Spain - A Jazz Improv Lesson in 5 Levels (Chick Corea)

It's time for another lesson video! I've come up with 5 levels of practice that you can use with Chick Corea's classic composition "Spain". This tune is simple, yet complicated at the same time. The first three levels of this lesson will train you in the chords and basic scales - although you will see why sometimes choosing the right scale is a bit tricky in this tune. After that, I got creative and had some fun with the 4th and 5th levels. I hope you enjoy!
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-Tim
#chickcorea #vibraphone #jazz
Check out my jazz vibraphone courses: www.timcollinsmusic.com/courses/
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0:00 Intro
0:22 Level 1
2:47 The Natural Scales
5:55 Level 2 Solo
6:59 Simple Modes
7:31 Level 3 Solo
8:31 Multi-Melodies
9:05 Level 4 Solo
10:11 Shapes
15:02 Level 5 Solo
16:02 Questions?

[@DylanEdwardsMusic]

I'm not a vibes player but somehow this was one of the most clear videos out there on how to tackle these changes - Thanks!!

[@TimCollinsVibes]

Thanks! The information is definitely universal regardless of instrument.

[@goncalonunesfonseca6091]

Exactly what I was about to comment...

[@DanielFriendMusic]

Agreed

[@brassmagic]

Trumpet player here. Wow! I've watched a few YTs on Spain improv. This is by far the most useful. Brilliant

[@TimCollinsVibes]

Thank you!

[@PUBHEAD1]

Watching this makes me realize how much my college professors sucked teaching our music program

[@austinskeffington3248]

Was thinking the exact same thing 😂

[@haidendavis4517]

I’m a classical violinist trying to get into jazz- your videos have been a game changer for me. Thank you!

[@TimCollinsVibes]

Glad to hear it! I teach classical musicians all the time, it's lots of fun.

[@Cacau165]

Me too

[@amanueltesfaye1225]

I missed how my college professor breaks down jazz pieces for me, then saw this video, which is very similar to what my professor use to do(except last two levels). You are the best at teaching this stuff, stay blessed brother!

[@insidejazzguitar8112]

Tim’s lessons are THE best!

[@joachimmunzberg]

I'm Not a vibeplayer but this to me is one of the best and most understandable tutos in the net.But: " Spain" is basically Inspiration by a Flamenco palo called the TARANTA . Chick Corea adapted some of the basic structures and harmonically transformed it into a context with western aproach. So if you want to make it sound spanish or andalucian one has to get back to the feel of Taranta and the way of Flamenco ....

[@marcellouis2448]

This was one of the best videos on this song ive ever watched

[@edwardaviles6665]

What else can I say that hasn't been said'. God bless you Tim. Muchas Gracias desde Puerto Rico

[@marvinl997]

Not just a great video on how to play over Spain but you can totally take this approach to other standards as well, fantastic video. Love you way you broke that down

[@dpsingsthebodyelectric]

I'm a guitarist but...THIS IS AWESOME!!

[@alexanderwells5148]

I am not a vibraphone player, not even close but this was greatly helpful nonetheless, thank you!

[@future62]

Vibes are such a great teaching tool haha. I don't think I've ever found it easier to follow changing scales

[@StuartVail]

Good ideas. I've always taught my students to learn the shapes of scales and be able to play them from the bottom to the top of the instrument. Your videos are very well done.

[@vochezer]

Great Lesson Tim, just forwarded it to my students! All the best! :-)

[@TimCollinsVibes]

Thanks man!

[@dinarick1]

Wow! Never could crack this tune, I was always using straight "key of the moment" type playing and it never sounded right. As soon as you said to use the Arpps with the key signature all my musical furniture was moved. The scales have fallen from my eyes. You, Sir, rule the internet for a day!

[@jongar]

AWESOME Tim!!! Been working on Spain for many years.. now it all makes sense. Thank you and subscribed!!!

