The most feared song in jazz, explained

Making sense of John Coltrane's "Giant Steps."
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John Coltrane, one of jazz history’s most revered saxophonists, released “Giant Steps” in 1959. It’s known across the jazz world as one of the most challenging compositions to improvise over for two reasons - it’s fast and it’s in three keys. Braxton Cook and Adam Neely give me a crash course in music theory to help me understand this notoriously difficult song, and I’m bringing you along for the ride. Even if you don’t understand a lick of music theory, you’ll likely walk away with an appreciation for this musical puzzle.
Braxton Cook: www.braxtoncook.com/
Adam Neely: / adamneely
Note: The headline for this video has been updated since publishing.
Previous headline: Jazz Deconstructed: John Coltrane's "Giant Steps"
Some songs don't just stick in your head, they change the music world forever. Join Estelle Caswell on a musical journey to discover the stories behind your favorite songs.
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Love Vox Earworm? Hop onto a live Q&A with Estelle Caswell, the creator behind the series, on December 20 at 5 PM ET by joining the Vox Video Lab, our new membership program on KZbin. She and other creators on our team will bringing you behind the scenes in a completely new way! (And if you missed the livestream, you'd still be able to see a recording). You can learn more about the other perks of joining the Video Lab at www.vox.com/join.

[@mogerus]

I don't really listen to jazz but the musical theories you presented here piqued my interest. Thank you Estele Caswell for presenting this so clearly and concisely. As an anime fan, I'd love to watch your take on Yoko Kanno's "Tank" next.

[@kai-gc6yk]

J

[@RobotChampionSC]

This vid is absolutely badass...thanks so much for posting

[@lambdaprog]

Same principles, different style: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZiklpuXd5tlitk Check the chord progressions before flaming me.

[@evanbrandau9371]

How about an earworm episode about Charles mingus?

[@AdamNeely]

Thanks for having me!

[@soyokou.2810]

You got your wish!

[@thesmellycatjazz]

Thanks for being such a great creator. I love your Ableton talk on pitch, rhythm, and color being similar. Super groovy.

[@flamesatgames]

Thanks for being had!

[@TheSemai9]

The man. The myth. The licc. Adam Neely. I would've been really disappointed If I didn't see you in this video!

[@charflord3156]

I didn't expect to see you here lol.

[@yourfriendlyneighbourhoodvue]

Whenever I listen to this song I think of a man who has overslept, is late for work, rushing to get ready, rushing to eat his breakfast, rushing to catch the bus but then misses it so he tries to run for it but he is far behind, then he steals a bike then tries to bike to work but many obstacles such as construction work, slow trucks are taking a lot of his time, he keeps looking at his watch as obstacle after obstacle comes, by the end of the song, as it relaxes, he gets to work on time, cleans himself up, sits down, takes a deep breath and takes a sip of cold water after a long morning.

[@alxie]

He was taking giant steps towards work then 😂

[@EvonneLindiwe]

I can visualize this :)

[@frozendivots1564]

Excellent description.

[@emmaforti4672]

In Disney's Fantasia 2000 there is a part dedicated to Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue that has this plot! I liked it so much as a kid I still remember that video

[@WiiNV]

L🤭L

[@cy9105]

Tommy was no slouch either. He’s only one of the greatest jazz pianists that ever lived. Anyone else would melted to the floor in tears.

[@kemetazubuike8958]

Exactly

[@KC______]

I see your point but is that Including Monk, McCoy Tyner, Red Garland etc? I think that Flanagan was perfect for the task at the time.

[@GeneralKenobi69420]

Except Hiromi Uehara. She would've ACED it

[@luznis139]

​@@GeneralKenobi69420except she was 20 years away from being born at the time giant steps was recorded

[@bellyblack1472]

I love love Tommy. However I think Tyner would have handled this better

[@tommymandel]

As a pianist, I think Flanagan's solo is a masterpiece of restraint. Fast isn't always better, guys. And think contrast: the pauses for thought in the piano solo, also serve to make Coltrane's speed feel even faster. One of the smartest and most neglected, zen-est activities in this 'mine-is-bigger-than-yours jazz world, is leaving a bit of empty space. Sure, maybe Flanagan was also pausing to collect this thoughts. But that's cool. PS. I can play Giant Steps. Sort of. But not really. Well... Thanks for choosing great topic! Wishing you a good 2021.

[@tommymandel]

PS. another thing a pause indicates is thinking, vs. relying on muscle memory to impress. The choice of notes trumps the speed of their dispensation.

[@joesmith4443]

Haha, the story I got is, Flanagan was lost following the chart. Keep in mind Coltrane took a year to write Giant Steps and it was given to the band at the session with no rehearsals.

[@LLH961]

Very well said👍👍

[@awesomebeast7509]

@@tommymandel Can you Boogie Woogie on the Piano?

[@tommymandel]

@@awesomebeast7509 I would say so.

[@jim2lane]

But here's the thing, not only was Tommy Flanagan asked to improvise over Giant Steps - he was being asked to do so while sight reading it for the first time! Utterly amazing that he put down what he did on that recording. Absolutely amazing! 👏

[@fendisommers2613]

absolutely...I dont know who get the credit the witer writing it for the first time and then playing or the piano player just playing it for the first time

[@Goliath5100]

Personally I feel like people don't give Paul Chambers enough credit. The guy absolutely destroys the walking bass song and he's so perfect you hardly even notice it. Spectacular rhythm work

[@emirhantekin7378]

@@Goliath5100 Such is the fate of bassists across all genres!

[@keys700]

That’s what I heard- Trane had practiced it beforehand. TF was doing a cold read.

[@noahkane26]

@@Goliath5100 Hence why Trane went as far as to write a song in his name🙃

[@Jay_76]

The thing is, John Coltrane wrote Giant Steps and practiced before the session and so knew the changes while Tommy Flanagan was seeing it for the first time and had to learn the changes within the session's allotted time. I have the suspicion that given a few days practice, Flanagan's solo would have kept up with Coltrane.

