What Makes Monk Sound Like Monk

[@DelmarToad]

Wonderful teaching & playing! Friday the 13th is one of my favorite Monk pieces. I play guitar & love to use it as a warm up.

[@davidrobert312]

I don't have any formal music education, but I love jazz, I love Monk's music and I love your KZbin channel. Your video delivers what its title promises. Really great!

[@terryalvarado1754]

Thank you Aimee, you are the real thing, all jazz inspired.

[@JoelCarli]

This comment section is so nice and pleasant. There aren't that many channels whose uploads I can say the same about. Music really does bring people together.

[@rickcoleman8277]

Bravo Aimee! I've been a lifelong jazz fan and met many a jazz pianist along the way. I've been hooked on Monk since seeing the "Straight No Chaser" documentary. Occasionally I'd ask a pianist that impressed me about playing Monk, usually "'Round Midnight". I think Eric Mintel was the only one who even considered it. He played masterfully and still does! This story is for the jazz fans who are interested in the technique and sound of Monk even if they don't understand it. What you have done is to make this complex, beautiful music accessible to more musicians and fans in a way I can relate to. Thank you and congratulations!

[@stuartcoyle1626]

I love Monk's music. Thanks for this clear explanation of his approach. I've always found his timing to be really interesting. He seems to hit things at just the wrong moment, yet somehow it's the right moment.

[@TheloniousCube]

Yes! His off-kilter rhythms emphasize the underlying pulse in extremely compelling ways.

[@Spinz99]

Great song hadn't heard it. Amazing study. It's hard to keep it together with Monk's music. It's quite the challenge to play so outside the box. Almost every living creature responds to tritones. Very refreshing. I'll have to spend time on this. I play guitar and love all kinds of music. Thanks Aimee.

[@TheAlbiCollier]

That voicing of F7 at 4:30 is the nest voicing I've heard in a long time, as soon as you played it I heard a chord in Stevie Wonders song I never thought You'd leave in summer...Your such a great player and warm persona please keep up the good work!

[@AimeeNolte]

+Albi Collier right on "dreamed"? I hear what you're talking about. I LOVE that Stevie song!! Thanks for reminding me!

[@TheAlbiCollier]

Aimee Nolte Music wow yea exactly right! I'm so stoked to hear the motif in a different context thanks so much

[@thorenjohn]

Wonderful to hear the piano part without the rest of the group. It really helped clarify his art. Thank you so much.

[@L33M_0]

I love lessons like these! It makes me feel like I'm in the same room as you

[@saxtant]

Another great video Aimee.

[@aboveaveragebayleaf9216]

When he landed on the c over the g chord it was a suspension that resolved to the third like it normally would but the third was up an octave.

[@tarzan2857]

So beautiful handwriting.

[@edzielinski]

Thanks for this great presentation on Monk's music. I've loved his music for years, but this is the first time that I've really been able to get inside of it. Can't wait to take some of this insight and re-listen to a couple of his albums. So thrilled know you "get" Monk!

[@acousticaacousticduo1458]

I can’t ❤️ this enough. Thank you so much for this!

[@grevans91411]

This was so helpful, Aimee. I just started really looking at (studying) Thelonious Monk's music this week for the first time ever. And my first impression was that he was 'misfingering' keys in his enthusiasm. I know that is almost sacrilegious to say out loud. So please forgive. But I'm a new piano student - learning and just being honest as I find my own voice and truth. I've watched his live performances and really get a sense of his absolute genius and intentionality. Anyway, thank you. This really helped answered a nagging question I had as I begin to expand my horizon. Monk was definitely in the upmost stratosphere musically.

[@KyleHohn]

Your enthusiasm for music is contagious!

[@dsnodgrass4843]

My impression of Monk's work was always this: Everything that seems like it shouldn't work-but does. Because he makes it work; through rhythm, through octave changes, etc., somehow he turned things inside out and upside down, and yet it always stands out right.

[@luckbfern]

This was very informative and helpful. Best explanation I've seen!

[@nikitaprostotak8940]

good work, videos like this is a best way to learn his style

[@maxosawa]

This is one of the best videos I've ever come across!

[@s.webbsentell1411]

I love you Aimee...thanks for all you do. Pidgin Piano

[@Katatopianos]

This is an amazing analysis and insight into Monk. Thank you so much for this. Now how to transfer some of these ideas to guitar!

