Learning Herbie Hancock Solo Technique

Questions? Requests for videos? Email me at [e-mail], and I'll give you access to a platform where I'm answering 100% of the questions you ask.
Herbie Hancock plays the piano with a brilliant pallate of different colors. This video dives into the Minor-Major scale, one of the most haunting colors that he used from some of his earliest recordings to his most recent works.
If anyone wants to transcribe and/or analyze some of what I'm playing in this video so people can see the specifics of my solo, I'll put it online and give you credit for it.
Thanks guys! Please let me know if you have any questions or suggestions for future videos.
Peace and Love,
Weekly
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[@weeklypiano]

Wow, I just checked the comments on this page and it really warms my heart to see all the generous, inquisitive, curious, and loving comments you all are posting here. KZbin is known to be an impersonal arsenal of egotistical comment feeds, and I sincerely appreciate how genuine you all are being here, walking with me on the path to share, educate, and discover.

[@nixonelian8895]

i guess im asking randomly but does anybody know of a tool to log back into an instagram account?? I somehow forgot my account password. I appreciate any assistance you can offer me.

[@vanceelliott2704]

@Nixon Elian Instablaster =)

[@nixonelian8895]

@Vance Elliott i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site on google and im trying it out atm. Takes a while so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@nixonelian8895]

@Vance Elliott it worked and I finally got access to my account again. Im so happy! Thank you so much, you really help me out :D

[@vanceelliott2704]

@Nixon Elian glad I could help :D

[@inigo4688]

Wish I could like this a thousand times. There's so much harmonic depth to Herbie's playing, thanks for highlighting some of the colors here.

[@weeklypiano]

Great question, Ben. If you take any dominant V chord leading to the I chord, you can make it lead more powerfully by using the b9, #9, b13, and #13. If you use all of these chord tones at the same time, it takes the shape of a certain superimposed chord. That superimposed chord is the min/maj chord a half-step above the dominant V chord. So, if you're leading to C, then the V is G. If you superimpose the min/maj chord a half-step up from G, you get Abmin/maj over G. I hope that helps!

[@dardsdards]

footprints bass line is C G C Eb not C G D Eb, this is important because it doesnt imply either a natural 9 or b9, so you can get some C phrygian action. If u check out Wayne or Herbie or Miles soloing on footprints they do it a fair bit.. also as said before in the comments, playing Ab mel min is implying G7alt (V - I) if you explain things functionally it can help people get WHY it works, not just "here do this it sounds like Herbie" also sorry to be picky but the footprints turnaround is F#half dim not F#alt (B natural in melody) thats the natural 4th so not within the the scale you would play over F#alt (which is G mel min) whereas the nat 4th works just lovely over F#half dim (appropriate mel min scale is A mel min). Otherwise, nice playing good luck to you.

[@weeklypiano]

Thanks man, i'm gonna check this out. If you make a video on it, send it to me and I'll watch it.

[@nurvraxartproductions6145]

Adam Dada nice one

[@pdn-vd5om]

Never seen so many arguments in the classroom ! Whereas I felt the enthusiasm was catching and you can learn something from reading his hands. Herbie Hancock is gentler on the key in IMHO, so the sound become sweeter on the ear. But why not show off your talent! I enjoyed listening. Thanks

[@dr.brianjudedelimaphd743]

G Alt scale( dominant of C) = Ab melodic minor (up only)

[@boujehtawfik6051]

Man you're awesome !! loved the ideas !! this is really inspiring !! THUMBS UP

[@soffiapiano]

I've been that person too for half a year, thanks for showing the light. :)

[@BettyAlexandriaPride]

I'm really appreciating the theory battle in the comment section. You can learn a lot.

[@reggiebouffard8788]

Thats great,I understood everything you did,thats the kind of teaching I love to see,not boring at all and get right to the point.

[@tylerkysar1496]

I love your videos, please don't stop making them. Haters are gonna hate.

