The 7 Levels of Jazz Harmony

Ya like jazz? You will!
There are 7 levels of Jazz Harmony, and we'll explore each of them through reharmonizing the chorus of one of my favorite tunes from 2019 - Lizzo's Juice. Thanks to Jae Soto for singing!
OUTRO TRACK (Dilla Beat + Intonalist Harmony)
adamneelymusic.bandcamp.com/t...
Level 1 - "Bell Pepper" - II-V’s and other basic tonal movements
Level 2 - "Poblano Pepper" - Sub V’s and other stuff
Level 3 - "Jalepeño Pepper" - Crazy chromatic extensions
Level 4 - "Piri Piri Pepper"- Constant Structures and Pedal Point
Level 5 - "Habenero Pepper"- Free non-functional harmony
Level 6 - "Ghost Pepper"- Liberated Dissonance
Level 7 - "???" - Xenharmony
These 7 levels aren't meant to be exhaustive in terms of the harmonic techniques of jazz musicians - there really are way too many to get into for a single KZbin video - but they can be useful as a general guide to the FEELING of different kinds of harmonic ideas. As an added bonus, they're roughly in chronological order in terms of when each level occurred on the timeline of jazz history, although no single musician was ever working so formally.
Jae Soto (singer)
/ jaesotomusic
(⌐■_■)
⦿WHAT'S THE BACKGROUND MUSIC?! (my band!)⦿
spoti.fi/2AKAAQ6
⦿ Adam Neely T-shirts! ⦿
teespring.com/stores/adam-nee...
⦿ SUPPORT ME ON PATREON ⦿
/ adamneely
⦿ FOLLOW ME ON THE INTERNETS ⦿
/ adamneely
/ its_adamneely
⦿ Check out some more of my music ⦿
sungazermusic.bandcamp.com
insideoutsidemusic.bandcamp.com
adamneelymusic.bandcamp.com
Peace,
Adam

[@AdamNeely]

Which is your level of preferred spice? Can you handle level 6 ghost pepper?

[@user-xv4id9xx7u]

Number 2 is the last that sounded well.

[@lifeontheledgerlines8394]

Level 7 is better than Level 6 for me. Thanks Jacob Collier.

[@Archaval_AZ]

Number 4 was amazing! The pedal point technique wasn't something I had ever heard in jazz before and definitely sounds like something I'd want to incorporate into my own playing. Though I am not sure it is as evocative of the original piece as much as the other levels.

[@Lobzikman]

Well, if you put yourself in a position "I play music for people" you would probably very carefuly take your pefrormance no deeper than level 5. Even so, very rarely. Thanks Adam, great video as usual.

[@lasdudas9210]

I love you spicy boi.

[@bigstanky2037]

you know your playin hardcore jazz when the chords look like wifi passwords

[@lucasorrego1]

JAJJAJA

[@juliansmith-mclallen1784]

Lmao underrated

[@ToasterWithFur]

The sheet music is on the back of the router

[@the___dude]

Lmao at this rate, jazz musicians probably can play the back of the router

[@shubguitar1730]

Lol. Complex looking chords are just named based on the intervals of the modes of the scales they come from. Usually they are based on 7 note scales, major and melodic minor being most the common ones in jazz.

[@Cesar-ey7wu]

*the scooby gang remove the mask of 7th level of jazz harmony* : "it was lofi hip hop radio - beats to relax/study to all along !"

[@williamreiner1629]

César The people who make those lofi hip hop study music videos: “And I would have gotten away with it too, if it weren’t for that meddling Neely.”

[@Zachary-ro6eg]

W

[@420protoman]

and i woulda got away with it if it wasn't for these darn kids

[@gordonwoo8127]

Great conclusion. Hilariously accurate but oddly satisfying.

[@MysteryMii]

WILL THAT ANIME GIRL EVER FINSH HER HOMEWORK?????

[@CARROTMOLD]

My 12 year old self randomly stacking notes in finale was really just liberated dissonance.

[@yourtypicalcupoftea]

**bangs head on piano** there we have some level 6 jazz

[@Sedyon]

I swear I saw you in the comment section of Earthbound related videos, you were saying that Giygas wasn't creepy

[@yourtypicalcupoftea]

@@Sedyon me, giygas not creepy? i think you have the wrong one, or i just forgot i made those comments

[@Sedyon]

@@yourtypicalcupoftea I'm pretty sure of what I said 🙃

[@Sedyon]

​@@yourtypicalcupoftea oh actually I was partially wrong, in fact you said "Tell that to Pokémon (lavender town)" to a comment saying that Earthbound could give nightmares to kids

[@yourtypicalcupoftea]

@@Sedyon oh, oh yeah

[@Wadosan]

Me: *Plays 33 cents out of tune* Section leader: Push in, you’re flat Me: I have achieved xenharmonism

[@Calz20Videos]

Yep.

[@ericmyrs]

Imagine trying to get your section to play these chords.

[@nou6990]

sax clarinet oboe or bassoon

[@Wadosan]

Holy shit this got so many likes what

[@infono9874]

Show it on a tone generator

[@nou6990]

Ok so when jazz artist play notes out of the chords they’re “playing liberated dissonance” and “doing non functional harmony” but when *I* do it I’m “playing the wrong notes” and “not qualified for the band”

[@harunsubasic3014]

Exactly.

[@michaelfoxbrass]

A note is a mistake when it doesn’t belong to a harmonic structure. Just like a word is a mistake when it doesn’t belong in a sentence, or an ingredient is a mistake when it doesn’t belong in a recipe. Think of the reharmonizations as ways of speaking the same language but with different accents or by using a larger vocabulary. So long as the Dallas accent isn’t mixed with the NYC accent, the accent makes sense to the listener whether they are from Dallas or NYC.

[@DasGanon]

I would say it's pretty much an identical change as a lot of post modern contemporary art, and it's no coincidence that Adam talked about most of this with a single artist's history. If you look at say, Jackson Pollock's history you would see something somewhat similar where it started with the obvious fundamentals of art and as time went on got more abstract and more about the ideas of what could be done with less and more.

