Bebop Explained

In this Jazz Piano Tutorial we discuss how Bebop arose out of competitive jam sessions and discuss some of its defining characteristics.

Musicians generally work in the evenings. This was no different in the 1930’s and 40’s. Swing musicians of the era would start work in clubs and ballrooms in the evening when people would go out for some after-work entertainment. But when audiences left the clubs and went home to bed, the Swing musicians instead went to jam sessions. The most famous of these was Minton's Playhouse, which opened in New York City in 1940. It is said that this is where Bebop was born. The house band at Milton’s included drummer Kenny Clarke and pianist Thelonious Monk. And the musicians that jammed there included Jazz greats like Ben Webster, Charlie Christian, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, and Charlie Parker.

These jam sessions were for serious musicians and involved a lot of experimentation. And it quickly became quite competitive. Musicians would test each other’s abilities by intentionally making the songs difficult to play. They would pick a standard song like ‘I Got Rhythm’, but play it incredibly fast, using complex chord substitutions, and transpose the song up one semitone after every repeat. This would very quickly root out any amateur musicians.

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[laurar]

Good video, just wish you'd played examples during the explanations in the first 2/3's of it.

[ZQBeChill]

Incredibly useful, detailed and understandable, love that you included the background story

[elmariachi]

This man is so knowledgeable and cultured i wish i was that good in Music Theory

[Elemy]

That video was very helpful. Usually other videos/articles stop at "bebop was faster and more complex".

[vincewise]

Very interesting and outlines the theory behind this difficult genre of jazz.

[kamrankerim]

these series are immensely valuable! I cannot thank you enough, sir!

[hongyuan]

Thankyou! You're basically the hero for my music hw.

[DaniMusiX]

Ok now it clicked. I finally understand what bebop is about

[DanielVerberne]

6:44 - cool to see reference to chromaticism, as that’s one of the elements of bebop that first comes to my mind.

[Malcolm.Y]

Masterful. The best and most complete explanation I have heard, and that should be reviewed more than once. The only significant omission, in my opinion, might be the "why" - argpeggios up and steps down. Ascending and skips tend to create more tension; while descending and steps tend to more resolution.

You coul probably do another 18 minutes on articulation.

[ViktorijaPilatovic]

Very clear, interesting and informative video! Thank you! Will pass it on 🙏🏼☺️

[TheBlueThird]

Excellent explanations. I practice these very same things in all keys at different tempos. It takes work and it gets better with practice.

[nicolasparadoja]

We need a bloopers video one day Mr. Walk That Bass, that'd probably be hilarious.

[TylerAStinson]

1:56
That scene in whiplash. My roomate is huge into Big Band and Bebop. It’s in his top 3 films from the 2010s

[Fghjk-hszd]

16 hours of practice Charlie Parker wow, thanks for this now i know their differences

[Swingffle]

good analysis. Why in some comments people say there is no playing of the content being taught? Donna Lee was played as a show case.

[wildfeather]

Bless you for a sensational tutorial!!

[TommyLikeTom]

So what you are saying is that bebop is what intelligent musicians do when they know they're about to die?

[leem]

Brilliant and understandable. Thank you!

[belindadrake]

AWSUM! Thank you. I was an embryo being brought up with my amazing DAD on jazz. ( no trad or 3rd stream’!). I’m so stoked l found this page. OSCAR PETERSON, BEN WEBSTER etc, & his’ ilk’, are my type of guys . Plus, l think NAT KING COLE is underrated as a pianist. I reckon we could play, listen, & talk forever!!! Thanx for this!! 👊🏾😃🎹😉