The Secret To Learning More Complex Chords

See the follow up, more in-depth video exclusively on Nebula now! nebula.tv/videos/aimeenolte-u...
At least one secret, anyway! Upper structure triads are the best way I know to convey a huge amount of information in a very concise way. Jazz harmony might just become much more manageable for you if you try understanding it in this way. See if it works for you!
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[@mbmillermo]

Fun trick: The notes of the major pentatonic of the tritone include the ♭7 and the four altered tones: ♭9, ♯9, ♭5 (♯11) and ♯5 (♭13). In C, the tritone is F♯ and the major pentatonic is just the black keys. So just play E-B♭ with the left hand and go nuts on the black keys with the right hand.

[@jivanbansi9640]

Beauty, thank you Sir, writing that down right now.

[@JesseDanielSmith]

Great tip - thank you for sharing this

[@brandonlewisguitar]

go nuts lol cool tip man cheers!

[@mbmillermo]

@KinstarFurniture -- I would like to help you, but I'm not sure what you want to know. Let me say a little more here and we'll see if it helps. The chromatic scale includes all 12 notes. A major scale uses 7 notes. That leaves 5 notes unused in any major scale. Look at the piano. You see all of the keys - the chromatic scale, but you also see white keys (C major) and black keys (not C major). But what are those "not C major notes"? There are 5 different black keys, so they can form a pentatonic scale. In fact, if we start on F♯, the scale formed by the black keys is F♯ major pentatonic. The note F♯ is a tritone away from C -- as far away as you can get in the circle of fifths. So in any key, say B♭, you can go to the tritone (E in the case of B♭) and play notes from that major pentatonic scale. The notes of that scale give you the altered tones for the dominant 7th chord (B♭7). Also look for information about the Altered Scale - a 7-note scale that includes all of the altered tones. Let me know here if you have any more questions.

[@stessosangue]

You dropped this, sir👑

[@fretlessman71]

I've been a bass player for 4 decades, and played jazz in some form for almost all of this time. This is the first time anyone has ever been able to get me to make sense of the crazy extensions I see on dominant chords in charts, and I can see that if I can memorize this idea AND use my ear to make triads out of the upper structures, I can start recognizing these complex chords by ear. Fantastic method, and wonderful demonstration!

[@divinesoul7]

I’m just beginning my self-taught journey and as someone starting out from the very beginning, this information is priceless. Not only are you an amazing player, but a phenomenal teacher as well. You make it make sense!!!

[@Ankerre]

Thanks Aimee, wonderful stuff

[@brettprice527]

Make sure to check out the Barry Harris stuff. Good luck on your journey.

[@divinesoul7]

@@brettprice527 thank you so much for the recommendation. I have checked out a couple of videos on Barry a while back, but unfortunately my head almost exploded trying to follow. Lol That’s a good problem to have though so I will be revisiting his teachings. Peace and blessings to you

[@brettprice527]

@@divinesoul7 Blessings!

[@brettprice527]

@@divinesoul7 Shan Verma at Jazz skills is a great teacher of his stuff for beginners.

[@YMESYDT]

Saying "this'll be a quick video" then making a 14 minute video is something I relate to very much as a music teacher

[@josephmartino9958]

I used to look at the keyboard and get all mesmerized playing 2 different chords simultaneously wondering "what's that?" Now I know...thanks Aimee! This is a great help!!!

[@waugsqueke]

I'm self-taught and always thought in this way - 13s and 11s confuse me but a C7 with a D triad above it is something I can understand right away.

[@Allen2saint]

The best piano teacher online. You’re the best Aimee.

[@braelen9]

Being self taught, I didn't even think to conceptualize these chords in such a straight forward way. A lot of jazz harmony seemed inaccessible because of the complexity. What a great reminder that complex chords can be derived from simple patterns/construction. Thank you for the wonderful video!

[@BennettYancey]

Same!

