Please don't use Eb11 chords! | How to NOT suck at music #6

Many thanks to juan pablo guitarro, Samuca, Hayden H, Danielle O'Hallisey and Ivo Unrein for their submissions!
If you'd like to submit your entry, please email me at...
[e-mail]
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Peace,
Adam

[@AdamNeely]

There seems to be a lot of hate on this video for me "telling people what to do." That's literally the point of this series, people submit me things they want critiqued. With the reaction on this video being so negative, I'm not super likely to continue this series, but let me know one way or another.

[@jasminelzeng]

I think you should continue the series cus I'm sure many other people like myself find it very a good way to get advice for things we might be doing that are similar to what you're critiquing. It's just that even if we find the video helpful we're not likely to post a comment unless we have some specific advice to thank you for, while if people are unhappy with something they're far more likely to comment. Please keep up the series! Quite a few of my friends also watch you and learn a lot from these videos :)

[@boominaughty9531]

You're arrogant af

[@adamschlinker972]

I was actually thinking as I watched this that it's kind of funny that this series really hinges on both you and the people submitting their videos thinking that you're better than them. But like...it's not an ego thing. At least I don't take it that way. People send their videos in because they recognise, or at least believe, that you have some kind of musical authority that they don't have. I don't see anything wrong with this. Music is so subjective, but that doesn't mean that you don't have authority and experience that other's don't have. I find this series fascinating and helpful, so add me to the list of non-haters, please. Cheers!

[@Nathankthanks]

Adam, the response is mostly positive, don't let the comments fool you.

[@haydenh7660]

Hey Adam, I don't know if you saw my first comment, but I was (and still am) very appreciative of your feedback (and the commenters who have given constructive feedback). I think the negative feedback you are receiving is mostly from people who never understood theory properly and fail to grasp the purpose of this series, and the power that music theory has on a composer/composition. These people are probably the same people who think guitarists like Jimi Hendrix play with feeling and guitarists like Yngwie Malmsteen are just a mess of notes played really fast. This is my favourite series from your channel and have thoroughly enjoyed every episode. It would be a shame if you were to cancel it. In the end, you decide what to do. but I think the way this series enables musicians all over the world to share their knowledge and experiences with regards to performing/composing (near-)instantaneously is an intellectually-enriching experience like no other. Take care and all the best.

[@juno5589]

why the hell would someone click on a video abt critiquing music, and then get mad when the person in the video is critiquing music

[@patrickmolloy9798]

So true

[@lebenwielary7878]

Because the title of the Video triggered mentioned person

[@MyXxx77]

I really had to see what he had to say about the Eb11 chord. He's done great and helpful (to say the least) videos in the past but what I found here was akin to someone attempting to use their "superior knowledge" (whether it actually is or not compared to the people who submitted songs we'll never know) to tell people how they "got it wrong". (Dig up Tchaikovsky and tell him that his use of 11th, and 13th chords was over indulgent or some such rubbish) Music is subjective. Therefore, the whole premise of this is beyond silly.

[@CohenMejan]

​@@MyXxx77 That's why Adam says many times throughout this series that music is subjective, and to take his advice with a grain of salt. Even in this video, in the example of when he's talking about the Eb11 chord, Adam tells the submitter to use the Eb11 chord if it sounds right to them. People ask him for critique or for suggestions on how to improve, and Adam gives his personal opinion on their piece. I don't know of any time that Adam has straight up told somebody that their writing is wrong. He knows it's subjective. I don't know where you're getting the idea that the whole premise of this is silly. Artists should always be seeking ways to improve. If an artist doesn't know how they could potentially improve, what are they going to do other than ask someone they look up to?

[@dakat5131]

ikr. it's not even a "I hate when people do this! it's wrong and I hate it!" it's a "here's what this is and here's why you would want to do xyz instead"

[@piratexander]

I wonder if the dude who sent the email about his composition saw the title of this video and was like "fuUuuuuuck"

[@ghostware6057]

oh shit I didn't even think about that haha

[@ShyDigi]

Actually, I thought the critique of that piece of music was a bit of a big steaming hot pile of dog and horseshit combined and forged into a prick in hellfire. The was was really pleasing to listen to. THAT is what should matter. Not common practices. I normally agree with Neely but fuck him this time. That was shit.

[@lewismccracken4142]

WN Games did you pause and write this comment before Adam went on to say how that’s just his opinion and if he really likes the sound of that then that’s perfectly fine too?

[@ShyDigi]

Gender Fluid no, actually

[@shayneparker2298]

@@ShyDigi Also the person who submitted it literally specifically asked for critique on standard practices. Listen to 5:58-6:04 again.

[@Powerslider]

I've been working on amazing compositions by Frederic Chopin lately and i've noticed that he sometimes uses bizarre note combinations that sounds like absolute shit when played equally loud. But, when you drop the volume of certain dissonant notes, it suddenly becomes magical and beautiful! So if it sounds like shit, try fiddling with dynamics. New doors could open.

