Why you STILL can't play jazz without looking at the music

[@mem1gui]

This is probably the most valuable video I have watched on KZbin regarding learning jazz. I am "that guy" who still can't play 10 standards without looking at the music after three years (I have a couple of decades of classical under my belt before that). Now I look at jazz tunes completely differently and all of a sudden, everything makes so much more sense. I started out by doggedly memorizing the rootless A and B 2-5-1 voicings, and I've been pretty much stuck there. Thank you so much. I will check out your courses.

[@adonisvowsen]

In my humble opinion, This is the GREATEST channel on the topic of Jazz piano language online! Mr. Tony Winston is probably #2 Everyone else just wants to show how far they can take a piss! This channel is your one stop shop! shouts out to Mr. Shan! Sir you are the CHAMP! You deserve it man! #respect!

[@milkmilk8103]

I've taken jazz piano lessons with teachers for about 10 years. As Shan described, I'm definitly the one who can read and play if I have music sheets in front of me while I remember the finger position for each chord for those tunes! I was wondering why I easily forget those things and lose tunes... Now, I found (from this video) that happned because I'm just memorizing them w/o deep understanding. I really appreciate your valuable support to jazz learners! Also, being a viewer from Japan, your clear English is very appreciated too!!

[@peteashcroftvideo]

Dear Shan, I think I have just watched the best jazz piano lesson video I possibly could. I should probably hate you for summing up my failings so accurately. I am that man, I have a stock repertoire of standards which I sight read or have memorised and find it so hard to "break away" from. I'd go so far as to say that I am reluctant to try to play things a different way for fear of forgetting the way that I do play them. I can't thank you enough for showing me the way forward. My journey begins here. Pete.

[@JazzSkills]

Dear Pete, Welcome to the journey my friend. Now you're aware of what's preventing you moving forward, you can do something about it. I've worked with many people in your position so I know that you can get there, with the right work. I wish you well with it! Shan

[@peteashcroftvideo]

@@JazzSkills Thanks Shan, For the time being it will be self directed using your excellent KZbin videos. Though I will consider joining Jazz Skills possibly at some point if the not too distant future. Pete.

[@twocanucksful]

I’m that guy that has to read the sheet, and memorize the tunes. I would like to be able to improvise, but I know that I will never get there without studying jazz standards and building a vocabulary. The foundational stuff… In this video, you are speaking directly to me. Thank you.

[@JazzSkills]

The fact that you have understood that is a great first step. The good news is, you can get there is you work on the right skills. Go for it!

[@brettprice527]

I keep coming back to this video.. I was huffing and puffing to myself about learning chords in root position the other day and I watched your girl from Ipanema video. That set me straight! Then I realized of course you want to be able to grab things in root position not only for soloing but for chord movement.

[@JazzSkills]

I think a lot of people go down a youtube rabbit hole of voicings and forget that it's not worth trying to use fancy voicings on something you don't know really well in root position. Well done for having patience with it Brett@

[@keyofbrink810]

Great video! Which I knew about his approach earlier in my music journey! Also like your coverage of this in Jazz Skills!

[@CHYPCAR]

I’m still in the foothills looking up at the mountain, but completely sold on your skill-based approach, which makes total sense (that’s why I recently signed up to Jazz Skills). How I wish I’d happened upon your YT lessons a lot sooner! I’ve wasted so much valuable time - I could have been way ahead of where I am at the moment! It’s a shame that there are many other jazz hopefuls like I was, stumbling around YT picking up time-wasting tips and tricks, searching for the holy grail and finding they have nothing much to show for it. At least I now know I’m heading in the right direction.

[@JazzSkills]

Thank you so much for your kind comment. Welcome aboard and keep going. We will get you there!

[@rebanelson607]

Well said. I'm glad you're in the foothills - I'm in the ditch!

[@CHYPCAR]

@@rebanelson607 -I know how you feel. My lifetime of confusion melted away when I took the plunge and signed up to Shan’s Jazz Skills programme. I’ve spent a lifetime in the music industry and all the bs that goes with it. There’s no magic bullet, but if you are prepared to work hard, Shan guides you through the maze. Best thing I’ve ever done! Good luck.

[@thehappytwist]

A super valuable lesson.. thank you!

[@guitariste47]

Thanks for this vidéo : i am now going to analyse thé progressions !!!!!

[@tclane47]

I really appreciate your vids! I think I'm already on the "educated" end that you're addressing and I got to you looking for more detail about Barry Harris' thoughts. And, I very much appreciated your thoughts on BH's method but beyond that, I can't tell you how many times your videos have resonated with me. I suppose I'm in your camp because I'm a bit less guilty than many, but, many of my friends ARE guilty and I'm directing them to watch!

[@spirosmoutsatsos4590]

Good man that's and God bless you

[@official-addie6812]

Easy to follow .Thank you

[@JazzSkills]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mahlonstrachan8075]

Can't wait to be your student bro....love the way you teach

[@JazzSkills]

I appreciate that! I'll be looking out for you :)

[@unclenote]

I like and agree with your advice,thanks.

[@JazzSkills]

You will get there. Be inspired my friend.

