of expression. You just took years of study and in a half hour, fundamentally changed the way I approach soloing. No one has ever done that for me before. I can "see" the music! It's like all of a sudden, everything makes sense. I am so grateful, you have no idea. Please continue your lessons. I intend to study them for a long time. Thank You.

[@NewJazz]

WOW, Thanks a lot Robert - it means a lot to me to get this kind of feedback :) I will continue my work ;) Best and warm regards Oliver

[@podstawygrynapianiniekeybo4536]

Grady, how beautifully you express your feelings. So profound. You are the master of words. Thank you for your gentlness.

[@yoelkristian222]

I'm not skip the ads to make sure u received the payment. U deserved more than that for lesson like this. Thanks a lot teacher!!!!!

[@konstantin4535]

Wow. Best Improvisation lesson in the whole KZbin universe. The tritone substitute got me blown away. "She stays on the g note" :)

[@Fogertian]

Now I need translate that "grip" to my electric guitar. That pentatonic scales are easy to follow any time. It's NOT boring learning this way ... if you want to play it on guitar. Best teacher in the world !!!!

[@paulelliott6488]

Wow. I've been noodling with Jazz for 20 years now and this is the first secret I've seen unpacked so well. Thank you

[@lukefischer3469]

Guitar is my primary instrument, but this visual presentation on piano along with the clear explanation has given me a clearer understanding of chordal and scalar substitutions along with a lot of ideas that I can instantly explore! Thanks so much!!!

[@mrkeeny]

Amazing. You learn more each time you rewatch a lesson. Years of haphazard learning condensed into one short lesson. Bravo Oliver.

[@kellyakakells]

Damn, I’m just now finding this channel. This is the most in depth but yet very simple tutorials I’ve ever come across. You’re a great teacher sir, you have a gift

[@StephenBloomfield]

Wow - you are a Master Teacher - taking the impossibly difficult and making it beautifully simple. Thank you for sharing you gift.

[@robertomachado7581]

Top of the line! I wish I had a teacher like you 30 years ago; one million thanks!

[@DJINTURN25]

The simple idea/tool of the pentatonic handgrip and using markers honestly blew my mind. Thank you so much for this.

[@rickhood]

I love the reflection versus performance distinction. I have learned so much theory from you because you approached it this way. Starting with theory first is not the best way to get into it. First, hand grip and performance, then after, I want to know "why does that work?" ...and so then is the time for theory and reflection. You are the best piano teacher ever!

[@MarkPeters]

I was a composition major so I've got a strong grasp of theory (a long time ago) and like to just improvise. Your approach is genius and incorporates theory in a way that frees up the mind to just sing inside. THANK YOU!

[@AAnilSahin]

Great video. It taught me, not only to use my hands properly, but also answered many technical questions, like explaining it to a child. Thank you once again 🙏

[@jackcui9022]

Amazing! I have been trying to get into jazz piano for a while now from a classical background. Everywhere online, people will direct you to jazz theory books or tell you the best way to learn to play jazz is to listen (which I don't doubt, but it doesn't help a beginner who just wants to play some jazz). It made jazz improvisation appear extremely complex and something only to be achieved when you have a vast collection of jazz knowledge. Your videos make jazz approachable and not such an impossible feat.

[@Emotionnewsoul]

Absolutely awesome! Thanks for sharing.

[@AngelX]

I'm a guitarist and the concepts you teach here opens new avenues and ways of thinking on improvisation. Very helpful.

[@af9902-d8c]

When I’ve been learning jazz piano, no teachers taught me like this... I wanted to meet this video more earlier. Thank you for such an amazing video. Now you are my teacher.

[@robertfitzpatrick7007]

Awesome, this will move my playing forward, the best lesson ever!

[@lorenzotosseyn8253]

Man, your lessons are so usefull and cool. I play jazz for years and I had NEVER seen a real jazz youtube channel. Well you are the reference and I just suscribed. Thank you for everything

[@oneline7182]

hi dear this is Ermi from Ethiopia this is my first time to see you thanks for your lesson you are really good on narration you really understand that language barrier and you are wonderful .I am following you from now on

[@davidmarks509]

amazing what a great lesson. I enjoyed the music and your voice and I stayed with you the whole 27 minutes without any dozing off. The mark of a great teacher.

[@seanonel]

Thank you SO VERY much for all that you have taught me through your videos Mr Prehn. The knowledge is priceless...

[@berndderdrummer]

Best and most teaching lesson I've ever seen on YT so far. Thanx for that!

[@charlesvanderhoog7056]

One of the most revealing jazz piano lessons I ever came across, if not THE most revealing one. Thank you sooooooo much!!!!!!!!!!

[@the1realanalogman]

Greetings Oliver! This is by far the most well ordered, perfectly articulated and readily applicable tutorial I've encountered! I'm excited to explore everything you share with us! Best Regards and happy holidays!

