Allan Holdsworth - Practical Uses of Bitonality In Composition

Holdsworthian Bitonalism is a term I use to describe the use of Bitonality in a section of music to create harmonic dissonance that is eventually dissipated through the introduction of a more stable harmonic structure. The song 'Funnels" by Allan Holdsworth and the music of Aydin Esen places to find these type of Bitonal passages.
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[@angusorvid8840]

Chords are what make Holdsworth. His mastery of chords and key changes are what make his solos so interesting. From early on Allan was obsessed with playing over complex chords.

[@sustayne]

I just CANNOT get over your obvious appreciation for my hero A. Holdsworth. You've inspired me to take my playing in directions I've always wanted to. Now, if only I can find other players who are like-minded. I kind of hate playing alone but that's how it may work out. Even though I live in the shadow of a great music school, finding committed players is all but impossible. When I came of age, playing three 50 minute sets was the norm. Now, one 30 minute set is the norm but no one wants to work even that hard. Perhaps the universe will take pity on my plight and deliver me a couple of players who enjoy working. Thank you, Mr. Beato, for all of the hard work you do for us. You inspire and compel.

[@emiliog.4432]

Holdsworth also studied sax charts to inform his music. AH is the Miles Davis of guitar. One of kind. A master of scales par excellence.

[@guitarjonn7103]

It's April 2023 and I've gone back again to this wonderful video of Rick's from 5 years ago of one of AH's harmonic concepts. Rick just has the best content for aspiring musicians. From basic to master class. If your really serious about getting to your next level, especially with hearing and understanding melody and harmony, both his vids and The Beato Book has everything you could need and more.

[@StaulkHolm]

Hey, Rick! I can't thank you enough for these last two videos on bitonality. I've been working on a composition for the last few years and your videos made me realize that the harmony is bitonal. This thing has been my "white whale" for a long time and now I have a new way of approaching the orchestration. I'm really excited for the minor chords installment (half the changes in my "white whale" tune are minor chords). Thanks again!

[@bresettguitars2518]

Hi Rick, Holdsworthian Bitonalism, great! For sounding off...Tim Miller, Mick Goodrick. Thanks for your channel!

[@steelejerome]

Mick Goodrick would be amazing

[@chadrew6]

great lecture Rick! I used to perform "Funnels" in a fusion band. That section you refer to can be improvised over using an F augmented scale for the first 4 bars and an E augmented scale over the second 4 bars. Having a separate scale application over each chord is also possible, but Allan seems to use the first approach I mentioned. I once tried to talk to Allan about this stuff but he wasn't one to discuss harmony while drinking beer at the Irish Pub in NYC!

[@danielcottar3269]

Your show is a breath of fresh air ! AND beautifully spiced air too !

[@marconati3132]

Rick! Your channel is a BIG thing!! Thank you and cheers from Italy!!

[@lifelongfan07]

There was a scale near the end of the tune “Dodgy Boat” on Wardenclyffe tower, that this reminded me of….sounds similar. Rick, this is so cool! Thank you for sharing

[@lewsheen7514]

WOW! This sounds like Eddie Jobson's CS-80 composition "Alaska" off the UK album...

[@hissinghed]

This seems like a great devise for building tension in film scoring, it really creates a dramatic release when you start resolving the tension.

[@Valvicus]

Allan mentioned somewhere his appreciation for "Cityscape", Claus Ogerman's 1982 collaboration with Michael Brecker, released by Warner Bros. Records. There is considerable common ground between it and the topic at hand.

[@maximyanchenko3780]

great episode, Rick, thank you, please continue your Holdsworthian series!

[@andreasfriedli7419]

voiceleading and counterpoint also plays an important role in this music stile....Ilove it so much.

[@902Steeler]

Rick you are awsome for sharing this knowledge, I appreciate it so much! Im going to watch it over and over until I have it planted in my brain

[@FGC_Archer]

your knowledge is a wonder of the world. words cant express how thankful i am for what you are doing

[@jackdaddyfbomb]

Great lesson here! See also Todd Rundgren's "In and Out the Chakras We Go" from the album "Todd" - similar descending bass, ascending treble bitonalism - but on a rock record. (Some of the piece is noise, I'm referring to the middle part.)

[@birderybirdery]

The bass notes seem to be C harmonic minor. (C,D,Eb, F, G, Ab, B) . until the F# stuff of course. C minor bottom end- WH diminished top end. cool. This channel is a goldmine. Thank you Rick!

[@checkca8]

I am stuck in the basement checking the pump for flooding but feeling great because of your great show, how inspiring!

[@chasvox2]

Really enjoyed this one. Of course, (being an actor who played many M.D.'s over the years - the first being an OB/GYN...)...the first thing I thought of was how fun it would have been to tell a fictional patient that, "We have done all the tests that we can, and it looks like you have Holdsworthian Bitonalism. There is no cure, but you will be the envy of your fellow musicians if they are really smart. Embrace your destiny." Of course, the "news" would have to be delivered in the most somber tones, but with a smile.......

