Coltrane changes

How to Practice the Giant Steps Cycle: Video Tutorial and Supplementary Material

My preoccupation with John Coltrane’s tune “Giant Steps” now ebbs, now flows, but always continues. I’m not the most fabulous alto sax man who has ever played the changes, certainly not in the league of Kenny Garrett, but I have my own approach, which I strive to make less digital and more lyrical. I’ve even had the temerity to write a book of licks and patterns on “Giant Steps” titled The Giant Steps Scratch Pad, available for instruments of every key.

In the following video tutorial, I share a couple approaches to practicing the Giant Steps cycle that I have found profitable in my own practice sessions. The video begins with a bit of theory; however, the theory behind “Giant Steps” is more than adequately covered elsewhere in greater depth, as in this excellent article by Dan Adler, and it isn’t the thrust of the tutorial. Rather, I address a more pragmatic concern: How do you wrap your fingers around the Giant Steps cycle? The tips I share in the tutorial certainly aren’t the only way you can or should tackle the cycle, but I think you’ll find them helpful. Briefly, I explain how to run both a one-bar pattern and a more extensive two-bar lick through the cycle.

The two patterns used in the video were taken from The Giant Steps Scratch Pad. For your convenience, I’m supplying them for you here. Note that these excerpts are from the Eb edition, suitable for alto and baritone saxophonists; if you play a C, Bb, or bass clef instrument, you’ll need to transpose (though editions of my book are available in your key). Click on the images to enlarge them.

One-bar pattern:

One-bar pattern through the cycle:

Two-bar lick:

Two-bar lick through all three keys of the cycle:

And now, here is the video. It’s obviously a homespun effort, so please bear with its flaws. I haven’t figured out how to read from my PowerPoint notes and still look directly at the camera, and as for that stupid deer fly that lands on my forehead while I’m signing off and roams around like an astronaut exploring the lunar surface, I wasn’t aware of it till I got home and viewed the clip. You think I’m going to do a redo just for that? It’s part of filming outdoors: mosquitoes setting up drilling operations on my nice, pink flesh, deer flies exploring my noggin—I deal with it and you can too.

Go ahead and chuckle. But if you’re a jazz improviser who’s tackling “Giant Steps,” then I think you’ll nevertheless find this tutorial worth your while.

July 10, 2014 by Robert Hartig

Filed Under: Jazz, Jazz Improvisation and Technique, Music, Saxophone, Tutorials, Uncategorized, Video Tagged With: Coltrane changes, Giant Steps cycle, how to play Giant Steps, jazz improvisation tutorials, jazz licks, practicing jazz

Coming Soon: The Giant Steps Scratch Pad in All 12 Keys

My book The Giants Steps Scratch Pad is enjoying modest success. While it’s not flying off the shelves, musicians are buying it, and I find that gratifying because I haven’t done much to market it other than display it on this and a couple of other jazz websites, and run a few ads in Craigslist.

Available in separate editions for C, Bb, Eb, and bass cleff instruments, the book supplies 155 licks and patterns designed to help jazz instrumentalists master the Giant Steps cycle. To the best of my knowledge, there’s no other resource out there like it that helps musicians actually practice Coltrane changes. The closest I’ve seen has been for guitar players.

But enough about that. If you want to learn more about The Giant Steps Scratch Pad, visit my sales page. This post is to announce the upcoming release of a new edition of the Scratch Pad that covers all 12 keys.

I’ve had this edition in mind for a while. I finally got the project underway but have held back announcing it until I felt certain that I’d see it through to completion. Today, with just three keys left to go, I think it’s safe to say that this new, all-keys edition is gonna happen. I hope to wrap up the main grunt work within the next few days. I wish it was as easy as simply hitting the transposition button on MuseScore, but while transcription software is great, it doesn’t eliminate the need for hands-on editing. So I’ve been sifting through each key page by page, changing the range where necessary, correcting wrong notes, inserting and deleting accidentals, and so forth.