[@michaelfoxbrass]

Das Ganon - spot on. And the art comes from deciding which style/language expresses what the artist/musician is trying to say at the time of the production/performance/recording. Otherwise, art/music (anything) becomes a mechanical/craft/intellectual exercise - which can be impressive - but isn’t necessarily art.

[@starchild692]

If you have a pattern and play within a specific context then you are not wrong. Even in this liberated dissonance there's a pattern and context that's why it's distinguished as a style.

[@tsg_frank5829]

I love level 6 purely because of how ANGRY the chords sound, the fact that Adam describes these intervals as "At War" is fantastic.

[@cameronwall5159]

The piano player sounds pretty angry too

[@nate_storm]

I love level 6 purely because of how shitty the chords sound

[@Dany715gd]

After 4 years of studying music theory i finally understand every chord and how they function harmonically within each chord progression in level 3 and below. I feel better than I’ve had in months

[@tj-co9go]

Yeah I can understand it up to the top level but its just a mess anyways up from level 3 and doesnt make sense. Except for level 7, it is quite nice

[@Dany715gd]

@@tj-co9go It does make sense lol, you just don’t get it yet, from level 4 onwards it’s a nonfunctional feast. It requires really deep analysis to understand it pragmatically. Not that I’m willing to do such analysis but it does make sense within its own convictions

[@birb7271]

Imagine devoting all of that brain power to something that sounds a five year old pressing random notes.

[@ashtar3876]

@@tj-co9go it's actually stupid how level 7 sounds alright ahahh

[@SpawnIsSleepy]

​@@birb7271music is for the maker, not for the "audience"

[@ststst981]

So what youre telling me is that LoFi hiphop is the highest level of jazz we can ever achieve?

[@rwheels6471]

At least until somebody new comes along with some other crazy ideas

[@simonvanroij4182]

There is more sophisticated music in the world.

[@ianparker5007]

@@simonvanroij4182 please note the and analysis part. Not just a link. Thx ;)

[@AlexaMorales]

Ohhh at 9:13 now I get this comment!

[@hirokokueh3541]

you know, Dilla groove, micro rhythm

[@josiahwood3959]

Me:*headbutts piano* Adam: "level 8 jazz right there"

[@roma540]

NOPE! You should hardly detune (they call it A=432 Factor 9) your piano first!

[@EliotKiti]

@@roma540 nice roman

[@SoI-]

Jazz jazz jazz

[@patchoulicyanide]

No level 8 is all polychords, each made out of 4 diminished chords played at once, each a Tritone apart

[@Rex-golf_player810]

Level 8 is playing a chord with your saxophone

[@isaac_paech]

"Level 2 is where i stop thank you. After that it starts to just become dissonant noise instead of pleasing harmonies." - from the classical pianist

[@nigelcottingham5741]

I'm with you on this one, from 3 onwards, from my perspective it becomes like when you used to bang your hands on any old note as a kid, and the underlying progression disappears. If I was hearing level 3 from scratch, I wouldn't understand what was underpinning it (probably my own limited musical brain I guess)!

[@mansendwish]

because you are a sub huma- musician 👂

[@nigelcottingham5741]

@@mansendwish 🤣🤣

[@plabonbose3531]

@isaacpaech1430 exactly

[@tabkg5802]

Skill issue

[@beseakos]

Just enrolled into jazz school after 18 years of classical violin and having my entire world I knew about harmony destroyed by my compulsory piano teacher in the first lesson was a life changing experience. Rootless voicings, and all that stuff just opened my eyes about how wrong I was thinking regarding harmonization and how little they teach you just to get by in classical training. Not even properly a week into it, barely grasping the basics of 12 bar jazz-blues and here I am thinking there is so much more to learn and I already learned more than I ever could in a traditional classical environment, because all of this would be considered 20th century and ‘contemporary music’ by their standards. Revisiting this video just enforced my feelings about it. You don’t ‘need’ a fifth, you don’t ‘need’ a root, you don’t practically need anything as long as it’s implied in context or as long as what’s being played points to the general direction of the implied harmony. Thank you for the video, Adam, it’s still a banger.

[@bryanchandler3486]

thats awesome. best of luck in your studies and your playing!

[@furrycircuitry2378]

You sir have just had an epiphany

[@njrous]

Herbie later said he realized Miles actually said "Bottom" notes and not "butter" and so he revolutionized harmony based on mishearing something lol. True jazz things

[@televinv8062]

Okay! Didn't know this. So what are the butter notes according to what Herbie thought he heard? Take any chord, Gm7 or G13 etc.

[@njrous]

@@televinv8062 I saw Herbie talk about it in an interview this year, I think he only realized recently! The butter notes being the 3rds and 7ths, which led to all these sus-type voicings that were more harmonically ambiguous. If he played 1-2-5 (C D G) it’s harmonically ambiguous enough for the improviser to interpret that a bunch of different ways, not to mention it just sounds really cool.

[@televinv8062]

@@njrous thank you! So, if I were to play some of these chords without the butter notes on guitar, use the upper voicing for the 2 and the 5? Suggestions?

