Giant Steps 2025 The "free" version

[pamosmusic]

If we’d all like to stop being so dour, we might say that this thread is evidence that OPs video inspired a dozen people to listen to Giant Steps all day.

Which is quite a nice thing, if you’re into that.

[wolflen]

I started GS at a slow tempo and just played the 1 3 5 of each chord..after I had the progression memorized I inverted the triads..when I felt
good with that I added the 7th tone to each..this of course brought progress to a halt.

OK I omitted the root and just played the 3 5 7..this brought a new flavor into the mix and chord inversions now have
the ability to be expanded..I did this with each chord tone. It did change the flavor of the progression.

It is a constant study for me..I try to use some of the thinking into other works..some hit and miss but a great learning tool

GS to me is the rubiks cube of progressions

[kris]

I noticed that young jazz musicians are more likely to play GS.Perhaps this is a big challenge and I appreciate it very much.
Gemius John Coltrane is forever alive.

[Mick-7]

I agree with what Joe Pass said. I can do GS (possibly not the way nature intended) but after a few choruses it becomes repetitious. And, to me, that's death.

Have You Met Miss Jones is less stringent, the bridge has the same progression of V7 > Maj7 chords moving in major 3rds. In fact, I suspect that's where Trane got the idea, the melody too there is similar to the Giant Steps melody.

[nyc chaz]

Why I even bother.....

Now where's that ignore thingy...ah yes here it is....
S

Everyone was posting interesting clips of Giant Steps until you derailed the thread with your passive aggressive,oh i enjoyed the clips but it was on uncouth.Sorry it's either you enjoyed it or it was uncouth,can't be both.Hit your safe space ignore button,it doesn't stop me from commenting.

[pamosmusic]

Everyone was posting interesting clips of Giant Steps until you derailed the thread with your passive aggressive,oh i enjoyed the clips but it was on uncouth.Sorry it's either you enjoyed it or it was uncouth,can't be both.Hit your safe space ignore button,it doesn't stop me from commenting.

This would be a good time to note that by arguing about this, you're derailing the thread as much as the guy complaining about derailing the thread. And that by complaining this vociferously about someone being too sensitive, you come off as ... well ... a bit sensitive.

battle not with monsters, lest you become one, etc etc etc.

[pamosmusic]

Have You Met Miss Jones is less stringent, the bridge has the same progression of V7 > Maj7 chords moving in major 3rds. In fact, I suspect that's where Trane got the idea, the melody too there is similar to the Giant Steps melody.

Anyone know how he came up with the idea?

I really don't know, but Miss Jones sounds plausible. That same key change isnt uncommon in small doses — happens in I Remember You too.

[James W]

Anyone know how he came up with the idea?

I really don't know, but Miss Jones sounds plausible. That same key change happens in I Remember You too.

Chord changes in major thirds go back some time, at least to the first half of the 19th century in European classical music, explored by the likes of Schubert and Liszt, though not as fast-moving as in GS. Coltrane was experimenting with these types of changes in 1957 with his tune 'Nita'. I also recall Mike Stern thinking Coltrane may have been influenced by the Slonimsky book, though I think that may have been a bit later.

[pamosmusic]

Chord changes in major thirds go back some time, at least to the first half of the 19th century in European classical music, explored by the likes of Schubert and Liszt, though not as fast-moving as in GS. Coltrane was experimenting with these types of changes in 1957 with his tune 'Nita'. I also recall Mike Stern thinking Coltrane may have been influenced by the Slonimsky book, though I think that may have been a bit later.

I knew about the Slonimsky book, but always figured that was some of his middle-late melodic stuff.

Im not familiar enough with Slonimsky — is there some potential link with Giant Steps?

[James W]

I knew about the Slonimsky book, but always figured that was some of his middle-late melodic stuff.

Im not familiar enough with Slonimsky — is there some potential link with Giant Steps?

I'd assumed also that Slonimsky was the source of some of the mid/late melodic stuff - it still might be, but according to Lewis Porter the second half of GS is derived from something in Slonimsky's Thesaurus.

[wolflen]

I'd assumed also that Slonimsky was the source of some of the mid/late melodic stuff - it still might be, but according to Lewis Porter the second half of GS is derived from something in Slonimsky's Thesaurus.

years back I remember reading his study of Slonimsky and the augmented scale..which outlines major chords in major third intervals that are key in GS.

The melody line could well be something derived from those studies.

[nyc chaz]

This would be a good time to note that by arguing about this, you're derailing the thread as much as the guy complaining about derailing the thread. And that by complaining this vociferously about someone being too sensitive, you come off as ... well ... a bit sensitive.

battle not with monsters, lest you become one, etc etc etc.

And your repeated comments are not derailing the thread. Maybe take your own advice.I'll comment how i like if that's ok with you.

[Mick-7]

I'm not familiar enough with Slonimsky — is there some potential link with Giant Steps?

The section of the book entitled Ditone Progression: equal division of one octave into three parts (which starts on page 27).

The Notated Lick Compendium

Slonimsky's book was first published in 1947.

[pamosmusic]

And your repeated comments are not derailing the thread. Maybe take your own advice.I'll comment how i like if that's ok with you.

It is, actually!

[pamosmusic]

The section of the book entitled Ditone Progression: equal division of one octave into three parts (which starts on page 27).

The Notated Lick Compendium

Slonimsky's book was first published in 1947.

Ahhh okay. This is ringing a bell.