[@Ebi_J]

Thank you for explaining it so well. The fact that you tried every triad and explained why some did not work gave me a formula for understanding and experimenting on my own. Thank you

[@corporal1107]

Didn’t learn this from college theory. It makes sense and removes the complication of creating chords. With practice it becomes second nature. Thank you.

[@holliesheet3182]

This really makes sense for this awkward triad novice. Thanks.

[@musical_lolu4811]

I've literally been telling people this, for ages! It's not enough to say you can name what a harmony is e.g A7b13#9 or Dbm7b5(add11) and all that jazz (pun intended). If anything, that kind of exercise can become counterproductive. Knowing how to voice chords from an orchestration/arranging standpoint is where the money is at. That's where knowledge of upper structures (among other voicing techniques) and how to navigate them becomes golden, whether it be arranging for a band or playing on the piano.

[@quezquez3084]

Can you give some examples of the orchestration/arranging technics?

[@sanfernvalley619]

You are such a good teacher even if you were self taught!! Thank you for your point of view

[@DBruce]

Really helpful, going to mess around with this in my own rather poor attempts at jazz piano, thanks!

[@AimeeNolte]

🙌🏼🙌🏼💙💙thanks David

[@martinfinnmusic]

This has given me a lot of clarity on these kind of voicings. Thanks!

[@davidwittie4177]

@13:43 "I've got both (ways) now." Both Theoretical & Practical. And I'm giving them to you whilst balancing a marker in my right hand as I demonstrate. 😊 Aimee Nolte, you are the best!

[@bobbygadourymusic5476]

Great lesson, Aimee! Thank you!

[@gregorynoumtinis4324]

Thanks Aimee, your vids are the best. We are extremely lucky to have you sharing with the world. All the best 😊

[@kingmarshmusic]

Excellent! Such a logical way to think about these jazz chords.

[@dpwaldman3145]

Love this. So well presented. Thank you so much, Aimee. I’m gettin’ with the program!

[@Dim82787]

Great info Aimee. Thanks a lot!

[@danduncan7950]

Really, really helpful, Aimee! Thank you!

[@nomannic1]

The examples you play are so beautiful!! Super educational and inspiring, awesome video! 😁

[@ivantorrent495]

Fantastic tutorial!! Thank you Aimee!

[@jrossellometal]

I think this is an underspoken topic in jazz education. Thanks for the video!

[@quezquez3084]

This is the best video on upper structures I have seen in my life! Thanks, Aimee!

[@fletcherward]

Your content is so so great! Unbelievably helpful, and so much fun! Extreme gratitude!

[@JesseDanielSmith]

You rock Aimee - thank you for sharing your work so consistently

[@frozenspade417]

Thanks for the video Aimee! Been trying to write a Big-Band chart and this has really got my mind cooking

[@kenichisakuda7071]

This was so rad - thanks Aimee!

[@bertpeijmen6960]

This is very enlightening, just what I needed. Thanks Aimee!

[@sayarieastsounds]

Aimee you have no idea how much your videos have helped me grow in piano!!!! You are Heaven sent indeed!!! Have an amazing year ahead. And big up to everyone loving the keys🙏🏾🙏🏾💕

[@juantejadapng]

Aimee, you are such a blessing. I have been wondering how to voice these complex chords for my entire life lol (I study at a conservatory and I haven't learned any of this before). Thank you very much!

[@danwaldis4553]

Nicely done! I like the way you inspire the interest in a topic before you begin the explanations. You're an excellent teacher!

[@pnojazz]

Loved this lesson Aimee! It’s simple, direct, and to the point! Thank you for teaching this to students who desire a peek further inside the music! You’re the greatest!!!

[@minigooshey]

What an incredible way to look at this. I always knew there was some pattern with these, but to see how you lay it all out shows how simple it can be. Well, simple to learn and utilize, but I'm sure quite hard to master. You make some of the most helpful and elegant content about music Aimee, thank you very much :) I watch all your videos

[@shaynefernandez7145]

Hands down you are simply the BEST teacher on KZbin!! Thank you for sharing tricks and tips so freely that helps a lot of us. If you're ever in the Dallas area performing will definitely come see you..

