Coltrane's Giant Steps on Bass Clarinet - Become a more flexible player, part 1
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- Опубліковано 23 сер 2024
- Soooo...here I play along with Coltrane's (in)famous solo on Giant Steps. Why? Because I'm a glutton for punishment, but also to discuss one great way to get out of a rut in your playing.
For those who want to buy the book that this is from, click here: bit.ly/tenorsax... to go to Sheet Music Plus.
If you want a slightly different transcription (for free), you can grab it here: earspasm.com/downloads
I'm 70 years old. I have never played a bass clarinet, so I bought one to fulfill an item on my musical bucket list. When I want to remember how it is supposed to sound, I listen to this master. I will probably never amount to anything at all, but the chipmunks and squirrels kind of like me!
🤗
Scatting during the page turn - had to watch that a few times.
2:22
I wonder if he could scat the whole thing.
2:23 Dude someone should do that at a legit concert when they have to turn the page.
Found u
it's gonna be me next year at jasper
Kenny Huang woah it's Kenny
😆😆😆
LOL
gotta love that page turning little scat at 2:22
Dude. This is killin'. I really enjoyed listening to this. In college, our improv final included playing this solo. I never revisited it. I think maybe I should.
Honestly, I have been listening to your "play-along" now more often than to the original and I can't make up my mind about what is more impressive: Coltrane being able to improvise this or you being able to play it so spot on, that you don't even hear Coltrane anymore...
the improvisation is much more impressive of course. Reading music is like reciting a poem. Improv is like a conversation.
Absolutely amazing. Well done!
Trane was shown a transcript of one of his solos (I think it was by Zita Carno). It might have been this solo. It's mentioned in one of the Trane bios. She asked him to play it, and he said that he couldn't, because it was too difficult. And Trane was an excellent reader.
So, you have outdone Trane here.
This is fucking rad. It's so inspiring to see modern bass clarinet players doing jazz. I'm currently studying jazz bass and transcribing Bob Mintzer's Donna Lee solo. Man, I wish you were located on the west coast!
You mentioned Coleman Hawkins - here's a vote for "Body And Soul," another classic in the pantheon of great tenor solos!
+mdickinson That's actually going to be the next one Malcolm!
Earspasm Music you really inspire me to learn....not just play but to learn...!!!! gracias
Funny thing. My school's main tenor sax players name is Coltrane 😂
It was destiny.
Holy cow, man... did you kick Robert Johnson off of his spot at the crossroads? I've been playing bass clarinet and saxophones for over 40 years. I've recently discovered your UA-cam Channel and I must say that I'm impressed. Please keep sharing these video!
I'm crying inside how do you play like this
This is not earspasm music this is EARGASM MUSIC.
AMAZING! i'm studying clarinet but my favourite clarinet is the bass clarinet. The problem is that in Spain (where i live) we can only study soprano clarinet. I hope one day buy my own bass clarinet and study so much to became to be a great bass clarinet player, like you! I love jazz, i love Coltrane and i love you and your sound! Great job, greetins from Spain.
I have loved Trane's music since I discovered it (1968 or 9); and I love to sound and tone of bass clarinet (over even tenor sax), so this has been awesome to hear. Thanks. Wish I could jam with such a musician! E. Roessing
Outstanding performance Michael!
Damn. I remember transcribing and learning to play that in music school. That solo is a BEAST.
Fabulous video. The really great teachers don’t only “tell you” but “show you” as well. You are one of the best. Thanks!
Spiral from the same album is a great song to learn. Much easier but still gives you insight on Coltrane's unique approach to arpeggios. And a lot of fun to play.
This is the best proof that bass clarinet is a jazz instrument I have seen until now.
It is also discouraging for a late starter like me. I don't believe I'll come close to this. But don't stop with videos like this!
+Johan Jonker With all due respect to Earspasm , you should listen to Eric Dolphy.
Wow, I've been listening to your video's for about the last week and REALLY enjoy them. I've also suggesting that my private students do as well. I'll assign one of your video's per week. My sax students are blown away with this Coltrane video. Please continue with more videos. Your playing and teaching is wonderful and really refreshing. Thank You!!
Unbelievable. I didn’t know a bass clarinet could be played like this.
I come back to this video every year, such amazing articulation from the original to the bass clarinet!!
Seriously, I LOVE this!!!! With EVERY FIBER OF MY BEING!!! You rock man!