[@RickBeato]

+Charles Kahlenberg Haha!!! Best comment of all time Charles!

[@Valvicus]

"Holdsworthian Bitonalism", commonly known as "Big Al's Big Ears"! LOL

[@CharlesHarrisonMusicTuition]

Eb/B can suggest B harmonic major at 12:15. Tim Miller for sounding off!

[@YuvalRon]

I love this video! Thank you for showing this movement.

[@MICKEYISLOWD]

Hi Rick I love your videos. You make a fabulous teacher. Miss Alan so much and was shocked when news came he had passed away. I thought he was just doing fine so we were all horrified.

[@DeDzjang]

Would love seeing you tackle Blue In Green and reharmonize it using bitonality. Wonderful ideas here! Once again.

[@greatmusic382]

Rick, Rick, Rick, you are super awesome. thanks.

[@em-dashman4404]

Rik. Your musical knowledge is astonishing. But your pronunciation of Atavachron as “Antavachron” does my head in 😂😂 I started an MA in Professional Media Composition back in September, and have been a massive Holdsworth fan since the 80s, so some of this analysis is our gold for me. Thank you!!!

[@ricksalt6860]

what a great lesson . Thanks Rick . Man , you have a nice space .

[@Shinryakugun]

Rick, your videos are always incredibly insightful and helpful! The only problem for me is that you have so much good information that I can't get through all of it...

[@Shinryakugun]

Oh, absolutely. I'd rather have way too much useful information than not enough, anyway.

[@BillLarkinmusic]

Thank you Rick for your inspiring vids !!!

[@alenac7269]

This was such a cool video! Thank you for this Mr Beato! :-)

[@Convisis]

Wonderful Rick. Check out Tom Quayle, he's an AMAZING legato player who tunes in 4ths. He would make a great sounding off interviewee.

[@Jon-wm3wp]

Rick Beato es un maestro. Alto crack!

[@mal2ksc]

The first recording that came to mind when I heard this chord sequence was actually _The fall of the house of Usher_ (Alan Parsons Project). I had tha *aha!* moment, banged some stuff out on a keyboard, and there it was. I finally understood some neat stuff I'd heard but never analyzed for the last twenty-plus years.

[@CjBerry]

This is excellent.. really useful and really excellent sound tools.. really interesting and rich

[@whychromosomesmusic5766]

I think Azimuth on ECM did compositions that sounded like that as well. I had their album, "The Touchstone" in 1979. Loved the whole thing. Atmospheric as hell.

[@jclcrow2621]

Holdsworth always sounded very cinematic to me. Thanks for demonstrating why. Cheers

[@mikemorrison281]

Fantastic content, Rick!!

[@PhilTiongson]

Great work Rick!! Looking forward to Mark Lettieri interview! Just caught Michael League with FORQ recently and would love to see you interview him as well.

[@david5184]

Wow - you just both confirmed and explained the embryo of a hypothesis that has been haunting me for years. I sent a friend request on FB with a sentence about the idea. I think I can show Holdsworth’s bitonality stems from Canterbury

[@Wayne_Robinson]

Very cool concepts that really helped me understand Holdsworth's composition which had eluded me at an earlier age and lower level of musical comprehension. Also, very fancy traveling camera work. Are you trying to outdo Aimee Nolte's skateboard videos? Man, I wish this material had been so accessible when I was previously studying music. Kids today have it so easy, LOL.

[@jayanderson8563]

Great interviews with Snarky & Victor!!!

[@CarlosYounes]

Thank You very much Mr. Beato Nice! Best regards :)

[@nazimonurataman]

Hello Rick thank you for the video great as always ... Tomorrow I will watch Aydın Esen in İstanbul AKbank Sanat concert. He will play solo .. I am already exited :)

[@brianlee5455]

I LOVE your vids!! Helping me be a better teacher at School Of Rock! :)

[@angelobranford1029]

A good musician to interview would be a guitarist named Bruce Eisenbeil who lives in NYC. He's studied with Joe Diorio, Joe Pass, and Coltrane's teacher, Dennis Sandole. He also organized a master class with Cecil Taylor in the 90s as well as written works for classical ensembles and rock bands. He has done a lot of great work but is not as well known as he should be.

[@josdurkstraful]

The first UK album with Holdsworth has a lot of these chord stylings.

[@tb-cg6vd]

Ha! Same; my immediate thought was cut to the mustard and put on UK!

[@artrock5741]

Yes, these are Jobson chords

[@JonMulveyGuitar]

Thanks for another awesome clip!! We are all in debt to Allan Holdsworth. RIP!:-( Get Joe Satriani on. He has so much to say about music that rarely gets asked of him in interviews. And when my students ask why I don't post more lessons. I send them to your channel:-) Keep up the great work!!!