[@carsonmichael6926]

This all the way. Me and my Bass Buddy have been working on a new track for about a week or so, and there was an interval in one of the chords he was using (I’m the drums sax guitar guy, he’s way more knowledgeable about chords and harmony, I’m intermediate, maybe a little above basic, he’s a fuckin out the womb genius) so we started talking about this chord and messing around with some other voicings that would have the same harmonic feel. Kinda talking about Jacob Colliers idea of negative harmony and the idea that you can have two chords with the same harmonic resolution based off distance from the chord center. After about an hour of this one chord, we just brought the dynamic down a little and it was exactly what we wanted. Sometimes heavy, theory dense work around aren’t the answer. Sometimes you just gotta feel it different.

[@TheVergile]

Taken to the extreme you could as well just leave them out ^^

[@smithersrob]

@@TheVergile That's a bit like saying leave the herbs and spices that taste awful if you eat a spoon full of them out of your cooking. They add tone, depth and tension to the music. Too much is unpleasant but get it right and you create something really special.

[@TheVergile]

@@smithersrob nah, what im saying is that in the extreme youll basically reach the realm of homeopathic pepper and placebo salt

[@doitnowvideosyeah5841]

@@smithersrob Leave spices out then slowly add back. Gotta make sure main ingredients are good quality and cooked properly. Then add spices.

[@kanibalismeboy]

I wrote a song today. The chords was C F G and then back to C.. And I'm happy with just that

[@user-zb8tq5pr4x]

Most of my favourite songs have very simple chord progressions.

[@nosson77]

you shouldn't have put the C at the end. it makes it too cliche.

[@kanibalismeboy]

Okay, think I change it to C# then :-)

[@nosson77]

@@kanibalismeboy now you're talking

[@laughingdaffodils5450]

@@kanibalismeboy Too jazz. Try C-F-C-G-C. The middle C makes the last one sound less clichéd, counterintuintive though it is.

[@whipsnade13]

"Jazz is stupid! I mean, just play the right notes!" -Angela, from The Office

[@rhys2275]

whipsnade13 - well, she’s not wrong Edit: I have since learned the error of my ways

[@michaelweiske702]

"Why are you booing me? I'm right!"

[@chamako4430]

-Wayne Gretzky -Michael Scott

[@noidea7523]

@@rhys2275 character development!

[@RavenLuni]

It's not stupid - its just when people do stuff like try and stuff a world record number of chords into a song just because they can and they miss the whole point of the music. My old guitar teacher would have a fit if he saw that version of jingle bells.

[@RickGraham]

Simple rule: don't play anything that sounds like shit

[@BenoitAdam]

Mozart : "I put together notes that love themselve"

[@ThomasHeien]

My fucking hero!

[@ARR0WMANC3R]

Upload more Rick!

[@DYLANBROCHILL]

the man!

[@sleepy-sheepy6517]

Yeah but the problem is that when I do something that sounds like shit I don’t know what I’m doing wrong and how to change it

[@Yourmomma568]

Jazz: "they spent so much time figuring out if they could, they never bothered to stop and ask if they should."

[@kamiyama-chairdesklamp]

Experimental music: "lol, cute"

[@FlyinDagga]

"Jaaazz" "Jaaaahz" "Juhs" "Jaaaaaahhhhhzzzzz"

[@evanbookout]

j à â ä ã å ž ź ż ž ż z ź ž

[@SgtMacska]

That jaaahzz bit is one of my favorite things

[@nickspencer2207]

Translate to English

[@matsomo]

*use of Eb11 chords intensifies*

[@helgyd]

whith your wrist bent at the same time

[@JariSatta]

How about Ebm9(b11) Eb Gb Bb Db F Abb ( flat eleventh )

[@bmartinmusics]

The Gb to the Abb would still have the same minor ninth interval that makes the Eb11 chord sound so bad. I can't tell if you're being satirical or not but just in case.

[@JariSatta]

bmartinmusics Yes, I meant out of context. (There are 15th 17th 19th 21st and 23rd chords, Those are rarely used.)

[@JariSatta]

Eb Dorian b4 = Eb F Gb Abb Bb C Db Eb

[@EmpowerfulPeople]

Sleep paralysis, but The Billy Bumbler is playing on repeat.

[@jamietaylor8663]

go learn what a real bumbler is, its a fictional speaking racoon from a stephen king series

[@lupash]

Ryan Martin you killed me

[@Swiatlocien]

Oh how I loled

[@TheGreatPumpkin]

*SQUELCHING INTENSIFIES*

[@nadirdjeniah2442]

gosh how am i gonna sleep now

[@langl4033]

The Billy Bumbler sounds like a panic attack

[@tommy7830]

The robotic voice sounds like sharting

[@amyrandall3371]

This is the funniest shit

[@benvail6395]

... meant to mirror the experience of the listener. It both causes and sounds like the panic attack it gave you. Incredible!

[@th3giv3r]

Then you should stay away from Penderecki.

[@sven-sandershestakov5201]

@@th3giv3r Don't compare this shit to Penderecki.

[@xHoudini]

Jazz! *jazz* JAZZ! ʲᵃᶻᶻ J A Z Z jazz... Jazz!

[@rpenguinboy]

JAZZ!

[@xFliox]

Jaazz..