[@philipstapert3517]

I was brought up on classical music, and I'm a big fan of the baroque period. I also love jazz. I see a lot of similarities between baroque and jazz, and I'm amazed by all the musicians that combine the 2 styles. My first thought listening "Friday the 13th": it's a passacaglia!

[@estictantcontent]

it is really impressive how from the first moment it sounds like Monk. Grea video!

[@ffggddss]

13:26 - "I always say, if you play something, and you remember it and play it again, people think you know what you're doing." YES!! The way I heard this idea was, "If you do it once, it's a mistake; if you do it twice, it's jazz!" Love it!

[@AimeeNolte]

+ffggddss ok!! :)

[@MarkRhodesSongs]

Great lesson, Aimee. It's great to gain some new insight into Monk's playing / thinking.

[@hank1519]

You are so brilliant, and yet so humble about yourself! Plus your great sense of humor! A gift to the world! (That you are a friend of another gem, Rick Beato, is no surprise.)

[@JaggedEdgeBouldering]

i love when she talks to Monk while explaining and seeing his wisdom!

[@hank1519]

@@JaggedEdgeBouldering That is great!

[@MeanHacker]

Very detailed lesson. I like how you list all the elements that refer to Monk's style

[@dandiacal]

Happy Friday the 13th Aimee Nolte!!!

[@ronvara9839]

You have really changed my playing. You have a great teaching style and address great topics.

[@stefan1024]

Great stuff, thank you Aimee!

[@fuzzylogickben]

Thank you so much for this! I've been waiting for you to discuss Monk for ages. I was not disappointed. I've played a few as solo arrangements on the guitar, definitely going to use this video to try Friday The 13th now and make the guitar much more Monkish :)

[@howesda]

I did NOT expect to hear Iron Man in an analysis of Monk's style!

[@arthurmee]

Yes, that was interesting. Struck me too. ;-)

[@p7allan]

I really like this analysis of Monk. Please do more of these when you find yourself inspired. I love jazz, and even though I may listen to other great songs, they don't move me like Monk, G.Mulligan, Rawlins, Monk for sure and Desmond. My favs forever. Their are others on my list but Spotify plays these for me mostly. There are no bad songs by monk. HA HA.

[@scottphillips161]

Awesome video, Aimee! Great tips and clues to Monk's style. You've cracked open door for me.

[@AimeeNolte]

+Scott Phillips 🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@GAoctavio]

This record has a rare live version of Thelonious (the song), so good!

[@willieluncheonette5843]

Just had published on the Tracking Angle site a deep critical look into Monk's recorded legacy.

[@Accept.]

I used to watch you before going to work 😊 At work I feel like I was enchanted and I can not wait to return home and turn on my iPad with you again at my piano ✌️ Thank you Aimee 🙌

[@AimeeNolte]

Rafał Pamuła you're very welcome, Rafal. Thanks for watching!

[@nakedmambo]

Well there it is. You've become so popular that your website has exceeded its bandwidth! Monk was what got me into bebop. He's so unusual that even when I first heard him played by a schoolteacher in an after-school club and thought 'what the devil is this noise!' I still couldn't stop going back to listen. A true original.

[@AimeeNolte]

+nakedmambo so sorry about the website. Working on fixing it now. I'm not THAT popular. Just a crappy hosting service!! Ahhhh Glad you liked the video tho

[@kwixotic]

My favorite Monk comp is "Round Midnight", in large part because I can play it solo and it's gotta rank as among the creative comps around in terms of what a player can do with it; an extreme example on You Tube being Claire Fischer's rendition.

[@joeblakeukeman]

Thanks for making unk-le Monk a little more discoverable, decipherable- I've been playing him for years (by ear and from a book) and you have revealed more than I knew. Minor 9th, major 7th, that's the minor 2nd, juicy dissonance, sweet/sour flavour. The root/ flat 7 in the left hand, I use that alll over! The main thing, though, was he gave me permission to be myself on piano. Xx

[@victorsixtythree]

Fabulous. Would love more videos like this. Thank you!

[@rickcoleman8277]

@Charles Wagner- I really liked that example about the Asian chord too. A great way to illustrate the originality and genius of Thelonius.

