If You Want To Play Neo Soul - LEARN THIS

If you're just getting into neo soul piano and don't know where to start, learning this harmonic movement is absolutely essential.

It's made up of two chords, Am7 and Abmaj7. You'll hear guys like Robert Glasper use this progression all the time.

It's important to spend some time exploring this progression with different voicings, as well as coming up with melodic phrases that fit over both chords.

This is like the 251 of neo-jazz. Make sure to transpose it to several other keys as well. Have fun!

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

00:00 - Intro
01:05 - Harmonic Movement
01:43 - Chord Progression
02:53 - Voicings
04:00 - Melodic Phrases
05:53 - Rubato Exploration
07:20 - Summary

[sinetwo]

You're one of my favourite YouTube channels for learning piano techniques. A lot of your content is so relevant to soulful music. And thanks for name dropping Robert Glasper, I love his Dilla based stuff and Black Radio

[BonusBeats-ezcv]

When you were going rubato those voicings gave me chills man

[rillloudmother]

i must admit, i like it when i see a lesson on modern harmony that i already use. i learned this by reharming rhythm changes and we've only just begun by the carpenters. these days it is my go to for playing, 'out, ' over minor blues.

[Josai]

The music was so relaxing I literally almost fell asleep😂great video

[arrakeen]

I don’t even play piano, I just rip off all these lessons and apply them to guitar

[Jazman]

As a guitarist for 60 years who is developing arthritis in my left thumb I'm getting more interested in Keys as a way of extending my music playing life. Neo Soul is one of those Genres I've hear of but never understood. Recently bought a new midi keyboard and while looking for inspiration online I found your channel. This is exactly what I'm looking for. Totally recognise the "2 5 1 of Neo Soul" and had to pick up my guitar to try voicing I'm familiar with. Took me about 1 minute to come up with a song idea, modulating down a whole tone followed by a semitone drop to F Maj7 and a diminished to minor 7th ascending run back up to the A minor 7th again. SO much cool musical stuff in here that I totally feel comfortable with. Trick for me now is to learn these ideas on Keyboard. I'm going to enjoy your channel I think so thanks in advance.

[backwardclocksound]

Man, you are awesome. My day has been filled with your videos, sending much gratitude your way!

[Moreslaw]

Geez that sounds so good and (looks) pretty simple!

[davidhyatt]

Another warm, intelligent, professional lesson. ❤

[richarpadilla]

Great video Simon as always ! I'm using your progressions to improvise over them as well as my 2-5-1's to start improvising over them with the scales ! i'm learning a lot with the piano pig channel !

[civomirak]

Thank you Simon. I have enjoyable work to do now.

[joslinnick]

Can someone explain why he's suggesting an Em pentatonic over the Am7 chord and a Cm pentatonic over the Abmaj7 chord? 4:55

[DojoOfCool]

Excellent lesson thanks! Gotta steal some of those chord voicings.

[christianreyesmusica]

A great, simple and wonderful tutorial, thanks so much, a very good started point to play neo soul.

[skinnista]

great vid Simon, loving the permission to steal! Hope you are well and good.

[Jason.Brayshaw]

Great stuff. Really like this channel.

[tonyonbass]

Excellent channel and content‼️ Just awesome🔥🔥🔥

[MAGAsnotAcurse]

Thank you your explanations were so helpful!

[charlesvanderhoog]

Ha, you do not mention that all these chords are minor or major ninth chords and that it is this 9th that make it sound great. HipHop uses minor 9th and almost nothing else. Neosoul adds major ninths to the palet and a different way of using the circle of fifths.

[xorpheous]

Isn't this just the first two chords of a ii-V7-IM7 but you're doing a tritone sub for the V7? A-7 -> D7 -> Gmaj7 but with a sub so it's A-7 -> Abmaj7 -> Gmaj7? I like the advice on the different voicings and improv options.