Wayne Krantz: Tension and Theory | Improvisation Masterclass

Stages Music Arts is thrilled to present an improvisation masterclass led by the one and only Wayne Krantz.
Wayne Krantz is an American guitarist and composer known for his use of complex rhythmic and harmonic concepts. An alumnus of the Berklee Guitar Department, he has performed and recorded with artists such as Steely Dan, Michael Brecker, Billy Cobham, Chris Potter, and David Binney and so many more illustrious artists.
Throughout his decades-long career, Wayne has never rested on his laurels. From his early sideman days through his numerous live and studio solo recordings, Krantz has consistently pushed his stylistic roots in rock, jazz, fusion and blues beyond their boundaries.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:17 Why do we use tension?
01:30 Creating tension with theory
02:46 Demo: using theory
04:04 Is theory necessary?
06:25 Creating tension WITHOUT theory
06:33 Demo: "play some wrong notes"
08:08 Phrasing and tension
09:26 Theory's role in improvisation
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[@petergedd9330]

There is an infinite music where sounds are played that are not struck and each note is perfect and if experienced will put you in bliss, and they are all inside of you.

[@morganalvarez5925]

Once you know Guitar Chords and you have a good ear and you listen and feel the music you don't need theory

[@alchemyst2000]

the unstuck sound, the shabd, the logos, Nada Brahma

[@khoji5386]

@@alchemyst2000 Also the unstruck sound. anhad śabad.

[@joshbarnes5783]

I've been playing for 40 years. To me the best approach is learn the theory so well that it's subconscious. This creates a basic framework in the mind which can then be creatively worked and we don't have to consciously think about notes until we start or end a phrase. This allows us to play what our brain wants to hear instead of repeating patterns.

[@odude]

it's probably the idea being communicated here but they needed a clickbait thumbnail.

[@beepboopbleep3695]

i dunno, i was a first chair trumpet for my school years and when i had to go to college, i decided not to go the theory route because i wanted to write from the heart i know thats lame but it worked out for me

[@odude]

@@beepboopbleep3695 if you spent some time playing in the school band you probably learned pretty good theory rudiments? If you add a good ear to that, you're probably good to go and are able to write from the heart.

[@Kevinschart]

​@@beepboopbleep3695to play trumpet you need rhythm and an understanding of scales. That is music theory

[@theystoleitfromus]

"Learn all the theory you can, then forget it." - one of the jazz greats

[@qwargy]

The reason why he can improvise without thinking is that he’s done the whole theory thing. To me, it’s an important part of the process.

[@TheLochs]

I agree, there are a few outliers that can do it without theory but for most part you learn it to forget it.

[@TypingHazard]

You get this "it took me X years of [activity] to realize you don't need to practice [activity]" advice from people and it's such horseshit Like I've noticed this a lot, whenever you hear someone go "yeah I don't really practice" they almost always have a complementary story about being younger and practicing 8+ hrs a day. So maybe they don't have as much need to shed now, but that doesn't mean they didn't put in the work at some point If you took everyone's "you don't need to practice X" advice and put it all together there would be no place to start

[@LysanderLH]

I disagree. The reason I could play like that is precisely because I don’t know the theory! Does the name of a note, chord, phrase etc mean more than how it works in the moment?

[@shaunmcinnis1960]

That sounds good but there is theory why what you do sounds good, arpeggios certain sequence, etc..

[@CuzaAlino]

Imagine black musicians back in the day before the birth of jazz, very poor didn't even have a decent instrument much less music education where you learn the theory you are refering to. All they had was passion --- the heart. That's how exactly how they trained their ears to guide their fingers to play what they hear in their head.

[@steellemonstudios]

“You don’t need theory” - this entire discussion is about music theory. Consonance, Dissonance, Phrasing, Tension, I -V7, HW Diminished, right notes, wrong notes… all music theory.

[@ht1560]

I think what he is getting at is you shouldn't live by theory like its a rule book. You can be a great hiker, but don't necessarily need to know geography

[@steellemonstudios]

@@ht1560 Totally. The clickbait title is what is irritating here, not what Wayne Krantz is saying (not to mention he never actually says "You don't need theory" in the video).