[@kimeripatton3793]

Very helpful video. Thank you

[@briantyhy4880]

Wow is all I can say. or just amazing is even better. mr collins should be called mr big brain

[@alaskannyc]

Mind blown. This is fantastic!

[@ikeruriarte8669]

Thank you mr. Collins for mapping with numbers & colours every chord. It's fantastic for voice leading and phrasing fluently across the chord changes! 👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@danieldefilippis5758]

Thanks you are the best !!!

[@Darrenowsley]

I Love these lessons 4 and 5 so easy to understand Thank You! if you ever need a guitarist here I am

[@portellio_the_space_rider9473]

15:40 that last A note had me feeling things

[@tioliak]

Vibraphone is the best musical instrument for jazz teaching!

[@pierrebriquet]

Man. I never watched a video so good about practicing improv. Thanks.

[@istominmusic]

Thank you, very cool!!!!!!

[@RahulDas-zy6ut]

The work behind the video❤❤❤

[@mattytrane]

This is excellent! Clear concise and musical throughout. Thanks for the content.

[@christhomas282]

Dude.. the SHAPES are an EPIC concept... please keep developing this for everyone.. plus theory explanations! Thanks Tim...

[@williamwingert2340]

Amazing teacher! So Happy I found you Tim!!!!

[@VacheMulticolore]

You are watching a master at work

[@alessandroferrarimusic]

im a guitarist but that's is incredible and I learned a lot thank you!!!

[@bencarrielsr.6699]

My first exposure fo Tim Collins! I am blessed. The lesson was extraordinarily well produced, aided by careful planning and confirmed by Tim's relaxed performances. I learned so much. Thank you many times.

master!!!

[@javiercalzada407]

Thanks, Tim. Keep doing these videos. Thanks for showing the form concept visually; this helps learners like me to internalize the idea.

[@skiadikt]

a very clear approach to breaking down and ultimately improvising over this tune. thanks.

[@michaelmanbeck]

So useful for any instrument Ty

[@ElliottCass8]

unreal vid

[@haythemayachi3384]

Thank you for the effort you are making !!

[@rubeng3m]

Great Sound

[@heitorperes3326]

Excellent and simple explanation.

[@axeman2638]

Simple clear explanations, picked up a few ideas from this thanks. The difficulty with this tune is more the tempo is usually played at.

[@user-tk3xv4nd5k]

Great video! thank you :)

[@gregcruz6517]

bro the way you describe how what scale we are in but where we start and relating to the modes has helped me so much with your visualizations. i am a little drunk so words arent conveying what i mean but your visuals are amazing and very helpful. i only know my circle of fourths muscle memory, so this helps me kow hwere i need to practice!

[@Goodrichvp]

This is so good, thanks a million. I play pedal steel guitar and this helped me in a huge way, Thanks so much

[@zecalimazeca]

Wow. Just discovered this channel. Great teacher. Saving to come here later to follow your lesson with more time. Thank you and greetings from Brazil

sick stuff man

[@jazzed2b]

wow incredible! I though this tune was challenging enough on guitar let alone you playing it on percussive keys...its like playing piano and drums all at once...impressive!

[@angelopianamusic4482]

Great video 👏👏

[@steveimprovises]

Instant new sub. Totally translatable to piano (except I have to transpose it all up a half step b/c the Jennings Big Band version is in Cm).

[@lexfiddle]

Wow. You are really gonna help me raise this to another level. I like the way you think right to the point. Any advice on where I could get a lead sheet to the melody??? Thanks.

[@camilo8601]

holy shit this is incredible thank you so much!!!!

