Diminished; What, How & When? The definitive guide! The superglue your progressions are missing!

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  • čas přidán 15. 06. 2024
  • Access all lesson materials by becoming a Patreon at the link below for just a small monthly cost!..
    / alexfarranguitar
    If Patreon isn’t your bag, you can purchase the materials for this lesson alone, directly at the link below;
    smogfalls.gumroad.com/l/kwtuh
    Book in for a private Zoom lesson!.. just choose a slot at the link below;
    tidycal.com/alexfarranguitar/...
    Make sure to get hold of the lesson materials at the links above so you have this information to hand as a life-long reference guide. It's a thorough, six page breakdown of the topics covered in this lesson on the often misunderstood, and unnecessarily feared diminished chord. We look at what it is, how in functions, where to use it and how to apply it in some truly beautiful ways! Don’t think of it as a jazz chord!.. this is an essential chord for your everyday progressions in ANY style!
    Drop me an email if you're interested in private Zoom lessons; contact@alexfarranguitar.com
    ⏱️ Time stamps ⏱️
    00:00 - Louis teaser 😺
    00:08 - Brief Diminished noodles
    00:33 - Introduction
    00:49 - Lesson begins; V-I and the flat 9 extension
    01:36 - Defining & understanding the diminished
    03:20 - Diminished & it’s versions as the V7b9
    04:20 - Private Lessons!
    04:37 - The next string set
    05:18 - V-I exercises
    08:35 - Rich and dark low string voicings, open chord voicings etc
    10:30 - The return of Louis the cat! 😺
    11:46 - ii-V-I examples
    14:23 - Top four strings
    17:35 - Lowest string set
    19:37 - Louis sings along briefly 😺
    19:53 - Summary & Goodbye from Louis! 😺
    --------------------------------------------
    🎥 Reference Videos; 🎥
    Triads and three note voicings;
    • THIS is what you shoul...
    Beautiful jazz chords (including the Barry Harris scale);
    • Add expressive colours...
    The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down;
    • “The Night They Drove ...
    ----------------------------------------
    Gear used in this video;
    1953 Gibson es125
    Lazy J 20 amp
    Honeypicks 2mm "smoker" pick
    Thomastik infield 12 gauge "swing" flats
    Strymon Flint reverb pedal
    Universal Audio OX - amp top box
    Universal Audio Apollo Twin X
    Logic Pro
    Universal Audio plugins
    Sony ZVE-10 camera
    Neewer Desktop Tripod
    Final Cut Pro
    Thanks for watching!
    Alex
    Instagram: / alexfarranguitar
    Buy me a coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/alexfarran
    #chords #melody #blues #jazz #jumpblues #guitarsolo #guitar #guitarist #music #musician #gibsonguitar #es125 #archtopguitar #vintageguitar #vintage #1950s #fender #vintageamp #lazyjump #alexfarran #guitarlesson #jazzblues #lesson #inspiration #motivation #gypsyjazz #djangoreinhardt #bossanova #jazzmanouche #barryharris #scales #jazzlesson #jazzchords #diminished #diminishedchords #musictheory #theorylesson #cat #cats #catswithjobsy
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Komentáře • 78

  • @Trombonology
    @Trombonology Před 8 měsíci +12

    Alex, I have to show restraint and not comment on every video, as I'd just be babbling about how well-constructed your lessons are. Couldn't resist this time, however -- though this is familiar territory to me, I'm so impressed by your ability to focus closely enough on a huge topic so that the eyes of relatively inexperienced players don't glaze over, while at the same time providing a glimpse of all that's possible with the versatile (and ambiguous!) dim. chord. Can't say enough good about the way you structure your lessons. ... Great to see Louis, too!

    • @AlexFarranGuitar
      @AlexFarranGuitar  Před 8 měsíci +3

      Thank you so much for the kind, encouraging words!.. I'm so glad you enjoy these videos and my teaching style.. it really means a lot to me. As I've said before, we've been swimming in the same waters for so long now, it's always kinda comforting to see your name pop up on my feed, so again, thank you for the comment. If you like it, I must be doing something right! ☺️
      I've decided that this video will be the first in a series on the diminished chord (released sporadically).. like you say, there's so much to speak about when it comes to this chord and soooo many uses for it!

    • @Mr2012jerome
      @Mr2012jerome Před 8 měsíci +2

      Agreed. This is really great stuff. Thank you!

