UNDERSTANDING CHORDS & CHORD SYMBOLS

[@siliconvalleytechlaw]

Love your teaching style Scott, thanks for sharing your knowledge with everyone. I've had a few sax instructors and none have made understanding and learning as easy as you do. It's inspiring!

[@ScottPaddock]

Thank you!!

[@paulfairchild3461]

Yet again a great master class on music theory ,and may I add so helpful,so clear and comprehensible , all put in the correct context Scott .taking away the mystic off chords .that us novices can become so confused about .yes the theory is in all the books 📚,but you make it so much clearer.nice one ☝️

[@ScottPaddock]

Thanks Paul! I've found that chords are so much easier to understand if you just make one change to get to the next one. So you build off of them. I don't know why most people don't teach it like that.

[@liseernie]

Yes it is good when someone thinks of us beginners - Its all clear except i was wondering what was meant at 15:14 when Scott says 'i would start with 4 sharps'? where does THAT come from :-o

[@arknenverakiz806]

Thx for expressing clearly Scott 🙏

[@ballaignac4031]

Finally some person that can explain this. Thank you.

[@Crobcar]

Seriously. Astounding that he is the only one explaining for horns.

[@fastrabbit22]

Scott, you just explained the hell out of that for me. Thank you for being so clear.

[@ScottPaddock]

Hey! Glad I could help. It's not nearly as difficult as it seems when it's broken down into simple steps. Now, being able to play them on command.... that takes some work :-)

[@markaolson3]

Scott - no matter how many times I read, think about, and listen, to stuff about chords, especially for us “single note at a time” instrument players, your explanation and walk through/build up of chords and their “language” stand out and really do the best job of making chord theory accessible and useful. It still might take me another few reviews, but I “get it” like I never have before and this will soooo inform my practice and scales, long tone, exercises.... keep finding myself THANKING YOU! Great insights and instruction as always... Mark Olson

[@ScottPaddock]

Thanks Mark! Check out the video I just uploaded about Chord Tone Breakdown - that will help even more put it all into perspective.

[@joshcharlat850]

Mark Olson Do watch that video!! I just did, and it helps...dovetails this video perfectly.

[@Chris-jo3nb]

I agree. Thanks, Scott !

[@alicebrowar9184]

Finally, I get it! Thank you Scott. You teach with such clarity.

[@ScottPaddock]

Thanks Alice!

[@hans33sw]

No one has explained this so simple, thanks!!

[@davidcox8961]

In regards to understanding chord qualities I have found that what helped me get it was thinking of the intervals. A major interval is two whole steps. A minor is one and a half steps. I now understand what flatting the third or seventh means but it stumped me at first. I bought myself a keyboard to help figure it all out. I believe all horn players should have one on hand. Thanks for helping me figure this stuff out.

[@ScottPaddock]

That's definitely the way guitars and keyboard players think of it. Because we can't see our fingers as sax players, we don't think in half and whole steps quite as easily.

[@davidcox8961]

@@ScottPaddock I remember my scout master checking out the knot I tied. He said that the knot was right but the way I tied it was unique. Having taught myself, there are a whole lot of things I do differently. When I play my flute I hardly think about what scale/key I'm in. I've played the flute a very long time. That's not to say I played it well for most of the time, as I was totally illiterate musically. I do have a good ear though. I always told myself that one day I'd hunker down and learn something. When I retired I figured it's now or never.

[@perishedrunner1490]

Oh thank god I’m trying out for a jazz band tomorrow and I’ve been trying so hard to find a chord introduction for sax improv, I’ve been playing Bari sax for 3 months now and before I was doing regular highschool jazz stuff without having to read chords.

[@rhebad3540]

I really enjoyed your break down of chords. I now understand how to read a chord chart for sax. Thanks.

[@guofiona8120]

Thank you for the lesson Mr.Paddock, you explain this topic with much sense and clarity ❤️

[@fsync]

NEVER seen chords so simply explained for single note instrument! Always got confused whenever a guitar or piano player explained chords. Thanks so much.

[@Saxmandu]

You are the most valued Sensei on the www. 🙏🇳🇵❤️

[@nanooo2077]

How are you so good at teaching. You make everything sound and look so easy! Thanks Scott :)

[@ScottPaddock]

Thank you! I've been teaching for a long time :-)

[@frogstereighteeng5499]

I've had a lot of issues with improv, but love jazz so much. These videos have really given me some groundwork to build stuff up on. Thank you so much, you're a life saver man!!

[@ScottPaddock]

Glad it was helpful!!