[@agarrigue002]

Well, to be completely frank, I don't think Flanagan is particularly struggling in the recording. His improvisation is perfectly paced as an intro to John's section and even if you can hear some notes being cut short there is absolutely nothing that doesn't sound good. IMO, this is just rumors. Flanagan was an absolute genius at the piano, one of the best, if not the best at his peak and complex music theory doesn't seem like something someone of his caliber would have an issue with. I could be wrong though, he might just have been really caught off guard.

[@Jay_76]

@@agarrigue002 You might be right, it just sounds like Flanagan is a little confused.

[@courgeonaute]

Actually, Flanagan did record a “rematch” version of Giant Steps and ut is absolutely killer. So yes... although giant steps is extremely hard

[@mortweiss3151]

He WAS caught off guard.

[@Emeranux]

Actually the second take of flanagan is awesome but coltrane "messed up" and the thing is flanagan said to coltrane that he didnt needed to pratice the piece when he saw it but he doesnt know that the tune gonna go sooooo fast :')

[@shadrackchabedi3447]

7:48: It's important to know that in one her interviews, Alice Coltrane (John Coltrane's wife) said that Coltrane had a very involved process of writing music and it included - among other things - trying to find inspiration in the patterns that exist in nature, astrology and maps - for instance you have the mysterious Fibonacci sequence that repeatedly appears in fruits, plants, stars etc. as if it's some God code or sequence governing life. These patterns fascinated Coltrane, from my recollection. She said - if I recall correctly - that other times he'd be scribbling what looked like nonsensical numbers on his notes or newspapers but was in fact the constant study of patterns in everything. I do wonder if he ever elaborated on his writing process because I know Miles Davis did in his autobiography.

[@mhope4607]

That’s so fascinating and beautiful! Thanks for sharing

[@Professor-fc7vc]

Sounds like he might very well have had OCD or some form of it. Wonder if thats the case and if it helped him compose music.

[@katatat2030]

That's true except that complicated math doesn't have spiritual qualities, like it's not really myterious and god-like so much as just hard math stuff

[@shadrackchabedi3447]

@@katatat2030 It does. It's the reason why almost all religions exist side by side with some form of numerology. Numbers have spiritual and divine significance.I do know that my own name translates to an eleven in Hebrew numerology and there's an involved method in translating the numerical value of one's name and the spiritual significance of that number, how it foretells one character qualities and interests - will they be artistic, will they be a restless spirit etc. I had great interest in this a while back so i know what I'm talking about.

[@drbenway612]

Very interesting 🤔 thanks

[@am74343]

I happen to think Tommy Flanagan's solo is very elegant and stately, and yet, even though he disjointedly misses a few pieces of the bars here and there, he still captures the whimsical nature of the piece itself. It's actually a brilliantly benign juxtaposition against Coltrane's frenetic explosion of notes.

[@westter8164]

Flanagan: hey what key are we in? Coltrane: H

[@keilanihong6237]

I laughed longer than I should have at this 😂

[@brigidvandermoezel7814]

Lol, H is B in German. Bach made it be like that, and H is still sometimes used for B.

[@FKMDC]

Then a key change mid way to J

[@MsAkoms]

@@brigidvandermoezel7814 same in Polish. B is still H

[@jorgek92]

@@MsAkoms same in Czech Republic and Slovakia

[@insaneintherainmusic]

This is the best Earworm episode yet. Everything was explained so well and the visuals are top notch as well. Thanks for spreading Coltrane's innovations!

[@Dallior]

Yo it's frikkin Carlos

[@JoaoVHS]

Now I can finally understand what goes on in your mind! …Kinda

[@reiichikawa8889]

my love

[@999is666upsidedown]

not the best. some others were much better.

[@Professor_Utonium_]

Are you going to MAGFest again?!

[@drgruber57]

I just want to say that Flanigans Solo is refreshing Because It isn't a nonstop flurry of notes like Colrane's solo. It's like hearing a relaxed James Earl Jones announce what's coming next, which happens to be a tobacco auctioneer. And yes, I'm a piano player. 😉

[@ricardofranciszayas]

You’re entitled to your opinion. But you have to admit that you can hear Flanagan thinking, “ Where to now?”

[@MrInterestingthings]

I agree . They bth had different styles . Just listen to Tommy Flanagan with anyone else !

[@Jazz313]

Detroit Jazz players

[@SkylabBeats]

Imagine the sheer relief the drummer had when he heard he didn't have to play any musical notes

[@dynasticlight1073]

? You, think Drummers do not feel or know Notes in Music, changes ,progessions ,etc. Real Drummers Navigate much more than others .Ya.

[@andriealinsangao613]

​@@dynasticlight1073Thanks for ruining the joke.

[@filmandcomposition]

Going from Spanish, to Arabic, then to Japanese very quickly is probably the best explanation you can give for this composition. Imagine using those 3 languages to create a sentence that makes sense. Utterly insane.

[@aperson2730]

All Of Me was such a funny movie

[@1monkey1typewriter]

Since there’s Arabic in Spanish due to the Moor conquest of Spain, and Japanese has similar pronunciation as well sentence structure as Spanish, It’s more doable than one may think.

[@chad912]

I know like absolutely nothing about music theory so hearing that analogy was actually amazing. Like hearing/watching the V-I changes at 9:05 was mindblowing.

[@filmandcomposition]

@@1monkey1typewriter Very astute observation. I currently live in Japan and have found the similarities between Spanish and Japanese fascinating. I mean, if you want to get technical, there's a theory that nearly half of all languages and dialects originate from Proto-Indo-European. However, these current languages are more developed than their roots; hence, the difficulty in forming a logical sentence using all 3 at once (my point).

[@cartapax5077]

Tengo mi Nissan en el aljibe :-)

[@emadmalik1912]

Can we take a minute to appreciate how well this video was animated, explained, and composed. Good work Vox!

[@bing4126]

it was neither of those things

[@onnaSecret9615]

I upset to make like it and make it 556 (555 such a good number!) but I can not skip this comment because it is TRUE! good video and addition of original animation by Vox! RESPECT!

