THE MOST PRACTICAL AND COMPREHENSIVE 251 LESSON: Improvisation- Beginners Guide

[@licenciadoensentidocomun70]

You are an excellent human being!! Thanks a million!!!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thanks so much!

[@charlieyarwood]

Thank you Kent, I've followed quite a lot of jazz and blues piano utube channel tutorials over the years but recently stumbled on yours and have found it absolutely illuminating, I knew about 2.5.1 progressions but you have really brought them alive to my ears and fingers, thank you so much.

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thanks so much for telling me....much appreciated!

[@juliejackson7061]

Now that I understand and can execute 251 progressions and diminished chords, this lesson makes so much sense. So well explained. Thank you.

[@KentHewittpiano88]

That's so cool that you told me...a million thanks!

[@michaelkoltonuk1984]

What a terrific, educational and well thought out demonstration. Thanks Kent

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thanks so much for telling me!

[@2pi628]

That was great! Thanks. This goes perfectly with your passing chord video. That said, I need some structure, I've been bouncing around on your vids. Note to other newbs, start at the beginning. LoL

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Start with my Beginner Series. Also Easy Jazz Piano, and Easy Improvisation. Check out my playlists, that should help. www.youtube.com/@KentHewittpiano88/playlists?view=1

[@jdeer-qs4dz]

This is so great KH seriously

[@KentHewittpiano88]

I really appreciate the support!

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

Merci for the visit to the ranch. I'm too wet behind the ears to follow everything, but it gives me something to strive for.

[@kenneth1767]

Lawrence, I remember saying the same thing a couple of years ago when I first got my piano around the tender age of 50 :) and started watching Kent's videos. I didn't know anything at the time, but I was fascinated by watching Kent build these musical pieces. It's amazing how much we assimilate, of knowledge and skills, when we are interested in something. So, keep watching and playing, and the questions will get answered (and spawn more questions).

[@dannuttle9005]

What Ken said. Keep working, keep practicing, and later the stuff you see in this video will seem simple to you. If I could learn it, anybody can. I'm as dumb as a fencepost and stubborn as a mule. And twice as ugly!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thanks to all...I appreciate the comments...and so happy to be of help in your music studies.

[@SiggeSvahn]

Thanks for doing the ground work. Working as a teacher for newbies is really repeating this info 8 hrs a day. And that can make you crazy for sure.

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thankfully...I enjoy it....it helps me to clarify it in my mind.

[@JimmyCaswell]

Excellent. Learned plenty with this vid. Many thanks

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Glad it was helpful!

[@TheMrlovegoodtimes]

I have come back to your videos after 5 years somthing like that. you have teach me so much when i start playing the piano! and now i go in a composing shool. You are a good teather KH!:)

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Welcome back!.... and thanks for the comment!

[@Captain_Rhodes]

you are a great player and you have a realy good sounding piano. great video

[@bizikiona]

Awesome as always! Many many thanks! 👏👏👏

[@KentHewittpiano88]

My pleasure...thanks!

[@reddustdiecastmodelrail1499]

Great stuff ! Good lesson ! Thanks !!!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thank you!

[@thewillage]

I had a couple aha moment with this. Thanks so much. Time to woodshed.

[@KentHewittpiano88]

I'm glad to help out...thanks!

[@pedrocem3018]

Thank you so much I will patiently follow your class seems it's possible

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thanks for telling me!

[@odjobnibblelob3650]

Good lesson 👍 One small observation: I don’t think you mentioned “space” as an element in a solo ie not playing every eighth note - though of course you demonstrated it in your last solo example

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Yes...space is important. Listen to Ahmad Jamal!

[@peterklo5119]

Thank's a lot for this refreshing and make it simple again!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Great...thanks so much!

[@mikeevers6182]

Great video, really helped explain the 2 5 1. Thank you Kent!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Glad it was helpful!

[@martoneill]

This is so good- thank you!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ModeDorian]

Bloody good stuff!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thank you!

[@bobblues1158]

Beautiful Kent!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thanks for watching

[@briankays2635]

Dude. Brilliant. THANK YOU

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thanks so much! Glad it helped!

[@briankays2635]

@@KentHewittpiano88 yeah man - I've been working on trying to figure out Bob Mayo's iconic solo from Frampton Comes Alive and trying to imagine how he was thinking as he played it and I'm hearing you in my head saying "target note, target note, target...". This and your lesson about tri-tone substitutes is really starting to blow away some of the fog. Again, thank you for that!

[@francescomanfredi]

Best lesson ever! What’s the next step? I hope you make a follow up of this incredible lesson or maybe share the link of a previous one if you already made it. Thanks ☺️

[@joesauvage1165]

Deepest thanks Kent for this great review of the ii-V-I and for such a wonderfully laid out (and cool jazzy laid back) approach to improvising over it. The explanation for adding the C# as related to the 5 of the 2 chord is also expounded upon in detail in your two volume book. It was great to see it integrated into the lesson. I can’t say thanks enough for all your videos and your awesome books. I love using them to integrate with you videos. Dude… you’re the best!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Wonderful comment, Joe. This is so helpful to me....swing loose, you are my brother!