[@eViolinity]

Thanks! A super systematic approach and a good presentation of the idea behind

[@BillTscherno]

Super Tim, wie immer.^^ Ich spiele die letzte Dominante, also das B7, fast ausschließlich auch als B7/b9/b13, also auch als HM5. Diesen Übergang auch mal als B7/b13 (also mit großer 9) zu spielen, klingt auch super, irgendwie etwas "duriger".^^ Werde ich auch in Zukunft mal versuchen. ... Thx ... Vielleicht kann man den auch als 5. Stufe von E Harmonisch-Dur betrachten, ist dann als B7/b9/13 (aber nicht HTGT, die ja auch oft so bezeichnet wird) wie B7 mit b9, klingt vorne etwas "exotischer", aber hintenraus mit der großen 13, glatter nach herkömmlichen Dominantakkord. Deine Version dieses Akkordtyps habe immer als eher 5. Stufe von Melodisch Moll verstanden, und da es ein Dominantakkord ist, Mixo/b13 genannt, also in diesem Fall dann B7/b13. Aber ich stehe einfach total auf das C von B7/b9/b13, mit reiner Quart & reiner Quint, ..... einfach geil.^^ Ach, und natürlich sind bei den 4 Takten F#7/b9/b13 (Takt 5 bis 8) immer auch gerne alle Licks von Halbton-Ganzton von F#7/b9/13 am Start, da kann man ein paar "Apparate" rausquirlen lassen.^^ Haut Chick an diesen Stellen auch immer gerne raus.^^ Liebe Grüße und weiter so, Ich bin ein großer Fan Tom

[@ItsNotAXylophone]

Great stuff Tim!

[@TimCollinsVibes]

Thank you!

[@RM-gm7lu]

Brilliant!!! Just Brilliant!

[@FelixSunMusic]

Amazing lesson. Thank you!!

[@officialzayonmarcena]

so good

[@SaxPracticemanJazz]

Nice!!!!

[@orgreenpierre4153]

Very well made! Love the backing tracks and clear explanations!

[@user-qi2zt8nr9u]

Cool! Thanks!

[@pipervibe3427]

Your presentations are excellent!

[@charlesenglebert8226]

Great lesson !

[@scotmarvin8991]

So much great information and guidance here. Thanks, Tim!

[@josemolina959]

Beautiful! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@lyntedrockley7295]

Gorgeous! thanks

[@HiqueBernardon]

man, you are the man! great as always!

[@ishmaelgeoffrey]

Brooo this helps a lot. Thanks man

[@jasondanielian5265]

Thanks maestro!

[@christophcloren4740]

Thank you for this great tutorial !!

[@UltrafiAV]

Fabulous presentation!

[@wojtekstankowski-pianojazz721]

Congratulations. Fantastic elaboration in terms of content and visual, amazing. Greetings from Chopin's homeland👋

[@user-un1wc7cz1v]

Wonderful for pianists also! 👌

[@RENEARBOLEDAMAGIC]

Espectacular Master.!!!

[@spoingus20]

This is one heck of a music course. Thank you so much. !

[@neilloughran4437]

Superb lessons! I love all the levels! Need to get them under my fingers...

[@JoaquinRamirez]

This is a brilliant lesson, exactly what i need to practice and enjoy doing it, thanks man!

[@bryanmellado2874]

Bravo. I think i learned a lot. Thank you

[@michanestorowicz6577]

How much great content in a single video! This is AMAZING!

[@grzegorzchwalinski711]

very well made clip! i learned so much from it !!! Thanks mate ;)

[@erimkies]

I'm completely blown away! This was incredible, thank you so much Tim. This gives so much food for thought as far as tackling any sort of chord changes, is concerned. Definitely gives you a lot to think about and go over!

[@FAFA-vs9in]

Vos leçons sont fantastiques, merci infiniment.

[@jahdear]

They’re all inspiring

[@marioguarini]

really great contents congrats, the way to explain and show shape is enlightning, thank you

[@DonyaLane]

Just stumbled upon your channel. Very cool and fun! I subscribed.

