There are 7 levels of Jazz Harmony, and we'll explore each of them through reharmonizing the chorus of one of my favorite tunes from 2019 - Lizzo's Juice. Thanks to Jae Soto for singing!
Level 1 - "Bell Pepper" - II-V’s and other basic tonal movements Level 2 - "Poblano Pepper" - Sub V’s and other stuff Level 3 - "Jalepeño Pepper" - Crazy chromatic extensions Level 4 - "Piri Piri Pepper"- Constant Structures and Pedal Point Level 5 - "Habenero Pepper"- Free non-functional harmony Level 6 - "Ghost Pepper"- Liberated Dissonance Level 7 - "???" - Xenharmony
These 7 levels aren't meant to be exhaustive in terms of the harmonic techniques of jazz musicians - there really are way too many to get into for a single YouTube video - but they can be useful as a general guide to the FEELING of different kinds of harmonic ideas. As an added bonus, they're roughly in chronological order in terms of when each level occurred on the timeline of jazz history, although no single musician was ever working so formally.
The 7 Levels of Jazz HarmonyAdam Neely2019-08-30 | Ya like jazz? You will!
There are 7 levels of Jazz Harmony, and we'll explore each of them through reharmonizing the chorus of one of my favorite tunes from 2019 - Lizzo's Juice. Thanks to Jae Soto for singing!
Level 1 - "Bell Pepper" - II-V’s and other basic tonal movements Level 2 - "Poblano Pepper" - Sub V’s and other stuff Level 3 - "Jalepeño Pepper" - Crazy chromatic extensions Level 4 - "Piri Piri Pepper"- Constant Structures and Pedal Point Level 5 - "Habenero Pepper"- Free non-functional harmony Level 6 - "Ghost Pepper"- Liberated Dissonance Level 7 - "???" - Xenharmony
These 7 levels aren't meant to be exhaustive in terms of the harmonic techniques of jazz musicians - there really are way too many to get into for a single YouTube video - but they can be useful as a general guide to the FEELING of different kinds of harmonic ideas. As an added bonus, they're roughly in chronological order in terms of when each level occurred on the timeline of jazz history, although no single musician was ever working so formally.
Peace, AdamShredding quintuplets with friendsAdam Neely2023-10-15 | ...Sick 9/8 grooveAdam Neely2023-10-14 | Grooving at the Black Cat in San Francisco with Sungazer.
The tune is Bird on the Wing, and this section is built from groupings of 5+5+5+3 sixteenth notes if you want to count it like a nerd, but it mainly just sounds cool 😎Is Laufey jazz?Adam Neely2023-09-26 | Laufey is the world's most famous living jazz musician (according to Spotify streams). What does that mean for jazz?
Peace, AdamAre BINAURAL BEATS real? | Q+AAdam Neely2023-08-03 | Answering your music theory questions! Get Nebula using my link for 40% off an annual subscription: go.nebula.tv/Adamneely
0:00 Intro 0:02 Are Binaural Beats real? 4:50 Thoughts on this reharmonized bass progression? 5:53 Why are BPM's so consistent? 7:04 Can quantized performances be groovier? 7:56 What's the deal with the mixolydian pentatonic? 8:46 What are your thoughts on Musicophilia? 9:28 Does touring ever get boring or exhausting?
Peace, AdamDoes Music Have a Speed Limit? And Why?Adam Neely2023-07-26 | Video essay on why the Mahavishnu Orchestra slaps Get a Henson razor and a free pack of 100 blades with code ADAMNEELY at: bit.ly/42rIUzz
And why is the Mahavishnu Orchestra's live version of Vital Transformation so damn fast? A journey into embodied musical cognition.
0:00 - Intro 2:17 Part 1 - Brain and Body 13:14 Part 2 - Vital Transformation 23:33 Part 3 - The Aesthetics of Fast Things
Come check out Sungazer when we come through. We're going on tour this fall!
Peace, AdamHow to rock in 7/8Adam Neely2023-06-13 | ...Reading Rainbow 🌈 type beatAdam Neely2023-06-04 | ...How to Groove in 19-tupletsAdam Neely2023-06-01 | ...Attempting a 9/8 unison…Adam Neely2023-05-26 | ...Tour bus quintuplets (with @ShubhSaran)Adam Neely2023-05-03 | ...Did Ed Sheeran ACTUALLY Plagiarize Marvin Gaye?Adam Neely2023-04-28 | So...is there any actual merit to the Ed Sheeran/Marvin Gaye lawsuit?