    • @AlexFarranGuitar
      @AlexFarranGuitar  Před 8 měsíci

      @@Mr2012jeromethanks so much! 🙏🏻

  • @mandolin-george-uk
    @mandolin-george-uk Před měsícem +2

    Ah early morning coffee with my favourite guitarist playing my favourites chords .. nice

  • @littlegiop
    @littlegiop Před 8 měsíci +2

    Hey Alex, no doubt...this is the best diminished lesson on YT right now!! Thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge 🙏🏻

    • @AlexFarranGuitar
      @AlexFarranGuitar  Před 8 měsíci +1

      Wow thanks man, that’s really kind of you to say! Hopefully it’ll provide a nice, clean starting point to work from. More videos to follow on more uses for the diminished!
      Thanks again mate 🙏🏻🧡

  • @TrippingTheTube
    @TrippingTheTube Před měsícem +1

    Wow, you just answered my question. I was playing this chord wondering what it was the root was, came on youtube and this video was there.

  • @user-jl9kw9gn3m
    @user-jl9kw9gn3m Před 3 měsíci +1

    That diminished chord is so cool. Link Wray with Robert Gordon used it on " I Sure Miss You " in E. I remember the day I first discovered it....thought I was playing an A7 then added ring finger and pinky and there it was, by accident...could move it anywhere ! Before that, I was just cheating it by strumming the Aminor chord.
    Thanks for the in depth analysis of the diminised chords 😎🤟

    • @AlexFarranGuitar
      @AlexFarranGuitar  Před 3 měsíci +1

      Thanks for the comment buddy! Oh nice!.. good to see Robert Gordon and Link Wray getting a mention! The diminished is so useful right?! Awesome chord 👌🏻

  • @vincewise855
    @vincewise855 Před 4 měsíci +2

    Lesson followed through and thoroughly enjoyable , great theory take-aways which help understanding , and the addition of your assistant was a very welcome distraction...purrrfect!

    • @AlexFarranGuitar
      @AlexFarranGuitar  Před 4 měsíci

      Ah thank you buddy, I really appreciate the comment.. as does Louis the furry helper I’m sure 😂🐈

  • @mandolin-george-uk
    @mandolin-george-uk Před měsícem +2

    My hand recoiled in horror when it saw your configuration @ 11:09

  • @markfisher1215
    @markfisher1215 Před 8 měsíci +2

    Couple of lightbulb moments in this lesson for me thanks!

    • @AlexFarranGuitar
      @AlexFarranGuitar  Před 8 měsíci

      So happy to hear that Mark, thanks for the comment ☺️

  • @MattBradfordmusic
    @MattBradfordmusic Před 8 měsíci +2

    Good lord! So good man! Great explanation, and great playing!

    • @AlexFarranGuitar
      @AlexFarranGuitar  Před 8 měsíci

      Ah thanks Matt, very kind of you 🙏🏻 More videos on the other diminished chord uses coming very soon too! 😺

  • @martinlindsay9838
    @martinlindsay9838 Před 8 měsíci +1

    How can anyone concentrate on the lesson with Louis in the picture. Love that cat Alex.

    • @AlexFarranGuitar
      @AlexFarranGuitar  Před 8 měsíci

      Haha that’s a fair point Martin! Louis says thanks 😺😄

  • @nicholasgeorge7825
    @nicholasgeorge7825 Před 6 měsíci +1

    Thank you so much for your lessons. Really helping me learn.

    • @AlexFarranGuitar
      @AlexFarranGuitar  Před 6 měsíci

      I’m so glad to hear that! Thanks for commenting 🙏🏻

  • @Podoco_music
    @Podoco_music Před 8 měsíci +3

    Fantastic video, clear instruction, beautiful playing. Thank you.

    • @AlexFarranGuitar
      @AlexFarranGuitar  Před 8 měsíci

      Glad you enjoyed the lesson, and thanks so much for the comment 🙏🏻

  • @ThomasHope73
    @ThomasHope73 Před 4 měsíci +1

    Just discovered this channel and have been bingeing on the lessons! Recommend it to my brother too.
    Alex, I hope your channel grows and rewards your obvious hard work. Well done and thank you! 👏

    • @AlexFarranGuitar
      @AlexFarranGuitar  Před 4 měsíci

      Wow, thanks so much Thomas! I really appreciate the comment my friend. Glad you enjoy the videos 🙏🏻🧡