[@jmack619]

​@@steellemonstudiosyou irritate and drift off topic easily

[@danielbeaird6264]

​@ht1560 Sounds like a hiker that's going to get alot of poison ivy and stuck with prickers and attacked by bears and Mt lions... if you don't want to go through those struggles then understand the theory otherwise you're just stunting your growth

[@steellemonstudios]

@@danielbeaird6264 🤣 Yup. Well played.

[@elrafa782]

I didn’t know this Wayne Krantz. Fascinating. 🙏

[@LilOlFunnyBoy]

Interesting but I can't help thinking that his immersion in theory and exploration of harmony resulted in a 'hardwiring' of those sounds and how to get them. It really is hard, or even impossible, to sound musical using this in/out approach if you don't have some vocabulary ingrained in your ears and fingers.

[@jakekeys88music]

I feel like some of it is based in having a good feel of time also. Jeff Schneider has a video here about it.

[@JeremyAndersonBoise]

This is the lesson I needed, after 36 years of playing.

[@itsrob2321]

Listen, I don’t believe in criticizing other people’s art or methods. I’ve played by ear for decades while not knowing “what” I’m doing (theory). But finally I started working from theory outward into testing the boundaries, so YOU really need theory even though you can play by ear and get a long ways toward learning without it. Just do it. There are no shortcuts.

[@pipborthwick6313]

Could not agree more

[@aleksik4028]

In a way you learned theory in your own way. Maybe didnt have the "official" names for stuff (scales, chords, triads etc) but one doesnt pick up guitar every single time for like its the first time for years. Well at least if its something that makes sense musicly.

[@pipkingdom]

Well said. But will they listen?

[@jmack619]

​@@pipkingdomwho are "they "

[@louisemaggs4589]

Love it!

[@ChristopherOrth]

Perfect! Just play any crap you want and if it doesn't sound good, call it "tension". Music theory isn't a set of rules, it's a set of measuring tools. It's always amazing to me how much effort people put in to not learning things that can give them a much wider sonic pallet.

[@bobryan8793]

I appreciate you sir 🙏

[@derekspitz9225]

Really interesting. Thanks.

[@claudiocardoneOK]

Great musician, and great video! thank you very much

[@lionra4523]

Thank you!

[@benclaase8181]

Thanks for sharing, refreshing view , never heard this take on notes and music. As a mostly self taught player will just keep noodling. Thank you! Wayne Hi, I am looking forward to the next post.

[@lanesblitz]

I have studied theory forever. I think it's important to know it, and I use it constantly. It made me a better musician than I was, that's for sure. In terms of actually using it or not in improvising it really depends IMHO on the material you are trying to improvise over. If it's a simple vamp, one two chord vamp, yeah sure you can avoid it to some extent and find your ways to create tension and release (which is a gold concept in all music of course). But if you're playing more "complex" things harmonically, with changes etc like bebop etc, you have to know theory to sound legit. At the end of the day it's all about the material you play and the effect you want to create. But I think a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, so my advice is, well, learn theory, then decide with your ear if you want to use it or not. Wayne in any case is a fab musician that I greatly admire.

[@groovelife415]

He's still just talking about theory. Every guitarist I see saying you don't need theory, just talks about theory. Sometimes they even make up new words for the theory they are talking about.

[@erikaw7767]

ALL of them do it. its baffling lol...

[@pauloluisdemoraespereirape9484]

Sensational !

[@derosa504]

Right and wrong notes, some people have an ear for it from day one, and others train their ear through theory over time. Once known though, you're free to create just like the great musicians born with amazing ears. Neither path is easy though. You have to put the time in. Enjoy!

[@crucifixgym]

Great examples from a great example of a theory laden person. Knowing the theoretical explanations he gave is good, forgetting the theory as you select good feeling notes is better.

[@OlemirCandido]

Muito bom. Perfeito!!!!!

[@mathmusicstructure]

One of the advantages of going through the theory is to make sure that you are exploring more possibilities than you personally would have invented. It also ensures that your exploration of the instrument isn't based around the unconscious preferences you have in the movement of your hands, for example the tendency some have to avoid using one of their fingers. Finally, I agree that we shouldn't be a slave to theory, but identifying particular sounds by ear and knowing their names helps us communicate with our fellow musicians.