[@dandiacal]

Happy Friday 13th Aimee Nolte!!

[@tamboresdomundo8156]

Yeeeeah! I loved this one...so interesting!!!

[@CaptainKrimson]

Thank you for this!

[@constipatedlecher]

This was fantastic! Thank you so much!

[@puipui7382]

wow. i would never have to patience to do this. hard enough for me to learn the chord changes and melody. i have listened to monk for many years but never looked that in depth to a transcription of a solo. confirmed some things and added some new insights. thanks.

[@allen764]

Thank you I love this ..I follow along with my guitar and it opens up brand new sound combinations for me. There's so much in there.... re-wind!

[@AimeeNolte]

+Allen Smith nice!!

[@TheloniousCube]

F-13 = Friday the Thirteenth!!!! Not being a musician, I had no idea - amazing! Again, not a musician, but this is fascinating and revelatory! His harmony is so oddly beautiful. Some interesting similarities to "BNa-Lue Bolivar Blues" and "Cruella DeVille" Well worth the time to look at the Gil Evans versions of this piece!

[@RobyMBeki]

Both of you (Monk and yourself) are libras in the zodiac, and that is just an awesome coincidence,♎ P.S. love your videos, they help a lot ;)

[@DavidGolden99]

Another great video. I was not expecting the "Iron Man" quote in the middle of an analysis of Thelonius Monk.

[@mdmellis]

Thanks Amiee, I really enjoyed this vid. It's not easy to find this song in a fakebook so it's good to have it here. I think those counter melody notes in the vamp (that Marion McP played) are basically adding the ii chord to each dominant, so G Cm7 F | Bbm Eb7 Am7 D7 |. Very cool. Thanks again.

[@dvaughnpershing6553]

I really enjoyed this. Thanks for your knowledge and explanations.

[@djginza]

Haha at first I was like "is she singin it wrong" lol.. that is an awesomely weird movement

[@tiablasangoriti8347]

I can listen to Jazz everyday for 5 hours. Love it love it love it.

[@alejandrahernandez6811]

This is so amazing, thanks Aimee :)

[@juleunterspann24]

I really love your videos...thank you very much for all this here!!!!! Jule (one of your youtube students)

[@nadasonic6]

the little melodic run-down on beat 4 bar 2 is - F♯/F♮/E /D.

[@josephmartino7062]

The first time I heard Monk, I thought how angular, how out there...who could listen to this?...then I tried to figure some of his tunes out (on electric bass) and eventually that's all I listened to, especially his solo works... fortified with your discoveries I will go back to the piano for further explorations...great introspective video Aimee! Thank you!!

[@AimeeNolte]

+Joseph Martino 🙌🏼🙏🏼😍

[@karljoensen]

this is a great lesson, thanks!

[@teclas.negras]

Impresionante explicación, thanks so much, saludos desde catalunya

[@AndreaRuoccomusic]

Ciaccona also used to have this progression, like “hit the road..”

[@paulallenMacca]

When i hear a tune of his on the radio i can always tell his style.

[@connshawnery6489]

I just learned the first few bars of the tenor sax solo (Charlie Rouse?) on guitar 'cause I think it's deadly (and its killing me). Thanks for infecting me with the bug, lady ;)

[@josephtravers777]

Thank you for this. Monk is the King of the rub for sure!

[@mikebarker9187]

Great video and channel.

[@andrewwleklinski2998]

Friday the Thirteenth is the first tune I ever figured out from a record (back in 1970)! Supprized myself!

[@daithiholbrook]

Great Aimee !

[@mickeymortimer4407]

Theloniousique Nolte

[@josdurkstraful]

"A whole new you" .... sounds great!

[@JaggedEdgeBouldering]

:)

[@Darrylbpoagent]

Very cool.

[@isisjsjsbsnsdhdjdjd3859]

Thank you, this was very helpful and interesting I’m def subbing

[@TravisRHarkins]

Just wanted to say your channel is awesome. I'm thinking about learning jazz.

[@wolfunplugged]

damn this is so inspiring!

[@JOUA1400]

..Didn't know u were such a Monk fan...most impressive.

[@luomodellestelle]

bellissima.