[@jensblaute7654]

instant one of my new favorite youtubers my guy .. so well explained! props for putting this out there

[@nelobrunomusico-consultant4628]

Que lindo mi hermano ❤, te felicito 🎉 😊

[@tombrown.studio]

Okay so I’m not crazy and you also see shapes on the vibe-great video as always Tim :)

[@TimCollinsVibes]

Thanks man ;) Yeah, I've gotten more into the idea of shapes lately.. not sure what took me so long.

[@user-sd9gl9zb6c]

Thank you very much for this great great video! I hope you'll do some others video like this on some others songs.... 😃

[@DerController]

Sensacional! Fantastic! Wunderbar knowledgement. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🔝 🇧🇷

[@TimCollinsVibes]

Thank you!

[@hallucinato2307]

Guitarist here, very great video

[@mbmillermo]

This might be the best introduction to improvisation I've seen on KZbin. One thing I'd add -- the "Mixolydian ♭9♭13 scale" (3:45 and 5:00) is also called the Phrygian dominant scale. I get why you would rename it, but it is also good for people to know the conventional name.

[@TimCollinsVibes]

Thank you! To be honest, I actually didn’t know the official name of that scale myself, otherwise I would have said it. Makes sense though. I think the most important thing is for people to understand that it’s coming from the harmonic minor.

[@noisydoll168]

Thank you so much for the way you've presented this. It's a lot easier for me to keep up with/retain the theory when I can hear the sound, hear the name, and see something to tie it together. Then while I go to practice it, I can use that visual scaffolding to recall the stuff until it becomes deep knowledge and I don't need the scaffolds anymore.

[@TimCollinsVibes]

Thanks!

[@tdlaney]

This is really amazing!! I needed this exact video about 3 years ago when I was giging this tune with a small group and was really struggling with how to approach my theory thinking wile soloing (piano). I really love the way you broke down the theory - thinking of the whole tune as a variation on the Bm scale with a slight change for 3rds on the appropriate chord - so simple! And thanks for the great way you explained the shapes and the resulting theory - I am going to write all that down and use it in my practice (and steal it for other tunes) :) Became a 'Subscriber' after this video - which was my first one of yours! THX!!

[@TimCollinsVibes]

Sorry it's late, but glad you enjoyed it ;)

[@dimi409]

Great introduction to your channel as far as I'm concerned! I have transcribed Larry William's solo on the Al Jarreau version of Spain, many similar ideas but, you also made me learn or think of new ideas.

[@TimCollinsVibes]

Thank you!

[@DrumMaster999]

Many thanks for this video! It`s just what I was looking for a long time who actually could explain me and show the ideas how to improvise the "Spain". And finally, there you are! Thanks again, Tim! You`re doing a really great job!

[@astorina]

Very super interesting :-)) B melodic major isn’ it E melodic (5 mode) ? Respect for what you do and the visual on the vibraphone (notes and shapes ) are very revealing to me as a guitarist Brgds

[@nomannic1]

I love this video, and it reenforces the fact on me that every chord comes from a scale, and you can practice those scales to get that chord sound. I had a question, in the shapes segment, what scales do those chords come from?

[@Sound-of-Bansuri]

Great videos, really helpful! Not sure if it was mentioned already: following the idea to merge the 7th arps with the root-scale (B Aeolian) can also give you quite nicely C# Altered (MM7) instead of C# Phrygian Dom (HM5), this way there is even one note less to be changed - right? Still, two times the Phrygian Dom sound I also like. Thanks for sharing this approach of mixing the non-diatonic chords with the mother scale - was new to me 😊

[@cesarmateus3490]

The last scale is an E Melodic Minor: BC#D#EF#GA

[@musterionsurly]

killer lesson! many thanks :) loved the harmonic major (was that pulling B7 from E melodic?) and "the shapes/colours" also the sticking put onto guitar because i often forget that you can hit a note twice in a row haha and overall the lesson inspired an instant jailbreak toward better melodic harmonic and rhythmic flow.

[@TimCollinsVibes]

@Stephen Bell it's sometimes the opposite on vibes - "don't forget, you can hit more than one note!"