[@tangomarty]

ok, can you give a quick explanation as to why using a c# dim chord works instead of the A7??

[@uncleric3797]

Love the lesson and love the videos. Not only have I been studying your techniques through your videos and stealing tips and tricks for myself, I've been teaching my nephew piano using your lessons. I have to make sure I have the theory and techniques down pat first which helps me learn it then when I show my nephew and the light comes on it's like I've given him keys to the musical kingdom. Really cool feeling.

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Yes, it's a cool feeling when you teach and learn something yourself, through the process of analysis.

[@kha0sgt]

Great video

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thanks!

[@AlSween]

It's funny how I knew a lot but I was stuck for a long time in improving. I took "Intro to Gospel Improvization" and I learned 2-5-1 and chord analysis in the first week and my mind was blown how much I improved just knowing that.

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thanks for telling me!

[@PieRises]

Ok, now I get it! My math brain loves the way you explain music! You had me flying to the moon. 🙂 Can't wait to pick up the printed copy of the course from my local copy centre on Monday. Thank you!

[@KentHewittpiano88]

I'm glad I connected with your math brain. Thanks for buying my book...enjoy!

[@richardolson8651]

Thanks

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Welcome!

[@nealsandy9441]

Really good stuff.,. and beautifully explained.

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Glad you liked it!

[@kenneth1767]

I'll be watching this again when I'm closer to the piano. These little gems are great. I have a beginners mindset when it comes to learning anything: never assume that one knows it because you've heard it before. There are seven epiphanies hidden in each idea. I've been getting into improv and record them to (hopefully) enjoy and then analyze afterwards and with more knowledge will consider ways of developing and refining ideas that emerge. But in this also lies the challenge of transcribing audio into notation. I love music theory and you show how to put it into practice. Thank you for your generosity Kent.

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Great comment...I'm so happy to hear your words and know that what I'm doing is really beneficial....thanks so much!

[@marcd3391]

Holy cow, Mr Hewitt! Excellent theory lecture. Thank you. This was an exercise in demystifying the secrets of improv. So good.

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Glad it was helpful!

[@John-boy]

Very important, and fairly simple, but very patiently explained and very clearly laid out for the jazz beginner and a great refresher too. Next step is to smoothly turn the 1 chord from a M7 into a m7 to become the 2 chord going up a 4th around the circle. I think you did a video on this a few years ago, but maybe not quite as simply explained?

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thanks for the comment. Go to my Playlists...I have covered going around the cycle of 5ths both in theory and practical application.

[@wynnsegstro9816]

Good follow up to your other 251 material. I've been working mostly on your beginners material, being mostly classically trained and self taught, and not understanding jazz all that well yet. I find I can glean something even from some of your more advanced material though. I'm starting to work with some lead sheets and working on some transcriptions as well and I'm finding I can learn from both of them. Many times I'm wondering how a chord or a progression fits in the key signature. For instance, how does an A-flat7 find it's way into the key of C? Starting to see part of that now, I think. Thanks for the lessons.

[@wynnsegstro9816]

Pardon me. I meant an A7 chord in the key of C.

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Any chord in the diatonic system can be altered by quality or lowering or raising. So the Ab7 in the key of C is a bVI altered to dominant form. The VI chord in C is Am7. It usually happens when a melody note is an accidental, but the melody note could be a C and it would be the major 3rd in an Ab7 chord. Sorry... I see you changed it to A7. That's just the VI chord altered to dominant form, which makes it a secondary dominant pulling us towards Dm7.

[@adamf2951]

Kent, that was a great lesson! Just one thing, can you explain how you determine that the C# diminished chord can precede the two chord?

[@KentHewittpiano88]

The C# diminished is functioning the same as a V of II (A7b9) because it contains all the same notes. However it is approaching the II chord chromatically from below rather than like a V - I.

[@davaxschinko]

Kent serves the beef

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Thanks!

[@marcuslefebvre8595]

Painfully long and confused explanations...

[@KentHewittpiano88]

Read the other comments.

[@DrLumpyDMus]

Similar ii-V-I material is in a couple other videos from Mr Hewitt in shorter formats if that's what you're looking for. The book goes deeper into most of the topics shown in the videos, if that's what you're looking for. There's free downloads that show you everything in standard notation and chord symbols. I'll bet you could find a version of the material that's appropriate for your current skill set. I know I can. If you've been doing it right, and putting in the practice hours, all the above is a moot point. One year since your comment, you should be well on your way to being a finger poppin' loose swingin' daddy. Don't be confused and angered. Ask for help. Musicians are good at that.