[@njrous]

@@televinv8062 yeah, sus triads and inversions would work well! C F G, F G C, G C F (145, 125, and 1 4 b7)

[@jeelpandya5147]

He said that in the video Jacob Collier explains Harmony in 5 different levels

[@frederickdavis4208]

I can believe Adam Neely made this whole video just to make lofi hip hop

[@AdamNeely]

basically yeah

[@BraceletGrolf]

@@AdamNeely How do you even play level 7 live ? If the same note change their tuning over time

[@torram28]

@@BraceletGrolf you don't or use a backingtrack, anything else would be a pain

[@kunstderfugue]

@@torram28 you sing it or use instruments that can create microtones, like bowed strings in the hands of very, very skilled musicians

[@Cesar-ey7wu]

@@BraceletGrolf you can also program your synth to play the several tuning of the same note on the black keys (but you have a diatonic keyboard)

[@TheRealApricat]

When I hear jazz harmony to this degree, it reminds me of an old friend who always overused olive oil when she made Italian food Just because you have a whole bottle of the stuff, doesn’t mean it needs a whole bottle of the stuff Love the channel Adam, love the content, and I love hearing what I don’t like so I better understand what I do like 💜

[@salty_3k506]

but have you heard some of the albums he recommends? just because you don't like something the first time doesn't mean you should stop. i don't like jazz yet but i try to expose myself to it because as long as it sounds unusual and disgusting, i just haven't listened to it enough.

[@Sedyon]

First level of jazz harmonization: pleasant music, smooth chords Sixth level of jazz harmonization: *INFERNAL CHORDS THAT WOULD DRIVE ANYONE CRAZY*

[@jimit.4220]

yeah sure, you should check out Michael Finnissy's piano concerto no. 3

[@Sedyon]

@@jimit.4220 wow, it's a real pleasure for the ears ☹

[@jimit.4220]

@@Sedyon haha, no but seriously I do think Finnissy is a great composer, his works are incredibly expressive, but it's also probably some of the most furious and opressive music ever created, which is why I like it, but I don't blaim anyone who dislikes this kind of music. For real if I was recommending how to get into more dissonant and atonal music, I'd say go with Alban Berg's violin concerto, it's far more relaxed, has a more mysterious vibe to it and is inspired by romanticism.

[@BrutalistJr]

adam: "So let's take a look at this Bbminormajor7overFmaj7overC#5..." me: "okay"

[@flatterswhite]

HAHAHAHAHAHA shut up you walnut

[@dwightthestonejackson4819]

@@flatterswhite Please go away

[@sergannn]

=) same

[@flatterswhite]

@@dwightthestonejackson4819 me: okay xD

[@avelmusique]

😂😂😂 nice chord

[@knoel8329]

Non jazz musicians: That shit sounds horrible Jazz musicians: now we’re gettin spicy

[@alexanderstahn9595]

I think the piano is at fault because it doesn't sound clean

[@williamyauwry2876]

Agree.. I'm confused since the 3rd level.. 😞 i guess i don't have any talent in jazz

[@User-xw6kd]

You need to have an ear for experimental music.

[@katphisH11]

I think the midi piano just sucks. If someone played it with musicality it'll probably sound better

[@franciscofragoeiro5229]

@@User-xw6kd That's a huge generalisation

[@JF-zv4oc]

This singer is amazing. I love her voice.

[@SherwoodBotsford]

We have to agree to disagree. I dislike her singing as being whiny and petulant.

[@zeta1593]

I love when I'm improvising cool dissonant things, then I take the time to see what I played and it's always amazing to see that "your brain" play harmonics automatically (because I'd never have the musical knowledge to choose those harmonics consciouly). Jazz is amazing

[@plainzero]

Well said!

[@AkimboCorndogs]

12:11 “2,345,312 viewers watching” I see what you did there

[@stefan1024]

You've just won the internet. Go outside and celebrate your success.

[@boggybolt6782]

Goddamn, I didn't even notice. Gotta love easter eggs.

[@AkimboCorndogs]

Hugo Hassler It’s the intervals of “the lick”, which Adam is always playing and referencing.

[@repulsive_milkman4514]

@Hugo Hassler its a certain tongue movement owo

[@stefan1024]

@Hugo Hassler Just play it on the piano.

[@iJiggsy]

Jazz Level 6: “Ah yes, this chord is made of C H O R D”

[@devoicedmusic]

yo dawg I heard you like chords...

[@kylechauvette9121]

Ah, yes. Enslaved chord

[@lynnlo]

Ya like CHoRdz?

[@alexbeattiemusic]

Did you know that at every minute at 60bpm, 60 beats pass.

[@CrysisVN]

Blitz Alex holy shit dude thanks i didnt know that

[@veryfitting]

I don't care if it's my "untrained ear" from level 4 onwards, it all sounded a mess. Edit: apparently level 7 is actually the best to me, writing after hearing them being played.

[@georgekurioreilly4857]

No one cares

[@loosalat1244]

the midi piano doesnt really do it justice, try imagining a big band playing it

[@FaranAiki]

@George Kuri O'Reilly, O'Reilly (pun)? I cared.

[@standarduck5860]

@@georgekurioreilly4857 inaccurate.

[@jgsky]

Agree

[@cleats727]

Number 4 was my favourite, those low notes give it such power!

[@daddymao2944]

it can be eligible for a mario boss battle

[@junfour]

Well, above level 4 is non-functional also known as non-sense. Plus I'm pretty sure level 4 is where Final Fantasy music lives, so what more could you possibly want.

[@scottyskywalker5768]

It's cool but it just doesn't fit the melody but on its own it probably really slap as a piano solo .

[@fathimathnabeela6247]

@@scottyskywalker5768yeah, it stops fitting the song at about level 2

[@Magnymbus]

Level 7 goes so far past the deep end that it overflows back around to the opposite side.

[@rockumk]

Like the horseshoe theory of politics.

[@tommy7830]

I think it would actually be far worse. Think about it. If you adjusted the tuning at a random way, it would be level 6 but more dog shit. He cut it some slack and tuned it in a pleasing way

[@combustinghandshakes8617]

evolution? sort of like zima blue

[@robots9146]

Level 8 Jazz: Using tuning is too tedious at this point. Chords are instead built from octave-shifted harmonics of a fundamental frequency. Any frequency can be used as a fundamental. Any audible harmonic can be used in the chord. Level 9 Jazz: Frequencies in each "chord" no longer need to share harmonics with the fundamental. Level 10 Jazz: Frequencies no longer need to be within the audible range. Chords don't count if they contain fewer than 100 frequencies. Level 11 Jazz: Sound is an illusion. The very concepts on which music functions do not truly exist. Cast aside your instruments and be at one with the void. Level 12 Jazz: Silence.

