How to Play Jazz: An Overview of Jazz Theory

This Jazz Piano Tutorial explains the basics how to play Jazz. In this video I give a high level overview of Jazz Theory to explain how it all fits together, starting right from the most basic concepts in music (notes and intervals) and building up from there.

I cover concepts such as:
- Scales
- Modes
- Chords
- Available Tensions
- Guide Tones
- Avoid Notes
- Improvisation
- Tension and Release
- The Chord-Scale System
- Keys
- Extensions and Alterations
- Functionality
- Shell Chords
- Chord Substitution
- Chord voicings
- Voice Leading
- and much more...

Everything I explain here relates to ‘traditional’ ‘tonal’ jazz. More Modern Jazz is all about breaking the rules in this video. But, of course, you have to know the rules in order to break them. And hopefully this gave you a nice quick synopsis of what those rules are.

If you enjoyed this Overview of Jazz Theory (AKA How to Play Jazz Piano Tutorial), please subscribe.

[slau]

Unarguably the best overview of Jazz I have ever watched on youtube.

[michanestorowicz]

I am amazed by how concise and understandable your videos are. Tons of advanced and easily explained topics. Great job. Thank you!

[kurtfroberg]

I’ve been playing piano for almost 50 years now (still learning!), and never thought that I’d ever ‘know’ a better instructor than my 1st piano teacher (a Peabody graduate who was heavily influenced by Keith Emerson). Apparently, I was wrong.
Great job, my friend. You have a veritable love-fest going on in the Comments here, and for good reason. You’re a refreshingly and wonderfully straightforward instructor.

Keep up the great work!

[ZERMELOmusic]

So good. Will be watching this several times lol
I personally like the fast pace and not being spoon fed. I can always go back and review or look something up. Thanks for posting!

[IlyaPavlenkov]

This is great. Thank you very much for doing this stuff. Really, you have one of the best music youtube channel in my opinion.

[ahmetcanyapici]

Wow, I've realised that I should only alter 5ths, not 3ths this morning. And this video proved it. Thank you

[cosmob]

My mind is relatively blown! :) that is because of good teaching.

[CreoMusic]

can only concur with what all the other people are saying. great information all packed into one video. Ill be sure to come back and check out your other videos to. thanks a lot for this!

[zakreineke]

Man!! For me, this video was... Masterfully ordered. Intensely condensed. Amazingly succinct and concise. Perfect speed of dense information. Of all the hours of Jazz video's I've indulged in, this one was truly the most informative. Special thank you for not talking slow; youtube on mobile can pause and rewind, but not speed up. Thank you for your hours of thoughtful planning, summarising and recording. 'Ultima!'

[padmavathydivakaran]

Your channel is genuinely one of the best resources for a beginner jazz pianist. You have your contents really well organised. Thank you for doing these videos! 😊

[abishaicampbell]

This video filled in so many holes in my foundational understanding of theory. Like when you explained modes as the same scale with different tonal centers. I never really fully understood modes until I heard that. I just saw them as individual scales I had to memorize. That understanding of relationship and context just makes everything I’ve been trying to learn so much clearer.

[Razerblue]

It's sad to see you only getting this few views on your videos, since your explanation on the theory is very clear and the fact that you present it also with a very clear examples on your piano also is great.
I have watched nearly all of your videos as of writing this post and I can say that they are very, very useful.
Keep the great work going, cheers!!

[pilot_piano]

You need to realize that you’re the BEST INSTRUCTOR/TEACHER on the entire internet. I like how you present your material with picture in picture and you do it without any sign of an inflated ego whatsoever. You demonstrate clearly with an element of simplicity. Your channel is a well planned lesson on individual important steps for every level of development. You’re a brilliant man and I am so thankful for finding your creation... I would like to know more about you also.

[jordanthukkaram]

Thanks a TON for this video!! I'm a classical composer (who's been super interested in incorporating jazz recently) and this is the prefect intro video for somebody who already understands classical music theory. Most other videos I've seen have been way to basic. Thanks again for this!

[gabrielmoore]

Blown away by your website and videos. What I love the most about it is how organized everything is.

[EdwinK]

"That is my 'high' level overview of 'basic' jazz theory." Man, you gotta love jazz 😂

[josiah]

Honestly the best resource on chords i've found on the internet yet. Things tell you what number chord to play but the diatonic tri-tone stuff really helps me make non-conventional chords which I really appreciate dude. I can finally change from 2-5-1 which I was using because everyone says it works, or the chord diagram that just tells you which chords sound good in what order.

[documonk]

Wow, I just want to thank you for this and all of your other videos and your website. I've been trying to learn jazz theory on and off for the last 15 years to no avail. The way you explain things is both clear and comprehensive, and I'm looking forward to working my way through all of your material.

[monkeyrater]

Im really grateful for this. When I search for beginner jazz stuff on youtube your videos never come up. I found this on a google search. The algorithm for youtube has gotten really bad and only puts out clickbait videos in searches now. Jazz people are the worst gatekeepers in music, so this material is gold. Again, thanks.

[joanneflow]

A newbie in jazz, but i'm amazed by your exceptional teaching skill, so straightforward, thankyou so much from your new fan!