[@metallsnubben]

ｊａｚｚ

[@hanneshaatainen4994]

dank lord Adam came up with the littest meme 2k18

[@HomoChomsky]

J Â Â Z

[@ratman9220]

title: Please don't use Eb11 chords! video: Use Eb11 chords if you want to i guess

[@TheJigglicious]

hilariuss

[@troodon1096]

Well use them if you have a good reason to, just know why you're using them. They sound very dissonant, but if that's what you're going for, go for it.

[@hannes1734]

Troodon Lol i listen to Meshuggah i use a Eb23 chord whenever i want

[@LPFan33]

c l i c k b a i t e d

[@TheJigglicious]

Ich Und Nicht Du hilarious

[@melpopovich565]

I'm a year late to the party, but I just wanted to say I thoroughly enjoyed this vid. I've had several music teachers/mentors over the years, and if they'd been as constructive in their feedback as you are here, I might still be playing. You're honest without being cruel, and it appears that you prioritize support and encouragement in your assessments, which is integral to any performer's (or at least my) growing confidence. "Here's what I think you're going for. Here's what I like. Here's what I don't. Here's why. Here's how you could choose to address it. Here's to you and all the effort you've put in." Major respect, man!

[@kevgamble]

Agreed on all points - I just came across the video as well, and I think you describe it very well. I enjoyed the video considerably.

[@lifeontheledgerlines8394]

Gotta have that A B C# D E F# G# A (major) respect.

[@dougarnold7955]

I like his expertise and manner too.

[@camillajefferson386]

Exactly!

[@Bocman1]

So true, so many people either bs you or just tell you where they didn't like your playing, he's really trying to help

[@GodsNode]

Submitting my 84 minute magnum opus for your review.

[@TheVergile]

Adam: I really appreciate your use of the "repeat 1439 times" sign here, it reminds me a lot of Bela Bartocs opus 23: Von meiner Badewanne. But i strongly suggest you try and let other bars in your life.

[@newpianotutorials]

Eb11 - what a beautiful chord

[@deusexmusica803]

J A Z Z

[@jokunortti]

J A H S S

[@StRanGerManY]

It actually looks like Еби, a russian word which means "fuck (somebody)" in imperative case

[@meemo4556]

Alexander Kolchev well Eb11 you too bud

[@michaeldschutte]

Logan Dead

[@TheWebgecko]

If you want to skip to the Eb11 one it's 5:53

[@615ccchc]

youre making the world a better place & i respect that

[@destructicles5316]

Thank you. Literally the only reason I clicked on this and then he plays jingle bells

[@splabbity]

Jazz! Jazz! Jazz!

[@roofusJohnson]

Amazing.

[@dustinm2717]

I read this like 2 seconds before the video got to that point

[@ralfdorrell3122]

Ignore the negative comments. A musician with this much theoretical know-how is a role-model and fount of wisdom for all my pop music students. Keep up the excellent work.

[@haydenogden5416]

@Jeff T your a human for not liking a musical genre. Your a jackass for being an asshole to people who do.

[@wv2100]

That instrumental metal score be sounding like I’m battling the Elite Four champion in a 90s Pokémon game.

[@VictorsVisuals]

Adam looking as though he's about to steal my widescreen TV

[@korsaffkow]

Goddammit

[@mizp]

Or go down to the docks looking for work

[@igameu3]

I spat on my phone after reading this

[@danlwarren]

Little known fact: each week he breaks into a different Patreon supporter's apartment to film a Q&A.

[@Spikeupine]

Victor's Visuals you have a widescreen TV?

[@drummer265]

I don't understand the butthurt in some of these comments. He's giving fair, objective critiques to people who wanted them.

[@eliasmg9144]

You can find a lot of arrogant people in the music industry

[@vocalead]

His opinion is not objective, no matter the point of view, so it can't be fair. He just rearranged the the song to his liking and said that it was better, period.

[@betterbelle29]

Vocalead For the ones that he changed it seemed like he said "Do this because I don't like this chord. But you can still do that if you want". The other critiques he gave were about technique, which are objective. And the one Danielle wrote he even said he liked where she was going with it. I don't see anything wrong with this.

[@vocalead]

I agree somewhat, I mean, little less than half the video is about technique, however his subjective opinions are very snobby. Who's to say the licks on the first guy's guitar video "don't match", "phrase/response" is just one of several available phrasing techniques, you don't have to follow it if you don't want to... I'm just saying he has a very "know-it-all" attitude just because he has some theoretical musical knowledge, but you shouldn't abuse that, everything auditively speaking is subjective, and confidently saying "this chord does not match this other one" just because some guy wrote a book about it 60 years ago doesn't mean it's an absolute truth. Often in music, those who write theory books are people observing and describing other people's (the actual composers) work and methods, and these should NEVER be taken in as rules, which happens a lot.

[@betterbelle29]

Vocalead I didn't find his comments snobby. He gave them criticism, which is what they sent the videos in for. The first video, I found what he said makes sense. He basically told the guy to try and be more creative with how he played the chords, which makes sense and should be encouraged. For the second one he just told him that he should be following the phrase/response technique. I thought it sounded good. But again, maybe for another time that the guy plays something he could try and do that and implement it and see if he likes it. That's what it is about music critique that people don't understand. When someone gives a criticism for music it isn't a "Do this now because yours is garbage and mine is better." It's more of a "I learned this way and most conventions do this, try that". Which was what it sounded like he was saying most of the time. It's like coding. When I review code, i don't look at it like "Oh gross why would you do that, it's awful do it this way". It's more like what he said to Danielle, "I like where you're going with this, But...". Obviously some people do that, but it didn't seem to me like that's what he was doing in this video.

