Chordplay - 'The Chords of Frank Zappa'
Vložit
- čas přidán 27. 03. 2019
- Here's the next episode of Chordplay and this time we're taking a look at some of the interesting and lush chord varieties hiding in the music of legendary guitarist/composer Frank Zappa.
Zappa's music is notoriously known to include unusual, challenging, and abstract elements of music, but this lesson taps into some of the more attainable textures and sounds found in his work.
This includes taking a look at a few one and two-chord modal vamps commonly found in his music, which occasionally revolved around using Lydian and Dorian-based modal tonalities.
Once a few sample chords and progressions are located, this episode continues with a little "chord-talk" regarding the songs 'Zoot Allures' and 'Black Napkins,' and closes with the hauntingly beautiful chords found in 'Sleep Dirt.'
Give this episode a view, leave some comments and feedback, and please subscribe to Late Night Lessons - THANK YOU!
Become a Patreon supporter for Late Night Lessons - www.patreon.com/latenightlessons
Zoot Allures is one of the best chord progressions I've ever heard in any tune.
Yessss god it’s a chef’s kiss of a song
Agree!!!
The bass goes so well with it, true composer he was
I always thought that this tune stood out in the Zappa repertoire. Can't really compare it to any other Zappa piece, highly original and interesting and stands well the test of time.
My favorite guitar solo of all time is at the end of Zoot Allures. What a dynamic piece of utter bliss.
You are the guitar teacher that many of us wished we had when we were starting out.
absoulutely
Frank Zappa?!!!! Just when I think your channel can't get any better!!! Thanks again, David!
These two albums in the background have been very important in my life. And: the chords which end "The Torture never stops" are really nice as well!
"mind is like a parachute : it"s works while it's open" that's the best quote about art. Thanks master Zappa to always puch the limits of creativiity !
This quote, which is often attributed to FZ, is actually much older.
Needs to get credit as a brilliant composer which he was!
You sure no one credits him as a composer?! I think a LOT of people do and have--for decades now. Zubin Mehta, The London Symphony Orchestra, and countless others wouldn't have been performing his music going all the way back to the 60s otherwise.
a composer. uhhhhhhhh make it stop
I didn't get Frank Zappa's music until I was older. I discovered it through Steve Vai. When I first heard Vai's album flexible I was like what is this, but it grew on me. Then I started listening to Zappa and I could easily see how Vai was influenced. Zappa's music is really complex and is a journey for your ears.
Same. I still have my original vinyl of Flex-able
Saw Frank twice. Both unforgettable. MSG and CT. Always cool to occasionally see him sit and smoke and watch the band as they jam.
Thank you. I want to share something that may help someone I hope. (Forgive me, it's going to take a few minutes to get there)
When I was a pup, (born in '56)
There were some abilities I had that seem to be natural, they were gifts but I didn't know that at the time.
I thought that anyone that was good at something, just did them. Their abilities came naturally.
I began to play guitar. I refused to learn other people's music, names of chords or practice scales.
I was a moron.
Instead of learning theory, how to read or write music, I played what I came up with, but I didn't grow.
You just showed me "Sleep dirt."
I'm now 64. It is a huge waste of time to dwell on the past.
My point, all you folks who take the time to learn, I salute you.
Teachers, I thank you.
And I am grateful for the gifts I have been given. Even the gift of learning how my pride got in the way of me learning, I have learned.
John 1:1, to the Maker of all things.
The Ultimate Hero and Teacher.
Holy Phuk... You deserve a rig rundown. My man. If you don't have a PhD in music theory.. I would be shocked. You are something.
Thanks for this. I'm grateful to have seen Frank several times at the end of the 70s and beginning of the 80s. The shows were magisterial!
More Zappa, please! Thanks David.
Fantastic analysis! Some of my absolute favorites here! Love Frank!
I endorse what many of the other students say. You are the teacher that we all wished we had discovered in our early days of struggle with the instrument. Your Modus Operandi puts across the message in a very reassuring way….love it. Great Teacher.
Came for the E sus2 #11 stayed and learned so much more. Seriously. I'm in Zappa rabbit hole these days and was tying to figure out how to play this chord I kept hearing and clicked on this to see if you knew it and you did. Nice explanations I learned a lot here.
I got to see frank zappa a few times and ill tell you Dweezle does a really good job of it. I saw Zappa plays Zappa and it brought tears yo my eyes. Dweezle has done a fine job
That's totally awesome that you saw Frank!