[@michaelz8795]

This is simply THE BEST jazz improv lesson I have ever seen, opened my whole mind to Jazz in a whole new way!!!!

[@elliotaxelman2767]

Wow. This is one of the great piano videos I've seen. If this is jazz, I love jazz! Never heard it sound so good!

[@rickhood1801]

This is so great! Another example of how powerful the "hand grip + markers" method is for playing something that sounds great quickly. (20:29: "we only think about the pentatonic hand grip and the markers and the chord appears automatically"). Then later, or at same time, learn why it works from other videos mentioned in the notes. This is a great one to do for fun while I am getting my fingers back up to speed on scales, etc.

[@travisdt]

This is the best piano lesson in my whole life so far. Thank you sir.

[@jpb93360]

Travis Tran me too !

[@fazzodude]

@@jpb93360 Me too! Excellent teaching skills not to mention his piano skills.

[@Dr.Floyd23]

Agreed

[@JoeLinux2000]

It really is a fantastic approach. Oliver is a genius who drives a city bus to put food on table. Amazing indeed.

[@realkoko-loco]

You're the Bob Ross of jazz piano. I very much enjoy your teaching style and peaceful explanations. Thank you!

[@hectoraguilar770]

Oliver, I like your explanations, the hand grip, the scales, the 2,5,1 theory. With these tutorials I learned to connect with the 4th finger the hand grips and the minor chords. your lessons are awesome! you are a great teacher. I'll keep using the tools to learn to play jazz. thank you very much, God bless you and greetings from Mexico City

[@marcosanta1965]

Best of the best in order to learn piano jazz, when you can play other genders in piano with a reasonable level. I found it after a lot of months looking for a video like this. Thanks, Thanks, so much

[@PaulTheTrombonist]

Thank you! Wow incredible presentation. You deserve an award

[@NewJazz]

Thanks, and really nice "trombone channel" :) cool ;)

[@saramusique315]

Fantastic

[@vincentcouture7197]

I agree 👍

[@jamieharris8075]

I agree with Paul . I follow his channel for trombone players

[@philippespbprod2501]

This man is the best teacher in the world , all become simple with your excellent tools ☺️

[@teemewgek683]

Today is the first time I can able to walking in the bass without sheet piano and it’s amazing when corporate with the R.H. Melody line, I’m from Malaysia. Thank you so much for teaching us the Simple Jazz, my music teacher Oliver Prehn

[@ekaterinawardhan9935]

An enormous thanks to the Teacher and all who contributed to making this channel! I left the piano with tears after 9 years of learning it in Russia as I found playing fixed compositions rather boring as I grew up. Thought it was impossible to learn jazz now as I shifted in India where it is practically impossible to find a good piano teacher, not to mention jazz. And finally I found a happy solution for learning, even while staying at home with my two children-) Your way of teaching allows to build parallels with the improvisation methods in Indian classical music as well so it is now possible to explain the basics to Indian musicians who are trying to play fusion. Dream coming true at last!!! Muchas gracias!

[@NewJazz]

GREAT!!! Warm regards from Oliver

[@theHellzaPoppinjazz4u]

I learned in 30 minutes what I was looking for years. you are just genius. thank you so much, Sir !!!

[@hoabui5532]

Me too

[@TheWorldOfHarmony]

Respect!

[@matrixswitcher]

me too

[@warwickclark2143]

@@matrixswitcher me too!

[@stanisawk1385]

Yes, Yes, Yes !!!!!!!!!!! :-)

[@elements-creactive]

Dear Sir Oliver - with no words Your pupils here can describe the enormous high values that You create in their, not only musical, life ! Pls. keep it up , thanx a lot - and all the very Best !

[@frapogalos60]

As a guitarist i found this way more simpler. Thank you Sir, you made my weekend hella more interesting :D

[@thesonuvman333]

Same here. As a guitarist, this clicked instantly! 😊

[@MetalusCinder]

I've been trying to learn this stuff forever and it never clicked BUT WITH YOU it all makes sense and comes so naturally. Thank you!

[@ebhd33]

Brilliant. Finally someone manages to decouple improv from the pure theory.

[@yingyizhong5840]

You are sooooooo much better than my teacher!!! I feel that I had never known how to improvise until I watched your video! Thanks a million!

[@tonyrapa-tonyrapa]

I can't really express what I'm feeling right now adequately enough: this is more than a light bulb moment... it's a moment of sheer joy. I'll be studying this video over the next few weeks. Mr Prehn: thank you!

[@thanhtruongvlogxinh5934]

Mr. Prehn has just a right mix of theory, practice, and performance. Thanks a lot.