[@chorhanglam]

How do you learn to be fluent in all 12 keys? Do you internalize a key using fixed solfege (Do => C, Di => C#, Re => D) or 1-2-3?

[@markahearn1]

Thank you Shan for the excellent advice once again. If I may add, that having a good understanding of some basic music theory/harmony can help tremendously as well. 1) I have been shedding on the locked hands maj6/dim scale in all 12 keys for about 3 months now. 2) Applied this concept by reharmonizing a simple standard tune in this locked hand style. 3) Now I am starting to apply parts of this reharmonization ( ii-V-I's etc...) to lead sheets and sections of other tunes, and transpose them as well. I'm hoping that all of this work will help me conquer the fluency of this Barry Harris style. Your thoughts?

[@donschneider7953]

Do you have a list of standards that you recommend for beginners?

[@JazzSkills]

I would go for things in simple keys that do not change keys. Autumn leaves, fly me to the moon. That sort of thing.

[@ugajin7348]

Thanks for this. Please recommend a jazz standards backing tracks app, preferably free (iOS and/or Android), and 5 or 6 easier tunes to start?

[@nickrees4706]

Very helpful. Curious whether the singing workshops with Barry Harris you were talking about were in NYC and anytime between 2010-2014 as I was an occasional attendee at that time.

[@JazzSkills]

Thank you Nick. Not in NYC but in London and Rome. Did you ever get up to accompany? If so, you've clearly lived to tell the tale! 😃

[@nickrees4706]

@@JazzSkills Ha ha, it was about $15 to attend the piano class and the singing workshop that followed. I was brave enough to stand at the piano a few times but I didn’t get called on :-)

[@Jack-fs2im]

KZbin has helped me overcome the embarrassment of being a jazz piano dummy

[@frederic1000001]

What role plays the length of the progressions in this processus. I mean a 251 can last a different number of measures. Is it a significant part of a tune for you or is it only about the progression ?

[@JazzSkills]

That's something I just feel and hear.

[@juwonnnnn]

👍

[@AmenitaMuscaria]

Speaking about Autumn Leaves and the chord progression method. In E minor or G Major, how would you analyze the tune? Am7 D7 Gmaj is 2-5-1 Then what is Cmaj7 F#m7b5 B7 Em? 4-7-3 -6? Can someone enlighten me by analyzing the chords in Autumn Leaves played in G maj?

[@JazzSkills]

I have a lesson on that (although I show it in C), it will certainly help you. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZmZoK13h6lnlck

[@Zenzodiene]

Am7 D7 Gmaj7 are indeed a ii V I in G major. Then we have the Cmaj7 F#m7b5 B7 Em which are indeed IV viim7b5 V/vi and vi in G major. However you could also look at them from the minor key perspective then they are bVI iim7b5 i. I however always consider the song to be a ii V I IV in G major and then a iim7b5 V i in E minor, the relative minor of G major. This movement (a cadence to the relative minor of a key) is really common in a lot of jazz tunes. Same thing with the cadence to the IV chord. A more detailed video by another YTer can be found here for Autumn Leaves kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5K8ZmCPe71-qMU btw. Also the progression follows a "circle progression": I IV vii iii vi ii V which is also very common. Edit: Oops, I didn't saw that Shan also created a video about Autumn Leaves. check that one out as well!

[@AmenitaMuscaria]

@@JazzSkills Thanks for that link. Remembering the chords by number makes it easier to play in any key.

[@AmenitaMuscaria]

@@Zenzodiene Every bit of information helps. Thanks. There are so many ways to interpret a tune.

[@CHYPCAR]

Just as you are doing, I wasted a lot of time trying to analyse chord changes without having a real grounding and understanding of chord progressions. Having watched a bunch of YT videos and still not making much progress, I finally realised I needed some structure. I needed to learn the ‘language’ of Jazz and made the decision to throw my lot in with Shan, and sign up to his Jazz Skills programme. The best decision I’ve made in a long time. You still have to put in the work, but a) it’s exciting to finally understand how and why chord progressions repeat in so many tunes and b) I really enjoy practising and noticing the improvement in my playing. Hope that helps.

[@elleondejuda4681]

I’m a level beginner but I wanna get better with using your knowledge. What tunes can I use to learn the bebop language to apply what you teach use Sir. Can you give me a list ? Fo you also teach modal jazz , Fusion jazz , avant-garde? Thank you Sir for sharing 🙏 Can you provide a bebop bass /drum track?

[@JazzSkills]

All jazz standards will help you but start with the easier ones like Autumn Leaves. I don't teach modal or avant-garde sorry. You can make your own tracks using the irealpro app.

[@nhklog674]

Think that guy kinda dumb for not able to play diatonic in 12 keys sorry about it peace ✌️

[@jph7957]

Man, you're a genius! That's what you want to say to people you don't even know, right? If you learned to "play diatonic in 12 keys", as you say, without practicing, then you're super gifted and all you have to say is "Thank you my God / Nature!". A "gift" is just that: something that was generously *given* to you. Nothing to brag about, really. Who is "kinda dumb"? Peace.