[@MichaelWilliams-tw7ft]

so level 12 is basically John Cage's 4:32?

[@RoastyPotato]

@@MichaelWilliams-tw7ft *distorted bass*

[@kevinyang9224]

**jazz music stops**

[@haruntekin6724]

@@MichaelWilliams-tw7ft Pinnacle of Jazz right there

[@instinctbrosgaming9699]

ben g It seems that John Cage was a master of Level 12 Jazz

[@sirmiluch6856]

Japanese music is generally based on thier traditional progressions and harmony (which are simply brilliant and rich) but it is really similar to jazz in many places (at least up to level 4) which is really fascinating for me.

[@jakesawaguchi4928]

I know this is really late, but could I ask you to explain why? I'm starting to get into Jazz and trying to understand jazz harmony, and I've been exposed to Japanese music for my whole life (being half-Japanese) so I feel like it'd be really helpful for my understanding to see how they relate.

[@samnic1998]

@@jakesawaguchi4928 i dont know a tonne about this but I do know that american jazz was really popular in japan in the 50s/60s so i guess maybe it influenced their use of harmony etc that spread to other types of music?

[@minatimurmu9798]

I would love some examples!

[@pureeschaap]

Can you post a link to some examples to these Japanese progressions/harmonies? It seems very interesting. I'll use some search bots, of course, but it seems you know some good sources...

[@eddydelrio1303]

FASCINATING for this classically trained pianist and conductor and chromatic theory instructor who knows full well what cents/commas are, but not a stitch of jazz theory!

[@room312productions]

'these chords are starting to sound kind of bad' 'how about if we detune them?' *lightbulb*

[@oscargill423]

It's more like retune them: you've probably heard the whole "pianos are out of tune" shtick. Well it's true. In order to have all the notes the same distance apart, we compromise on how nicely the chords are tuned. Level 7 removes that compromise.

[@xavierharris9749]

Gru: lightbulb 😏

[@kaitlyn__L]

@@oscargill423 this is exactly what I was thinking the moment I heard it (probably helps my perfect pitch developed playing a just-intonated instrument), literally my first thought was “piano finally sounds right”! So when Adam called it “out of tune sounding” I got so confused lol, but at least he said “in a good way” right after ;)

[@masterstepz9800]

Jazz student: Do you want me to play in the key of C or G? Jazz teacher: Yes

[@yaboieli6108]

I feel attacked

[@achenarmyst2156]

A bit worn out by now 😏

[@jamesgoulding9941]

LOOOOLLLLL

[@Calz20Videos]

MasterStepz9 • but maybe also f#

[@thatsEforEveryone]

@@Calz20Videos add f to that mix aswell, i love me some ear rape also known ass jazz

[@danielvogel9453]

I watched this the other other night and I've got to say her voice has been in my head every morning since. Like a freaking angel.

[@MordredMS]

Levels I-II: Beautiful and complex harmonies giving the vocal melody a new spin that plain harmonies could never reach. Level III: The pianist knows the melody but hasn't learned the chords so he's just making it up as he goes along. Levels IV-VI: Random notes violently clashing with the melody, trying not to support it but to rape it, brutalise it, tear it to pieces with gangrenous claws and stitch it back up with its own entrails, until it becomes but a blasphemous mockery of itself thrown upon a bloody altar for the catarrhous laughter of the Dark Gods. Level VII: That's... actually really interesting.

[@HaydenofEverything]

By the time we get to Jazz Level 6, the line "It ain't my fault" feels like the start of an argument rather than the chorus of a feel-good pop song

[@hnnymn]

Haha. I love this comment!

[@barabbasiii]

Underrated comment.

[@dairebarefoot6763]

😂 I started to hate it all at level 3

[@Arcessitor]

@@dairebarefoot6763 Same

[@denisblack9897]

@@dairebarefoot6763 true story, hated it on 3d time, paused and went here

[@universalsprout]

Level 6 - PROTIP: Make sure the synth and the vocals are *not* in the same key

[@ammyvl1]

Polytonality, let's go

[@dylantt5878]

I like playing in F Major, but I like singing in _F ShArP_

[@dominikclarke6545]

Um 666 likes

[@Calz20Videos]

Dylan the Tactician I like my backing track in C, but I’d love to have my vocals in F#

[@lebronzejames9738]

Single handedly as a music composer mess around on keyboard since 8 and a deep lover of jazz who's faced a lot of challenges with simple diatonic harmony who is self taught in theory and simply goes w the flow this was the best video I've ever seen to show how to spice things up your examples on point no wasted bs time your explanation easy to understand abs love your work simply the vid i was looking for thank you so much wish you the best sir

[@darthTwin6]

I love coming back to this vid as a progress indicator of my own music theory knowledge. I adore how the music theory rabbit hole seems endless and continuously intriguing. This video is also still one of my favorites! ❤️

[@Spongebob-lf5dn]

"I'm not off key, I'm playing level 7 Jazz"

[@gamergodyt4167]

Spongebob lEvEl 6 JaZz*

[@kirjian]

"lofi hiphop beats is the ultimate level of jazz" - Adam Neely 2019

[@borellusboris]

Lol, yeah right...

[@anamiableghost2132]

YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST

[@switch1e]

I love coming back to this video every few months to see how much more of it I can understand. It’s a nice way to benchmark my understanding of music theory

[@marshallgrey2159]

I keep coming back to this video over and over again. Idk it's just so inspiring honestly and just pleasant to watch/listen to.

[@lukel.6582]

tension: goose release: juice

[@CannotBeVerified]

Nothing is more true.

[@neilpatrickolaires7471]

gotta blame it on the goose

[@becauseimapotato7599]

So you're telling me that a tense goose is releasing juice?