  • @floydmorrison2025
    @floydmorrison2025 Před 8 měsíci +1

    I was a bit late to the party catching this video, so many apologies. Alex, this is by FAR the best explanation of diminished chords on youtube. I feel the need to comment 9 days after you posted it, because last night, as I was showing my younger brother (he's more of a singer/songwriter first position chords type player) how to play a few Beatles songs, I found myself attempting to explain to him how a diminished chord works in a song as a kind of a "glue" between other chords. It then occurred to me that, why am I trying to explain this to him, when Alex Farran already explained it WAYYYYY better than I ever could, right? So I cued up this video, and we both watched it together, guitars in hand, frequently pausing & rewinding the video. Your 20 minute video accomplished what I haven't been able to teach him at all over the last 20 years!!! He now understands how diminished chords work, and where to find them on the fretboard (repeating every minor 3rd, etc). A little bit of icing on the cake was that he also picked up a few 6, 6/9, & M7 & voicings, etc. You are such an exemplary teacher, Alex...calm, patient, organized, methodical, friendly... The look on my brother's face as he was learning and experiencing breakthrough "A HA" moments spoke volumes. He felt like he was being invited into the top secret diminished chord club!! 🤣 So I guess that means that you're basically the leader of the youtube guitar teaching Freemasons, Alex!!! 🤣🤣🤣 I'm super excited to see what you have in store for the next diminished lesson!! They're fascinating chords, aren't they?! I just KNOW that Django Reinhardt will be involved!!! Thank you so very much for this!!!! 🙏🙌

    • @floydmorrison2025
      @floydmorrison2025 Před 8 měsíci +1

      Oh, forgot to add that we both LOVED Louis!!! 🥰 I'm very keen to follow the further adventures of Louis!!! He should be in every single video!!!! 😍

    • @AlexFarranGuitar
      @AlexFarranGuitar  Před 7 měsíci

      Ah my friend!.. what a beautiful comment, thank you so much! Reading this has absolutely made my week! 🙏🏻 I’m so glad the lesson helped make sense of things, and to hear that it’s inspiring other players and songwriters is a real joy.
      Haha yes indeed.. Django is never far away, and will for sure be mentioned heavily in the next diminished video. Without giving too much away, I’m intending to cover a particular favourite trick of Django’s as well as many other soloists and composers in that pre-war swing era.
      Also, gotta get an augmented video done soon! 🤪
      Thanks as always for your comments mate, people like yourself represent the best of what this community and platform has to offer 🙏🏻🧡

    • @AlexFarranGuitar
      @AlexFarranGuitar  Před 7 měsíci

      Haha I will do my best to get him involved in every video.. he’s a little grumpy though .. a typical starlet 😂

  • @thelonglife5772
    @thelonglife5772 Před 8 měsíci +2

    Awesome teaching skills

    • @AlexFarranGuitar
      @AlexFarranGuitar  Před 8 měsíci +1

      Ah thanks man, that's very kind of you. I really appreciate the comment 🙏🏻

  • @kevinhines3487
    @kevinhines3487 Před 8 měsíci +1

    Wow! That was excellent, Alex. It took me two mornings, but I went through and played every single example. It's quite a fretboard workout and opens up a lot of possibilities. Thank you.

    • @AlexFarranGuitar
      @AlexFarranGuitar  Před 8 měsíci

      That is so good to hear!.. really glad you enjoyed it buddy! Thanks for the comment 🙏🏻

  • @jamesgaudette2036
    @jamesgaudette2036 Před 8 měsíci +2

    Another killer lesson! I’ll have to book a Zoom lesson soon 🎸😂

    • @AlexFarranGuitar
      @AlexFarranGuitar  Před 8 měsíci +1

      Thanks James!.. and yes, just drop an email over when you fancy booking something in 👌🏻

    • @jamesgaudette2036
      @jamesgaudette2036 Před 8 měsíci +1

      @@AlexFarranGuitar I definitely will!🎸🎵

  • @elrafa782
    @elrafa782 Před 4 měsíci +1

    Endless ! Love all these tricks to make music the fanciest ! Thanks Alex 🙏

  • @graemero5532
    @graemero5532 Před 8 měsíci +2

    Thank you Alex. Some very classy chords. Give Louis a clap from me, and a biscuit 😸 No apple for teacher, but I done my homework on Dorado Schmitt. One hell of a musician with a sense of humour to match. very cool. One you may enjoy if you have time, Robben Ford & Bill Evans recent colab "Common Ground." Robben has been on my playlists for years now, a true living legend who is not scared to experiment across genres.

    • @AlexFarranGuitar
      @AlexFarranGuitar  Před 8 měsíci +2

      Thanks Graeme! And Louis says thanks too! 😆
      Oh that’s great!.. glad you’re into Dorado Schmitt! 🙏🏻
      Thanks for the Robben Ford suggestion.. will check it out.. always liked Robben’s playing 👌🏻

  • @randyyount6293
    @randyyount6293 Před 8 měsíci +2

    I love these lessons! So much useful information. Thank you. Keep them coming.