[@jamsession7628]

You are a very good teacher. The first person that I know that can teach to single note player’s

[@ScottPaddock]

Thanks, yeah, it's a whole different way of looking at it!

[@NemeskZS]

I'm studying classical music as a saxophonist and I had the chance to learn some jazz before and it was just so overwhelming back then..I never had any real explanation before but this video is brilliant! Thank you for this. Is so clean and clear and easy to understand this way! Thank you!!

[@ScottPaddock]

Hey Grim! Yeah, jazz and especially improv can be overwhelming if not broken down into small steps. If you want to dive deeper into it, check out my Sax School : www.scottpaddocksaxschool.com

[@russelleubanks2885]

Nothing new for me to say that others haven't already said. A clear explanation and a way for me to start practicing. Thank you!

[@proudmusiciansofnabua1103]

You are the best teacher online...i learned a ton from you Sir.Scott...thank you...keep it up Sir.

[@ScottPaddock]

Thank you!

[@michaelmurray607]

yo Scott, thanks so much, retired three years ago and started playing the flute, took lessons and purchased books and dvd's, your demo's and explanations have been the most helpful, keep up the good work

[@livm3161]

Thank you so much! I have been struggling with chords and soloing for the past couple of years and you had such a great and clear explanation.

[@sitatt]

Excellent and the clearest teaching method I've found! Thank you!

[@batuhandursun1930]

Your tutorial videos are the most efficient ones on web. I'm really appreciated for your help. Keep your great work sir!

[@ScottPaddock]

Thanks!!!

[@Errordemn6]

Man, thank you so much for this. Just getting back into my alto after YEARS of not playing.

[@richardavila722]

Hi Scott, Finally, someone slowed down and took the time to explain this in an easily understandable manner! Thanks for that, and I'm not kidding! Appreciate your videos, I just recently happened upon them and I'm excited to see more. You are a really great teacher, keep it coming !!

[@ScottPaddock]

Thanks Richard!! That was my plan, to show how easy figuring out chords can be if you just take it one step at a time. Glad you found it helpful!

[@thebunnsbeeadventures6254]

Fantastic clear explanation of chords and terminology for someone who's never learned them before - makes perfect sense! Thank you!

[@prithvisingh1984psk]

Sir I have never seen any instructor like you. You are super talented sir. Thank you for helping us. Love from India

[@ScottPaddock]

Thanks!

[@prithvisingh1984psk]

I can't believe that you reply sir. Thanks you so much 🙏🙏🙏

[@ianbegley4535]

This really summed up what I needed to know. I jumped to another advanced video but it was great that you referred back to this one before I progressed.

[@ChrisHollandTrombone]

Trombone player. Just discovered this vid. Thanks for the clarity on these. Super helpful.

[@rickyeldido5084]

I Like your vids before watching them. That’s how you know you are good at teaching.

[@ScottPaddock]

Thank yoU!!!

[@gds520]

Another excellent tutorial...straight to the point and easy to follow!

[@ScottPaddock]

Thanks!

[@GRDwashere]

Oh man, I'm so lucky to have found you! i was just about to give up on music alltogether because none of it made sense. Your videos make it all so clear and simple. Dude, seriously, you have a gift for teaching music.

[@ScottPaddock]

Thanks! Stick with it. Just work on the basics and keep growing.

[@saxzphone]

This is a fantastic explanation of the chords for the saxophone. I have been playing saxophone for 12 years and my teacher did not cover chords with me. This came as major flaw in my playing when it came with playing with other people. As once the chord sheet was given to me, I would only play the scale, but not the chords themselves. This video will really help me learn from a beginner perspective and use it when I do jam sessions with other professionals, rather than the solo man in the band that plays random notes in the scale.

[@ScottPaddock]

👍👍👍

[@billspectre2229]

At last a really clear explanation of how chords are put together, thanks Scott I finally understand!

[@ScottPaddock]

😁😁😁😁😁

[@golfprochen]

Very informative and easy to learn. Thank you, Scott!

[@ScottPaddock]

👍

[@englishman32257]

Scott Thank you for sharing your knowledge this make music learning much more understandable .

[@ScottPaddock]

I'm going to do another video on chord progressions in the near future that hopefully will clear things up even more.

[@goodtogaz]

As a beginner trumpet player, this info was hard to find on KZbin. So thanks for sharing!

[@ScottPaddock]

👍👍👍

[@yvesmorency4382]

Thanks Scott for simplifying a topic that I have struggled to understand. Well done

[@HaoMiao-qq5qh]

Hey man, Scott is THE most easy understandable and attractive saxphone learning channel that i've ever seen. Peroid. The best very luck to you, man.

