Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
http://mattwarnockguitar.com/intro-to-giant-step...
1 sur 13
09/05/2016 08:22 PM
http://mattwarnockguitar.com/intro-to-giant-step...
2 sur 13
09/05/2016 08:22 PM
http://mattwarnockguitar.com/intro-to-giant-step...
For those of you who are completely new to Giant Steps, the tune uses what is
referred to as the Coltrane Matrix.
This is a series of chords that outlines three tonal centers, each found a major third
apart from each other, in this case B-Eb(D#)-G(Fx).
These three chords outline an augmented triad, and are the three maj7 chords that
occur throughout the tune.
In the rst half of the tune, Coltrane tonicizes each maj7 chord with a dominant 7
chord placed right before it, while in the second half he uses ii-Vs to accomplish the
same harmonic goal.
Since these three maj7 chords are essential to hearing and soloing over Giant
Steps, take some time to run through them if this is the rst time youre digging into
studying the tune.
Try soloing over each maj7 chord separately, then in a row.
Sometimes having these three tonal centers rmly embedded in your ears can make
the dierence between hours of frustration and getting it when it comes to Giant
Steps.
So, lets take a look at the rst series of melodic patterns that you can use to
outline the chord changes in the second half of Giant Steps.
Click to hear
3 sur 13
Vm P
09/05/2016 08:22 PM
http://mattwarnockguitar.com/intro-to-giant-step...
Click to hear
4 sur 13
Vm P
09/05/2016 08:22 PM
http://mattwarnockguitar.com/intro-to-giant-step...
Click to hear
5 sur 13
Vm P
09/05/2016 08:22 PM
http://mattwarnockguitar.com/intro-to-giant-step...
Now that you have both the Honeysuckle and 1235 licks under your ngers, you can
put them together to add another level of interest to your Giant Steps soloing.
To make the transition smoother between the rst and second bars, Ive adding in a
little chromatic connector between the fth of the V7 chord and the tonic of the Imaj7
chord.
Connecting these short ideas to form longer phrases is something that Coltrane was
a master at, and one that you will need to get under your ngers in order to fully
outline the changes of Giant Steps, without just running patterns and exercises over
the entire tune.
Because of this, take time to work on connecting these, and any patterns you know,
over these changes.
It will take some time to sound smooth, but will be worth any hours spent in the
practice room once you get it down.
Click to hear
6 sur 13
Vm P
09/05/2016 08:22 PM
http://mattwarnockguitar.com/intro-to-giant-step...
Click to hear
Vm P
Coltrane Jazz Lines on Giant Steps Bebop Scale and 1235 Combo
7 sur 13
09/05/2016 08:22 PM
http://mattwarnockguitar.com/intro-to-giant-step...
To nish up our look at the second half of Giant Steps well combine the descending
Bebop Scale with the 1235 lick from the earlier example.
This lick has a lot of notes in it, each bar is lled with eighth notes, so make sure to
go slow when rst getting this idea down in the practice room.
In order to make it sound less like an exercise when youre ready to bring it to your
solos, you can try altering the rhythms, leaving out notes, mixing it up with the
Honeysuckle idea, or anything you can think of to take this idea from the realm of an
exercise and use it to create interesting and fun to play lines in your solos.
Click to hear
Vm P
8 sur 13
09/05/2016 08:22 PM
http://mattwarnockguitar.com/intro-to-giant-step...
sound of the three dierent tonalities, B-Eb-G, youre ready to move on to studying
the rapidly moving chords that occur in the rst eight bars of the tune.
In order to get these ideas down solidly, make sure to practice slow, as slow as you
need to, in order to allow each chord to sink into your ears and each lick to work its
way into your ngers.
There is no tempo that is too slow in the practice room, so if you need to work on it
at 8th note equals 30, then go for it.
The important thing is that you get these ideas down rmly into your vocabulary,
not how fast you can play them, at least at this point in the game.
So, lets dig into the rst eight bars of John Coltranes Giant Steps!
Click to hear
9 sur 13
Vm P
09/05/2016 08:22 PM
http://mattwarnockguitar.com/intro-to-giant-step...
Click to hear
Vm P
10 sur 13
09/05/2016 08:22 PM
Click to hear
http://mattwarnockguitar.com/intro-to-giant-step...
Vm P
Click to hear
11 sur 13
Vm P
09/05/2016 08:22 PM
http://mattwarnockguitar.com/intro-to-giant-step...
Click to hear
Vm P
Getting these licks under your ngers and into your ears isnt going to make you a
master of Giant Steps overnight, but it will get you on the right road to nailing the
changes and creating your own melodies over one of the most famous tunes in jazz
history.
Take some time to explore these ideas in your practice room.
As I told my class, not a lot of people will call Giant Steps on a gig, but being able to
navigate these changes will allow you to inject them into your solos on other tunes.
As well, all of these melodic phrases can be used on any tune that has a lot of
fast-moving changes such as Jordu, Conrmation, Rhythm Changes and others,
12 sur 13
09/05/2016 08:22 PM
http://mattwarnockguitar.com/intro-to-giant-step...
Do you have a favorite Giant Steps lick? Share it in thecomments section below.
13 sur 13
09/05/2016 08:22 PM