[@musicnasa666]

Proud to have you explain7ng that

[@TheChaserTV]

I think one of my favourite guitar solos is Wayne's from 'The Great Pagoda of Funn' by Donald Fagen, please listen if you haven't yet, it's just astonishing

[@frankierodriguez8661]

the whole album is awsome and Sunken condos too. Wayne is incredible and I true gentleman.

[@phillippehrson4908]

I saw him live about six years ago in Seattle. It was good but I really did not know what was going on, so he must be a genius!

[@rdog421]

or you cant listen because he is very straightforward and does't complicate his words. 🤣

[@phillippehrson4908]

so he must be a genius?

[@darrenbond4280]

Genius Musician (not just Guitarist, I feel he would be capable on many an instrument) Met Wayne twice (at his gigs) the most humble and approachable Musician I have ever met. Please continue to support this Man and The Musicians that are still Courageous enough to be themselves☮️✌🏻

[@SSvebor]

Pure wisdom.

[@talibe801]

thank you very much

[@AlanSmith-ei5vz]

Wayne Krantz a true musical treasure.

[@Vor_Tex_Sun]

improvising gives the best ideas

[@dizzy-dreams]

Great lesson ! I am a painter (between figurative and abstract) and I am a guitarist. I am finally realizing after years of playing guitar that there are ultimately 12 notes that will sound more or less good depending on the context and that theorizing all of this is like trying to make sense of an abstract painting. Most of the time, an abstract painting is born from an emotion rather than a rational thought, for music I am beginning to understand that it is the same... Afterwards we can justify everything by theory and if the theory does not, then we will then say that the guitarist uses symmetrical patterns or such 😄

[@NickGranville]

Great stuff, love WK’s playing… but it’s only possible what he’s discussing ‘cause he’s deeply explored the theory and music that came before and can build upon those (and developed his ear).

[@markceamusika]

this is gold!

[@papadavewatson]

This man is expounding on his opinion. Learn theory people!!!!

[@NateTheMeh]

This is super awesome

[@SportThompson]

Absolute genius.

[@milosvujovic9816]

Agree

[@thestonedandstripped]

Why?

[@RaineyDaysStudio]

@@thestonedandstripped bc he’s doing something that seems unattainable to someone who hasn’t tried, and he speaks with conviction. Lol

[@kylekrawczyk1407]

@@RaineyDaysStudioright!! I was thinking the same thing looking at these comments lmao

[@ninofunka1106]

Imho, he is

[@TheGEAP1]

Jazz, Nice!

[@ninofunka1106]

He speaks wisdom of life in general

[@reinaldogoncalves8937]

Just came here to say that this guy is almost 70y'old. Cheers

[@jmack619]

The theory about theory, theoretically, is just a theory of theological things. I,ll show myself out ... Great lesson and inspiration! Thank cue.

[@aqualung1466]

I couldn't understand a theoretical word of what he said but I loved everything he played.

[@chrismuratore4451]

Lol, i feel the complete opposite. Understood what he was talking about, byt thought the music was uninspired and muddy.

[@zeenuf00]

Don't listen to people who tell you not to learn

[@CrossBonesAlex]

I just love his approach and way of thinking about playing - this is revelatory for many and brings joy by simplifying the whole universe of jazz music theory to the absolute essence of creating tension and release - I just ❤❤❤it - thanks for sharing

[@stagesmusicarts3821]

We're glad you enjoyed it :)

[@HiCoD]

If all the possible note choices were a jungle full of beautiful plants and trees with delicious fruits (resolution) on the one hand and dangerous creatures on the other (tension), it would be of help to have wandered the area many times making a map with paths. It can lead to going the same path over and over again … or it can transform into an intuitive general sense of orientation, like a place becomes your home once you live there long enough. You can’t get lost anymore, so you can get lost in the moment.

[@AndyDrudy]

Love this guy. He completey changed the way I chose to play guitar. Opened up a whole new world. Total genius.

[@Bubba-zu6yr]

I don’t hear this angle enough but personally I look at theory as a ‘musicians language’. Recording, rehearsing and playing out are much easier if you can communicate in the dialect of the experience.