    • @AlexFarranGuitar
      @AlexFarranGuitar  Před 8 měsíci +1

      Thanks Randy, that means a lot to me 🙏🏻☺️

  • @manuelfornies1667
    @manuelfornies1667 Před 8 měsíci +2

    Beautiful lesson! And very useful!! Thanks for sharing!

    • @AlexFarranGuitar
      @AlexFarranGuitar  Před 8 měsíci

      Thank you my friend, really happy you enjoyed it! 🙏🏻

  • @dekalbes335
    @dekalbes335 Před 8 měsíci +2

    Another good one ....thank you ( meow ) ...Alex !

  • @richdunn9799
    @richdunn9799 Před 8 měsíci +1

    Thanks for another great one Alex! I already understood the diminished fairly well but that ii-V-I voicing workout over 3 sets of 4 strings is priceless!! That move from CM7 to C6 with the root on the 3rd fret of the 5th string is a real tendon stretcher! Can't wait for the follow up on soloing!!

    • @AlexFarranGuitar
      @AlexFarranGuitar  Před 8 měsíci

      That’s so good to hear!.. thank you for the comment Ruch. Glad you got some new ideas from the lesson 🙏🏻☺️

  • @ericmintz6689
    @ericmintz6689 Před 8 měsíci +1

    Great lesson, Alex! It resolved a particular confusion about chord shapes and fret numbers. When I see the Diminished shape on the low E string, and the D, G, and B strings, my "guitarist's assumption" gives it the name of the note on the low E string (i.e,. notes on fret 5 of the low E string and frets 4, 5, 4 on the other three strings [A, F#, C, D#] are the root, flat dominant 7, flat 3, flat 5) of an A diminished chord. I now understand that my "guitarist's assumption" is invalid for the other role that exact same chord shape can have as a 7b9. Moved up one fret, to 6 , 5, 6, 5 so that the note on the low E string is a Bb and the others are G, C#, and E that chord is a rootless A7b9, with the flat 9 on the low E string, followed by the dominant 7, the 3 and the 5 (that last three now all "un-flatted"). This is a bit mind-blowing for me, but it makes perfect sense. Of course, depending on the context, that same chord could be called a Bb diminished, and my starting point of an A diminished could just as well be called a G#7b9. A long overdue light bulb has just turned on!!! 💡

    • @AlexFarranGuitar
      @AlexFarranGuitar  Před 8 měsíci

      Amazing comment! 👌🏻 So glad this has helped things to fall into place! Your summary of the diminished is absolutely spot-on my friend. Thanks for taking the time to comment.. I massively appreciate it 🙏🏻🍻

  • @user-cd3tq9ye2p
    @user-cd3tq9ye2p Před měsícem +1

    what a nice guitar

  • @thecarm27
    @thecarm27 Před 8 měsíci +1

    Really informative, definitely looking to book a zoom lesson. Thanks for doing what you do

    • @AlexFarranGuitar
      @AlexFarranGuitar  Před 8 měsíci +2

      Thanks for the comment, I really appreciate it 🙏🏻 Just drop me an email when you’re ready to book in! 👍🏻

  • @GrayT1
    @GrayT1 Před 8 měsíci +1

    Think you could play anything on that guitar and it would sound gorgeous. Just starting to expand my knowledge of "jazz" chords, great playing and teaching, thanks Alex.

    • @AlexFarranGuitar
      @AlexFarranGuitar  Před 8 měsíci +1

      Thanks for the kind words buddy.. glad you're enjoying getting into some jazz chords! Do check out my "jazz survival guide" and "THIS is what you should be doing with your triads" videos! ;)

  • @elwrongo
    @elwrongo Před 8 měsíci +2

    Used to good effect in Michelle by The Beatles

  • @MrJohnjellis
    @MrJohnjellis Před 8 měsíci +3

    Great lesson. I've been thinking a lot about how (for me) there are 2 different types of diminished chords. The first type of diminished chord actually functions like a dominant chord (or a dominant 7b9 chord). Your lesson cover this first style of diminished chord.
    But then there are the other (more old-fashioned) diminished chords you find in old songs. For example, G to Go7 to Ami7 to D7. The Go7 has no dominant function. It's just there to create a bit of tension before moving to the Am7. Same thing when you hear a vamp like: G to Bbo7 to Am7 to D7.
    Additionally, there's the #IV diminished chord that usually resolves back to the root chord, like this progression in C, which is so popular (and used in the Lovin' Spoonful's Daydream). F to F#o7 to C to A7.

