The real theory behind Giant Steps

This video is Part 6 of the series “How to actually play over Giant Steps”. In this video I thought it would be fun to blow your mind a little to explain why the construction of Giant Steps is so complex. I have compressed a graduate thesis level analysis of the theory behind giant steps into a 90 second clip. You’re welcome lol and I hope you enjoy this :)
#coltrane #johncoltrane #jazz #giantsteps #jazzlesson #jazzguitar #musictheory #jazztheory #jazzstandard #fusionguitar #jazzlife #musictheory #composerlife #contemporaryjazz #artmusic #musicnerd #jazzfusion #giantsteps #jazzmusic #jazzharmony

[@xFliox]

Bro this is the most mad scientist thing ever, this is outstanding

[@jareddavismusic]

haha thank you! 🙏 you like it so much you commented twice 🤣

[@gergster6899]

Jazz musicians understand what he's talking about. Great insight! Wish I were younger and had time to dig into such advanced scalar work. I had heard about Slonimsky but didn't get that far.

[@jareddavismusic]

Thank you! Hey It’s never too late!! :))

[@yekri2398]

Really excellent. The whole is the base of PC bass line. Coltrane explained the title Giant steps came from this.

[@jareddavismusic]

Thank you!

[@milofonz7505]

Wonderful. This is a great explanation and I didn't know he used Slonimsky Thesaurus. I love these types of movements in music by thirds, there's so much you can do with a freakin' third I mean who knew? When I was looking at the chord changes and it first hit me that all the different chords when seperated by their qualities are all a major third apart I seriously had my mind blown. Isn't it crazy how music theory is such a sound puzzle in so many ways? Everything just fits, that's why I love music. Then of course beyond the theory, music sounds great!

[@milofonz7505]

Also for anyone frustrated with remembering Messiaen mode No.3 on the fly, I just think of it as a major 7 add 9 chord with a Minor triad add 4 starting from the minor 3rd. So Messiaen mode No.3 on B would be a B major 7 add 9 (B, Db, Eb, Gb, Bflat) smashed together with a D minor add 4 (D, F,G,A) all in the space of one octave. Quick trick I thought of.

[@jareddavismusic]

Thank you! I’m happy you like it:) There are so many cool things to discover in music and in GS! I think it’s best to think of mode 3 as 3 tetra chords of whole-half-half, that are a major third away. But yeah it’s also cool to see what other kinds of structures you can separate it into!

[@milofonz7505]

@@jareddavismusic right after I watched this one I watched a video on the Messiaen modes and I realized they were patterns and was like 😬 shoot that comment probably seems silly now.

[@jareddavismusic]

@@milofonz7505 Not silly at all. It’s interesting to see how you thought if it not knowing it was a symmetrical scale! Almost like thinking of all 12 chromatic notes as a major scale and a pentatonic together

[@kevinfitzpatrick95]

Coltrane said himself that he just winged it, had no clue what was going on

[@jareddavismusic]

Did he? Where can I find that quote?

[@canastraroyal]

what

[@jareddavismusic]

If you have a more specific question, I’d be happy to answer lol

[@isaacbeen2087]

some really ridiculous comments on this (great) video, unfortunately

[@spencergowen]

I thought they were what you take walking on the moon

[@jareddavismusic]

haha Well this tune was written before the moon landing. so Neil Armstrong actually plagiarized that phrase from Coltrane ;)

[@jimmaculate5]

694? thanks, anyway. good luck with your grad students.

[@jareddavismusic]

I believe in you. It takes time ;)

[@jetn8654]

Yep. This is how you lose an audience.

[@jareddavismusic]

People are afraid of what they don’t understand

[@JohnSmith-in1tt]

No it’s not. You’re just not advanced enough to understand it

[@krambow1509]

people talk a lot about giang steps theory and etc, the real truth is that john coltrane was a genius an thats just it, nothing else

[@jareddavismusic]

Well, he was yes, but he also worked very hard and studied with great teachers for a long time.

[@AAA.AAA006]

?

[@jareddavismusic]

Ask me a question and i’ll help you understand

[@xFliox]

what