[@ScottPaddock]

Thank you so much!!!

[@HaoMiao-qq5qh]

Hi dear Scott, As a rookie saxophone player back in China, I've ever searched ANY saxophone lesson all over the internet, your channel on KZbin is THE best i've ever seen. Alway simple, always essential, always understandable and always nice to look at. Hey man, here's a very sincere suggestion. As you konw, that we do not have access to youtube here in China. While we have what, maybe tens of millions of teenagers in China who have potential interest of saxophone, why not you, Scott Paddock, to have and maintain a synchronise channel here in China, say, Bilibili, which is both enlisted in HK and the States. Many well known music players have already done that. That channel, I believe, will definitely promote your passion, your skill and your brand Scott Paddock Saxoschool itself, to all those young guys in China. Nothing more than a personal advice. Think about it, man. At least for me, I won't soo~~bother all the way around to transfer and download your lessons via HK to learn from you. My very best, from Beijing, China

[@ScottPaddock]

@@HaoMiao-qq5qh Hey! Thanks for the info. I just looked up Billibilli but it's not in English, so I wouldn't even know where to start.

[@HaoMiao-qq5qh]

@@ScottPaddock Hey man, what a quick reply here. It seems pretty pretty wired that Bilibili don't have an English version anymore. I've no idea why. As far as I'm concerned, any your student from China or at least who can read Chinese can easily transfer your video from KZbin to Bilibili. Pretty frankly, the first time I've seen a clip, hey man, a clip, of your lesson is from someone who downloaded, tranferred and uploaded that from KZbin, maybe. And that's the very reason I'm committed to go all the way round and learn directly from and write to you finally. Any official, authorized, qualified and up-to-date distribution of your lesson will definitely super-exceed those scattered clips where "subscribe via KZbin" are bannered in videos in Bilibili. Again my best, and I'm sincerely looking forward to having you officially on Bilibili or any platforms in China with authorization.

[@noelbeltran2651]

Super Helpful!!! Thank You Scott!!

[@Kkeineetse]

you're a great teacher, go on.

[@jamesj4909]

Scott that was brilliant, my sequential, visual brain, thanks you so much. At last I get it!

[@docriley9296]

Hi Scott, thanks for this video and the "how to improvise". I'm a sax player and I've been struggling with chords, learning them through the eyes of a piano or guitar player. This and the improv video with your clear, easy to understand explanation really helped and I expect a leap in my playing. Thanks again

[@ScottPaddock]

Awesome! Yeah, us single note players look at chords very differently. I'll be doing some song specific improv videos in the near future.

[@BoninBrighton]

Brilliant explanation thank you 🙏 I’m increasingly returning to your channel for explaining the stuff I don’t understand that my teacher is trying to teach me. You’ve certainly got talent.

[@ScottPaddock]

Thanks Bonny!

[@charlesmungai1281]

hey scort, your tutorials are really helpful and easy to understand. keep up the good work.

[@ScottPaddock]

Thanks Charles!! I tried to make them super easy to follow and straight to the point.

[@ezekielkehinde9220]

Great,I love your Videos...This tutorial has shown me what I really need...Thanks

[@ScottPaddock]

Hey Ezekiel! Glad you enjoyed it. Yeah, I try to really break the info down and make it easy to understand.

[@tonioliverensenyat3677]

Thanks. You make it easy to grasp.

[@laurielyon7740]

Well done, Scott. Clear and concise.

[@ScottPaddock]

Thanks!!

[@jennysthought7745]

This video just saved my life

[@KadrianThomas]

Hello Scott, I'm one of your followers here on KZbin. Can you make a video on how to incorporate these chord structures in to playing solely by ear without any lead sheets? BTW, I think you are a very good teacher, you are easy to follow and the lessons are straight forward. Another video that I would like to see is how to practice major and minor scales rhythmically so as not to sound monotonous. Thank you for the good works.

[@ScottPaddock]

Hey Kadrian! Thanks!! I'll put both of those ideas on the list.

[@urtoman]

Thank you for this clear lesson.

[@ScottPaddock]

👍👍👍

[@georgemonroe9683]

Wonderful. Thank for this information. It was very very helpful.

[@ScottPaddock]

👍👍👍

[@l.j.2917]

Hey Scott, thank you for the video! May you also do a video on the other chords you mentioned? The extensions and altered chords and how to practice those as well? Thanks for your help!!

[@ScottPaddock]

I did a video on altered chords. Check it out.

[@dekzo1world]

Nice 1,brother. Am really blessed by your teaching. Keep it up. God bless you

[@ScottPaddock]

👍👍

[@scottlane4217]

what a great video. so clear and well put. those stupid sevens have been confusing me for years!

