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How to Play “So What” – Miles Davis (Complete Jazz Piano Lesson)

Pamela York

19,457 views

In this lesson, we break down ‘So What’ by Miles Davis from Kind of Blue, one of the most important modal jazz tunes ever recorded. You’ll learn the form, chord structure, piano voicings, bassline, and practical improvisation ideas you can start using right away.

This is perfect for jazz pianists and anyone looking to better understand modal harmony and how to improvise over ‘So What.’

PDF: https://musescore.com/user/95181742/s...

00:00 Intro
00:25 The form
01:06 The chords
02:28 The bassline melody
4:00 Improvisation ideas - left hand comping
4:40 Sequences
5:40 Triad pairs
6:45 McCoy Tyner idea
07:11 Blues
08:08 Parallel voicings/clusters
09:11 Sidestepping
09:32 Bebop language
10:42 Putting it all together
11:36 Conclusion

If you enjoyed this video, please check out my Jazz Piano Tutorials Playlist:
Jazz Piano Tutorials

Website:
https://pamelayork.com/

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#jazzpiano #jazzpianotutorial #milesdavis #sowhat #kindofblue #modaljazz #jazzlesson #pianolesson #jazzmusic #jazztheory #improvisation

20 Comments

@PamelaYork Creator 3 months ago Pinned

Thanks for watching! What improvisation idea from this lesson are you most excited to try?

@arthurwilding5829 3 months ago

This is the most concise and clearest practical description i have encountered in years.Congratulations and best wishes from Wales; Britain

@kevinhornbuckle 2 weeks ago

Good for horn players to work with. Thank you!

@Planet3142 3 days ago

Excellent tuition to my returning to an old favourite of mine which i shall get back to playing😊

@dharmelin1 13 days ago

Outstanding. Thank you!

@johnedp1973 8 days ago

thank you!

@robertmayhew98 3 weeks ago

Hi Pamela, thank you very much for you very excellent tutorial on ‘So What’s

@sergek4354 3 months ago

Thank you! Your lessons are great.

@66Funkbox 3 months ago

This is a brilliant lesson.

@raybrown6992 3 months ago

So many precious ideas. I’m so glad I came across your channel, Pam. Many thanks 🙏🏽

@haller1999 3 months ago (edited)

Pleasure listening to you play!

@josephbrian455 3 months ago

I'm an electric guitar player whose favorite musician became Bill Evans over the years. I legitimately do not understand jazz music. I needed this. So glad you posted it.

@ronmasters751 3 months ago

I had previously thought that playing this myself was permanently out of reach. Now, a definite maybe—worth trying!

@VasaMusic438 3 months ago

wonderful hands!!!

@arthurwilding5829 3 months ago

I.have watched tbks tutorial over and over.again.Quite outstanding in .content and clarity AW

@powerdither7309 3 months ago

This is an excellent breakdown! Very clear and precise. You capture the mood really well.
You make it seem so easy...lol.

@rickkowalski2155 3 months ago

This is fantastic. I'm originally a guitarist, but recently have played bass for some shows.
"So What" is one of my earliest musical memories, and this really made that song take on an extra dimension for me. Btw, the McCoy Tyner licks sure have a Dave Brubeck accent the way you played them...😉
Consider me subscribed!