[@groovelove3361]

This i one of those videos I have come back to over and over. I’m finally getting my scales down and it’s finally going to have a chance to get in my hands. Thank you!

[@kevin_maxwell_smith]

I appreciate his videos a lot although I can understand why many in the comments don't like his teaching style. The thing is that this type of overhead piano view with a quick explanation beforehand is really best suited for players who have lots of skills already. I remember not getting much from these in the past, but after watching this now I got a lot out of this (especially using the right turnaround at sessions lol). So guys I understand your frustration but if you come back to this video in a few months I think you will take more away from it then.

[@miles-178]

brilliant, I´m a drummer and love watching how the pianist make their jazzy sounding harmonies .... love it a lot

[@JukeboxOddities]

/nitpicking mode on So let me ask this: You don't wanna be the person that does the dm7b5 - Db7#11 things, but you WANT to be the person that plays the bassline C-G-D-Eb instead of C-G-C-Eb /nitpicking mode off Thanks for the insight! Your video is great and inspirational. Keep up the good work.

[@markmuzeroll2928]

😊 thanks for sharing your knowledge. I’ll have to take a dip into this soon.

[@SayZit]

Simple and effective method for Herbie-like improvisation. Thanx.

[@kagoon0709]

dude your explanations so crystal clear. thanks this is actually a great tutorial material

[@ethanmaruyama1149]

It’s called melodic minor

[@youttub7850]

Thanks 🙏

[@lucamcardle729]

No melodic minor has b6. This has natural 6

[@ethanmaruyama1149]

@@lucamcardle729 melodic minor is 1 2 b3 4 5 6 7. The minor scales with a b6 are natural minor and harmonic minor.

[@lucamcardle729]

@@ethanmaruyama1149 sorry yeah i was thinking harmonic minor

[@thebenevolentsun6575]

Some things have more than one name. Minor major might just make sense to other people.

[@weeklypiano]

Thank you so much Daniel!!! Its comments like this that inspire me to do more - I'm going to try to put more up soon.

[@Lucianoq]

I'm so glad I found your videos. I know I'll learn a lot from you as you explain very clearly. And you play very well. Your playing shows a lot of experience. You flow!

[@danielcorder3651]

Dude. This video BLEW MY MIND. To hear you explain everything clearly, and see you manifest it on the keys is immensely inspiring. I love Herbie's playing. Please post more Herbie and Bill Evans tutorials! It'd be really awesome if you showed each chord, prior to full-tempo playing. The chord-voicings and melodies used in their styles give me the goosebumps. Those two guys are my idols on piano (Keith Jarrett a close 3rd). You're a great pianist, and these videos are tremendously inspiring.

[@MatthewSmith-pg4oh]

Fair play to you for learning that piece bro, true talent and dedication to the craft. Thoroughly enjoyed watching/listening to you play.

[@paxwallacejazz]

Ok well here is some actual useful info for those who get it . The modes of the melodic minor scale here coalesce into these chords and scales starting with most often used from the 7th degree we get dim.wt. or super locrian also known as the alt scale this is used anytime one gets a fully altered dominant e.g. B,C,D,Eb,F,G,A,B (B7alt) next we get C minor major7 C,D,Eb,F,G,A,B,C (C-maj7) next we get Dsus(b9) voice this chord by playing an Ebmaj7+5 over note D same scale just start on D next we get, Ebmaj7+5 used famously in Iris by Wayne shorter extremely hip sound . next F7+11 the very hip back door of the alt. chord . perfect for tritone subs . and last but not least we get a half diminished chord with a raised 2nd . Bill Evans known to use this chord just play an Ebmaj7+5 and A in the bass . These chords are why shorter and wheeler and me and countless others sound the way they do . I've been writing music spelunking these sounds for 35 years and I am here to tell you that they account for up to 60%of the sounds we associate with modern Jazz . Cheers ! Remember all 12 then have fun mixing and matching ! Better yet make a chart in all 12 and study it . Hey I skipped G because it's just a b13 chord sorry .