[@iandawson9050]

Wow that's great I now understand and will works on these in all scales

[@paulsage6849]

Great video scott, was going through this with my teacher yesterday and now have a great reference point to fall back on. Simple and easy to remember, thanks.

[@ScottPaddock]

Thanks Paul! Yeah, I tried to break it down into really simple steps so you could see how each chord was built. Next up is an improv over chords video.

[@byronfriend3493]

Thanks so much Scott I am a sax player myself this was extremely helpful, I really wish I found your channel sooner!

[@ScottPaddock]

Thanks Byron! My tutorials are fairly new. I'm trying to do 2-3 a week.

[@aljerones99]

This is very clearly explained it's a great fundamental tutorial. Thanks Scott!

[@ScottPaddock]

Thanks! Most teachers don't teach it like this. But I find that if you show how you change one note in a chord it becomes another chord it makes it way easier to see how you get from Major to Dominant to Minor to Diminished. This concept doesn't work as well with kids because of their abilities with logic, but with adults they pick it up really quick.

[@aljerones99]

You're spot on, Scott! It is imprudent to assume you can teach a child music the same way you would teach an adult. It's a BIG mistake!

[@mertkoc5975]

dude this is really damn example how simple and good video can done without bullshit. i will follow your content thanks

[@ScottPaddock]

Thanks Mert! Yeah, a lot of music tutorials go off on tangents and talk about a ton of unrelated stuff. I just tell you the info you clicked for 😁

[@angellatonny6379]

I had a lesson about this subject recently & i understood nothing but i'm now fully equipped & happy with this short clip.

[@ScottPaddock]

Hey! Glad you liked it. I've found that breaking it down like this and only changing one note at a time makes the chords way easier to figure out!

[@angellatonny6379]

Thank you so much & i would like to have your email so that i can send my questions & prepare to have some lessons from you.

[@keithcoleman5532]

Thanks mate,I have been playing sax for years and didn't have a clue about chords.it was just hit and mis now I get it.thanks again.

[@patrickrousset2612]

Hi Scott, again very helpful video. Now I'm expecting the next one focusing on how to play these chords respecting the beat of the song. I mean when you read a sheet, you don't have time to think which notes must be played. Simplest way is to play the root, but not enough rich...hopefully you will give us good advices. Cheers!

[@ScottPaddock]

Hey Patrick, this is definitely a reference video for a future video about soloing over chord changes. I'll do it probably within the next month or so. Thanks for the support!

[@lovejazz]

Good lesson on chords, very helpful. It helps me understand chords better.

[@ScottPaddock]

👍👍👍

[@kxngnestor8764]

Is there sheet music to what you played in the begining? That was amazing

[@ScottPaddock]

Thanks! That was just chord outlines to the jazz standard All The Things You Are.

[@JanvanKnip]

That video helped me a lot understanding chords. Thanks!

[@ScottPaddock]

👍👍👍

[@gaoldroyd]

Very clearly explained. Thanks

[@ScottPaddock]

Glad it was helpful!

[@benitadsilva852]

You have cleared my doubt about the triangle 👍👍👍

[@ScottPaddock]

😁😁

[@howiewillis8966]

Well explained . Thank you

[@edthesaxplayer8450]

Brilliant so clear and easy to grasp thanks so much for this.

[@ScottPaddock]

👍👍👍

[@bradmartinez5410]

you are a great teacher. very clear.

[@robertcass123]

Love your Teaching Style Your the Best on you tube

[@ScottPaddock]

Thanks Robert!

[@isaacjohnofficial]

Thanks for making this video Scott, it gives me little idea of what chords all about. But I still don't know the application (i mean how to apply it to improvisation, playing a solo or accompanying a song)

[@isaacjohnofficial]

I'm new to chords

[@ScottPaddock]

Hey Isaac, that is by far the most confusing part of improvisation! Check out my Sax School. I have an entire course dedicated to improvisation where I teach you how to solo, read chords, use chords & scales in your solos and much more! All step by step and super easy to follow. www.scottpaddocksaxschool.com

[@joshcharlat850]

Thank you, Scott!! Very nicely done. A+ I watched the whole thing to see how you presented it. It was a perfect review.

[@ScottPaddock]

Awesome! Glad it helped. Thanks.

[@jacquesappaldo3967]

hello, Crystal clear, thank you.

[@peterjonstefan2926]

Wow really helpful breakdown!!

[@Recctv]

Hey Scott. Cool. I love those. I follow and follow. Not getting tired. love u guy.