: o WOW : o
I did catch Dweezil last year on his Choice Cuts Tour and it was spectacular.
It was amazing to watch him perform his father's music with such a finely tuned degree of precision and a devoted focus with making it sound as close to Frank as possible.
I was blown away.
: )
Thank you again and take care!
@@LateNightLessons i like when he has the old players on.
I saw Frank 3 times in the 70’s and I’ve seen Dweezil twice. All 5 shows were just incredible. Dweezil is doing the world a favor by bring his dad’s music to so many more people than Frank could in his too-short life.
I love Zoot Allures, ❤ and its bass line is so tasty. I used to play that tune on guitar 15-20 years ago, now I want to learn it again.
FZ music is always full of inspiration ⚡️👍🏽
What a superb video. Really floats my boat!! Beautiful chords, and has probably sent me off on a Zappa odyssey (something I’ve not managed yet, in fifty-odd years!!).
Welcome aboard the USS Zappa. You’ll be back from your Zappa odyssey in about the same time it took Odysseus to get back from his!
Beautifully presented chord structure,
with wonderful disjointed Zappa sound
and my soul washed in fantastic music. "God did Bless Frank" !!!
Great work. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you.
Great episode, thanks for an insight into the creative genius of FZ. Daunting stuff, but inspiring.
Thank you so much and thanks for watching!
: )
Thanks for taking the deep dive and bringing back the treasure.
Brilliant material. Thank you for sharing.
I watch your stuff off and on. For me you are one of the most thoughtful teachers out there. I don’t even know if what you do is best described as ‘teaching’. Its like taking part in an interesting discussion. And then you go away and experiment. Love your stuff man.
Thank you David what a wonderful insight - love those haunting chords - going to have to work on the changes.
Fantastic job ..... excellent excellent
Very nice and brief explanation of FZ work. Your chord play is so helpful. Glad that I found this channel.
Zoot Allures is Amazing!!And Sleep Dirt is a most sad,nostalgic Zappa song for me...Probably because of documentary just after his death..with that song in the end..
More Zappa!!
Very cool and unagitated.
Thank you and hope to see/ hear more.
Thanks for this insightful and lucid journey to the centre of the Frank. I’m so excited to find this channel. Great work man!
Thanks for posting! Stuff I did not know and appreciate being able to go try it now.
Fabulous!! Thank you!
my favorite episode to date... we must correspond sometime... keep up the great work sir!!
More zappa please I love your video breakdowns!
That first chord and Lydian noodle gave me a massive flashback to seeing Joe Satriani playing Flying in a Blue Dream in Glasgow 30-odd years ago ! Having strummed for years you are inspiring me to actually think about the fretboard and PRACTICE. I owe you a great deal for that David. Thanks.
(And before anyone comments that Satch was playing something else….remember I’m very much a learner….but it took me there to some amazing memories.)
Nailed it!
I learned so much from this. It really opened up some ideas and helped me to improve my confidence on the fretboard. Thank you very much.
what a great lesson, thank you so much!!!
More Zappa please!!
Thank you, wow, so interesting breaking it down.... lovely resonances of Frank Zappa ❤
Great video!
Roughly the 4 minute mark I hear the Zappa influence on Vai during the flex able era while you’re playing
Pretty impressive man
Totally. Salamanders in the Sun has Frank written all over it.
Little Green Men!
I'll never forget the first time I ever heard Vai play. I saw a friend in Berkeley across the street from La Val's north side pizza (owned by the Fogerty's, Johns brothers) with his boom box and he played me The Attitude Song. It forever changed what I saw as what was even possible on the electric guitar, and immediately became one of my biggest influences. Then we got stoned and listened to the rest. I was so hooked, and this also lead me to Zappa's music.
Thanks for this lesson and sharing some harmonic aromas of a masterful musical chef. I'll have to refer back to this several times and I don't mind. Bye for now
Wonderfull chords and a great video
Usually, I don't connect with one of my Google account Chrome profiles (I have fifty profiles, most of them local), but I had to do it to give you a thumb up.
You did an amazing job showing us, with the sweetest calm and control, some of the coolest Zappa's chords. And as a fan, I own you one.
When you played those two chords at 6:16, a subtle smile instantly popped on my face. I think 2021 will be the year where I'll really learn guitar and dig into Zappa's content, thanks to you.