[@nezkeys79]

Adding an A underneath the D and G sounds even better! Quartals rock! Lol

[@samj.malament6394]

Hi Aimee, Watching you play at the end of the video , really brought a smile to my afternoon. Thanks :o) Not really a piano player , but love listening to Monk and really enjoyed your grooveeeee playing. *One of my Fav Monk solos is on "The Way You Look Tonight" , with Rollins on sax etc. * Wishing you all the best.

[@AimeeNolte]

Sam J. Malament 🙏🏼🙌🏼😍

[@markbra]

He does everything they tell you not to do in "Jazz" school.

[@Oi-mj6dv]

Lmao true

[@spadiu]

brava,,, grande lavoro di trascrizione aiuta a capire il modello compositivo

[@bobcovello8859]

Aimee - you are awesome, thanks. While Monk had a magnificent and unmistakable style, I think that counter-melody is more the handiwork of Oliver Nelson or Hall Overton (the arrangers on those records) than Monk's original hand. Nelson and Overton were able to incorporate those "Monkish stylings" into all the arrangements on those big band Monk records. What do you think? Please keep these videos coming. They are wonderful tributes to a dying art.

[@saxtant]

I think someone has to issue a takedown request for copyright material, which I have risked before, I know, it is annoying, best to just do it anyway and follow any takedowns, you'll get more cred for that!

[@AimeeNolte]

+Corley Kinnane I have read that you can play something as long as it is under seven seconds and not get penalized or taken down.

[@AlexWhiteLanda]

Aimee Nolte Music the whole seven/eight seconds thing is, as far as I know, a myth. If anything, I believe you're safe due to the educational nature of your content, to which KZbin is more lenient. In case you're interested, here's how it usually works: if KZbin is capable to identify a copyrighted song through content ID, the owner of the recording is notified and given two options. They can either request the video to be taken down, or to monetize from it's ad revenue (especially convenient when a song you wrote is featured in a viral video). My guess would be that, while the pop industry keeps a tight grip; jazz, together with anything that is not new and fighting for it's market, is more relaxed.

[@AimeeNolte]

+AlexWhiteLanda thanks for that Alex. I've had trouble twice and both times, they were jazz clips longer than seven seconds. We will see I think.

[@saxtant]

Probably unlike the people making the requests, you can play what you want to demonstrate, so your talent rises above all of this.

[@AimeeNolte]

+Corley Kinnane thanks Corley 🙏🏼❤️

[@williamwhalen7764]

Great lesson, you are the Jimmy Bruno of piano! :)

[@sidneyrichard5319]

Aimee, I love you. JUST FOR THIS TITLE. Haven't even watched it yet. EDIT: is that the Black Sabbath "Iron Man" lick at about 5.50? Seriously? Wow.

[@paulallenMacca]

Nice video Aimee sometime could you please do a Tutorial on Little Blue played by Monk.

[@tombrooks4167]

Hi Aimee. Thanks for the video on Monk. Your ear is more sophisticated than mine but I'm trying. For me, Monk draws outside the lines a little too much. I know he is/was brilliant and a real pioneer in jazz and I do respect that but I respond more to people like Horace Silver, Art Pepper, Thad Jones/Mel Louis or Toshico Akioshi or even Dave Brubeck. Don't get me wrong, I'll listen to Monk and try to find the gold. Thanks

[@BrunoWiebelt]

what a analys, even I can follow lol sooo good

[@JaggedEdgeBouldering]

haha same!

[@vampyweekies]

Thelonious Monk, which is cool

[@caracaf15]

You make gold whit this

[@fabiofasciolo]

Fascinating anlysis. Just a detail : Thelonious is the correct spelling.

[@paulallenMacca]

I like his tune Epistrophy

[@babalonworking6]

YEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAH!

[@laverdad8915]

Love this!

[@billcasale921]

Thank you very much for the Monk lesson. The music theory was a little advanced for me but I got the concept. It would help to see your keyboard while you explained the music. I am not a piano player but sing classical and play some blues on guitar. Do you teach jazz singing? I'm a big fan of Kirk Elling.

[@chefjusticenyc]

Great job 👍 I'm not as classic as u but I can play half way..lol but u see the greatest player. So let's connect

[@dominikgu6381]

That is great story

[@hudentdw2]

Not every piano player can't even improvise Monk's unique style of piano playing I hear it is pretty difficult even playing his easy compositions. Good luck!

[@BrentTallent]

Awesomeness.