OMG, I just died....LOL The BOYS are Tearing it up!!! LOVING IT
Wow! I've been debating actually learning Tenor Sax and this is really inspiring
MichaelCasanovaMusic im actually in the process of learning the Tenor sax! i started on the Bb clarinet and it honestly isnt that difficult!!!
love the scatting. definately braking out!
Caught this on a Sunday night after a crapbag week. I was laughing by the end of the opening and it made my day for the week. Thanks, Man!!
Damn. And I can’t even get my register key to work. 👏
That's never any fun, is it a mechanical issue?
Excellent observations, excellent ear, excellent presentation, excellent chops! As a pianist I am going to follow your methods and dig Oscar that way! Great!
you nailed it, bad ass as always!
Amazing - now you need to play it by ear.
Always best to learn solos by ear but personally I find it very difficult !!!
You really got all the nuances of the solo down !!!!!!!
This is nuts! And bass clarinet is awesome.
wow
Mike you are the GOAT!
Man - really impressed with your playing (on ALL your videos). Well done!
Beautiful!
Phenomenal! You've inspired me to learn this solo! (though in my case, I'll be doing it on tsx... :-)
This is INSANE!!! You are a bass clarinet monster!
holy cow...I can't even play it this fast on my tenor...and with the detail...on bass clarinet!!
I think it's finally time for me to learn the rest of the choruses to this. Right after I finish with donna lee imma get back on the coltrane.
Just incredible. Thanks for the playing and the wonderful insights.
Awesome! Love the choice of a seminal jazz tenor solo. Extremely challenging for most of us mortals to emulate or perform due to Coltrane's "sheets of music" style. I find the speed of this piece particularly daunting at my level of achievement. I noticed you listening attentively at the beginning. Any thoughts on practice routines for rhythm, speed and accuracy? I've been trying to work my way through Opperman's "Velocity Studies."
+Brian Billings Practice slowly and build up with a metronome. Check out my "Tank" video to see my routine.
Magnificent!!! I learned a lot I could not have learned otherwise.
Check out his solo in Untitled Original 11386 off of Both Directions At Once.
It's not as fast but the articulation and accentuation on it is gorgeous.
Also great flexibility shown in the altissimo range.
I actually struggle to determine if he's on tenor or alto here, which really just speaks to how he plays over the break like it's nothing.
this is smile inducing. good thoughts about how and why to transcribe the masters.
HOLY SH*T! I can't believe this. I've listened to this solo for 20 years, but now can't unhear this! When I was 14, attempted to do this, but wasn't skilled enough. You have an amazing ear.
Outstanding and inspiring. Thanks for sharing.
omg Bass Clarinet for hard bop is so beautiful
SO GOOOOODDDD
Keep taking stuff on. Super!
He goin nuts😂
Super Bravo!!!
you are a phenomenal bass clarinetist!
Sir you are a champion.
You are one of very few players who listen properly. I took Trane apart also. Most players do not notice that he phrases in this way. Beside that, I liked your playingmuch. Very enjoyable.
What a talent you are awesome!!
Amazing clarone
Holy Bass Clarinet, Bat Man!
That neck looks like it was adapted from the tenor sax
You kept teasing me at the beginning when you soaked your read I thought you were gonna start playing
Truely Fantastic man!!!!
if there were any doubts
love your videos man keep it up
I got a similar advice regarding chess, that learning a new opening can/will make you break new grounds. I play sax, by the way. And chess.
where can I buy that t-shirt???
earspasm.spreadshirt.com
Great!
Killin it!!
That was soooo awesome man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is amazing! You should try improvising in the changes sometime :P
Great! I wonder who dislike this performance.
BROTHER !...I LOVE WHAT U R DOING....THANK YOU FOR MAKING MY DAY.....AS SOON AS I SELL ONE OF MY HORNS, I WILL SEND YOU SOME $$...THANKS AGAIN...PEACE....B.K.
Is this Bill King, the sax & woodwind player Bill King in San Antonio? This cat's impressive, isn't he?
that scale is the bebop dominant which has passing between the 1 and the 7b because it's built on the 5th degre of the an f major scale with that passing tone charlie parker language not being critical, just wanted to give information, that piece is also difficult because the coltrane changes i would suggest for begginning the omnibook of charlie parker
Reuben Pompei The changes on giant steps are insane. Also the reason why it's basically impossible to improvise on it.