[@michaelclarke9651]

It’s vox

[@erictustison]

Except maybe don't play background music over an educational demonstration of harmonic tension 4:50

[@lolrip3439]

Lol

[@pkflyers]

As a saxophonist, I was blown away when I first heard this song. He was on another stratosphere on this one

[@shady8045]

Ngl it kinda gave me anxiety half way through, is that normal?

[@sethrozier6743]

@@shady8045 yes, you feel what it was like to be tommy flanagan hearing the tempo for the first time

[@ricardofranciszayas]

That piece is definitely a rite of passage for Jazz musicians. I’m a pianist. When I first began learning the piece, I had a transcription of Mr. Coltrane’s. I practiced that solo painstakingly slowly. Learning that solo at ballad tempo, taught me the game of the song. His solo should also be considered a part of the melody. It is so iconic and only considering just those first 16 bars to be the melody, does a tremendous disservice to one of the greatest masterpieces of all time. That solo is an absolute treasure of musical and mathematical genius.

[@SquirrelMonkeyCom]

One of the best videos I've seen on KZbin.

[@screamsinrussian5773]

yeah, shame their political stuff is wack

[@radioheadlover09]

[screams in Russian] no

[@screamsinrussian5773]

@@radioheadlover09 yea

[@slime_stick]

@@screamsinrussian5773 they dont do a lot of politics imo maybe a couple videos but mainly just history stuff

[@calcradden6293]

It won an Emmy!

[@wi11ialvl]

Today I learned I'm too dumb for jazz. Very interesting video.

[@rosshoyt2030]

You're not too dumb! The concepts presented in the video can take many years to master, anything you gleaned or learned from the video is super valuable!

[@wi11ialvl]

@⸚ you lost me haha

[@nofood1]

@⸚ please don't become a teacher, are you really trying to explain notes in Hz to newbies? lmao

[@jas_bataille]

I you realized that you're too dumb for jazz, then you're certainly not too dumb for jazz. You just need to learn it.

[@jas_bataille]

@@nofood1 Actually, his explanation is real easy. Most people know what an hertz is or the word resonate with them. Also, it's a solid scientific concept, not something so abstract as a note of music. Using frequencies to explain theory to beginners makes perfect sense to me. In fact, music theory in general would gain SO much to rely more on the basic scientific concepts underlying it, because it's *theory*, as the name implies... it's theory therefore it explains natural phenomenon, and all music theory is based on scientific studies. Most of the time music "theory" books sounds really like music *rule* books and that gets a LOT of people confused as hell who think that theory = rules. The theory of music explains the phenomenons of music like any other scientific theory. Musicology explore the phenomenon of music from the perspective of sociology... etc I believe you're wrong and remembering the octave-frequency relation really doesn't take any skills in math nor in music yet is SO useful to understand everything later on.

[@beckyjones9395]

As a music teacher this is one of the best videos I have watched - accessible, accurate and well put together - BRAVO!

[@ChildWithNoContext]

This video plagarized sideways, I'd encourage looking into it. The content made was origianlly made by a guy called sideways, you cand find information about it on the community page of his youtube channel.

[@katiestegman8083]

The quality of this video is next level. You explained something that should be really difficult to understand if you’re not musically inclined and made it totally relatable with great analogies, explanations, diagrams... I mean, wow. I didn’t just learn something, I now have a much better understanding of how complex music really is. Love it. Great job.

[@ChildWithNoContext]

This video plagarized sideways, I'd encourage looking into it. The sad thing is no one has sideways's back.

[@MrIkesimba]

Yeah, never mind the fact that Tommy Flanagan and Paul Chambers were hired as session musicians, having never seen or heard the music before, with no time to rehearse it, and were simply handed a lead sheet and expected to keep up. Meanwhile Coltrane had been working out ideas to play over the changes for months. Flanagan's ability to take a solo AT ALL is astonishing.

[@qq-hk2sq]

Interestingly when I acquired the Giant Steps CD as an intermediate level sax player nearly 30 yrs ago, I thought it was flawless. Now much further along in my playing, I listened to the song just before seeing this tutorial where thanks to youtube mapping it lead me and I thought to myself for the first time, "The pianists sounds like he's having a little trouble". Now I understand my suspicion is correct. None the less it all came together well and is one of my favorites although I listen to it with "different" ears now. It's also a testament to the talent of the musicians who despite the demands of the music, still came out blazing.

[@lct8954]

This comment

[@DarkAngelEU]

For some reason I really like it. If it were a fluent piano solo it wouldn't have the same feeling, now it's chopped up - which is a much better contrast to the fluent saxophone than if it were just the same. I never knew it wasn't on purpose though but so was the three step high hat in Reggae and it set the standard for the entire genre.

[@CiscoDuck]

Coltrane never wanted Flanagan to keep up with him or any other pianist. If he had he would have never laid that lead sheet on Tommy and would have gotten Oscar Peterson or Art Tatum. What Coltrane wanted was someone to play a piano fugue completely different than what the music called for and different from what he was going to play. Had Flanagan been anything other than what Trane wanted Tommy would have been off the session and this would have never been released - at least not in Trane's lifetime.

[@DarkAngelEU]

So he pranked him, even better lol

[@icemax7]

Your presentation and graphics design is out of this world. Awesome stuff

[@azaquihelify]

I kind of watch all of their videos ,just so i can i salivate over the editing of all of them

[@Mrbeahz1]

And your map analogy was an old NYC map with IRT, BMT, and IND trains.. Love it.

[@waytothewill]

Incredible work indeed, way above the average!

[@chrysalis_temporal]

The animations in this video kinda looked like the intro to pixar’s Monsters Inc. which happens to be jazz as well

[@kmvenezia4337]

I beg to differ about the Tommy Flannigan solo. Maybe you all should listen to it 100 more times. It's very displaced rhythmically and beautifully creative. Perhaps you wanted him to play the solo you wanted to hear. There are NO mistakes in that solo.

[@zig019]

Somebody finally said it. Thank you

[@homosexualpanic]

This is interesting. I had no idea about the supposed problems with his solo until I watched this. Before I just thought I was blissfully ignorant.