[@willmcbride4435]

Oh wow! I really like this. I am a string player and I’m self taught on piano chords. This really is an excellent way of looking at it. I doubt I’ll ever memorize any of it but I for sure can build or pick apart extended chords now. Thank you!

[@jmcqueen3454]

Great video Amy, a great shortcut indeed.

[@md-ps2hx]

Another excellent clip.

[@lawrenrich6419]

I f’n love this video ! She’s one of the most infinitely patient and simply gifted teachers on KZbin. You can just hear it in her voice. I’m a guitar player and I highly value that approach and learn so much for my instrument also.

[@theelectricant98]

THANK YOU FOR THIS, reinvigorated my will to practice more and challenge myself

[@gernblenstein1541]

Brilliant! As a bass and guitar player this helps me think in pairs of notes and diad/triad barres to get that Tri-tone in there below the “upper structure.” Very interesting. Thanks for sharing this content, love your spirit, and keep on keepin on!

[@LingziChong]

I love your explanation, Thank You !!

[@jakehendriksen2841]

I really enjoy and get a lot from your videos.

[@davidhartley94]

Thanks Aimee, your lessons are great!

[@jesseimpersonal]

Pure gold, thank you so much! Off to Nebula.

[@ect2012cool]

Aimee, great explanation and demonstration of the upper structure dominate chords.

[@VinslomBardy]

Incredibly informative and helpful…thank you!!

[@flaviowilner1288]

Very useful and clear, no doubt.

[@mdsharp5]

Wow, that's awesome!! Thanks so much for sharing!

[@JohnnysMusicGarage59]

THANK YOU!!! So much for sharing this, what a concept. Especially from a guitarist point of view for scales over triads WOW mind blowing...

[@Mooseboy08]

This is just what I needed at just the time I was ready for it. I'd already been experimenting with relative Major 7ths over relative minor 7ths, and this is way more fuel for thought.

[@ineskatrin_music]

Great lesson to get my head around that, thank you Aimee

[@Li-pw2fg]

this is amazing, thank you!!!

[@santiagochambi4692]

I know a few chords. But you explanation was MAGNIFIC!. Thanks for add this beautiful sonority in my library of chords.

[@cwize]

This is so cool! I really thank you for explaining how these upper structures can be found/learned. I’ve heard people say in passing “oh that’s just C7 with an Ab on top” or whatever but never heard them explain why. I’m a guitar player, not piano, but this insight will be a huge help as I try to get these upper extension chords under my fingers. I know the 7#9 because of Hendrix (like all guitar players), the 7b9 because of “Breathe” by Pink Floyd, etc. but this gives me real, usable, meat to chew on. Thanks again! Awesome.

[@valerypopov6499]

this knowledge is priceless! thank you so much for sharing.

[@ccarlisle08]

Incredible lesson. I never heard stacked chords explained this way. Thanks!

[@456deniz]

It opened my mind!😮😮🤯🤯 Thank's for this lesson, Aimee! 😃😃

[@duderserious]

I really got a lot from this lesson! Thanks Aimee 🤙

[@rhema4000]

Such a great system!! Thank you so much for sharing. Now I feel I will get in gear again!!😁🥳👍🏼

[@idiavworeefetoborejeremiah2618]

Wow... this is very insightful. Even though I don't play jazz, you've given me the understanding to add some of these cool voicings to my gospel chords. Many thanks, cheers!!🥂

[@charliebarredafriends61]

Great job explaining upper structure chords in such a clear way - thank you.

[@colourtones]

What a great, straightforward lesson on accessing and compiling complex harmony through upper structure triads, Aimee! Excellent work with a very hip and pleasant delivery. New subscriber here.

[@Goateeist1]

Great lesson, thanks.

[@steveburchfield5576]

GREAT LESSON AIMEE !!!

[@greysonwagner]

Such a fantastic video. Really helped me on my self taught journey to learn piano! So helpful!

[@russelllane2797]

great lesson! thank you!