[@kunchenliang8772]

The GoldenKeyboard 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@becauseimapotato7599]

@@kunchenliang8772 I mean it's just a theory

[@albaal7035]

So, I'm not bad at music after all I'm just playing high-level jazz

[@hermit-up-to-11]

Wasn't it Dave McKean who said, "1 bum note is just a bum note. 2 bum notes is jazz"? Comfort for us all.

[@rodri55555]

It makes me remember Wayne Shorter. There are some concerts of him tunning like level 7.

[@AudioOrchardMusic]

Haha good stuff

[@SmeagolTheBeagle]

U made me laugh out loud mate thank u

[@anarchistpoops161]

Unless you have a microtonal instrument, you're at most level 6

[@timmypbass]

Love the videos Adam, always a great watch.

[@DanielKlein23]

I don't know why but I keep coming back to this video every few months. Something really compelling about it

[@YousefTobail]

Me: **learns how 7, 9, 11 and 13 chords work** I am ready for this video **watches video** ight imma head out

[@ldgaming4213]

Lmao so true

[@canaldepraticadejesus6600]

Same here

[@ephraimpinckney8209]

@@canaldepraticadejesus6600 After level 3 the song was wrecked however, it was a lesson in harmony. God bless the KZbin.

[@DafterHindi]

Same

[@crispitysmuggity]

*My friend, you have a long way ahead of you…*

[@user-en7dx1qp3k]

Level 1: The classwork Level 2: The homework Level 6: The test

[@choiyatlam2552]

Level 1: You Level 2: Your best friend Level 3: Your crush Level 4: Your crush's bf/gf Level 5: The straight A student Level 6: That kids who said he/she knew nothing Level 7: The mythical prodigy who never attend classes

[@dominicstewart-guido7598]

Honestly the homework is always much harder than the test

[@dabendan79]

level 6 sounds lile crap. adam neely knows nothing about jazz

[@volta6525]

@@dabendan79 how can u say that? have u watched any of his videos

[@dabendan79]

@@volta6525 how could you say that? do you actually respect and listen to jazz?

[@piercejenkins13]

For some reason, I love the just intonation. Everyone seems to hate that sound but sometimes it just feels right.

[@forell-music]

thank you so much for making this stuff available! This is such great information!

[@orvilleredenpiller338]

Adam: Oh Miles Davis, please show us the way. Miles: I’m afraid we’re going to have to use... *MATH*.

[@arthurwkm]

now I want to see a tenacious d jazz version where jack talks to miles in the poster

[@sweesbees]

Level 6 Jazz: “You have to listen to the notes she’s not playing”

[@kloodmusic]

This is underrated

[@entertherat]

So basically, turn it off?

[@iamlalala1995]

Isnt that the overtone lol

[@michaelvigil3436]

I could do that at home

[@TheM0nsterX]

Play every note that isnt in the original key and you good

[@rgillies]

This was the most revealing and enlightening explanation of jazz harmony I have ever encountered. Bravo. And thanks.

[@skrowmedia]

Levels 4 through 6 are my jam. I can't tell you how many times I've watched (actually just listened) to this video.

[@ralfgeollegue5272]

I have a saxophone but i dont have a phone, nor had 'sax'

[@jaroslavsvaha6065]

More like hitting your piano with a sledgehammer to see what happens to the tuning

[@burningflower1]

@@jaroslavsvaha6065 JKWFJEFJKJF PLS 😭

[@jimjeff9852]

Level 7: lofi beat making highschool student

[@ifusubtomepewdiepiewillgiv1569]

cant even play that on a detuned piano lol

[@BlackRider564]

Me, at the start of the video: haha that's funny Me, now at the end of the video: oh, it is actually what happens

[@anastrophethis]

Level 8: Every musician picks their favorite A=432 Hz tuning for their instrument without revealing it to the others.

[@oscargill423]

Their favourite A=432 Hz tuning? There aren't multiple A=432s... (unless that's the joke in which case ignore this)

[@OLDSACKS]

That's the joke. Play something in 440 or 420, tell the 432 heads it's still 432 and they will believe you.

[@oscargill423]

@@OLDSACKS Ahhh okay gotcha. A sad truth indeed.

[@tand0r]

@@oscargill423 there are! You can have different intonations and temperaments (pythagorean, 12-eq, other just intonations, other eq temperament tunings) that only share the common starting point of A=432Hz (though "A" might not be a concept in all of them)

[@oscargill423]

@@tand0r But A432 is still A432. Doesn't matter what temperament you use, 432 cycles per second is still 432 cycles per second. It's not like tuning your instrument differently alters the space time continuum.

[@davidmcleod1760]

Lvl 4 sounded awesome, really loved the pedal point, really gave it a groove. I also loved lvl 2, it seemed like it fit the melody perfectly to my ear anyways

[@shanes.9089]

Adam your the f’n best man! These videos are killin 🔥🔥🔥🤟

[@QuinsonHonQBB123XX]

Pop: Ok Level 1: Ooh that's nice Level 2: That's pretty interesting Level 3: Something sounds off... Level 4: Wait why is it so dark all of a sudden Level 5: Uhh... it sort of works? Level 6: What is this disharmonic sh*t Level 7: This... is actually oddly satisfying

[@de7io407]

everything after level three was just a step into the void and then level 7 was like oh. theres still a key.

[@Mr.Goldbar]

I definitely agree lol

[@fjeinca]

Quinson Hon I finally found a tribe where I’m not odd man out. ;) Thanx.

[@brongulus2617]

Pop: sounds great, provided i'm drunk Level 1: Ooh that's nice Level 2: Sounds off, but in an interesting way Level 3: Muzak Level 4: Gross Level 5: Gross Level 6: I pray to never hear this again in my life Level 7: This... is actually oddly satisfying

[@radamstep]

Listen to Jacob collier. He's a genius with Level 7. None of what he does sounds out of tune, even though it should be. He works magic with harmony.