[@Will-Max]

Right, no mistakes. But it does sound like he has to (Very Briefly) pause and then play again. I'm not downing him, he did an amazing job considering he (reportedly) only got the song the day before.

[@Electrolux219]

@@Will-Max Definitely not a mistake, maybe more of a happy accident. I think it really adds a nice moment of downtime in the middle of the song, without slowing the pace, & makes the way Coltrane flys off with the sax all the more impactful by comparison. It’s like the song is taking a moment to catch up with itself before sprinting off again & that feels right considering how quick it starts. Weather or not Flannigan meant it to be that way I have no clue, but it worked out really well.

[@milkgrapes6420]

I really dig his Choppy rhythm. I do agree that it is not what he wanted, but it fits the song, contrasting Coltrane's chaotic energy

[@Peek935]

This video was what single handedly got me into jazz as a whole, and I’m so grateful.

[@ChildWithNoContext]

This video plagarized sideways, I'd encourage looking into it. The content made was origianlly made by a guy called sideways, you cand find information about it on the community page of his youtube channel.

[@samhurley6161]

"The most feared song in jazz" *has flashbacks to the bass boosted version of the monsters inc theme*

[@miscellaneousmedia3753]

the meme was to literally throw a speaker into another room as it blasted that song, as though the speaker was a grenade, I can see why it would strike fear into the hearts of so many

[@DannySullivanMusic]

haha! best comment ever

[@agestatsega]

Yes, That Thing Really Scared Me.

[@ChrisF_1982]

I never realized there was such a thing.

[@jum3628]

What

[@Colorella13]

"If you don't understand a lick of music theory..." I see what you did there ;)

[@senadsusturica5584]

No, I don't actually..

[@Colorella13]

@@senadsusturica5584 A "lick" is a short musical phrase in a piece of music. It could be a little bass fill for example.

[@namelia4439]

😃😄😅😂🤣

[@malachiledford8193]

I thought you were talking about the lick.

[@jacklpup3214]

a licc of music theory*

[@andrewmachleid2734]

when the song went du dun dun da, duh. dun dun nu, da da I felt that

[@pinkajou656]

That’s just great

[@fiire_stormm7279]

why can i hear it still? its just words

[@Curly_479]

At 6:13 …why are y’all using a word for word explanation from Sideways? I don’t see any citation to his work? Did I miss it? I would find nothing before his video that used the language analogy-what’s your source? Also…Sideways has a video on this topic that is incredibly similar but came before your’s. Was he an inspiration?

[@coolseeker]

My girlfriend wanted to start a family. I subtly changed the subject to "How the circle of fifths works". It worked. No more baby talk. No girlfriend either.

[@Jtmurph222]

Was she too board or too basic/ ignorant?

[@ChintanCG]

rofl

[@JubilationMedia]

well done on ending your bloodline. I'm sure it was worth it.

[@georgeisaak5321]

hahahahaha , so i take it she wasn't into music much ...huh ???? Lucky you then , maybe the next will be better !

[@RaptureMusicOfficial]

@@georgeisaak5321 Exactly! :)

[@la-la-code]

1:04 I wish they invited Adam... Oh my

[@schnabeltier516]

I had absolutely the same thought!!!! :D

[@btecbob1137]

This video is made extremely well. Both manages to educate musicians and non musicians alike while not being too over complicated or too simple

[@kurthectic7426]

The song sounds like a theatrical performance about how a person gets lost, runs all over the place and cannot figure out where to go, but at the same time, the actor playing this character has complete control over the performance.

[@amazinghavlectabfdie9827]

Are teacher played this song for “relaxing music” for our test. Though, once I heard it, I got scared.

[@brendalballentine9422]

*our

[@GabrielSantos-rk2cl]

@Alguém por aí My teacher also plays (mostly classical) music when me and my classmates are taking the tests.

[@lymarie1974]

Amazing Havlect / ABFDie I would have screamed!!! I have horrible test anxiety.

[@henrycook6035]

creative way of saying “our”

[@mugen29]

@@lymarie1974 bro all u have to do is think about the think about remembering the study and write it down like an interview got itok good

[@SoundFieldPBS]

This is forever my fav Earworm episode. Soooo good

[@jjs_arkade]

This should be a top comment

[@shaddjimenez4524]

This video is already a classic in the jazz world.

[@varun13ification]

One of the most well-produced videos on youtube ever! explaining art through what could only be another piece of art.

[@ChildWithNoContext]

This video plagarized sideways, I'd encourage looking into it. The content made was origianlly made by a guy called sideways, you cand find information about it on the community page of his youtube channel.

[@huangt99]

0:59 - "If you don't understand *a lick* of music theory"

[@Dudeman23rd]

This comment has been approved by the DEFGECD crew

[@mannyboricua2051]

Ah, a man of culture

[@christopherwayne5114]

THE LICC

[@gangstarvegasbeast4809]

ABCDBGA for alto and bari sax. The “lick”

[@everyonesaidmynamewasstupi3713]

Gangstar Vegas Beast the lick is in more than one key lol, i think it’s more accurate to just say 2345312

[@mrf4ncyp4nts]

*me at the start of this video* "Oh, giant steps, haha - wouldn't if be funny if they brought in adam neely?"

[@Ildskalli]

Not just you :D

[@legosheet]

It really wasn't just you lmao

[@conoroneill8067]

Yeah, I was thinking that as well.

[@RandomDays906]

"John Coltrane? Giant Steps? Sounds like something Adam would talk about." *1 minute later* "Oh hey, it's Adam Neely."

[@EchoHeo]

I was literally gonna comment "Man Vox is tryna be Adam Neely so hard" and then I saw Adam himself

[@keith3bros]

Hey Vox. juuuuust pointing out that the music theory and video essay youtuber Sideways @Sideways440 had a very similar explanation of the circle of 5ths that came out before this and no one else has explained it like this before. give credit where credit is due,.