[@JakeRommer87]

Gorgeous chords!

[@pedrozappa]

You find these sounds on Wayne Shorter's compositions. Specialy in later works...

[@rwjazz1299]

I had terrible music profs at university. They made the subject of music theory horrible. Rick makes it what it should be. Fantastic.

[@JakHorn]

Hi Rick, I think you missed the sharp symbol at 4:30 when writing on the board. (You said Eb/F#) Amazing channel! Learning lots every day!

[@shaalis]

IT makes me think of Video game music from Nintendo from about 1997-99. I remember so many of these chordal techniques in the STARFOX 64 game. Best part, was when you beat the game on hard mode, you got access to the entire soundtrack for the game!

[@massimilianofontana]

GREAT VIDEO! Thanks!

[@picksalot1]

An easy way to play these types of chords on guitar it to play the 2nd inversion chord, then play a bass note that is "1 octave and a 1/2 step lower" than any of the chord tones. So, a G chord could have a Gb, Bb, or Db in the base. After fooling around with the chords some, I found that the chord inversion didn't seem matter much, and I could play a bass note that is 1 octave and a 1/2 step "higher" than any of the chord tones, instead and it still sounded interesting. I love polychords, and "Bitonality" provides a useful way to expand may palette of chords to achieve a similar sound. Thanks

[@lvbandmore]

Thanks, man. Stellar.

[@parkerthibault2871]

Hey Rick, loving these videos (tons of juicy info)! Could you do a video on how to become better at songwriting? As a musician my strengths are in theory and technique (especially in guitar) but my composition and arranging elements could use some work. Thanks

[@eddieburke28]

Berklee’s STEVE HUNT is a genius like ALLAN. Check out his performance vids here on KZbin. From classical music Rachmaninov pieces to deep jazz fusion. His solos were on par with Allan’s. He compised DODGY BOAT (Belle Facia).

[@anthonydemitre9392]

Tha bass line forms a C harmonic minor without the second (D) which you didn't mention, I guess it's irrelevant but I thought I'd mention it anyway, Thanks, great video

[@RobertBedwell]

Hi Rick, I was wondering ,if the chords are built on the degrees of the Dim scale, what are the bass notes following?

[@mattdowie92]

Hi Rick, your youtube channel is quickly becoming my favourite for music theory and the Sounding Off series is a real source of inspiration! I can hear certain similarities in harmonic approach between Allan Holdsworth and Aydin Esen (as you've mentioned a few times), I was wondering if you might know if they were aware of each other? Regards Matt

[@pinemartyn7653]

you can get poly chords by tapping on guitar! give it a shot. i hope this helps rick beato. you should look up josh martin from little tybee and interview him for sounding off.

[@SVATTIMO]

That sounds like Alaska from UK , Eddie Jobson, very nice lesson

[@TakaraGold]

Hey Rick, did you get to listen to Gary Husband's piano renditions of Allan's music? It's called "The things I see" and it's simply outstanding work. Bitonalism at its best!!! Love your work and videos Rick!

[@DaveZula]

"A term that I just made up..." Haha, love it! 👍

[@jakemf1]

I can't remember which piece perhaps petruschia by Stravinsky where he uses the C triad over an F# triad! Great avenue for composition

[@dariochillemi4772]

sounding off: Ralph Towner!

[@Shreddelicious]

I'm not a musician but this reminded me of Eddie Jobson. For sounding off Alex Machacek would be cool

[@YoussefRbahi]

Can you maybe get Estas Tonne for sounding off? He shrouds himself in mystery so it'd be great to know how he composes his amazing pieces like The Song of The Golden Dragon

[@philip.guitarra]

Egberto Gismonti for Sounding Off!!

[@RickBeato]

+Philip Adie Love Egberto!

[@whychromosomesmusic5766]

That first thing you're playing kind of reminds me of "Mental Medication."

[@jimwinters3986]

Rick, you should look into having Marshall Harrison on at some point. He'll be talking /playing about Holdsworth tonight around (11:00PM) EST. Apologies for the hijack.

[@user-fe9mj2ql4u]

Hello Rick! 1)Please tell me: Does the bassline in your bitonalism example progression go with some regualitions? As i realized - it must provide certain tension level in sounding. (So you put in the bass flat 2,flat 3,flat 5,flat 6,7 degrees of the major triad) Am I right? After examining the notes from the bass line of your eample (from it's slash chords part) i found that all it's notes are came from C harmonic minor- was that purposely concieved feature of that tune? 2) Have you heard Allan's solo tune Sundays from the album "With a heart in my song" - i think the same things are happening there in terms of bitonalism. 3) How about interviewing of Alan Pasqua for your channel - he is also an outstanding musician an maybe quite underrated stylist too (as John Taylor)?