I just watched this for the second time -- great stuff David -- FZ rules! I wish I could hit LIKE again
なぜ特定の方法でつづるかの例が与えられただけです。また、これは少し焦点がずれていますが、鋭いキーの F、F# は文字通り誤称、または E# が正確な 4 番目の B リディアンです。12tETにこだわらない楽器のイントネーションはそのまま
What I learned from tis lesson: First compose, analyze the chord progressions later!
Thank you for this. I've loved Zappa since 1979, and can brag that I used to play Sleep Dirt almost note for note!
Nicely done. Even though I did ok w theroy in college it was a struggle. Man I admire those like you that have it nailed. I realize it's all about putting in the time.
u nailed Zappa's phrasing
I've always loved those chords. Thanks for making them approachable. Your my favorite guitar channel. Your an awesome player.
totally agree!
Nice job! One interesting fact: in the Black Napkins solo, Zappa actually pairs the c# minor chord with the Dorian scale (rather than Phrygian). Therefore, the two scales C# Dorian and D Lydian state different diatonic collections. It’s a good demo of his preferences for Dorian and Lydian.
I appreciate your modal analysis on B. Napkins only it reminds me how dadgum rusty I am on my scales/theory! ;-( Another problem I have - kinda dyslexic - is that I played the trumpet in college when I studied music back in the 70s, and it's keyed in B-flat so I was always transposing up a step...so I have to not 2nd guess myself when you say C# Dorian to not start my practice on D#...if that makes sense? (Ha, the truth is really I need to 'get in the shed' and run all 12 of the bastiges in major, minor, then harmonic minor. Then pentatonic, diminished, +5...oh boy!
Besides the dreamy mesmerizing quality of the chords Frank's soloing was all about "tension & release"
You should get a youtube award just for this guitar lesson
Wonderful
Very interesting! Thanks!
Fair warning and Zoot Alleurs ...buena combinacion amigo!!!!!
10:48 You can find 1975 performances of "Sleep Napkins" where Sleep Dirt was played before going into Black Napkins.
I bought Freak Out at the time and saw the Mothers in London, at the Palladium.
Absolutely Love the Hot Rats album!
Make more Zappa videos for sure!!!
You got it!
: )
Take care and stay tuned for more videos!
Dude,... Thanks for this.
Saw Zappa in 78' SUNY Stony broook. Been game on ever since! Still have ticket.
outrageously great lesson. even more so for Zappaphiles!
Dude if you did a Johnny Guitar watson video that would be awesome !!
Thanks brother.
you had me at black napkins
David you are my favorite guitar teacher by far.
Zoom Allures (on your desktop) is a great album! Find her finer, wind up working in a gas station... just a classic... “give me five dollar bill and an overcoat too, five dollar bill and a Florsheim shoe...”
Dweezil is an amazing guitar player
Saw FrankZ back in the 80’s with Steve Vai,great show.
Can really hear the influence on Vai's music
Thanks!
3:36 that exact chord shape is the first chord of a Satriani tune called Lords of Karma. It's more intimidating/scary because it is missing the maj 3rd. Lydian is a great sound. mystical, can make you cry even. The Watermelons tune by Zappa is probably a great example of it. nice vid.
Just heard “sleep dirt”....makes me wish Zappa played more acoustic guitar. This video makes it seem a little more manageable. Thanks!
Brilliant! Diolch Brawd!!!
From 2:25 some real great information about the use of lydian!
good very intersant than´ks !!!!
Excellent tutorial my friend, we all know that you won't wind up working in a gas station 😊
Subbed. Great upload, hoping to see some more Zappa explanations and examples.
Thanks Dave!
I have had a few requests for more Frank and some Dweezil as well, so I'll see what I can do! Take care!
: )
Love these voicings.glad I've been studying alot of different chords.id be totally lost.lol.found some cool chords that actually fit in a major chord scale.major 7 flat 5s major13#11 major 9 #11s.on the 4 chord I believe
14:15 loved it
I'm finally back to playing - Jeff Beck passing really gutted me. Thanks for helping - i thought FZ used a lot of implied chords.
Snappin"! Thanks
Thank you!!!!
: )
Frank Zappa's the greatest!!! His music was unbeatable!!!
I love the incredible guitar sound and the bla bla teaching!
Zoot alleurs y fair warning .... buena combinacion!!!!!!!