[@callmeobsequious]

So...y'all are gonna cite Sideways, right? 😊

[@CommandoBanano]

One of the members of my undergrad jazz combo wanted to play Giant Steps as the 1st set-piece. The pianist just went to the bathroom and didn't come back until the next class with that group.

[@moirandlovu5975]

🙊 🤣

[@namelia4439]

Omg, that just cracked me up so hard...I can just so picture that...hilarious!!!!!

[@shimpiyaa]

I imagined the whole situation in my mind

[@fredkhumalo3724]

your pianist was a sensible fellow! hahaha

[@lkjhfdszxcvbnm]

Great to see Adam with vox after his complaints about the video about the christmas chord.

[@simongunkel7457]

I think it happened more because of the national anthem videos. Vox released one that was pretty similar to Adams and the comment section filled with people accusing Vox of ripping Adam off. Vox responded that they weren't aware of Adams video and added a link to their description. And Adam said that while he believed they weren't aware of his video he thought they should have checked youtube and the realized that not only was there a video making similar points, but also that the originator of that video was living in the same city and could have popped in. So hopefully not the last time vox invite Adam over if he has relevant expertise.

[@Lycaon1765]

@@simongunkel7457 Seems kinda self-centered, tbh. "wHy DiDn'T tHeY aSk _MEEE?!!"_ More than just one person can make a video about the same topic.

[@simongunkel7457]

Well, he got asked about the video in a live stream on the day the vox video came out. On the other hand, he would have been a logical choice as an interview partner for the vox piece and if you typed music theory us anthem into a youtube search at the time, Adams video was the top one.

[@lkjhfdszxcvbnm]

@@Lycaon1765 also he is one of the top youtubers on music theory and specially jazz music

[@cyberschn1tzel997]

@@Lycaon1765 The fact that he said it in a live stream kinda makes it better. Lots of things are said during a live stream that wouldn't make it into a video in that raw form.

[@andypetersen6518]

I’ve tried to improvise on Giant Steps but fail miserably after four measures. Huge respect to anyone out there who can tackle this monster/masterpiece! I just love this tune.

[@imamfaisalruslan7100]

Watching several times, still I had no idea. But I believe it's magnificent

[@youngpaderewski3668]

" Coltrane was somethin.' " Miles Davis

[@indonesianbassbooster5167]

Coltrane was miles ahead of its time

[@indonesianbassbooster5167]

@TheReal FakeCaptain yes

[@youngpaderewski3668]

@Wayne Wallace That's because Miles was deep.

[@thatlittlezombie]

@@indonesianbassbooster5167 *streets ahead. lol

[@christopherwhite7246]

There is a good bassist for that opinion .... oops !

[@ktpinnacle]

I've enjoyed music for many decades. I knew that jazz was complex and advanced, but I never knew why. It was a language I didn't understand. This video did a lot as an introduction and an appreciation.

[@hyunjinjoe3400]

ktpinnacle Agree, as a former sax player this video provides valuable insight

[@ktrocknerd]

I learned in highschool jazz band that jazz was a language I didn't understand. Scared me away from playing any other type of music, but I sure love listening.

[@CFedeDavid]

Fito Paez (argentinian musician) said in an interview once (about people saying they don't dig jazz or classical music): "it's not that you don't like it, but that you don't have the resources to understand it"

[@bcuzgrazy383]

The visuals on this were AMAZING. Made the contact so easy to digest. Vox has some great producers and animators on this episode.

[@ChildWithNoContext]

This video plagarized sideways, I'd encourage looking into it. The content made was origianlly made by a guy called sideways, you cand find information about it on the community page of his youtube channel.

[@resevoirdog]

I could cry how much I love these vox music videos . Hitting hiphop and Coltrane. Hallelujah

[@theWanderer521]

Coltrane's study of the circle of fifth is like he's summoning something

[@BionicDirector117]

He's summoning the groove.

[@erik3567]

Looks like some scene from Full Metal Alchemist

[@unseeliedreams]

Being a Major rpg nerd and a minor vocalist, this kinda lends itself to a discussion on D&D's bard class and their flavor of magic. :D

[@libertysaikemal5843]

Kristian Curkovic right! looked just like a transmutation circle

[@tofu.delivery.]

Well he is a canonized saint of a church, and there are people (some who I know very well) who actually pray to him

[@Sulashua]

Being an educated musician, I must say your explanation of the coltrane changes and giant steps is great and as simple as possible for someone who doesn't have any idea about music theory. Well done.

[@TeamLegacyFTW]

Bband Ditto. And, agreed.

[@garyknight8616]

Absolutely!

[@LaBlue267]

As someone with no musical talent or skills, this even made (some) sense to me. I really enjoyed it. My teenage daughter plays saxophone and I'm trying to introduce her to jazz that she can find relatable. I'm hoping this warms her to Coltrane.

[@john1griff]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZTMZ32dlt-Xo9U

[@nekerley]

same, I've never heard it explained this well.

[@egor.kuznetsov]

The editing is so good I swear

[@rish1459]

Such a great song from an iconic album. Thanks for breaking this down for us!!

[@crawdadnc479]

Hell yes. I get so mad when people say "jazz has no structure'. It has next level structure!

[@FloridaManMatty]

Exactly! Just because it’s complex doesn’t mean it lacks structure. Jazz is just mathematics for the ear. Even the most complex math, incomprehensible as it may be for most, has a beautiful underlying structure. Hell, compositions from someone like Conlon Nancarow have structure. I think most people who want to argue stuff like this just don’t understand the concept and can’t appreciate what they’re hearing, so they put it down. It’s just an unfortunate part of the human condition...

[@bryede]

It breaks conventions which is something different.

[@bryede]

@Technews Within the context of jazz, sure. But the OP said people say "Jazz has no structure." which is completely false. I just meant to explain that the issue isn't a lack of structure but a subversion of your expectations if you're not accustomed to it.

[@sensationalleslie3237]

They usually mean 'I can't hear a structure'

[@SuperGamer87]

Jazz was a natural genius misunderstood at large back then, and one sadly forgotten at large today.