[@Moose_Head]

11:00 Sounds like a nightmarish version of Pikmin music.

[@midnightskate]

I was thinking Banjo Kazooie

[@benjaminswartley1803]

I was just thinking of this. It sounds so Pikmin-esq. I'm not 100% sure, but I believe it sounds similar to a Pikmin introduction (maybe yellow?).

[@Maninamask726]

I was expecting Yoko Ono to start yelling “stop all wars!” Over and over again over the piece at 11:00

[@bryanleigh6497]

Danielle sucked like a bee sting!

[@keepyourshoesathedoor]

Cayce D LMAOOOOO

[@JiveDadson]

Number 9. Number 9. Number 9.

[@TheVergile]

hitting the thumbs up on this post left a punch mark in my trackpad

[@smmusicplus96]

I definitely dug where her head was at with this one, though. A little Danny elfmanesque.

[@NJOverclocked]

"Hello I'm submitting my metal music to make sure it fits the rules and guidelines"

[@snacksaregreat]

Didn't know you played music Nj so funny to see you here haha. I already love your R6 memeful content it would be great if you could include some of your music play in one of your video! Keep up the good work anyway :)

[@jannis1306]

NJOverclocked Never expected you here. Maybe a music outro next time? :)

[@TomatoBreadOrgasm]

Gotta admit, though, it's a killer track.

[@haydenh7660]

This made me laugh hard, although Toxic Potato read my mind. The reason why I brought that up was so I could have someone like Adam Neely, who is well-informed in Jazz harmony/chord voicings (among other things) to pick out things like that.

[@SamuelKristopher]

Personally speaking, if the idea of "metal" is about breaking conventions, what better way to break convention than to notate a metal track in standard musical notation? \m/

[@semiserioussam]

People who are hating on you by acting butt hurt have never had a teacher before. You made a 15 minute video to help someone arrange music and somehow that's interpreted as hatred and arrogance? Cmon people.

[@stephenweigel]

@supadox Exactly correct.

[@dakat5131]

ikr. it's not even a "I hate when people do this! it's wrong and I hate it!" it's a "here's what this is and here's why you would want to do xyz instead"

[@lonelykid7691]

11:00 oh good god

[@fyebassmuzikproductions4872]

😂😂😂😂

[@aaronrizzo655]

That piece was horrible tbh

[@coffee593]

What the fuck lmao

[@apothecurio]

if they literally took out the synth it would be like 80% better

[@glumbortango7182]

For me at least, it's so bad I love it. It sounds like if Nintendo had to make a song in 10 minutes and none of the musicians or songwriters were in the room. I just can't find room in my heart to fault it for being what it is.

[@johnny141093]

"guitarmony" is my new favourite word

[@noahmaillouxmusic]

jazz jAzz JazZ jaZZ jazZ JAzZ

[@bacicinvatteneaca]

I came to the comments for this

[@JaMaZz77]

JaMaAaZz! (as in "Timmeeh!!")

[@jareddrogose1470]

That was pretty funny.

[@RobertWildling]

Hi, Adam! Referring to the "negative critique" and your question, whether you should continue this series: I personally think that the way you explain things, is highly virtuosic. I do not know you as a practical musician yet (need to check that out... I guess, though, that your virtuosity there is probably as vivid as it is with your words), but whatever video of yours I see, it always makes me "Whoa - what well-chosen words, how incredibly well formulated!" and things like that. This is the main take-away I get from the videos and the main reason, why I really highly appreciate you channel and your work, because eventually every musicians needs to also build up a repertoire of proper vocabulary to explain his/her musical intentions with more then phrases like "I feel...", "my guts tell me to do that...". And even though one might already know a topic, it is a completely different story talking about it (Richard Feynman comes to mind...). BTW: I'd really be interested, if a topic like "how to talk and not talk about music" would be worth a video for you... :-) Keep 'em coming, please!

[@cozee6681]

Hi, I just saw this video and, well, I can't speak for music theory cause I don't know pretty much anything about it, but I like it that you are absolutely gentle with critique and stress out that it's mostly your opinion and you give detailed info why you think something should be this or that. Keep it up!

[@vitormartins5742]

I've given up on studying music ages ago. I once dreamed of being a professional musician, but ended up assuming it was not for me. I still play my guitar every day, but just for fun, not really practicing or studying. When I watched this video, however, I felt like saving it for later, and it became the first video in my new playlist "Studying Music". I didn't really thinK before I gave it that name, but now I guess I feel like studying music again. Anyway, thank you Adam for sharing your knowledge!

[@MisterAppleEsq]

The best voicing for an 11 chord is to just play the third and fourth next to each other. Don't play anything else. At any point. Ever.

[@bmartinmusics]

It's also good to invert them, so it's more of a sus7 with a natural 10 on top. Sounds nice.