Hey David, just started watching this (haven’t finished) and had to go grab my guitar! I immediately came up with a hard-to-play but cool-sounding 4-chord thing. How can I send you some chord diagrams?
I saw about 4 of Zappa's Halloween Shows at NYC Palladium
so thats where steve vai gets his cord ideas from
I enjoyed this almost as much as i enjoy Frank Zappa. That's saying something!
hilarious , i not sure i understood too much , but his interview about mixing edgar somebody to music was happenning = "dancin' fool" was aNiMaTeD :-) .
Saw FZ 6 times. The best performer ever!
An easy and interesting way to generate Lydian sounds for Major or Major 7 (#11) chords is to use a Minor Pentatonic Scale half-step below the root of the chord. So, if the chord is C Major 7, play B Minor Pentatonic -- B, D, E, F#, A, B
(Saw Frank many times in concert) :-) Good video, thanks.
Thank you and yes - pentatonic substitutions are great!
I learned them from studying some of Scott Henderson's lessons and ideas.
Great stuff!
Thanks for watching and take care!
: )
@@LateNightLessons I'll look for Henderson's work, thank you! He's a great player.
Bruce Saunders has a great little book called Jazz Pentatonics.
It's all good stuff.
I use the Lydian Chromatic Concept by George Russell as my "big concept" and the Pentatonics are cool sub-sets within the larger scales. :-)
crazy intelligent dissonance... so dark and sad, but beautiful.
regards
10:09 those chords on that song are peak FZ -- did you know that he supposedly told Dweezil that there are three songs he requested that no one ever play after his death : Black Napkins - Zoot Allures - Watermelon in Easter Hay -
Guess his kids didn't listen...
Yes, I've read this before. Looking at the three numbers though I'm wondering if we've misconstrued the meaning? The numbers are probably three of the only Zappa numbers that could be (mis)construed as being emotive as opposed to an intellectual / head excercise. Being the arch cynic he was I wonder if Zappa meant he didn't want anyone playing these three numbers as memorial numbers after his death at his funeral or wake so as to avoid any over sentimental confusion? Just a thought.
Hi Christo, do you have a source?
@@BeauJames59 I can't remember where I read that -- it was years ago -- pretty sure it was some interview with Dweezil
@@CVGuitar I recall it being that he only wanted Dweezil to play the songs he considered his magnum opus. Two for sure I recall are RNDZL and Outside Now
Jesus!
Liked and subscribed
i feel like i met u at a frolf park. you shared your hackie-sack with me. we smoked out of a pop can. it was at a fest. glowsticks may have been involved. freeman fly but you can shred. bless
Excellent lesson, Dave. If you do a vid on his soloing technique please include the Mudshark arpeggio from Latex Solar Beef.
Thank you BIG time and I'll see what I can do with that request too!
: )
@@LateNightLessons I tried learning Transylvania Boogie, but memorizing all those nuances was making my brain hurt. Not physically impossible, but the phrasing makes it a real pain.
I think the big thing with him (and others too) is that when he played it, that's just how he felt it and played it.
So it just came out naturally (or unnaturally) like that, but when we try to play it we have to count/think and attempt to feel it the same way as they did when it just came out naturally for them.
I think that's the hardest thing with rhythm and counting music (especially if it's complicated), as the truth lies in either being able to feel the rhythm of what you're playing or not.
If it's an AC/DC song or a simple beat, that's one thing, but when it's something like Zappa or King Crimson (or whoever) it creates an entirely different hurdle and makes their music 100 times harder to play than something "average" or "basic."
Mastering rhythm and groove is very hard for people, and it really is one of those "you feel it" or "you don't" scenarios.
You can totally teach/learn it, but those with it happening naturally are almost always a hundred miles ahead of everyone else.
And that's totally not fair - hahaha!
Or at least, that's my two cents...
: )
@@LateNightLessons Exactly!
there's nothing to learn to his soloing.... other than he played modally, he wing'd it
I love the Keyboard chords in left channel of Treacherous cretins.
There's so much to listen to and enjoy.
Zappa is like a musical ocean that we can swim around in and attempt to learn from - a true master!
Thanks for watching!
: )
Ditto. That’s Tommy Mars right? The Shut Up N Play (and Trance Fusion) family of recordings is so rich and interesting, in no small part because of the interplay between band and soloist.
The lick at 4:01 was an instant subscribe