[@vojin5552]

Krantz transcends again! My teacher showed me Wayne two decades ago and he said ''He understands my approach ''Learn, forget and play'' ". Now Wayne gives even deeper level of that.

[@DavidleeBergeron]

Only works if you know the way home. Getting lost is the easy part. Encouraging content, though!

[@aadrianogamino]

Recomiendo su libro An Improviser's OS (Book) I recomend this book, unico en su estilo. One of a kind

[@carlosdommar]

"You don't need theory" says someone who surely knows his stuff pretty well.

[@Teabonesteak]

I like the way this guy thinks.

[@paulmitchell5349]

So glad to hear this . I am utterly bored of people who want to sound predictable and conventional. Tension, release, unpredictable phrasing and dissonance are so important. Music has to be both a emotional release and and an emotional message. When we speak we don't think about how grammar is formed. Thought straight to the mouth and vocal chords. Music should be more like that than some awful stagnating morass of should I /shouldn't I theoretical anxiety.

[@RaineyDaysStudio]

“Theoretical anxiety” is for sure a phrase uttered by someone who doesn’t know what they’re talking about.

[@RaineyDaysStudio]

@@eflatmac1 dying to know!

[@frankierodriguez8661]

guitar genius

[@RotterStudios]

I know a little theory to understand what someone is talking about. I have never memorized scales or anything. I play by ear. That's the most fun for me. I hear it in my head then play it. I tried learning theory years ago and not only was it overwhelming (it never ends), but if I played a cool progression that didn't follow theory, I didn't want to play it. I brought a couple chords to a pro guitarist I hung out with at times, to ask what they were. He loved the chords but said they really don't fit into any theory. He said it doesn't matter, they sound cool.

[@jmack619]

Wow ! What chords

[@graveljaw]

Says the guy who is intimately familiar with theory. :) Theory is an incredibly useful way of making sense out of what you hear. It can also be handy if you've got to play but aren't quite feeling inspired. But of course you don't "need" theory. But then again, you don't need a car or email. You could just walk or send a postcard. You'll eventually get there. -Huge Krantz Fan

[@koz1953]

I like Wayne’s playing. It doesn’t sound like it is guided by his ears, unless he has huge ears…he might.

[@christopherjones1649]

Wayne has some of the best, in the pocket playing which makes his wrong notes sound good, theory or not and is why he can sound awesome either by himself or in a trio. Having good time is just as if not more important than how much or how little theory you know or don't know when it comes to playing.

[@brinun01]

This!!!!

[@humbuckermudgeon]

Theory is how we communicate ideas.

[@stevepelham9010]

It is actually an old style, Fado/Sailor/Brothel blues. It is said to be the very root to jazz, blues, country a lot of styles until the music industry sat an comb to it and divided it to separate genres. My granfather a hired gun mastering many instrument he liked to play this style jaming on electric guitar, long sessions. I could not get my head around it as I seensed flavours from around the whole world like eating a spicey meal cooked by an maniac but also as something pretty appealing. No one did as people used to leave but it was and it is something very impressive.

[@user-cv1jf1wq2m]

Musicians! This post is rather interesting and informative! Pay very close attention to improve your improvisation skills vastly as this instructor knows of that which he posts ! 🎸

[@10sassafras]

A knowledge of theory lets you to give a masterclass on tension and release with authority. 😂 The joy of music is in the sublime control of tension and its release, which is why we still love good music from past centuries and lose interest in music that is too bland or too chaotic.

[@Kevinschart]

If I didn't have a little theory in my brain I wouldn't understand a single thing in this video.

[@GrantTregellas]

The big misunderstanding is that every good player eventually develops a vocabulary of ideas. Lots of great players HAVE that vocabulary they just dont assign "verbal" names to them. So they know the sound of a Major 9 arpeggio but they couldnt tell you what it actually is. They just know they like the sound of the notes. Then they say, you dont need theory. Well no you dont really, but you DO need a vocabulary of ideas. Its just a form of ear training. Theres a argument to be made that maybe all music "theory" should just be taught by ear. Once someone can hear an idea in their head before they play then they know it. You don need to be able to name it. But if you dont have any ideas in your head then you just making up shit as you go along and sometimes will just play terrible stuff.