[@bacicinvatteneaca]

I gave you a like for the memes, but it actually does sound great on guitar to have an open string 11th on the same octave as the third.

[@RCM2309]

i’ve always liked stacking it 1 4 5 7 with the 3rd out on top as you get a major 7 between both the root & seven and the 4 and the 3 (but that runs the risk of making the 4 sound like the root)

[@RCM2309]

realised i completely missed it was an Eb11 and not an Eb🔺11 - woops!

[@MisterAppleEsq]

Call me stupid, but what does the triangle mean?

[@jaks7199]

Best part of the night: Finding out The Billy Bumbler is on Spotify

[@eliwise1836]

Hi Adam - I was really impressed by your breadth of knowledge, your on point critique, and your respect for those who submitted. It was a lot of fun watching your video.

[@verdatum]

You are one HELL of an educator. The way you approach giving input is simply marvelous.

[@AgentMurphy286]

Please continue this series Adam! It's a great outlet for real constructive criticism from a peer/teacher. I'd wager that a great many musicians that don't have a chance to play live, or aren't confident enough to play live, only have friends and family to give them feedback that don't play music. The most they can get from them is "It doesn't sound good" or "Yeah, that's pretty good." There's no help in that. I suspect that many of the people giving you negative feedback fall somewhere in the scenario I've described above. I say this with no malice, maybe some condescension, but no ill intent. The negative response to this series is, sadly, to be expected. You yourself understand that music is a passion that can be approached in multiple ways, but you also understand the misconception that many have about music theory. Most do not. If you don't want to deal with nonconstructive criticism you receive from this series, discontinue it, but I think we need to lead by example. Even if they don't understand it, please continue to be example of how to give constructive criticism for them. They clearly need it. That and when anyone uses language that sounds like commands on the Internet, trolls and the impatient pounce on it.

[@peenyweeny3834]

hi! normal human being here, what the fuck does all of this mean

[@AdamNeely]

aren't you a hotdog

[@peenyweeny3834]

Adam Neely aren't we all?

[@blahblahsen1142]

hi! guitarist and bassist here, a lot of this makes no sense to me either. try and feel less dumb.

[@aryasenaputra3226]

I just strum chords and i feel like a neanderthal

[@t-rexngatokorua8733]

Sometimes when I make music it sounds good. Until I listen to it.

[@ice9snowflake187]

Love your "show", here. It's fun to hear the submissions and your analysis. It's good to see you're willing to comment on a wide range of styles, and levels of musicianship. You seem knowledgeable enough to have relevant things to say about style, technique, arrangement and voicing, and its good to get feedback from someone who listens as carefully as you do, whether one agrees with your opinions or not. Keep up the good work!

[@MePeterNicholls]

“I like thicc strings” YOURE A BASS PLAYER!!! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😘

[@Reapersealer]

The song at 6:05 reminds of what would happen if Dream Theater had to write for Final Fantasy

[@haydenh7660]

Hey Zidny, thanks for the complement. Both of those have had a big impact on my development as a composer.

[@blufferblue1599]

Hayden H - Man that was great. I Would love to listen to it when recorded.

[@robott5177]

Dream Theater writing for final fantasy would be amazing

[@RohannvanRensburg]

Hahaha. Rudess would not be content with repeating arpeggios.

[@LaYamiUwU]

As a percussionist I would suggest you adding ghost notes and playing a little with the toms on the drum part at the crescendo OwO Cheers fella :3/

[@loganwilbur5131]

What a beautiful key/chord change in the third submission; the Fm to E.

[@AdamNeely]

It's a good one!

[@olbluelips]

Really agree

[@Arycke]

I would like to kindly redact my previous comment from much earlier. I watched more videos from you from months and I've seen how applicable the things you teach are and how amazing of a teacher you are. You are a gem of KZbin and I'm so thankful I watched more.

[@thomasvandriel6599]

I may be demonstrating my ignorance, but I actuallly really found your video instructive. So thank you. Your musical knowledge is just so many levels above mine that I’m in awe.

[@andrewcranmer9653]

I came across this and found it really interesting. I then read your comment and skimmed through some of the others. I'd say, don't be discouraged. I'm an amateur player (recorder) who wants to learn more and am lucky enough to have a great teacher (also a professional performer) who gives me exactly the type of advice you give, and that is what helps me improve. There's no point in me playing through, say, a Bach Partita and her saying it's wonderful. If it's OK, she says so (which is nice), but what I really want to know is how to do it better, because I know for sure it can be. And that's what you're doing here. And I for one learned a number of things from your video. Those who don't want criticism won't submit videos. Those who don't want to watch constructive criticism and learn from it aren't forced to watch. Those who don't understand why it's necessary, in my view don't want to be better musicians (it won't be because they are brilliant because if they were they would understand). Stick at it. I, and I'm sure many others, find it very useful indeed.

[@SealySikes]

andrew cranmer couldn’t have said it better myself

[@alanoswald3137]

Bro definitely keep this series up!!! Constructive criticism is how people improve!!!!!