[@brickvideos4851]

Level 1: ii-V-I (Basis of functional Jazz harmony) Level 2: Tritone subs (Combo jazz) Level 3: upper extensions, 9ths 11ths 13ths (Big Band) Level 4: Pedal Point (Modal Jazz) Level 5: Non-functional harmony (Modal and Fusion Jazz) Level 6: Liberal Dissonance and stacked chords (Contemporary) Level 7: Microtonal harmony (L O - F I)

[@Gapetz]

Im pariking here like my comment

[@wmStubblefield]

A very nice summary, Thanks!

[@Geveretzah1]

Aren’t the Cm7 and F7 non functional?

[@joschka-bw2rc]

@@Geveretzah1 No, they are non-diatonic, but together with the Bb6, they are a ii-V-I in Bb-Major, so they have functions:)

[@Geveretzah1]

@@joschka-bw2rc thanks for clearing it up my friend :)

[@kSpace_s1]

Great and very entertaining introduction to the development of jazz harmonies!

[@mishapurser4439]

Levels 1, 2, and 7 were my favourite. I live for the satisfaction of the release.

[@joaquinsalvo9675]

0:27 normal harmony 0:49 level 1 2:06 level 2 3:32 level 3 4:52 level 4 5:46 level 5 7:13 *level 6* 8:56 level 7

[@daniellxnder]

BIG THANKS

[@MichaelMcNay]

8:56 8:56 8:56 8:56

[@4wardnthought234]

Exactly. There is sensible music that feels good, and then everything else. Just because it is above the technical understanding of newer musicians doesn't mean it sounds good. There is music made to impress or even to downgrade others, and then there is music that is enjoyable for many. Art (visual or audible) is something meant to speak - to communicate - to others, in order to share something. When the arts complexity is so intricate that few people understand, it's like a professor speaking in such elevated vocabulary that nobody understands what he's saying. And this is pathetic because in an effort to impress others, he has denied himself the opportunity to express anything. When nobody gets what he's saying, he might as well have never spoken at all.

[@kylekotula7266]

@@4wardnthought234 I agree in a sense. Art should generally have a sense of understanding or connection from the artist to the viewer or listener. Some of the "levels" like the 5th or 6th one should probably be used once and a while opposed to all the time. But in my opinion this was a great video to see different ways of harmonizing. As it opens people to a whole new world of technicality to try to figure out and experiment with. So what if we don't use these much or all the time (pun not intended). Seeing this video at least opened up my box of thinking on harmony to see what I could do of I ever wanted more creative harmony out of a chord in a future arrangment. I have yet to learn some of this stuff, but it's honestly very cool to me. Even if sparingly used.

[@4wardnthought234]

@@kylekotula7266 Exactly. Sparingly. As a musician of 30+ years, I can tell you, while I CRAVED the oblique, fringe stuff, once I wore it out I realized it sounds like crap. And it was only ever interesting to technically driven musicians. It is the audio equivelant of tripping balls on acid - after a while, you just grow out of it and realize that most others didn't enjoy in the first place. So jazz level 8: go back to the beginning, where sounds beautiful.

[@damiangonzalez_esp]

Level 8: throw 5 cats inside an old piano, close it, press sustain pedal and start singing.

[@error.418]

So, no joke, I went to a show where a guy put dozens of disposable vibrating toothbrushes into the piano. It was pretty close to your description.

[@victoza9232]

Damián González Then call Shrödinger to determine if the "music" is simultaneously dead and alive.

[@mrz80]

@@error.418 I went to a George Winston concert many years ago. At one point, he donned a full set of fingerpicks, half climbed into the piano, and started playing it like it was some enormous new age confluence of harp and banjo.

[@ExhaustedPenguin]

That sounds like something out of google translate.

[@zaqareemalcolm]

c h a n c e m u s i c

[@jaijeffcom]

Adam, your survey of styles with examples was a lot of fun and I look forward to reviewing some of that beloved music and some stuff new to me. Your upper stratosphere levels are also a fun provocation of debate and thinking.

[@covanentsbane]

Level 7 Jazz Harmony is so lovely, that intonalism really makes all the spiciness fall into place. Level 6 is just way *too* much at least in your sample, but I was vibing with everything really well, and the Intonal Harmony was just *chef's kiss* Although that might just be because I've listened to enough lo-fi hiphop at this point that I'm very comfy with the shifts in question

[@sanny8716]

Ok, why isn't there a "microtonal beats to relax/study to" radio?

[@andylu6150]

In all seriousness, microtonal music is actually really soothing to listen to. If only someone could make "microtonal beats" a reality.

[@mattparkin7224]

@@andylu6150 If you all are interested in microtonal electronic music, check out Sevish on bandcamp

[@henriaunin]

As a classical musician, I’m dying over here.

[@unslept_em]

sevish, if you're reading this, please do one of these

[@gradyking4739]

Matthew Parkin YES. Sevish is amazing

[@augustdahlkvist3998]

Protip: Make sure the piano and the vocals are in the SAME KEY

[@tuo.dobginski]

Why I season my piano not my vocals

[@HearMeLearn]

What’s a key? I just play notes and say it’s on purpose

[@nostalgia_junkie]

@@tuo.dobginski i appreciate this reference

[@lifeontheledgerlines8394]

@@nostalgia_junkie What's the reference to?

[@JuanPabloMartinezOfficial]

@@lifeontheledgerlines8394 Adam Ragusea

[@florentin3141]

Damn, what a great video. Thanks a lot. Especially level 7 is mindblowing to me.

[@gonzalozubillaga9341]

Really Cool stuff! thank you Adam

[@QueenFondue]

This video's fine and all, but it could really use some more jazz harmony.

[@KevinOMalleyisonlysmallreally]

That's a risky meme

[@MrStronglime]

@@KevinOMalleyisonlysmallreally It's too late now.

[@jazzerson7087]

Nah, it would get less views, jazz isn't popular anymore, this only has 500,000 views and 3600 comments!! ;-) Magic, Beato would be lucky to get 50,000 and 200 comments on one of his old harmony videos!