[@davidrumpler5528]

Excellent explanation of Giant Steps and the theory behind it. I think it's also important for new jazz listeners to know that Tommy Flanagan was not just "any jazz pianist"...but was one of _the_ most highly respected jazz pianists on the jazz scene at the time (and for many years thereafter) , who had not only recorded with Coltrane before, but with many of the biggest names in jazz. No Slouch! (as jazz musicians used to say). He was, of course, "blind-sided", when Coltrane brought in Giant Steps, with it's challenging chord progression, and then counted it off at a rapid tempo The story goes that the pianist thought it was going to be a ballad...and prepared for it as such! Years later, Flanagan recorded Giant Steps with his own trio and produced a couple of highly respectable bop-ish versions. Another interesting thing: Coltrane's initial recording of the composition (later released in the Atlantic box set) featured the young, highly talented Cedar Walton on piano (who went on to have a long and stellar career), and on _that_ recording, Cedar opted _not to solo_ at all... so daunted was he by the changes and tempo!

[@scamli]

Flanagan: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZy7lqV9qbCnga8

[@heinrichpeffenkoffer4894]

Judging by ear without knowledge of theory I would say that Tommy Flanagan didn't miss a note here. I always liked how he made the piano sound like a rhodes here.

[@oneobjective5448]

Great comment, thanks for the insight

[@fajarsetiawan8665]

Of course Flanagan would be caught off guard when Coltrane just came and shoved that arrangement to his face and played it right away. Flanagan would be like, "HOLD OOOOOOOON!!!"

[@lucky4724]

@@fajarsetiawan8665 lol, I agree !!!! COLTRANE going insane ( in a cool way)

[@PinkFridays]

John is so legendary! His artistry is immaculate and is the blueprint for music progression

[@Aruesx]

John Coltrane: Here the music Tommy Flanagan: But John Contrane: did I st-t-t-t-t-tutter?

[@jinsakai5749]

Flashback to subtitute teacher skit

[@DetectiveThursday]

7:46 Just in case you needed to summon the ghost of John Coltrane, this is the chart you need.

[@williamnjagi2388]

Ha

[@thesoundsmith]

"A Love Supreme." His truth.

[@everythingsfinett3903]

Thank you I really needed It quickly

[@thamonster]

And once you have it, you need to perform Giant Steps.

[@Versaucey]

*(jazz music stops)*

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

Avery did it first

[@Versaucey]

@@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un Oh my bad.

[@PentameronSV]

I can already see the meme in my head *what have you done*

[@knuckztve]

（ＪＡＺＺ　ＭＵＳＩＣ　ＩＮＴＥＮＳＩＦＩＥＳ）

[@synthmalicious7541]

So you’re the new Justin Y

[@thewatchmanstudios6257]

Just saw this now. Brilliant analogies, great presentation, subtle nuanced editing. Thanks for Cheering up my day.

[@jtojen]

This might be one of the best videos on youtube. Shows up in my flow now and then, always makes me happy

[@drumcircler]

Country music: 3 chords, 300 listeners Jazz: 300 chords, 3 listeners

[@spunky221]

Old Uncle Bob Being one of those three listeners, if you know the other two, introduce us please. It gets quite lonely.

[@marcelogutierrez6489]

Hey, I'm like number 51

[@lancekoz]

Haha... a bit of LOL - very good.

[@gabrielnguyen5580]

bluegrass on the other hand is cool

[@earlhaywood4372]

Very down to earth

[@harvanisumawijaya7247]

Who else was pleasantly surprised to find adam neely

[@jimmydakid1063]

I really hope they bring back earworm, I loved learning about these musical geniuses

[@BrendanZanitCoen]

this took a lot of effort, and simplified a really fun concept in music. great job on the video

[@Theycallmealexx1]

Coltrane: Give me all of the key changes you have. *Tommy begins setting up to play* Coltrane: “Wait, Wait. I’m worried what you just heard was, ‘give me a lot of key changes.’ What I said was ‘give me all the key changes you have.’ Do you understand? Tommy Flanagan: O_o

[@Slappaccino]

John Swanson

[@harryschroeder3399]

The story behind this is that Coltrane invited Tommy on the recording a couple of weeks earlier. Tommy asked him if he could look at the charts ahead of time. Coltrane told him not to bother-- it was all easy stuff he could sightread. Later on, Tommy went to work and mastered those changes.The presentation here is unfair.

[@magnussimms6384]

This is the best Ron Swanson reference mixed with jazz I've ever read lol

[@nwahs3233]

@@magnussimms6384 how many have you read?

[@magnussimms6384]

@@nwahs3233 not many 😂

[@MathematicPony]

Me, clicking on this video: "Man this better be giant steps..." Video: "John Coltrane's Gian't Steps-" Me: "thank god"

[@dooday1]

bahaha it was writen '' earworm'' on the image so i thought "hmm don' t know this song, i thought it would be about giant's step."

[@banfield1368]

You couldn’t tell by the thumbnail?

[@JazzFlop212]

@@banfield1368 they could but how else would they write this quirky, hilarious, unique, original, funny, special, gut busting, individual joke??

[@cazumbandoartmaddy1728]

Tbh i thought the same and I dont have a huge jazz playlist in my stuff, basically some 3 songs plus giant steps

[@Indoor_Man]

That was such a solid explanation. As a musician i really appreciate what you have produced here. Thanks for spreading the knowledge!

[@ChildWithNoContext]

This video plagarized sideways, I'd encourage looking into it. The content made was origianlly made by a guy called sideways, you cand find information about it on the community page of his youtube channel.

[@mikebernard6177]

Love the tie-in of Escher's steps and Giant Steps. Great piece.

[@AP-vd8ve]

Now that I understood the giant steps stuff I'll go explain it to a friend. He's not gonna understand anything and I'm gonna confuse myself and I won't know anything anymore

[@thebrad2136]

Don't worry, you can sit there and google it while people wait

[@fellowbrethren4057]

A great way of self destruction

[@namelia4439]

I already don’t know anything anymore, and all I’ve done so far is just watch it.

[@PracticalEngineeringChannel]

This is so well done. Awesome work!