[@ScottPaddock]

Thanks Bennett!

[@theafrocentricjukeboxx2844]

Thank you once again.

[@danieldoughty]

Great video! Not too “wordy” and confusing, but definitely spelling everything out

[@Chris-jo3nb]

Thanks for the great tutorial. As per your request for content suggestions: I'm just beginning with music theory and getting into what 2-5-1 and 1-5-4 means. I know their basic construction, but a tutorial on how musicians compose or select among the variety of chords for their songs and how they are related to basic building blocks (e.g. 1-5-4) might be helpful. Basically when you read music and see the variety of chord symbols shown on the measures, how are chords actually selected and sequenced ? What's a typical process ? Do they typically just sound something out on a keyboard and say "Hey those two sound good next to each other." ? Or maybe it's more like baking, where you always start with basics like flour, butter, sugar, etc. (e.g. C major) and go from there ?

[@ScottPaddock]

Kind of like baking. There are a lot of very common progressions that use one or two special chords to make them stand out. Check out my tutorials on the blues progression and 251s. That should get you started.

[@danielcinq-mars2717]

Hi Scott, Another great video ! you're a great saxophonist and a great teacher. I like the way that you teach. When you will have a little time, can you make a video about split tones techniques ? Thanks for your great job ! Saxdan

[@ScottPaddock]

Thanks Daniel! Yeah, I'll put that on the list!

[@woznod]

Brilliant.. so well explained ✅

[@kerryabear]

I’d love to see a follow up with other chord types.

[@ScottPaddock]

Hey Kerry, I've got a whole course related to it in my Sax School! Check it out: www.scottpaddocksaxschool.com

[@harpsprince7576]

Found this very helpful. Thank you 🎷🙏🏽

[@ScottPaddock]

👍

[@johnbull6909]

Thanks Scott

[@1dotele]

great lesson Scott thanks so much

[@erengaisithole8891]

You are so helpful mate

[@oyeniyasamuel6821]

thanks for the video.............. i have been having challenges about those stuff.... but yu made it simpler for me.. thanks a bunch

[@ScottPaddock]

Glad you understand it now. I'm doing one on MODES tomorrow that will accompany this one.

[@GLADYSUWADIALE]

I love your great work sir.how do l apply these chords when playing the alto sax,using your example in key G

[@jc32handler]

Great stuff!

[@tshaylatte9502]

Love it thank you ! :D I love your sound

[@fabioquesada1]

Great and Easy Lessons Thanks

[@ScottPaddock]

Thanks!

[@daquattro]

Awesome Scott, can we have a part two, with 9th 11ths and 13ths?

[@ScottPaddock]

Hey! I already did it a couple years ago. It's called chord extensions.

[@babalosh4]

Hi Scott, really helpful thanks, complicate topic but you have made it a lot clearer, thank you. Ges

[@ScottPaddock]

👍👍👍

[@isaiahd9947]

Thank you so much this is exactly what I needed! I just have one confusion, these symbols are saying what notes they are but notes for what? Are these the notes that the background music is using? Are these the notes you have to work with? Is it both? If it is supposed to be what you play can you play other notes that aren't a part of the scale? For example would it be acceptable to play a B natural in a fully diminished C scale?

[@ScottPaddock]

The chords are telling you the notes the notes the piano, guitar, and bass should be playing, and the harmonic structure of the melody. They are also telling you what notes to play when you take a solo. For example with a G7 they are telling you to solo using a G scale with a flat 7 (F natural). For your example you are confusing the idea of the a scale and a chord. The chord is the shortened version of the scale. For a C fully diminished you couldn't play a B natural, because that is the regular 7th degree in the C scale and the diminished chord is telling you to lower that 7th by 2 half steps.

[@hugh8325]

Thanks for another great video. I have never understood how to read chord symbols till now. Can you clarify why the symbols for chordsd are there please. Are they shown as a guide for notes to play when improvising or some other reason?

[@susysamalex]

Great video, I understand the need to learn the chords off by heart but when looking at sheet music, once you’ve got through the melody and onto the improvised section; how would you / which notes would you play in each of the chord symbols? All of them, 1 of them, some of them, root first? Any info would be great. Thanks

[@ScottPaddock]

Hey check out my KZbin video called How To Improvise over chords. That should answer a lot of your questions.

[@susysamalex]

Scott Paddock cheers, will do!

[@irshadsait3846]

scott tht was awesome

[@bigeasy1950]

This is really good

[@אלדרלוי-נ1ס]

Great video thank you

[@nezarandag2230]

thankyou big help!🙏

[@michaltanay2315]

I need this Chords