The Grotesque Legacy of Music as Property (video essay on music as property) youtu.be/MAFUdIZnI5o
Peace, AdamThe Terrible Gamble of Flying With Musical InstrumentsAdam Neely2023-04-18 | Exploring the chaotic world of transporting musical instruments in planes. ✈️ The first 1,000 people to use the link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare https://skl.sh/adamneely04237
✈️ For a limited time (now through April 30, 2023), Skillshare is offering 40% off your first year of membership - one of their best offers out there! https://skl.sh/adamneely40123
0:00 - Intro 0:53 - Part 1 - Law & Policy 4:41 - Part 2 - Strategy 8:25 - Part 3 - Step by Step Guide on how to get your guitar on board
Peace, AdamWhat is the TIME SIGNATURE of the Bluey Theme? | Q+AAdam Neely2023-03-21 | Answering the IMPORTANT music theory questions of our era | Get a Henson razor and a free pack of 100 blades with code ADAMNEELY at: bit.ly/42rIUzz
0:00 Intro 0:03 What time signature is the Bluey theme song? 6:45 Was the major 6th illegal in the renaissance? 9:18 Music is for the listener, but the first listener is the player 10:12 Ebm(maj7) and a discussion on register/emotion 12:12 Drink more coffee 12:20 What string gauges do you use? 12:28 congrats! 12:59 How does a guitar player stay out of the way of the bassist? 13:27 Tips for walking a bass 14:41 What's a good song in 5/4 14:46 What's your opinion of fake musicians that go viral? 15:00 How do you impress people at an audition?
Peace, AdamThe Mesmerizing Harmony of Wayne ShorterAdam Neely2023-03-13 | Exploring Infant Eyes, and why Wayne Shorter’s music is great! 🎹 Try one month of Skillshare free! https://skl.sh/adamneely03236
0:00 Intro 0:44 First A (harmony) 5:25 First A continued (melody) 9:17 Bridge (blues) 11:13 Bridge continue (dramatic melody 13:50 Second A (All about A7b9) 16:33 Some context
0:00 Intro 0:35 Level 1: The Great Video Game Songbook 5:51 Level 2: Ludojazz 9:15 Level 3: VGM Jazz Ecosystems 12:22 Level 4: Jazz is…unclear 17:01 Level 5: VGM Jazz Jams 19:14 Level 6: Why this is happening NOW 21:56 Level 7: Bass Solo 27:33 Level 8: ???
0:00 Intro 0:17 Guitar solo over Central Park West (John Coltrane) 3:14 Chill original tune with guitar solo 5:59 Cool voice/piano original song (link in description) 9:03 Nice voice/guitar original song
0:00 Intro 0:02 How is vibrato tempo matched? 4:53 What is your personal favorite Goldberg Variation? 6:38 How to take music more seriously? 8:08 Does getting a safe degree/job before persuing a music career work out? 9:56 Share your live pedalboard 10:43 Is Sungazer coming to Scotland ever? 10:57 5-string bass, B or Hi C? 11:29 Have you ever considered switching your main instrument? 12:04 Best memory from touring in France? 12:15 What is your opinion on keyboard bass? 12:58 Whats the secret to a good bass solo?
Peace, AdamHow In-Ear Monitors are Making Better MusiciansAdam Neely2022-12-30 | Building a portable in-ear monitor rig! Check out my class over on Nebula with the Nebula/Curiosity stream bundle curiositystream.com/adamneely
Sungazer is going on tour in Europe in March, and with PLINI/jakub zytecki in the US in April/May! Go get tickets here: songkick.com/artists/8469503-sungazer
Other rig builds that were helpful for us shorturl.at/afkFI
Company that does these kinds of builds (and way better than us) btpa.com
0:00 Intro 3:37 In-Ears 5:40 Why We Needed an IEM Rig 7:26 IEM Rig Build 14:49 General Thoughts on Building a Rig like this.
Peace, AdamIs Cb the same note as B?Adam Neely2022-12-21 | Let's ARGUE! The first 1,000 people to use the link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: https://skl.sh/adamneely10221
0:00 Intro 3:05 Cb vs B Tune 4:10 All About Functions 6:29 Why Cb is a different pitch from B 10:25 Sensitivity to difference 13:02 Music can be complicated
0:00 Intro 1:45 Part I - Rhythm-A-Ning 7:07 Part II - Property Rights 11:25 Part III - Copyright 15:58 Part IV - Musical Constraints 22:18. Part V - HAM SANDWICH TIME 26:51 Part VI - Solving copyright….maybe?
Is beat induction innate or learned? Probing emergent meter perception in adults and newborns using event-related brain potentials pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19673760
Peace, AdamWill AI replace human musicians? | Q+AAdam Neely2022-09-09 | Answering your questions!