[@MrEniosky]

Wow man, I love your vid. The thing I love best is the way you simplify otherwise complex theory. Everybody seems to be able to tell us what scale to use over what chords wich is relatively easy to find out anyway, but to make music? thats a whole lot of a different story, and very very few seem to be able to impart their knowledge on how to learn to improvise and make great music. You however are doing such a great job . Thank you very much, and keep it up.

[@NewJazz]

Thanks a lot for those very nice words. I will keep up the work ;) Warm regards Oliver

[@awol2602]

Oliver you are a post new age music guru! - your teaching practise/ philosophy is fit for the world we would like to create

[@manolorodriguez7858]

The Gift of teach. Bless you. Thank you Sir.

[@peternemeth1777]

You give anyone a heart. What a generous soul you are. Thanks for this wonderful lesson. Your voice is really calming. Great speed you chose for your talking.

[@NewJazz]

THANKS :) :) :) Warm regards from Oliver

[@tshider719]

I really enjoy your lessons, they help me understand more what I’m playing and how to apply the techniques you teach. Thank you ...

[@cajonaconaquetebotou]

Your lessons are a must, clear and full of harmony information. I love this smart talking hands. Thanks a lot.

[@michaelaldrid]

Oh man I thought I had heard it all or that "jazz" technique were to complex but this lesson makes it so accessible!

[@erics8302]

Unbelievably good. Thank you so much. It really simplifies so much and I have been playing classical for years. Thank you thank you.

[@Jkljkl2009]

This is a wonderful tutorial! This was extremely easy to follow and a very, very thorough tutorial! Thank you very much

[@jpb93360]

Thanks for all the LOVE and time you put in the making of these really inspiring tutorials. You open paths...

[@weltfalt]

This video improved my piano skills a lot, i will enjoy it the rest of my life. Thank you very much for your effort, Oliver!

[@rmsoft]

Still enjoying? Dead?

[@alvisonhunter]

Man, you guys are absolutely brilliant! I truly watch this over and over again just to hear how easy you improvise on the piano, Hats off!

[@luisdoradomanzano2859]

Estoy impresionado de la maravillosa creatividad en las manos de un gran pianista y maestro. Ahora que puedo entender mejor la técnica empleada, me asombro y maravillo mucho más viendo la sencillez de este esquema armónico que permite utilizar las distintas escalas pentatónicas sin importa la base armónica en que se encuentre el bajo. Gracias por esta magistral clase.

[@thanhthienluong1562]

7th group of chords followed by 2-5-1 method-Perfect and entirely nice sounds-Many thanks

[@MegaWinston999]

i've NEVER seen or heard such amazing explanations and clarity when teaching this complex material. no one comes close to you. i have a great teacher but would love to take lessons from you... or maybe i can just view more of your you tube lessons. beautifully presented and organized even with an index of every aspect of your lessons so that we can go to the exact spot when needed. and of course your voice is awesome as i know you've heard a thousand times. thank you !!! and congratulations .

[@NewJazz]

Hi and thanks a lot :) I'm sorry but I don't give private lessons these days. I try to use all my efforts on the videos here on YT - so I hope you will stay tuned - more lessons will come (approximately every third week). Best regards Oliver

[@floristube]

Woooow this is just good...thanks Oliver, when I have questions, I will ask them, first I have to practice this..ys Floris (Holland)

[@joakimjedselius]

This is probably one of THE best jazz improv lessons on KZbin. Thank you so very very much sir, you have helped me tremendously

[@strax71]

These are the best piano video lessons to find on the internet. Thank you for the work you do for us.

[@christianhurtado1978]

The best jazz teacher in the world. Thanks!

[@johannesgerneth9409]

I love your Videos! The Bob Ross of musiceducation :-) And this is one of the best video to music-theory I have ever seen! Grips are for perfomance; Theory is for reflection! That is so helpful! Thank you very much! :-)

[@nesschallis1909]

Phew! I need to re-wind myself now and start back at the beginning taking this one step at a time! Thanks and I look forward to giving this a try .....slowly!

[@zenaustin7204]

Great lesson! I'm not intimidated by learning Jazz improv anymore. I'm a visual learner. The way you privilege performance and reframe theoretical concepts so that they are used as a blueprint for the easy to learn hand grips, as something upon which to reflect allows me to get right to the enjoyment of playing. It's a great way to learn quickly. Thanks!

[@matthew1040]

Amazing presentation Oliver. I learned a lot, I can easily incorporate your theory to Saxophone improvisation. Great Job. I've been looking for a lesson like this thank God I found it at your channel.

[@swpderf]

One of the best explanations ever seen. Very enlightening. Thank you for that..

[@jarvisjamieson9411]

Wat. This is so beautiful. By far the best piano lesson ever.

[@thisperson6146]

Wow. Finally someone who broke down jazz improv simply. Thank you. Subscribed.

[@jacolon61]

amazing lesson! So many people who teach and never even mention something as simple as the "pentatonic handgrip"