[@giusepperisiglione3332]

problem is that you basically don't play wrong notes at all

[@_H_2023]

I'm just hearing lots of short phrases 'motif' practised patterns put together with that 7/8 kind of Stravinsky 'Right of spring' Genesis foxtrot 'Supers ready' rhythm played underneath. Dissonance is there for a reason it's not just placed anywhere for the sake of it!

[@LukeMosse]

To be honest he wouldn't have a musical opinion about any of those notes if he hadn't practiced scales and theory for aaaaages. The difference between him and somebody that is playing random notes is that he feels the musical context of every note and has a bunch of musical instinct to take him to the next. That comes through reflective practice, using theory as a scaffold.

[@GarethThomasTunes]

In this day and age it is very fashionable to be anti institution. But to be able to meaningfully flick your middle finger to the rule book, it is best to have read the book first. Then and only then have you risen above it.

[@jimbrennan1181]

The foods that we eat and enjoy are based on what's available to us. If we lived on a planet that only gave us acidic foods we'd like that. In music we are used to a certain flavor based on where we are on the planet (eastern versus western music in a very basic way). If you change up what we're offered musically we'll eventually get used to it and enjoy it.

[@GuitarJawn]

We need John to do another updated rig run down of Wayne

[@bkirn5859]

Genius.

[@kitko33]

I could not agree more. And in your face, Rick Beato! :) About two decades ago, I was in a recording studio when a thrash metal band was finishing their session and a folklore band was warming up. There was a 60+ year old violin player, never listened to metal in his life, those chord progressions were totally alien to him, he could read notes and he didn't know a jack about theory. Withing minutes, he began improvising on his violin to the tune of a thrash metal song. Our jaws dropped. While the sound engineer was discussing what chord goes well with Fmaj7, the old man just came up with something great. And that's a musician. Not a person who tells you that you cannot play Cmaj after Emaj in blues.

[@1madaxeman]

Music theory existed some time after music was being created by people....the music always comes first. Babies learn to speak before they learn to read and write...similarly here with music theory and the musician. But its a very very useful tool to have. Knowledge never hurts anyone...well not usually and not in a musical sense. Like he said extremely well - having theory won't necessarily make you a better player than someone that has none...its no substitute for a musical mind/imagination. Couple that with great playing technique and a good ear and you can go a long long way!! ...eg the Beatles...but there's millions more like them.

[@fdg6832]

Skronk!

[@lolobuggah2670]

Can you explain what it meant when you said there are 2048 tonalities in the chromatic scale?

[@martinhayes6845]

In a 12 note system, you can only have 2048, or 2 to the 11th power, number of note combinations. Most harmony is mathematical.

[@DeltaJazzUK]

Many beginning guitarists want a 'shortcut' to avoid having to learn all the theory. What they don't realise is - theory IS the shortcut. Without it you've got an expanse of fingerboard with no map as for what to play. Sure, play anything you like...and watch your audience disappear out the exit.

[@Trailrunner1978]

I think theory, and perfection, can destroy tension and feeling.

[@danielkingscott2060]

If you don’t know theory how do you apply everything he’s talking about?

[@Kevinschart]

You can't. The reality is that you do need basic theory

[@ejtonefan]

Theory, particularly harmony, is the language of music. How does a musician communicate without knowing theory?

[@colined]

V7 defines the key. The key gives you the list of options by various tensions. But you hear the tension and release and feel it. Do you need theory? Yes and no. It's there whether you want it or not.

[@papadavewatson]

You don't know how to break the rules unless you know the rules. There's a reason no one listens to this very long.

[@bayesian2007]

Alex Lifeson is decades ahead of this he’s the quintessential instinctive player. His solo in Tom Sawyer, for example, shouldn’t make sense theoretically but it does.

[@phildalton6405]

Anyone who plays with Steely Dan knows there stuff

[@g-love6507]

Wayne did a class last year, is this the same post ?