0:00 Intro 0:11 Will AI replace human musicians? 4:01 How should beginner musicians get used to Swing? 7:11 Why did you choose bass? 7:41 What separates a professional musician from an amateur 7:52 What value do music critics have? 9:57 What advice do you have for younger musicians wanting to get into music? 10:43 Where does the word jazz come from? 10:55 How to play fast and clean? 11:27 Where to see live jazz in NY? 11:40 How to be good at both music and marketing?
Peace, AdamHow my band toured Europe in 2022 (Sungazer Tour Vlog)Adam Neely2022-08-26 | Sungazer toured Europe, got people clapping in 7/8, and people really, really pumped about 5/16.
0:00 Intro 0:13 Birmingham 3:25 Manchester 6:38 London (night 1) 8:52 London (night 2) 11:44 Berlin 13:29 Copenhagen 15:42 Hamburg 18:54 EUROWINGS IS TRASH 20:20 Oslo (night 1) 21:21 Oslo (night 2) 23:22 Paris
Thanks to Sean Richards for doing TM/FOH work on this tour!
Peace, AdamTransforming Fear into Mastery on StageAdam Neely2022-08-15 | The first 1,000 people to use the link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: https://skl.sh/adamneely08221
Sungazer played a gig on the MS Stubnitz, stuff went wrong, and then I ruminate about that for about 10 minutes.
Sungazer is... Shawn Crowder - Drums Adam Neely - Bass Pier Luigi Salami - touring keyboards
Peace, AdamWait, why do these basic chords sound SO GOOD? | Q+AAdam Neely2022-06-27 | The first 1,000 people to use the link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: https://skl.sh/adamneely06221
Answering your questions about bass and music!
0:00 Intro 0:16 Why does E - A/E - E - E/G# - A sound so good? 3:01 WRONG chord progression 6:40 What's the "third steam?" 8:25 What is the craziest chord you can play? 8:41 Why no classical bass, but classical guitar? 9:53 Should people take AP music theory? 10:17 Whats your favorite/least favorite thing about the nYC scene? 11:18 Is clickbait unavoidable?
Peace, AdamHow we almost lost $17,000 on tourAdam Neely2022-05-03 | Sungazer’s first west coast tour (almost) ended in disaster... 🚀 Watch the exclusive companion video -- Get CuriosityStream & Nebula for 26% OFF! curiositystream.com/adamneely
Sungazer is…
me - bass/other stuff Shawn Crowder - drums
Thanks to our guys!
Jared Yee - Sax Christian Li - Keys Brian Plautz - advancing/remote TM
Peace, AdamThere are no RULES in music, only CONTEXT!Adam Neely2022-04-04 | Critiquing viewer submissions alongside Christian Li, pianist/teacher extraordinaire.
0:00 Intro 0:19 Misty on the piano 3:57 Donna Lee on the Bass 9:15 Sax looped melody 11:25 Hang Drum groove 13:20 wonky Fusion Groove 17:36 Shred-tastic EWI solo 20:12 Tigran Hamasyan and Jacob Collier Berklee extravaganza
Peace, AdamThe Mystery of Adeles A♮ HarmonyAdam Neely2022-03-17 | Rolling in the Deep has a cool spicy background harmony that I never noticed 🧠 Get CuriosityStream and Nebula for 26% off! 🧠 curiositystream.com/adamneely
Watch this video on Nebula: https://nebula.app/videos/adam-neely-the-mystery-of-adeles-aharmony
Watch the bonus video on the Katy Perry lawsuit on Nebula https://nebula.app/videos/adam-neely-katy-perrys-copyright-suit-was-thrown-out
0:00 Intro 0:54 Chords of Rolling in the Deep 2:55 Why the A♮is there 4:20 Why did I never notice this? Do I need to just git gud?
0:00 Intro 1:19 Part 1 - Perception of Time 4:55 Part 2 - Why decimal points in tempos might be useful 7:51 Part 3 - What is notation? 13:03 Part 4 - Problems with notation
Peace, AdamNeeds more MELODY! (viewer critiques)Adam Neely2022-02-11 | Critiquing your music with guitarist/composer @ShubhSaran ! Join my Patreon, for a chance to submit for the next round of submissions. http://www.patreon.com/adamneely
Peace, AdamWhy is this Beatles song so rhythmically confusing? | Q+AAdam Neely2022-02-03 | Why is “Drive My Car” is so disorienting? Let’s find out! 🧠 Get CuriosityStream and Nebula for 26% off! curiositystream.com/adamneely
0:00 Intro 0:17 Why is the intro riff from Drive my Car so rhythmically disorienting? 4:47 How can I use rubato effectively without making it seem like overkill? 5:49 What’s up with musicians and coffee addiction? 5:57 Am7 F#m7 Fmaj7 Em7 6:57 How do I come up with a good counter melody? 8:00 How would you resolve G#m11(b13)? 8:51 Any tips for call-and-response that work well? 10:19 What’s the most common problem you see new improvisers have? 11:17 Why haven’t more people imitated Jaco’s tone? 12:13 What are your thoughts on “white people don’t swing as much as black people?”