    • @AlexFarranGuitar
      @AlexFarranGuitar  Před 8 měsíci +4

      Shhh don’t spoil my next 2 diminished chord videos! 🤫
      Joking aside, that’s exactly how I think of it too. Those are certainly the 3 primary uses. This lesson of course was intended to just tackle one of those uses.
      There are other lessons where I mention the other aspects.. going into the Barry Harris theory of there being 2 dims commonly in a turnaround.. one a semitone below the ii and one a semitone above the ii ..(bviii dim being the same as I dim of course). But these definitely deserve individual lessons of their own. I plan to cover the I dim and how Django used it in solos over a static I or even over the V on some occasions too.
      Also the other common use of the dim found especially in the pre-war jazz era; the I dim Major 7th.. often leading to the V. So much to cover!
      Thanks for the comment buddy 🙏🏻🍻

    • @MrJohnjellis
      @MrJohnjellis Před 8 měsíci

      Ha ha........I'm really looking forward to the next lesson on diminished chords.
      I do like how a #IV diminished chord "sounds like it's resolving in a dominant fashion", especially if the 5th is in the bass of the I chord. In G, C#o7 > G/D.
      Thanks for clearing up the various types of diminished chords!

  • @9outof10
    @9outof10 Před 8 měsíci +2

    Flashback, I'm in year 12 and my music teacher is telling me there are only 3(?) diminished chords, just inverted differently

    • @AlexFarranGuitar
      @AlexFarranGuitar  Před 8 měsíci +1

      Haha, man I wish I’d had a music teacher who told us that! 😎

    • @9outof10
      @9outof10 Před 8 měsíci +1

      @@AlexFarranGuitar so Bdim resolves to C because it implies a G that isn't played; presumably that means the same chord if you called it Ddim would resolve to Eb because it implies a Bb that isn't played etc
      Seriously dredging up my Grade 5 Theory here...

    • @AlexFarranGuitar
      @AlexFarranGuitar  Před 8 měsíci +1

      @@9outof10 you’ve got it!.. each diminished could resolve to 4 possible places. Powerful knowledge especially if you want to stealthily shift to another key centre 👌🏻

    • @testpattern098765432
      @testpattern098765432 Před 8 měsíci +1

      That makes sense because when you get to the fourth one you are at the next inversion of the first. Although it’s true it is not as useful as knowing when to use them.

  • @randyyount6293
    @randyyount6293 Před 8 měsíci +2

    Are diminished chords and 7th chords typically the same thing? In other words, is the 7th chord always a diminished chord?

    • @AlexFarranGuitar
      @AlexFarranGuitar  Před 8 měsíci

      That's a great question! So, let's say we're thinking of just triads in the key of C for example; the V is a G Major triad and the vii is a B diminished triad.. you can see the notes from a B dim triad would represent the 3rd, 5th and b7 of a G7 chord.
      If we take that Bdim triad and stack another 3rd on top making it a Bm7b5 chord, this extra note, (the A in this case), would be the 9 on the G7 chord.. G9 would be the resulting combination of these two elements.
      Now, what we're doing here is slightly different in that we're using a full B diminished 7th chord, (which has an Ab rather than a A note from the Bm7b5 chord).. thus adding a flat 9 as opposed to a natural 9 on our G7 chord. There are a lot of ways to think about this, but a fairly elegant way is to think of it as if we're borrowing from the parallel minor key.
      Man, a tough one to answer in writing, wish I could just show you!.. perhaps I'll cover this in a follow up video!

    • @randyyount6293
      @randyyount6293 Před 8 měsíci

      @@AlexFarranGuitar hah. My head is spinning a bit. Gotta grab my guitar and look at it with my fingers. Thanks for the detailed reply.

  • @StuartwasDrinkell
    @StuartwasDrinkell Před 3 měsíci +1

    I love diminished in conjunction with secondary dominants.❤ real quick pass play 2nd dom into dim leading to destination...my pieces are becoming dominated by this..,??? In C maj can i play em7b5 into fmajor ...sounds alright to me?..

    • @AlexFarranGuitar
      @AlexFarranGuitar  Před 3 měsíci +1

      Thanks buddy! Yes indeed, that’ll work. Like a rootless C9 to Fmajor (V-I type movement as you say) 👌🏻

  • @adamcherry434
    @adamcherry434 Před 19 dny +1

    Nice
    What don’t you know?
    Will let that osmosis in for a night or two and watch it again

    • @AlexFarranGuitar
      @AlexFarranGuitar  Před 19 dny

      Man, there's so much left for me to learn.. but that's the joy of it!.. it's a lifetime's work. Glad you enjoyed it buddy :)