[@FunkyDungeonMaster]

Me: Jazz means 7th chords rite? Adam: 7th chords = level 1 I'm scared

[@SalvationKH]

Honestly same

[@publishingdu4911]

thought 9, 13th :(

[@Ramdas_Devadiga]

I do not know what 7th chords are - damn someone guide me to a good music theory course!

[@modoesstuff]

@@Ramdas_Devadiga 7th chords are tetrads (4 note chords), then 9ths (five note chords), 11ths, 13ths & 15ths just stack more and more and more on top of each other. (:

[@TDo280199]

Klq lắm cơ mà it's oddly satisfying and heart-warming to see a Vietnamese homie on this channel. Ayyyy!!!!

[@MARIO-uf1no]

Like moving from Algebra to Calculus. Thanks for the tutorial. I'll watch this again and try to figure it all out.

[@7deepbreaths.sounds]

I love the way he gives that ever so subtle hint toward the end...."that cassette vibe...that lo-fi vibe..." (EXCELLENT). And THANKS A MILLION for revealing the elements of sound that I have been in pursuit of for many seasons now...for me, it is the equivalent of splitting the atom...I never considered that the lo-fi sound was based upon an actual reassignment of pitches outside of the equal temperament system. So many things make sense now...For years I have studied alternate tunings on guitar...but not really exploring the LEVEL 7 world....which changes everything. Also...it explains why LEVEL 7 harmony has the effect on the listener that it does...its closer to the natural more fractal harmonic reality... I will definitely support you on Patreon as soon as I am able..

[@SamUSB5000]

But how does one tune each chord to the melody like in level 7, I've been looking for a system like for years now, I'm working within Cubase and Kontakt.

[@KR0NIC]

Damn I thought level 7 would just be screaming while random notes were playing and you would just say it's free jazz

[@Mercure250]

Harmony : *exists* Jazz : It's free real estate

[@HGQjazz]

Yeah, level 7 sounds better than level 6. Almost seems they should swap positions.

[@brandonlim3165]

i was really preparing for the worst after level 6. It hit so fast and subtle, Level 7 was more a knife than a sledgehammer of LVL 6. Its like that pepper killed you right there and then and you just fly to heaven

[@starrk7158]

I think the whole point of level 7 and 6 jazz is the fact that level 6 is basically the peak with tempered tunings. To get to level 7 you can't accel any further with chords so you start actually messing with the frequency it self. Honestly learning that really blew my mind.

[@Some.Canadian]

fr though I have never been able to get into free jazz, it just sounds like when band class would warm up before actually practicing

[@Dagrond]

Best Jazz history lesson ever. Now I understand what I don't understand.

[@KaffiFlight]

I understand that i dont understand

[@philjohnson4607]

KaffiFlight nice

[@stevetrujillo324]

LMAO I UNDERSTAND YOU

[@calumcooper3295]

I don't understand what I thought I understood

[@thatsEforEveryone]

@@calumcooper3295 i understand that we dont need to understand anything besides what notes are

[@cgb5235]

This is the best video of this channel. And believe me. I've seen a lot of Adam's videos. Several times.

[@nickspencer2207]

I love coming back to this video to see how much of it I understand now!

[@Argusalex]

Going from level 6 to level 7, I honestly expected another increase in chaos, to harmonic pandemonium akin to two cats fighting for dear life over the keyboard. But instead, a new dimension opens up, between the equal-tempered tones, that leads to harmonic bliss. Absolutely sublime.

[@SilvaMorasten]

exactly the same what i feel

[@s1nnocense]

yeeep 6 just sounds random 7 is... sublime is the perfect word to describe it.

[@staylucky4727]

You're a fucking idiot. That was asinine garbage.

[@doitnowvideosyeah5841]

I was also surprised at how harmonious seven is except in the back of my mind I thought 'maybe he goes beyond pedal points to drone

[@Storm-lc7rf]

Is this a joke?

[@zacg2953]

*If out of tune is the best Jazz harmony, then my middle school band is better than Miles Davis*

[@JamesQuintero7]

lol

[@OscarGeronimo]

Haha XD, I think when you get to the much more dissonant ways of constructing harmonic discourse, is like when you stop buying new cars as pre-made things and just start to first buy them used and mod them more and more until you get to just buy parts and assemble them yourself (one day you might even create your engine and chasis). Like, at that level, you clearly are not doing it because it is what works best for most people.

[@metalavenger23]

But it’s not “out of tune” like a bunch of people who don’t know how to play. It’s out of tune to a very specific planned degree. That’s the difference between good and bad here.

[@torduc22]

LOL

[@powerpopaholic876]

LOLOLOL😄😄

[@josesolismusic]

I cannot believe how much I liked level 7, in my ears. I cannot understand how to do it, however. I can only say wow.

[@prodbyuntitled]

Not even kidding, this video just unlocked something in me that I’ve been missing in my music compositions… Wow I did not expect this to happen on a Tuesday evening

[@Lauren-uz3dx]

If you ever meet someone who only knows this one line of “Juice,” you know it’s because they’ve seen this video too many times.

[@Lauren-uz3dx]

@@ContentConfessional lol that was me for a week after watching this video too. Welcome to the club :)

[@joelstephenson8017]

😌

[@hannahcraig6763]

I think I'm on my fifth or sixth rewatch...

[@k.1784]

i keep watching this to see how much more i’ve learned

[@MrZidaneb123]

I guess it ain't their fault

[@gabbyleach7436]

Someone: you're a little flat.. Me, an intellectual: Nah, I'm just singing leVeL 7 jAzz hArmOnY

[@lordman5497]

Flat is justice

[@darioinfini]

Randy Jackson/American Idol: A little pitchy ya'll... Nah dawg, you just don't get my level 7 jazz intonations.

