Five part musical harmony

May 25, 2018 3:55 AM

Working with "Amazing Grace", musician Jacob Collier discusses and demonstrates five levels of understanding of harmony - from child level to expert (with an expert who I'll leave as a surprise).

Jacob Collier previously. Jacob Collier's Youtube Channel.

posted by rongorongo (12 comments total)

(More in Wired's "Five levels of difficulty" series)
posted by rongorongo at 3:59 AM on May 25, 2018

At some point the discussion passed beyond my understanding and I felt like a sleepy child up too late listening to the rumble buzz of adult conversation, confident that my tribe includes smart people of good will.

Lots of things are true, that’s the truth I’ll focus on today. Excellent post, and thanks for it!
posted by ssr_of_V at 4:41 AM on May 25, 2018 [6 favorites]

Like a good teacher, this finds your comfort zone, pushes you just a little further, then points out some directions you might want to go in the future. I’ve learned so much about what I want to learn in music!
posted by Nutri-Matic Drinks Synthesizer at 4:57 AM on May 25, 2018

I'm convinced that jazz people have a) different brains; and b) at least six or seven extra fingers.
posted by uncleozzy at 4:58 AM on May 25, 2018 [5 favorites]

I think it was Miles Davis who said every note was only a half step away from being in the chord, so I like it when a Jacob says everything belongs. Really fun stuff here. I don’t know how I’ve avoided hearing about Jacob before, but thanks much for posting.
posted by grimjeer at 5:10 AM on May 25, 2018 [1 favorite]

1: Sweet
2: Deeper than I expected
3: Ok wow... this is really deep. Great insight I hadn't thought about this stuff in years. I'd really like to play with this guy.
4: Wow. He has flipped my mind. I see the 4th step, but man he's at the stratosphere with concepts, isn't He? Where does he go from here?
5: AMAZING GRACE GOD MODE

Leave it to Herbie Hancock to blow my frickin mind... yet again.
posted by Nanukthedog at 6:29 AM on May 25, 2018 [6 favorites]

I liked this video but I wish more of the students had an instrument; #2 in particular would have been an interesting lesson.
posted by michaelh at 7:12 AM on May 25, 2018

Super interesting but I found it hard to get past how terrible the keyboard sounded. Like the tone of it was half kazoo.
posted by Rumple at 9:38 AM on May 25, 2018 [5 favorites]

While I have some working knowledge of harmony (maybe roughly like the guy with the guitar), all of my musical experience has been with single-note instruments (bass and brass instruments). I've just taken up piano recently, and I'm looking forward (into the distant future) to going deeper into the intricacies of advanced harmony. Not that I expect to ever get to Herbie Hancock's level....
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:53 AM on May 25, 2018

I like how once they get to Herbie it sorta goes from explaining things to just playing things back and forth.
posted by atoxyl at 11:27 AM on May 25, 2018 [2 favorites]

AMAZING GRACE GOD MODE (Difficulty level: quarter tones)
posted by Ben Trismegistus at 12:40 PM on May 25, 2018 [3 favorites]

I just spent an hour reading about and listening to Jason Collier. Unbelievable.
posted by mikeinclifton at 8:32 PM on May 25, 2018