[@polkmusic]

Very well done. I love jazz improv.

[@dfaria1000]

Pure genius with a terrific style, thanks for sharing..........truly talented.

[@weeklypiano]

thank you!!

[@weeklypiano]

That's for answering the question! you're right on.

[@bristolpre-conservatoire5333]

Really enjoyed that, thanks! Just found your head got in the way of some of the juicier changes though, but that's good for my aural technique!

[@vivifalabella]

You are fantastic.. I would like to do your tutorials from A to Z.. Thank you so much.. I got a bit lost on the minor major scales supersimposed with you Herbie Hankock solo..

[@weeklypiano]

yes! One of my favorite solos of all time is Kenny Garrett's solo in Miles in Paris when they play Human Nature. I transcribed most of that solo, but I haven't put it up yet. I gatta finish that solo...it's ridiculous how he uses "out" sidestepping :)

[@ARCODEMUSIC]

I'm Satisfied with what I have seen and heard from your video. I love to see your more of your approach to solo jazz piano. I'm subscribing to you

[@KeisOhtsuka]

Great video, as usual, thanks. Keep playing your music and don't feed trolls. 🎶🎹🎵

[@ooo000ooo00o0o0o0o0o]

whoa you broke that down very nicely. Much appreciated!

[@weeklypiano]

Hah, thanks for noticing! It's something I love to do, and use in a lot of my compositions. It's pretty simple actually - I just ascended by minor 3rds in the bass tone, and built a sus-7 chord over the top of each of the bass notes. It's basically a form of chromatic planing - you can do it with any interval, and sus chords plane very nicely because they sound so smooth regardless of where they're placed.

[@fredrikbrandstrom7349]

I really like this idea! I guess it makes sense, since Abm melodic minor will be an G7-altered scale which resolves nicely to C minor.

[@charlottemarceau8062]

Love that!

[@GregSperoMusic]

thank you!

[@ChoBee333]

That was so cool! Wish I could play like that.

[@luciamusic3821]

This is great, just spent a lot of time on this

[@jazztemple2]

Damn. Excellent lesson! Thank you!

[@suzannegay7648]

Yes! Thanks again! These are awesome, your teaching style is clear and not overwhelming, one concept at a time is a nice way to go. would love to get inside Chick Corea.... :)

[@Piano_with_Jesse]

nice one der. could u do a tutorial on the finger soloing techniques u were doing with the right hand? 10x and gr8 techniques u have der. keep it up and more grace 2 ur elbows.

[@paulallenMacca]

Nice playing man,I can still remember buying Herbie Hancocks record Headhunters in the early 1970's

[@neilloughran4437]

So much great info on KZbin… many thanks!

[@weeklypiano]

You're correct on the bridge roots, it's just the chord quality that's different. They're normally not major-7 chords. I generally do either a 7#11 or a #9 chord over them, but they're just generally altered in some dissonant way.

[@mdbtrz]

awesome video and great sound of your playing. I agree not calling the scale melodic minor, cause that scale are changing after what direrection you're going on the piano. So Minor-major scale is quite familiar in Norway. Both doric, lydian and sometimes frygian and especially dominant locrian, which is crazy cool. Keep it up!

[@mtbagz]

Wonderful video!!! Thanks so much for sharing and for your great playing!!

[@KareemByEar1Year]

Melodic minor ascends this way and descends aeolian. This is the Jazz melodic minor which ascends and descends as demonstrated. Aeolian sticks with the notes of the minor 3rd's major scale going up & down.

[@milesdoodling1054]

So cool!

[@7notemode]

really nice insight.

[@weeklypiano]

thanks!

[@AshrafElDroubi]

thanks for sharing! you got a tasteful touch.

[@BradRau]

YES!

[@weeklypiano]

I love that track. Haven't tried transcribing it yet...maybe a project fort he future.