[@Gopherborn]

Woah I didn't know you liked jazz! I love your videos!

[@casedistorted]

Oh hey, I know you. You kind of got buried towards the bottom here but engineering is sweet

[@ChildWithNoContext]

This video plagarized sideways, I'd encourage looking into it.

[@SnowCrasher]

9:10 That is a great way to visualize and easily understand the chord progression of Giant Steps! Thank you!

[@muhamadrifai4395]

i could watch it a hundred times, and always learn something new each time.

[@terepanjaitan]

I freaked out when I saw Neely

[@Begmann0306]

I like how they are collabing with a guy that has previously critisised them.

[@-nomi.-]

@@Begmann0306 They really took the things he said in stride and listened when he said it'd be cool if they could just reach out to him for a better perspective. He killed it in this vid and expressed what's interesting about the track so well.

[@MrAlexdoesmovies]

B A S S

[@terepanjaitan]

Trym Bergmann i’m surprised that they can handle criticism really well and ask the guy who criticized them to make a new content together, and their content is instantly getting better 😂

[@krombopulos_michael]

@@Begmann0306 yeah me too. I think it's great how he have honest and pretty even-handed feedback and they respected it enough to actually bring him on for a future video anyway

[@DavidDiMuzio]

I can't believe I actually understood the theory in this. I still can't improvise over Giant Steps though..

[@justingarcia7722]

David DiMuzio goes to show how well a proper presentation will take you. Best way to start is to break it up into chunks and do it VERY slowly, it’s muscle memory and establishing familiarity, the original tune moves so fast and effortlessly that it can only really be handled by a deep familiarity and anticipation of changes. I strongly recommend checking out Rick Beato’s channel and vid on this. Cheers man!

[@PHlophe]

@@justingarcia7722 a good explanation that is.

[@dabeamer42]

Adam says "rite of passage" for good reason

[@PhuckHue2]

most people just copy John's phrases

[@gerbenwasser8209]

check the guide tones

[@jimjennings7623]

I knew Giant Steps before I watched this video. But I was interested in how you would explain it. You did it very well and made it fun to think about. This is a really good illustration of the tune and it's components. I suppose we could spend much longer discussing it all but this is great!

[@thesixharmony4422]

I mean.... the contents, the commentaries, the structure is amazing but... dang the animation is heavenly beautiful

[@Vox]

Vox Earworm is back with a three-part series all about Jazz! Stay tuned for two more videos from Estelle on one of music's most dynamic genres, but in the meantime be sure to check out Earworm's complete first season here: bit.ly/2QCwhMH

[@BothHands1]

Vox 10/10 video!!!!! This is my favorite earworm by far, absolutely amazing! Jazz is so, so, so cool! I wish it was still popular in mainstream culture. It's so much more intellectual and less toxic than rap imo. Completely changed music forever, so it's really sad that it's been relegated to obscurity - a quirk of the nerdy.

[@danperez2297]

Love it!

[@JoshNpublicgplus]

@@BothHands1 You should check out Adam Neely's videos! They're amazing, informative, and fun, and he is so open about all styles of music and does a good job of helping others be the same.

[@BothHands1]

Josh N ty, i'll check him out for sure!!

[@ciaphascyne8866]

charlie mingus please!!!

[@purrfekt]

I found this ridiculously fascinating as a non-musician. I had no idea jazz was so interesting! Looking forward to your other videos.

[@boopboop9356]

Boi. Jazz is the most interesting music genre.

[@amojak]

@@boopboop9356 Everything is Jazz

[@KingBlonde]

Wait, you didn't know the most avant garde and technical music out there is interesting? Crazy lol

[@KingBlonde]

I mean not giant steps specifically, just 🅱️azz in general

[@gabopalacios2028]

Music in general is fascinating. Not only jazz, but many other genres, and even in genres that seem simple there are fine examples of creativity in one song or album. Have you ever wonder how a musician that later became deaf could keep writing music? This is why

[@noahchoi1213]

I’m back with my yearly rewatch of this masterpiece of a video

[@darlington4929]

so are you going to credit sideways for his work or no?

[@KFCJones]

More like a taxi driver who has to go from the train station to the airport at 70 mph and every couple of seconds it's a different city.

[@granite_planet]

This is actually the perfect analogy :D 'Cause you'd have to blend the different city road maps in your head and come up with a route that somehow works in all those cities while they're changing into each other. In real time, as you're driving.

[@Werdnasemajjamesandrew]

Killer analogy i think this is the best comment.

[@fendisommers2613]

At a different airport...lol..I loved it

[@thesoundsmith]

Nah. Just a slide to the right, the PATTERNS stay the same, only the key changes. It's more like driving in New York through the numbered streets, and every three blocks you transport to a different cross-street - but the relationships are identical. Really, it's only hard if you usually play in just a few keys.

[@acer8123]

Imagine the gps callouts for that. - In 300 meters, enter the station through platform 1 - In 200 meters, turn right onto the general aviation ramp - In 10000 kilometers, land in narita international airport - 200メートル先、右に曲がって空港から出ていてください

[@xPainZzx]

I find flanagan's solo to be perfect for the song as it gives me some room to catch my breath. It gives a dynamic break as it stands in such a stark contrast with the all the other intensity

[@reidspeed77]

I'm old ,and I've been playing jazz while...this is great, I'm dyslexic and my mind is full of patterns...this is a masterpiece 🎺

[@charlesarmstrong5292]

Truly amazing video. So much became clear to me in this video. So very glad I found you. Thanks so much will be watching every episode.

[@logan7195]

They’ve come a long way since declaring that a half diminished supertonic chord was the chord that made Christmas music christmassy

[@corhydron111]

they were correct

[@1000jamesk]

corhydron111 Eh, not really. That chord functions basically as a iv6 chord in a IV-iv-I progression. Fm6 is jazzy, but it's not *the* chord that makes music sound christmassy. It's soft jazz music in general.