[@neth7826]

@@gespenst0083 Heck yeah

[@lextatertotsfromhell7673]

Actually, I’m sharp, just one step below your standards

[@sophiaseth2769]

That doesnt apply to singing tho

[@phtogrphic]

Adam, i loved this video, and would lovveeee if you did this with more songs

[@chiconube]

ive been watching this video for 3 years, each year i undestand each level a bit more, its a struggle but i wouldnt be here if the vid wouldn't striked my interest as much as it did the first time!!!! peace and love adam!!!

[@TreWatsonMusic]

waaaait a minute "don't play the butter notes" you're talking about when Herbie Hancock was told "don't play the bottom notes" and misheard it. I'm on to you. lol, excellent video :)

[@vitamin9165]

thanks man that explains a lot

[@sequoyahcisneros8719]

Was thinking the same thing

[@PowMusic]

just hear herbie talking about this in his autobiography! Best audiobook ever - read by Herbie himself

[@ooos2989]

Miles: "Don't play the bottom notes" Herbie: What could he mean by the butter notes?

[@Emenut]

Yeeee

[@megabobbob9904]

Level VII : detune chords to match melody Level VIII : retune chords to match 432Hz

[@slendeaway7730]

Level IX: Align chords to your 8 chakras

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

Bot only retune the chords!

[@benas_st]

@@slendeaway7730 i think that's Level X

[@marshallpjesky3645]

megabob bob Level XLII : purposely knock your guitar ridiculously out of tune and start randomly playing notes

[@willg-r3269]

it ain't my fault, gotta blame it on LaRouche

[@ems7623]

Thanks for the primer on jazz harmony which i never got in my undergraduate music theory education. It has reminded me how much a little theory opens your ears to hearing sounds so much more .... consciously.

[@crawlingman7003]

Wow. That Level 6 example is beautiful.

[@silhudepol6939]

"Oh Miles Davis, show us the way to-" *Ad starts* "A lunchbox - that unfolds into - an eating mat!"

[@Dorddis]

AHA LMAO RIGHT

[@idunnowhyiplay8035]

RAID SHADOW LEGENDS!

[@MaghoxFr]

Interesting

[@arturogonzalez6184]

For me it was “- Skype college students from Texas A&M”

[@doduyle8476]

just FYI, I'm using Opera and it has ad block so I would never have to worry about any kind of ads on the internet :3

[@benjin.c]

0:27 Original 0:50 Level 1 - "Bell Pepper" - II-V’s and other basic tonal movements 2:08 Level 2 - "Poblano Pepper" - Sub V’s and other stuff 3:34 Level 3 - "Jalepeño Pepper" - Crazy chromatic extensions 4:54 Level 4 - "Piri Piri Pepper"- Constant Structures and Pedal Point 5:48 Level 5 - "Habenero Pepper"- Free non-functional harmony 7:16 Level 6 - "Ghost Pepper"- Liberated Dissonance 8:58 Level 7 - "???" - Xenharmony 12:10 Epic LoFi Beat (to relax/study to)

[@archerfan66]

Jazz harmony has been leading us to epic lofi beats all along

[@WG55]

I was expecting Level 7 to be either Carolina Reaper or Pepper Spray

[@luf4rall]

4 is my favorite.

[@ulilulable]

12:10 - "Vanilla Icecream ... Pepper"

[@neojet280]

Nice thanks

[@patrickscannell6370]

When we went from level 6 to level 7, my ears (used to just intonation) just perked up and I smiled, like, suddenly there was harmony, where before there was but tempered dissonance. You can tell right away its just, because that annoying interference suddenly disappeared. Can't you tell its in tune, more so than the tempered version? Because that's what I'm hearing. Tempered sounds permanently detuned to my ears. (Which is its charm, but by no means in tune).

[@jckbquck]

Most definitely the opposite for me. 6 makes perfect "sense" to me; while 7 was deliciously naughty.

[@patrickscannell6370]

@@jckbquck Its that "deliciousness" that makes sense to me. That indicates full harmonic tuning.

[@cammiller7686]

Very helpful and informative. Also the logo hip hop bit at the end was pretty hilarious

[@alfonso5026]

Adam: *So let's take a look at this B flat minor major seven over F major seven over C sharp 5* Me: *h*

[@samuelshock6292]

*h*

[@goodstf]

mom come pick me up im scared

[@samuelshock6292]

Hi Scared, I’m Dad

[@lulin2546]

@@samuelshock6292 ah, so we got a wise guy here, huh?

[@HeroyeDaSloth]

No he's dad, I'm wise guy

[@JayJay-ki4mi]

You introduced me to what dissonance SHOULD sound like. I agree, it is beautiful. 6 is an acquired taste, but 7 is both clever and very pleasant to the ear.

[@ManWithoutThePants]

A bit late answer, but as he said it should be used usually sparingly. It has a lots of tension it in, but then you can beautifully resolve it to more satisfying sounds and that's what our western music mostly revolves around. Tension and release. Even the most simple pop songs. Level 6 just raises the tension to quite high levels, but when it is resolved back it gives you a nice satisfying feeling. :)

[@austinkleyn1816]

Outstanding presentation on jazz

[@adiabadic]

Ad: The only way to beat a box of cheesy, fully-loaded nachos is- Me: *skips ad* Adam: JAZZ LEVEL 7

[@spaghoe]

This feels like an in-game tip: “The only way to beat a box of cheesy, fully-loaded nachos is jazz level 7”

[@likse456]

@@spaghoe lmao

[@DeadlyDeadlyBeees]

Hahaha

[@Manas-co8wl]

Jazz lv7: the pickle of the music world

[@MrSmithees]

Just learned that I’m not tone deaf, I just have liberated dissonance set to enabled.

[@dantarradellas7351]

Wow. Astonishingly fantastic!

[@paolodinooddone]

I play, study and listen music since I was 7 and I really would love to say that I can enjoy something more than the second level. I can't. I believe it's beautiful but I really can't. Thank you for another amazing video of yours. I'm binge whatching your contents.