[@widitruth]

Thank you. I find this channel. Very useful

[@matiasgarciamazzaro1031]

Thank you !!!, it's sound really good !, there isna way to have a midi file of this?, is more easy for to copy and learn !! 🤗

[@weeklypiano]

Oh yeah, and also check out my Autumn Leaves left hand comping video - that explains some of that using a different song.

[@wolf7050]

AWESOME!!!....Very very good!!!....Your a wonderful insturctor!!...I was wondering if you could do a tutorial on Rachel Z's sequencing techniques. Again great great job!! Thanks so much!!!

[@alexmantua]

The scale in the beginning is called the melodic minor scale.

[@1bol1]

Yes, but that would be if you descend in natural minor.

[@Olixennon]

1bol1 No, that is incorrect, in classical grades they often teach this but it just saves time learning two scales in one.

[@mohitoness]

Oli Jones Actually, 1bol1 is right b/c classical theory dictates minor cadence moving up in melodic to descend in natural minor, so, it isn't a proper melodic minor per se...

[@Eta_Carinae__]

it's actually jazz minor, but yeah. Basically the same thing.

[@rhysgerwin4902]

Its melodic minor the way jazz musicians use it. Still is called melodic minor just doesn't necessarily descend in aeolian or "natural minor"

[@Solcius123123]

Excellent !

[@weeklypiano]

working on a wayne shorter transcription now that I'm going to share with you guys.

[@EdgarStump]

I love the soloing. Could you please do a lesson on how you are phrasing your ideas on the minor/major scale and break them down/play them at a slower pace. You go a little bit too fast for me on here to keep up. Great video though. I had never heard of this scale until I saw this, so thank you.

[@mariomanni13]

bravo

[@johnbradley6477]

thank you for this! very inspiring

[@antoniovisioli4460]

Bravissimo!!!!!!

[@claudinerusso797]

I like weekly hands on good sound

[@enricolongo242]

Looks like its C melodic minor and G altered scale and of course it sounds fine because it sounds like V Dominant - 1 minor etc. on C pedal tone. Isnt it?

[@weeklypiano]

hm....that's a great idea. I've gatta check that out - I could use more info on Drop 2 anyway.

[@kevinlaffont4909]

you have to understand that a lot of people are just starting piano or trying to find their style so yea i agree with miguel be patient. not everyone have years of piano exercising like me behind him ya know ^^

[@Hautefort]

this is really great! Can you maybe (not only for me) explain wich voicings you use in the left hand and also the change you use sometimes before going to Fmin?

[@Jazzbob889]

the aeolian scale is the sixth modus of a major scale. the scale in here is melodic minor and if you like you can use it in stead of a major scale as your "mother scale" and again you can play 7 modi of it.

[@jarbasgoulartdecastro9104]

Amazing,man!

[@freesalute]

my goodness, so glad I stumbled upon this! subbed!

[@eddybourjolly685]

I always wondered why such a scale would be called a major-minor. It can be confusing because the term minor or major usually harmonically apllies to the 3rd of a scale or chord; , therefore major-minor would imply that the scale contains both 3rds. bB the way there is such a scale which is highly associated with Bartok. Its structure is 1,b3rd, M3rd, 5th, #5th,M7th, Pretty symmetric. also known as the augmented scale . I think.

[@MrSadaoe]

Eddy Bourjolly People called it that from way back, it rolls off the tongue really nicely and I guess it just stuck

[@TheJofisean]

Eddy Bourjolly it's actually a harmonic minor scale to most people, but the term "minor major" comes from "minor major seventh chord," and this is the scale that fits that chord

[@TheNaekid]

nice...

[@sendrahasina2923]

Good!

[@wolf7050]

Cool!!...The tune I thought it came best (sequencing) on was a Wayne Shorter tune Pinocchio.....Thanks!!

[@weeklypiano]

you're welcome so much :)

[@jazzb6p]

Great work !