[@School-xo1dn]

Wayne has gone *deep as fuck* on theory, for decades, to the point where the scales, chords, vocabulary, sounds, etc. are all internalized and can flow out of him without conscious thought. He says he just thinks "play some wrong notes", but they notes aren't *random.* To deliberately play wrong notes, you have to know what the right notes are. Moreover, the "wrong notes" he chooses are themselves organized, coherent, and sound particular spicy for the given musical context, because of all that theory work he did.

[@chrisgay9623]

"Tension" here is just another word for "dissonance." What's dissonant now is far different from what was dissonant 100 years ago, because music keeps evolving. Our ears have become so accustomed to harmonic chaos that it's hard to play a "wrong" note. Like playing tennis without a net.

[@kylemagnusson4525]

Case and point -- groove and phrasing is more important than the notes you play. However, note choice causes tension.

[@LivingAwake]

I have tension trying to follow this.

[@fraz006]

Need to know what is right to know what is wrong

[@paultrapanese1721]

If it was almost anyone but WK saying this I’d be turned off, but I love his stuff. Ironically I’ve been digging his Signals album which seems more structured than his later work. I think it’s difficult to minimize the importance of a thing like theory once you’ve learned it. Hard to subtract it from your mind. Maybe impossible?

[@_H_2023]

To quote Eric Morecambe playing Rachmaninoff piano concerto - "I'm playing all the right notes, just not necessarily in the right order."

[@matthewsommerville88]

Learning how music works, a little bit, will never be a bad idea at all if you’re serious. But also, have fun and play wrong notes and learn how you can actually make them work, then you realize “there are no bad notes” because the bad ones can be used for good! Just like firearms lmao

[@MrBobrguitar]

I had always been told that you should know all of the rules but to then go and break them.

[@himadioah]

He is genius

[@moshezarviv1252]

so wayne krantz can afford to move away from theory just because he learned it so much . the quintessence of assimilation of theory occurs when you can forget it while enjoying the worlds it has opened up to you

[@AC-yq2fx]

Theory is a must, and wrong notes don't exist.

[@ButeSound]

Any additional Theory knowledge is helpful but overwhelmingly ones focus should be on playing in the key of awesome.

[@papadavewatson]

To each their own, I guess?

[@davidamooreii1805]

Always liked Wayne Krantz, bad choice of title though ... I know what he means in the context of everything thing else he's saying and playing. Obviously, you would have no idea which notes are "wrong" or "bad" to play if you didn't know which notes are "good" or "right" to play. My favorite musician in the world doesn't "know" theory (not the formal names, or any formal training, etc); but when he plays, he shifts between tension & resolution faster than any other musician I can think of. If you ask him what to use a diminished sound for, he wouldn't know what you're talking about; but then play him a diminished chord or arpeggio and he'll show you so many things to do with a diminished sound that your head will spin ... he just grew up playing since 3-4 years old, he knows the sound, and every way to resolve it. He just doesn't know schooled/book-learned "music theory" ... but he has been awarded an honorary doctorate because of the genius and depth of knowledge he has. He just doesn't use the same words. I guess what I'm saying is that we're all arguing about semantics. We're pulling one sentence fragment out of context and saying that's what someone meant while ignoring the other 99% of his words. If you really knew no music theory, than nothing Wayne said would make any sense at all. The most fundamental thing about "western" musical theory is the concept of tension & release. It's the defining aspect of "functional music" vs. "non-functional music" like Gamelan or Gregorian Chants that have no dominant/tonic relationship. That was almost all he talked about, tension & release ... knowing theory myself, I hear him saying that you can use anything you want as "tension", it doesn't have to be specified "out" sounds like the "altered scale", or the "whole-tone" scale that are commonly used to explain the concept in theory classes ... you can do ANYTHING for tension ... just weird random notes/mediant relationships/chromaticism, just resolve it at the right time, that means you have to keep track of what/where/when to resolve in your ear/head even when you're not resolving. You have to keep track of both sounds at the same time.

[@manuelmatos8950]

Is there a way to get the rest?

[@stagesmusicarts3821]

We have another video from this Masterclass on our channel! Stay tuned for more in the future.

[@Urrry]

Oh, that headstock sure creates tension among OCD-guitarists ))

[@darrenball6203]

😂

[@slowpoke330]

7:32 the lick appears