[@tylerjohn]

Dude, you're so cool. Your understanding and acceptance of SO MANY musical disciplines, ability to convey them, and create videos with just enough cheezy youtube humour (Jazz, Jazz, Jaaaazz) keeps me coming back again and again. I'm even finding, as a hobbyist musician who plays mainly by ear, and understands basic notations, the visual notations of every chord you talk about with the overlay of audio of the chord itself is starting get in my brain and im understanding music in a different way. Keep it up. Much love.

[@isaacway4449]

You clearly have a deep yet practical understanding of music and I look forward to watching more of your videos! Thanks!

[@DouglasZwick]

Hey Adam, I think this video is excellent. It's like you're leading a huge masterclass for the KZbin community! That's wonderful. You're an expert, and you have an invaluable expert opinion. Please don't listen to the haters, because what you're doing is great.

[@xFliox]

Jazz

[@heldvomerdbeerfeld10]

Jazz

[@metallsnubben]

ｊａｚｚ

[@willdickinson2874]

J A Z Z !

[@joelcoool]

JAZZ

[@iainmcnaughtan4452]

Jazz

[@OrangePony75]

“Jazz, jazz, jazz…”, oh, man, I almost spit my coffee. Great lessons, man. Subscribed.

[@goldenstarmusic1689]

You're professional and respectful in your approach, detailed and informed analysis. Good job 💞

[@fabianfernandez5272]

hey adam could you do a series on jazz listening?? i understand that for copyright issues it is difficult to do on youtube but maybe on another platform? love your stuff :)

[@lomo3362]

Fabian Fernandez you dont need anything to listen to jazz

[@monsterjazzlicks]

+Bippy Bo - Surely you need a pair of ears?!

[@matthewramroop]

I want to hear that metal track in full. Sounded cool.

[@Kimoto504]

I want to hear the band play it.

[@emp5352]

Thank you so much for this. I know how valuable your time is, and as someone who just started playing music, videos like these help me so much. Thank you.

[@TheProxy2]

Please continue the series. U're doing great i really respect you as a music youtuber more tgan anyone else

[@GUIM1797]

I decided to write a short tune that is based on Eb11, has some "Teen Town" funk to it, and will be 15+ minutes in length. I'll submit my submission soon, Adam so I can learn how to suck better. (two of these qualities are true and being 15+ minutes isn't one of them)

[@thatgal8700]

Was 'Suck better' intentional innuendo?

[@olipolygon]

if you regularly listen to prog rock and classical music, 15 minutes can be short, or at least average!

[@CalifornianMapping]

Write it for full orchestra in 16 movements

[@thygod]

Oooh, that instrumental metal thing. I definitely want to hear the end product of that. And I appreciated the "Guitarmony" pun. Makes me want to listen to the Heathen song.

[@haydenh7660]

Cheers mate! There is a new version on my channel with feedback incorporated. It's probably finished but I may make some minor changes before beginning the recording process. I've linked it below, and Heathen is a great band. Apparently a new album is in the works. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHOlg2mhgt2dqbs

[@alroy43]

I love the advice you gave to that young bass player. When I had my older brother first teach me a harder riff. His advice was to slow it down, relax and make it musical. Then worry about playing it faster. It is actually easier to play it fast once you master it than to play it slowly and still make it sound musical. This helps when doing advanced guitar picking techniques a la Blind Blake or something equally advanced.

[@captaindigital]

Much respect. You obviously know your way around theory, and your critiques are honest, never snarky, and you clearly delineate between common practice and your own opinion. Very cool. And I appreciate your willingness to go past commenting on theory and into timbre and dynamics. If anybody has a problem with that, they're obviously more interested in protecting their feelings than they are learning and improving. I'm subscribing, and I'll be recommending your channel to friends.

[@mojacarflamenco6314]

Just came across this channel. I think Adam is doing a great job. Everything he's saying is along the same lines as the kind of things that were said to me by the two Pulitzer Prize-winning composers I studied with on the East and West coasts. Well observed, well considered and genuinely useful.

[@Alex-ns1pj]

the song with the Eb11 was lit

[@haydenh7660]

Cheers Alex, if you're interested, my channel has both the version I submitted to Adam as well as a new updated version that takes all the great feedback I've received and puts it to good use.

[@iLiekLemonade]

Hayden H yessss, thank you for sharing! Was trying to find your channel

[@meritant8027]

I love this series, please don’t stop. It’s immensely helpful.

[@jameypadilla5770]

Love it. Your comments on "call and response." Really helped me with my approach to a solo section I'm working on currently.

[@emmywillow6599]

I really like Eb11, it has somewhat of a dreamy feel to it, and add the floaty yet tense intro Goddamn I sound like a fucking snob

[@mattl8113]

Jack Rota Everyone here sounds like a snob That's why we're all here

[@Shid_pants]

Jack Rota ur saying it like it's a bad thing

[@Civilizashum]

sounds normal. the video sounds like a fucking snob. and yeah I'm saying it like it's a bad thing

[@FunnyBecauseItsTrue]

...a snob would tell you NOT to like it...

[@6884]

well, if we're here it means we kind of are

[@nikolaizahox]

you keep talking about TOAN but how do i get a GUD TOAN? how do i know if my TOAN is GUD or not?