[@weeklypiano]

I really should make a left-hand comping tutorial for this style, but a lot of what I was doing is: 1) A low 1 and 7 in the bass to outline the chord 2) A higher minor-13 chord (structured as 3-5-6-9) in the mid register Thanks for your curiosity!

[@Winelighter]

Thank you. It's hepful

[@melpiano]

I would had explain this a different way, but thanx for the info.

[@julianbermudez3562]

My harmony just got a sweet update. Thank you once again. Hey do you think that you could explore some of the theory and devices commonly used to play "out". Like some of that super kill'n Kenny Garrett stuff

[@weeklypiano]

Thank you! I LOVE chick. Totally a project for a future video.

[@weeklypiano]

Hey! I actually did - look up my Wayne Shorter technique vid :). He's one of my faves.

[@robertgloverjr]

I would like you to do an exploration of the exercises in Mark Levine's Jazz Piano Masterclass: The Drop 2 Book. His book needs more examples of usage of usage of dominant drop 2 usage, etc.

[@yaksongs]

Thanks for this - very impressed :)

[@arevolutionarywaytolearn]

can you please tell us the chords and are you only using the c minor major and the aflat minor major...besides the turnaround? thank you

[@maximusfrank2835]

Damn as a pianist myself that action looks so nice. What kind of piano are you playing? Awesome playing on top of that too!

[@marudebaka]

Isaac, it's not the melodic-minor scale, because that scale is different ascending and descending. This scale is also known as the "jazz minor" scale. It's simply a flat-3 upwards and downwards.

[@geralddavis5458]

Yo man cool sound say why does your playing sound so clean and organized with good timing and is it possible for me to achieve a level of this playing style

[@gus191103]

You should do a video of a jazz greats solo technique who doesn't play piano like John Coltrane or Dizzy Gillespie

[@nicolasleoni4945]

Awsome, dude! For Footprints, so, you use minor melodic scale on Im and IVm ? and F#m7-B7/Em7-A7 instead of D#11/Db#11?

[@radudascalu4389]

it would be nice if you could do a video about Thelonious Monk or Dave Brubeck.

[@weeklypiano]

Those are all patterns and enclosures. I haven't made a tutorial covering those yet...I really should lol. You could probably find it in another vid though - look up jazz enclosures.

[@loricv]

weekly piano I am a huge fan of Flood, Have you ever sounded out and played track 1, Introduction/Maiden Voyage? It is beyond my ken to reproduce it.

[@zppon]

The author is called "weeklypiano"!! :)

[@caponsacchi]

Turnaround = 5ths' circle of F# B E A? Clever, but what gets you from A to C except an arbitrary movement? And if you do it once--what about the other times? Herbie played some nice stuff in the '60s--even his contribution on Lee Morgan's "Ceora" is a gem. But from there we go to Watermelon Man and Chameleon and the strap-on pianos (the gear people must love him--I no longer answer the calls from the music equipment stores, though I realize the pressures the sales people are increasingly under). The other problem with an exercise like this is the exclusion of the temperamental bass player, who demands equal solo time and who bristles at every root note played by the piano that he considers his exclusive property (I only wish they could be counted on to play their "claim" when I play an inversion or substitute voicing of the chord). It's easy to get hung up on chords and scales at the expense of melody. I've learned the most by transcribing solos by Red Garland, Wynton Kelley, Sonny Clark, all of whom, above all, "sing" during their solos. Or, better yet, piano players could do worse than listen to Hank Mobley, the most melodic of them all (before 1966). And when the bass player continually objects, I remind him of Bud Powell, whose left hand primarily consisted of simple "shell" voicings (root+7th).

[@markbra]

If you don`t understand what get you to C from A, study a bit more :-) its real !

[@jimmyfigueras4476]

Great

[@thebreakdownnyc]

Lol im that person who plays Footprints that way. Thanks :)

[@PhilEmanS]

suuuper

[@yungatown]

Good job man!