Oh my god! that blend! Is that the new Clarisax?
Can you improv over this too? None the less jaw droppingly incredible. As they say it is just as if not more important to listen than to speak
Now make a video of it where you scat through the whole solo.
What mouthpiece/reeds are you using man? You sound killer! I love all the Jazz. I don't play a horn in jazz and it's nice to have someone who plays the horn I play In classical music doing jazz.
+Brandon Ford dansr.com/vandoren/artists/2/157/michael-lowenstern
He uses 2.5 strength reeds for bass, believe it or not.
I'm curious about sight reading as I myself have been having trouble with it
Wow, Damn
Hey do you know what would help with the page flips? Learning it by ear! :P Super duper killing man. Awesome work.
Here is achallenge I think not too many people cannot tackle, but I think you could. "Rossini Introduction Theme and Variations for Clarinet". What you think? Feasible?
Hey man I would really love that different transcription but for some reason I can't acces your downloads page no matter how hard I login and subscribe to your stuff so that would be greatly appreciated! Have a good one nonetheless :)
Outstanding playing!!
Is this from one of the alternate takes with Cedar Walton instead of Tommy Flannigan?
+Marshian Music No, this is the standard version on his album "Giant Steps"
I like your glasses, what is that type called?
What's the best way to learn how to improvise my own melodies on Giant Steps. It changes key so fast. Is there a trick? Seems like my brain can't think that fast.
listen to the album on repeat in the car
argh heck just bought a bass clarinet I dont know whether to burn it sell or keep on practising !!?!!
fucking insane! I dig it!
Good lord
I've been playing the clarinet for 9 months now, roughly 4-5 hours a week. I played 5 years of flute, 25 years ago, and 3 years of piano (7-8 hours per week) after those years of flute... and so, I have some good points for a 9 months old clarinet player, but my articulations sucks. I think my mouth piece might be too opened. I use a Vandoren B40. Do you think using a more closed mouth piece might be good?
Also, it is very difficult judging someone's level, when that person is sky-high better... I know this from chess. During those 20 years away from music, I reached a quite high chess level (2130ish USCF)... I just want to say THIS:
YOU SIR, SEEM TO BE AN INTERNATIONAL MASTER OF THE CLARINET (like 2400+, as in chess, the best of state, top 50 in the USA)... I bow admiratively to your skills... 😊... or maybe more like.... MY GOODNESS!!!!!!!!!
Have you ever played the song "in the mood" by Glenn Miller? If not would you play it for the channel?
+Jesus Vite Yes, but not sure what I'd say about it Jesus.
I dont think I've ever seen a shirt of just a bass clarinet neck. Interesting
man, what a trip! thank you so much for this clip. you are exceptional. and yes, if you could reveal how you got your T-shirt? also, I imagine you're playing a wooden bass clarinet and not a plastic one. again, you are a gem; thanks so much...
earspasm.spreadshirt.com :)
I was very impressed with your very quick first page turn at 1:22!
The second one at 2:23... ahh, not so much... :) Haha
Seriously though, this is great. Thanks for posting!
I play tenor saxophone
I played this at high speed..then i saw GOD.
Hey +Earspasm Music why aren't you using your Optimum Ligature? P.S its just a quick question
+Nikolai Morales
cuz...um...er...it's what was in the case.
How do you get the higher notes on the bass clarinet to sound more like a clarinet instead of a weird combination of a sax and clarinet? I am a high school musician and I hear many other bass clarinetists my age have the same issue.
+Christian Duncan ua-cam.com/video/1eQL-3demDA/v-deo.html
You play eric dolphy trancipsion. You are is killing me
Can you do a video on using the clarion register? It seems for me, every note that comes out of it sounds forced out like every note is "over the break".
Well I mean of course I've tried that. I just think some instruments are just played that way. Look at the Tosca Bass Clarinet. It basically has no break.
Maybe the problem is just that student bass clarinets just suck all together. It may just lay in the register key being on the body instead of being interconnected through the body and on the neck.
Clarion register has always been a little difficult for me.
What?!?! I always wanted to be in my high school jazz band but didn't join because I thought that the bass clarinet couldn't be played in a jazz setting. I was to scared to learn a new instrument just to be in the jazz band.
Dora Donald Look up Eric Dolphy
Dora Donald Typically bass clarinets aren't jazz instruments, however it helps to know in the instance that there is a part for the bass clarinet.