[@KenNickels]

Thanks for this cool lesson!

[@tomford1376]

This is helping me see things more clearly

[@scottfoster3643]

Excellent lesson, thank you much

[@scottfoster3643]

Please do the math/white board for us on major7 and minor7 chords with upper structures :)

[@Sargon949]

This is fantastic! Thank you :)

[@nutopiansg7613]

YOU ARE THE CLEAREST JAZZ THEORY TEACHER-SIGNED MR PENTATONIC

[@banaabekwegirl5731]

ooh.... this is great knowledge, thank you so much.

[@Jabbersgood]

You are a BLESSING.

[@tedturner03]

Omg - This is so cool, and a great way to learn this wacky stuff. That said - this could be a series of videos. Gonna start exploring this. You are the best Aimee Nolte! I can only say - thanks yet again maestro!!🙏🙏

[@han36solo]

This is great Aimee!

[@jakegatesmusic]

Your channel is a gem.

[@gloryrow100]

Thanks Aimee

[@bradfordmasters197]

Thanks. Great video👍🏻

[@brandonlewisguitar]

what a brilliant teacher

[@johnmcnichol8330]

Great lesson….thanks!

[@johnnycockatoo1003]

thanks Aimee great to know

[@davidmiller3652]

Nice job Aimee ! Very succinct, concise, thorough. All players should be thinking this way, cuts out the clutter and ambiguously wasted time. Although I do like those minor 9's in scary movies :)

[@RobyMBeki]

Aimee, I love your videos so much! Over the past half decade you've thought me amazing ways to look at stuff I either knew or totally new concepts in general. I really like your story about finding out how these chords work in this almost bitonal sense, and it reminded me of how I found out about the same thing. About 3 and a fourth years ago I've stumbled upon FMaj9 just by error really and fallen in love with the same concepts you describe here. Even went so far to immediately write a song full of these type of extended chords called "Next Holidays". And I am absolutely mind blown how litteraly the day after I've uploaded an acoustic version of the song KZbin recommended me your video. I am so happy that now I'll be able to learn even more stuff from you about these tasteful chords. 🥰😊

[@DojoOfCool]

Cool video I like your approach by leaving out the 4th and 7th degrees makes finding the usable triad easier.

[@TonyThomas10000]

Awesome info!

[@ShaneParish]

Thanks for sharing this info in such a clear and succinct way. I see myself immediately applying this to fingerstyle guitar improvisations, using the lower strings as open drones in different tunings to hold down the lower triad, while moving around arpeggio patterns in the upper structure triads on the higher strings. Good times. :)

[@davidnolting1873]

Awesome lesson as usual. Will try out these triads for soloing ideas on guitar instead of just grabbing for altered scale, etc.

[@alienheadband1808]

this is helping me think less and explore more. Awesome!

[@AimeeNolte]

Both are good. But sometimes you need more of one than the other.

[@paulmal535]

Thank you Aimee! While I play guitar this relates perfecty well to something I've been trying out (I forgot about the bass player...) thank you so much for taking the time to create this video!

[@truefilm6991]

5 star content as always! It's daunting going through all possibilities and there is the looming: "Now do this in all keys!" LOL. But your videos are always very inspiring, making it so much less painful. Thank you!

[@no_wrong_notes]

This is so amazing! I am self-taught and very much so a beginner. Excellent content in all your videos.

[@robinmiller7958]

Thank you!

[@michaelemusic1953]

Interesting and very helpful, thank you.

[@kayo-music]

Once again thanks Aimee for this concept, it might help a bass player like me to get the chords faster on the piano. And even more thanks for your nice quote on my songs. Nobody wants to listen to them either, up to now, but you DID and what you wrote about them really made my day.!!! all the bass-t from kayo

[@cardinia1]

Sure love you shares Aimee been long time supporter and always get me thinking how wonderful

[@mattwright466]

Just found your channel and I really appreciate your teaching style. This was a TREMENDOUSLY helpful video. Thank you :-)

[@glennbrown2830]

Great trick...love it...