[@ajadrew]

Learniing how to spell is gud staRt

[@ianstahl8579]

Buy a metal zone, make sure it's true bypass, and you're good to go

[@Salvara]

Ian Stahl don't forget a tele

[@caprianders]

Gudtoan means "The God Toilet" in swedish

[@nikolaizahox]

caprianders teach me more swedish

[@Gr3yMus]

today, I used for the first time in my life the Eb11 chord. And it felt so damn good...

[@Dian2Gig]

I came in on the tail end of this series, but I think this series is great! My comment a year too late but thought I would say what a great job you're doing with You Tube.

[@DharmaMidget]

I like to make people cringe and convulse when listening to my music.

[@xxXthekevXxx]

DharmaMidget ahahahah

[@dr_atheist4272]

DharmaMidget perfect! It's not powerful art without a powerful response, am I right?

[@joetroutt7425]

I heard that synth guitar and asked "who farted?"

[@alexanderdavis319]

Probably wont ever read this but I enjoy and appreciate your feedback on everything. I disagree that youre arrogant - I like your constructive criticism and I think you should keep making these 👍

[@vulcanstarlight]

This series was EXTREMELY helpful!! Continue them; people will naturally be themselves. But don’t let ‘offended people’ dictate what kind of videos you produce. Think of those of us whom love your content when you upload. 😊 keep up the good work and keep the composition vids coming 🙂 we love them!!!!!

[@zackrussell2194]

That prog piece was awesome, I'd love to hear it completed!

[@oaktadopbok665]

"I like the idea of this piece of music" Adam being polite for "This music is an atonal junkyard of dissonance."

[@iota-09]

to be honest, it would make more sens if that performance was in the middle of another ppiece rather than stand-alone.

[@wadew3623]

I love the occasional junkyard of dissonance.

[@IMakeVeryDumbVids]

OÄKTA DOPBOK It's not atonal though. It's just muddied by extreme chromaticsm. I actually like it, I think it's (intentionally) very funny

[@philosophyoftrucking]

Adam, you have a great attitude and a teacher's heart. I love watching these as well as SBL content.

[@svincentr]

Great job, video, and advice. Your knowledge of theory is way beyond mine and that’s why I watch you, to learn more.

[@silverlane9181]

Don't let the trolls stop the music. This one of the best things you've done together with unapologetic and diligent embrace of knowledge. Matters of taste will always be subjective but it is a great thing to have a platform where people may compare opinions and maybe even grow their taste. Just crop the offensive comments. It's good that you make the effort to question your own judgment and to try to understand what the other musician has tried to achieve. And your audience gets the opportunity to try their own judgment and taste on top of that. Besides that there is the opportunity to hear stuff that is not available elsewhere. All that is invaluable.

[@sammiller9855]

WARNING reading the comments section may be hazardous to one's health. Swearing, putdowns, rudeness, trolling--one may lose hope in humanity.

[@steadfastcoward]

The original homeowners violated the HOA by messing up the garden and got evicted, then there was a racially motivated familial homicide on the way out, it only goes downhill.

[@meshuggahdave5607]

Too late

[@royxeph_arcanex]

8:44 This actually sounds REALLY good :O I'd be very happy to hear it if it's ever officially released. Was it released since this vid came out?

[@ejej_shej7958]

I agree

[@cshairydude]

It's got a Final Fantasy sort of vibe. Actually sounds good as a chip tune.

[@wxsteria3451]

It is a really good breakdown but I agree with Adam that it might not come out super cleanly when being played live at that tempo. It would be an awesome technique on guitar though.

[@samnicolson2589]

Reminds me of the living fortress

[@CoolJoe330]

Reminds me of Primordial or Moonsorrow

[@threethrushes]

The metal piece sounds like a tune found on a Nintendo 2D platform game from the 1990s. Faxanadu springs to mind.

[@DaTLMusic]

Good game

[@LukeZuniga]

"Guitarmony" I like that

[@Mawkler]

The "JAZZ" thing is hilarious

[@metallsnubben]

ｊａｚｚ

[@Kapomafioso]

That Billy Bumbler tune is like... meow meow, bzz bzz, shart shart...

[@JordanPurcell92]

Please don't stop the series - I love hearing your critiques. You have a lot of wisdom, and not sharing it because some people don't know how to charitably interpret criticism would be a loss for the rest of us!

[@ottolaakso1944]

0:29 9/11 chords? Too soon

[@ibanezxiphos700]

I was more swayed by the 6/9 chords.... giggity

[@augusto7681]

Some chords notation look like a math equation. I never saw A∆7 before !

[@Psyfonify]

its never too soon for the scientific process to begin.

[@EliaForce1984ita]

+Augusto what is "∆" ?

[@benjamingoldstein14]

Elia1995 It indicates a major chord.

[@yourself88xbl]

I can hear that metal jam sounding awesome fully realized.

[@arekhautaluoma4276]

You give great and thoughtful advice. Really relate to that last one on tensing up, have always had problems with it on piano and sax. Great objective advice :)

[@mrbigstuff6149]

Well I got things that were new to me and things that reinforce my teacher's advice out of it; so thanks very much to you and all your contributors, especially the one who sent in the tab/manuscript.