[@YuvalRon]

If you have chords that don't have same complexity level it doesn't work - very well said! Which is why I really don't think Allan would ever resolve this movement to a simple major chord :) Once this starts using bitonal / polytonal chord, the ear expects that at all times and it sounds disappointing to have less than that. On the other hand, it does mean you can never achieve a real resolution in the sense of tonality. Writing like that pretty much "dooms" the piece to remain a-tonal in a sense. Then again.. we Allan's fans don't mind do we?

[@larstinderholt7438]

Is there a system to the bass notes?

[@wslleyrisso]

Hey great prof could you talk anything about Michael Brecker one day? His composition or his history..anything..thank you so much to share your experience..bye from south of Brazil

[@Ben_Doric]

Rick, As you play your 12 chord bitonal progression, doesn’t that remind you of ‘Alaska ‘ from the first U.K. album? Sure sounds very close to me. If you had an Atruria CS80 patch on your soft synth, You’d have it nailed. Thanks for lesson!

[@GPWalsh]

Hey Allan. What camera and network set up are you using. The quality is superb and you just picked it up and moved it. It's obviously wireless. Really interested in your broadcast set up

[@matthewbelyeu5045]

It would be awesome to have Troy Grady on the podcast

[@ne0romantic]

Do you have any thoughts on John Jacob Niles harmonizations? I've seen what I think is an accurate transcription of Little Black Star and he sort of substitutes what I understand as Adim7 over D for some normal chord in B minor in a lot of places, although really you could just call it D7b9 and maybe that's not so weird to someone with any jazz experience. It seemed weird to me and it's voiced like a polychord. I'm interested in like, his best-known recordings, Black is the Color, I Wonder as I Wander, etc... it seems like what he's strumming could be sometimes very odd and not what people have transcribed and passed on and I have a lot of trouble trying to pick it out, nonetheless begin to understand it... or maybe it's just in my head because it's just hard for me to hear what the notes are with the unfamiliar timbres going on.

[@christophervaca7116]

ask pat Martino about Emily Remler. love your vids!

[@pajeetsingh5869]

Great video, but I still don't understand how this works. So the top chords are major chords going up the diminished scale, but what is the pattern for the bass notes apart from just descending notes? Is there a significance to the scale in which the bass notes are in? Or do I have a wrong understanding of how this works?

[@jayanderson8563]

Spud Murphy has a book on polytonality that builds nicely.

[@victorbalogh4706]

please do a show with these three...alain johannes, tom brosseau, aaron embrey

[@aoxomoxoanyc]

great term!

[@algreaves4515]

Fckng incredible.

[@Mk61960]

That first chord Dflat over c , wouldn't it need a g natural to make it Phrygian? As in sus b2 . C ,Dflat ,f,g,bflat.... Love the videos! Very well presented

[@jameszhang1989]

another example is vultures by john mayer e major riff f sharp minor solo and melody

[@artrock5741]

Sounds a lot more like Jobsonian Bitonality. You should try and interview Eddie Jobson - he is the master of this type of writing.

[@jmichaelhall7433]

...those chords remind me of U.K.’s “In the Dead of Night”, with AH on guitar.

[@TommyBrothers75]

There a lot of these chords in piece "Death of Johnathan Kent" by John Williams from Superman the Movie

[@stephenhall11]

One of the times when I was the most stunned in my life was when I was jamming with Duane Allman and I asked him to explain Diatonics to me and he just nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders and mumbled that he didn't know! Go and figure!

[@KingTabor]

It remind me some stuff by Genesis, maybe Watcher of The Skyes

[@WBUSCH49]

We could see this as counter point so both the triads "melodie"" and the / bass tone should be making sense in respect to sense making when we wanna make sense musically...

[@BiasProd]

Why can't the Eb/B chord come from F# or Gb harmonic minor? How can you tell it's tonic diminished?

[@RickBeato]

+Gerald Thornton You are correct. That's what happens when I'm doing live video occasionally. They removed the ability to correct it with annotations about six months ago for some reason. It can be from the third mode of the melodic minor scale Lydian Aug. or the third mode of the harmonic minor Ionian Aug.

[@mosesramirez6330]

Also, PLEASE do a Sounding Off with Mike Keneally!

[@Avatar7x7]

Application , Application - glad you know your theory- how do you make music with this information?

[@Geert.Van.Boxelaer]

@Rick I have the LCCTO book if you want me to screenshot content table and some pages

[@Athraminaurian]

It would be awesome if you could get Jacob Collier for "Sounding Off". That guy is the future, he is doing some next level shit.

[@wruceb1llus863]

Hey, can you talk about the harmonic theory of Stravinsky. Thanks

[@horus7854]

Hey check out Leonard Bernstein's Harvard lecture series on here and check out Perischetti's book on modern harmony