Peace, AdamRanking your polyrhythmsAdam Neely2022-01-19 | Polyrhythm tier list with Sungazer, aka Shawn Crowder and me! The first 1,000 people to use this link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: https://skl.sh/adamneely01221
Thanks to Shawn Crowder for helping me with these polyrhythms, check out his YouTube channel. youtube.com/c/ShawnCrowder
Peace, AdamThe 100% improvised tour | TOUR VLOGAdam Neely2022-01-11 | We went on tour and improvised the entire set! This video was supported by my patrons, go join the discord! http://www.patreon.com/adamneely
0:00 Intro 0:36 Night 1 - Champaign IL 7:33 Night 2 - Madison, WI 14:01 Night 3 - Minneapolis, MN
Peace, AdamWhat is that WEIRD rhythm in Stromaes Santé? | Q+AAdam Neely2021-12-15 | All right, what IS that rhythm? Also, answering other music theory questions! 🧠 Get CuriosityStream and Nebula for 42% off! curiositystream.com/adamneely
Peace, AdamEvery musician deals with this...Adam Neely2021-12-07 | Sometimes even when things go right, you feel drained and empty, and that's ok. I had a great show at LPR with my band, but in the week that followed I didn't feel great. Wanted to share.
Peace, AdamSolving James Browns Rhythmic PuzzleAdam Neely2021-11-24 | This puzzle broke my brain. Hopefully it doesn't break yours too. Get CuriosityStream and Nebula for less than $15 per year (26% off) curiositystream.com/adamneely
Watch the video ad-free on Nebula https://nebula.app/videos/adam-neely-solving-james-browns-rhythmic-puzzle
Peace, AdamIs Adeles latest single microtonal? | Q+AAdam Neely2021-10-27 | No, it is not. Also, I answer more music theory questions. Get CuriosityStream and Nebula for less than $15 per year (26% off) curiositystream.com/adamneely
0:00 Intro 0:14 Is Adele’s Easy on me microtonal? 1:53 Who is the better bass player, homer simpson or adam neely? 2:01 Ebmaj7 Dm7add4 Bbmaj7 G7 4:56 Bright size life cover? 5:07 Tips on avoiding taking away the part of a bassist as a keyboardist? 5:57 What does it mean to modulate to a brighter or darker key? 8:32 Caffeine drug? 8:39 What’s a spread triad? 9:37 When did you first start working on Perihelion? 10:02 What’s a good way to brass 10:38 Why low to high scales? 11:30 How to prioritize creativity over theory? 12:20 What’s going on in Sungazer’s Cytherean rhythm-wise? 12:50 What did you do to have a stable lifestyle early in NYC? 13:22 Different string action for studio/live gigs? 14:04 How was it working with Simon Grove? 14:28 The existential dread of YouTube
Peace, AdamHow do you use this SPICY chord? | Q+AAdam Neely2021-09-28 | Answering your questions about music theory and music! The first 1000 people to use the link will get a one-month free trial of Skillshare Premium Membership: https://skl.sh/adamneely08211
Pre-save Sungazer's debut album, Perihelion, out Oct. 11 bit.ly/2XHMUzc Watch a video all about HARPS on Nebula bit.ly/2Wiv1q3
0:00 Intro 0:21 When can I use a maj7#5 chord? 2:03 What are your thoughts on the phrase “music isn’t like how it used to be?” 3:05 Least favorite time signature? 3:11 Why does Stevie Wonder like 13b9 so much? 3:58 Do certain keys have “better” bass? 4:53 Do you have a favorite music educator? 5:06 Why does this sound so satisfying? 5:54 Opinions on musical transitions? 6:39 Sungazer album. 7:13 Will electric bass disappear from music? 7:50 How do you resolve Gbm7 add#13 b9? 11:20 Are Shawn Crowder and Mike Rugnetta the same person? 11:30 Starting at Berklee next week any advice? 12:37 How do you like your coffee? 12:41 In which order should you record instruments for an online project? 13:15 How do harp pedals work? 13:25 Opinion on being a jazz musician in NYC vs other cities? 13:58 Bach or Mozart?
Peace, AdamThe Psychology of Extreme RhythmsAdam Neely2021-09-24 | Music at the LIMIT of our perception of time Get CuriosityStream AND Nebula for less than $15 per year (26% off!) curiositystream.com/adamneely
Pre-save Sungazer's debut album, Perihelion, out Oct. 11 bit.ly/2XHMUzc