[@MrPisster]

If you want to be good at something you need to get constructive feedback. This video is great. People who want to live in their own little egg and never have their art critiqued can go somewhere else and suck on their own.

[@julianmanjarres1998]

You are only partially right. One should not allow other people's opinions to modify your art. Some people are more musically sensitive than others, so some may not need as much constructive criticism as others. The danger is to confine art to rules and norms, forgetting that it's a personal thing. With that said it depends. If the person simply does not understand how music works, then that's one thing. However, if the musician is experienced and knows what he is doing and just so happens to want a slightly odd or different sound, well then it doesn't matter if someone else doesn't like it, the important thing is that the musician in question does. Debussy was critiqued heavily for his unorthodox compositional style at times. That clearly didn't stop him, though; and thank goodness it didn't.

[@SeeSawMassacre]

"People who want to live in their own little egg and never have their art critiqued" - you've described artists. Every musician, and poet or writer i admire despised critics to some degree or other- as it should be; the two are in direct opposition. The artist assembles something and the critic attempts to pull it apart. Fortunately, as with the battle of good and evil, the critic is bound to lose. A song is as hard to destroy as it is to create- if not harder- and critics are much less passionate about their work.

[@SeeSawMassacre]

@@julianmanjarres1998 Very well said. Furthermore, if someone doesn't know what they're doing, they might stumble into something, and it could turn into a beautiful song. It's my experience that true art is not arrived at logically. Bob Dylan didn't sit down and think out "It's Alright, Ma ". He couldn't have done it. And do you think Beethoven wrote his 9th symphony by way of logic? There's no way.

[@thesteaksaignant]

Thanks for the heads up. I won't watch the video because currently I want to be bad at something, so I'm primarily looking for destructive feedback

[@bennyfairfax1]

Seesaw Massacre Adam Neely is an artist you goddamn megalomaniac.

[@mateodominguez9825]

First thing i did when i saw the title of this video, was going and writing a tune that uses eb11 a whole bunch of times hahahaha

[@rcjward]

Adam, you were spot on with these analyses. Excellent video!

[@mikepitts3130]

I always approach these things with skepticism, because it just started on my phone after a video. I'm a musician who has been lucky enough to have some records put out and blah blah blah. So I watched out of curiosity. And lo you give very very productive and creative guidance. And you seem to be doingg it ently and concisely. Hopeful musicians can be fragile and wayward things and need both. So thank you.

[@Jordarr8994]

A year and already playing teen town? Things are looking good for that dude.

[@Jordarr8994]

these things take time don't worry

[@RightfulFallen]

The first thing I learned on bass was Portrait of Tracy. Perfected it after only a few months. It may not be Teen Town, but it helped me get proper technique early on when learning.

[@Jordarr8994]

Toxic Potato yeah I know exactly what you mean. I've been playing ever since I was a kid but only in churches and stuff, stuff really started to turn around once I was exposed to jazz in 9th grade and did 4 piece jazz combo all 4 years of highschool. Changed my life in such a great way

[@LeviChangsMusic]

I learned teen town after like 8 months ( cover on channel) but still cant quite nail the first 2 bars

[@soportetecnicohigoversomas3451]

fuck google plus thanks, I’m the dude that played. Yeah, I didn’t play it as fast, but it was also what my teacher suggested so

[@Theodcyning]

Was gonna disagree... until I thought about it for five seconds and realized that G to Ab minor 9th interval would be there. It's not impossible to make a minor 9th sound good, just difficult to find the right place for it (An intentionally dissonant metal riff, for instance).

[@baxkill]

second and ninths work wonders on a distortion pedal

[@kaboda317]

Fuck yea mr bungle

[@VreyIsGrey]

I'm a fan of your pfp. California best album.

[@uremawifenowdave]

Keep this series going. It’s the reason I subscribed and I think the advice is valuable. People wouldn’t be sending in videos for you to critique if there wasn’t a genuine desire for your positive criticism.

[@ccamazingamazingness]

That call and response critique was really useful. I found it really interesting and helps me look for that more when listening "studying"

[@theMoporter]

I was gonna watch this video but then I got an ad that said Yousician™ was the best way to learn music and unsubscribed immediately

[@v0Xx60]

You unsubbed because youtube automatically added an ad that was in the same category as the content of the video? can we say "childish"?

[@TasX]

Vox Potentiae can we say “joke?”

[@v0Xx60]

Possibly. How do you spell it?

[@v0Xx60]

Tony-Atkinson, it's possible, though unlikely.

[@TallicaMan1986]

Vox Potentiae spelling is unimportant if you cant get a joke.

[@gNatflaps]

ok but where did that "j a z z" sample come from

[@MacMinecraft]

It's from Mezzo TV Channel. They play recordings of classical music but usually after 9 pm or so they play jazz and announce it with this j a z z thing

[@judah142]

it's a nice meme

[@mjcs6399]

So much more functional. I love how you completely drained the 'jazz' out of it. At first I thought you were going to throw a lot of pseudo-theory at us to remind us how educated you are, but I didn't hear any buzzwords, and the final product was so much more functional than the original. Whew. Thanks.

[@obliviga]

I really enjoy this series, please don't stop!