[@user-gi3ro9rm9k]

It's also what makes pieces in a minor key minor

[@DrRoo91]

Jazz can also = Good Christmas Music

[@m4l4d13]

christmas and jazz have gone hand in hand since the days of wine and roses

[@sappy.2128]

The drummer was probably like, "Ha! You guys go improvise!". xd

[@OGSumo]

John really went easy on him. Should have made him drum in all 3 keys

[@imanolchavez7918]

best comment out here XD

[@coonalisa230]

I used to think Jazz drummers had it easy until I saw the movie 'Whiplash' lol.

[@TheBariNoZ]

@@coonalisa230 great reminder to watch what looks like a painfully awesome movie

[@Szaam]

@@coonalisa230 jazz drummers are among the best in the world. Jazz drumming is a whole different level of drumming.

[@bagualues]

Being an intermediate level music student I'd like to add two simple insights to the many praises and critiques this video got along the years: if you can watch it more than once and pay close attention to the huge amount of info each time, it's plain enough for any "non initiated" enthusiast to understand, but also its complexity is deep enough for an expert to lend an ear (and an eye, too) for its well crafted script and edition is just on point. For everyone watching (and rewatching) this video after these many years, the feeling by the end is probably "Now I'd need to learn more about Jazz and, geez do I wanna learn how to play any instrument right now". Kudos!

[@TheMatbrown]

One of my favorites, changes my mood everytime, in a good way

[@ryadh456]

I feel like I've just discovered a whole complex world of music that I had no idea about.

[@KCSutherland]

Welcome to music theory! Jazz is about the most difficult part to start with, that's like trying calculus in third grade. But if you like what you saw, we have plenty that we can teach ya! Either of the two music theory people featured in this video would be a great start point.

[@cavaleermountaineer3839]

Welcome to the Party!

[@Ismael-kc3ry]

Welcome. You can check out any time you want but you can never leave

[@lisaadams42]

I felt the same way when I started studing music theory last year. I have played a variety of instruments in my life, but I didn't get into the theory until last year.

[@jamesw4623]

yeah popular music vs coltrane-era jazz is like Paint vs Photoshop.

[@christophermacintyre5890]

That's one small step for Man, one giant major third step for John Coltrane.

[@destroylonely3783]

Christopher MacIntyre fun fact i go to john coltrane’s high school

[@namelia4439]

Clever!

[@lukeknopp4267]

excellent

[@maliksamarijones9304]

I've just written on my 2021 goals list to watch this thing 20 times, and then master giant steps improvisation.

[@camilofuentespena7348]

This short is iconic too! Guys, you nailed it!

[@JAMGAM-pb9rf]

Jazz needs to come back, it’s so relaxing and soothing yet so engaging and interesting at the same time

[@EvilSean62]

jazz didnt go away ... when all the young kids came into the room it went into the kitchen to finish the sourdough bread , it`ll be back out when the kids have finished trying to sell rap as poetry

[@christianbailey2695]

It hasnt disappeared. It will just never become the mainstay in popular music again. I don't think it cares though. It is what it is.

[@colincrothers4836]

@@EvilSean62 most important jazz musicans have embraced rap. Roy Hargrove, kamasi Washington, herbie Hancock, Robert glasper, etc.

[@coyotelong4349]

Totally agree. And I have no idea why “Smooth Jazz” disappeared as a popular radio format sub genre

[@breadwinner3558]

Evil Sean go listen to “To Pimp a Butterfly”, it’s one of the greatest rap albums of all time. It’s actually rap as poetry.

[@allthingsfascinating]

The research that goes into all the Vox videos is just outstanding!

[@tomleaverland2458]

Incredible! Googled the circle of fifths and then got two other people with a great understanding to make the content for them leaving them to explain extremely basic music theory.

[@pseudonymousbeing987]

With exception to anything political, they can do anything but that.

[@B0bb217]

@@pseudonymousbeing987 they're great at political stuff tho

[@caetanosilveira153]

They got Adam Neely so that helps. But normally vox is infamously... Stretching

[@thescoobymike]

What about that whole "Christmas chord" thing tho lol

[@YandtheB]

i had to come back to this video, and say that this video along with signals music studio really started me on a useable/working understanding of music theory. for those new to music, this is the best, first 10 minutes you could ever spend learning about scales, dissonance, and dominant notes. music theory is a tool to use for positive things, not to bog you down or bore you. good luck all. and ty vox for this video.

[@adamsabaz2415]

So happy to have found this! Watched with my children and they were intrigued!

[@GodlessVoice]

You did a really great job on summarizing that. I for one can confirm that a drunk that knows nothing of Music completely understood what was explained... kudos

[@ora3678]

Godless Voice it’s hentai and it’s art

[@witt.1620]

That drunk is a genius lol

[@dirtyasianmafia2310]

@Mountain Chicken - That video where the guy drops his hentai stash at work lmao 😂

[@b3at2]

I felt that they were a bit over dramatic..talking about how the chord changes were in 3 different keys...when a lot of keys shares the voices....its really nothing supernatural or unusual about it at all.. you gota do what you gotta do is what coltrane was thinking probably..or he wasnt thinking at all just getting the song done the way he felt it should sound..the means how he got there didn't matter..just get there.. ....but millennials study it and get blown away lol. But maybe its because gospel music is a big part of my life and childhood that maybe to me..its not a bigdeal...but to yall its..WOW

[@GodlessVoice]

@@b3at2 when somebody does it first, they get The Prestige of doing it first... And that a Pianist could not keep up with a saxophonist... I submit that is a bit more impressive. They might have clickbait the video with their title... But it was a slight click-baiting in my opinion. You're talking about keystrokes versus human-powered wind. And the human-powered wind won over the keystrokes. Just slightly... Not superhumanly... But slightly more impressive. And that Coltrane did it first? He deserves the rights of being a pioneer

[@AmericanShia786]

I met Tommy Flanagan after an Ella Fitzgerald concert in 1974. He's an excellent pianist. To hear him struggle on Giant Steps is eye opening. Coltrane really is everything they say about him.

[@AmericanShia786]

Or perhaps "ear opening".

[@KTheStruggler]

Holy cow this video did such a good job of explaining things. I've never had anything related to music theory click like it did for me watching this.