Once I’m finished, I’ll proofread the results to make doubly sure that the manuscript is glitch-free. Then I’ll assemble the whole lot and make it available as a PDF download. I will not offer it as a print edition through Lulu.com unless I get requests to do so. Judging from my sales of the present editions, people would much rather download the PDF and get the guts of the book instantly for cheaper rather than pay the shipping costs (even though the full-color cover looks sooooo sharp!). And I’m fine with that. Prepping a print edition is a lot of extra work; I have to charge more for it in order to make less than half the profit; and Lulu’s insistence on putting a single, slim book inside a cardboard box that costs nearly $4.00 to ship is just plain crazy, not to mention a sales-killer.

Anyway, stay tuned. It’ll still take a week or two, but The Giant Steps Scratch Pad for all 12 keys is on the way. I haven’t determined the price yet, but it’ll be reasonable, something that’ll let you still pay your utility bills while helping me to pay mine. I should add that this edition is written in treble clef. I may do a bass clef edition in all 12 keys as well–I’m not sure right now. One thing at a time.

November 12, 2011 by Robert Hartig

Filed Under: Jazz, Jazz Improvisation and Technique, Music, Saxophone, Uncategorized Tagged With: Coltrane changes, Giant Steps cycle, Giant Steps in all 12 keys, Giant Steps licks, Giant Steps Scratch Pad, how to play Coltrane changes, how to play Giant Steps, jazz improvisation exercises, jazz theory, music books, practice Giant Steps, practicing jazz improvisation

Now Available: Bass Clef Edition of “The Giant Steps Scratch Pad”

A few minutes ago I completed the last of the downloads, filled in the information fields, and then, with one final click of the mouse, published the bass clef edition of “The Giant Steps Scratch Pad.”

At last! I can finally say that I’ve accomplished the goals I set for this book as it evolved from my initial concept to something considerably more ambitious. The “Scratch Pad” is now available in all four editions: C, Bb, Eb, and bass clef.

So, trombonists, bass players, tuba players, and–well, have I missed anyone?–whoever else lives and moves in the bass clef universe, here is the practice resource for Coltrane changes that you’ve been hoping for, pining for, craving with all the intensity of your bass clef hearts. All kidding aside, if you’re at a stage of development on your instrument where you want to tackle the challenge of “Giant Steps,” this book is for you. It’s made for the woodshed and will help you build formidable chops for John Coltrane’s rite-of-passage tune.

Instant PDF download, $9.50
C edition
Bb edition
Eb edition
Bass clef edition

Print editions–retail quality with full-color cover, $10.95 plus shipping: order here.

September 20, 2010 by Robert Hartig

Filed Under: Band, Jazz, Jazz Improvisation and Technique, Music, Saxophone Tagged With: Bass clef edition of The Giant Steps Scratch Pad, bass players, Coltrane changes, practice resource for Coltrane changes, tackle the challenge of Giant Steps, trombonists, tuba players, woodshed

Voice Leading for the Giant Steps Cycle

Both in print and on the Internet, there’s no paucity of theoretical material available when it comes to “Giant Steps” and Coltrane changes. Of course, theoretical knowledge can’t take the place of time in the woodshed hashing out the changes on your instrument. But it can help you make some sense of what you’re practicing by revealing the order in what can at first seem like an odd, rambling array of chords. Once you understand some of the voice leading in “Giant Steps,” you’ll be able to pinpoint certain guide tones and use them effectively in your solos.

This post is by no means intended to offer an in-depth explication of “Giant Steps” theory. All I’m going to do is call your attention to how a few select tones proceed, so you can be mindful of them for the reason I’ve just stated. Let’s begin by naming the changes to the first four bars of section A in “Giant Steps.” In concert pitch, they are: Bmaj7 D7 / Gmaj7 Bb7 / Ebmaj7 / A-7 D7.

The second four bars repeats that chord progression a major third lower, thus: GMaj7 Bb7 / Ebmaj7 F#7 / Bmaj7 / F-7 Bb7.

If you delete the last two bars in each four-bar phrase and crunch together the remaining chords, you get the following sequence: Bmaj7 D7 / Gmaj7 Bb7 / Ebmaj7 F#7. This is the essential Giant Steps cycle. As you can see, once you reach the end of the cycle it repeats itself as the F#7 resolves downward by a fifth to the Bmaj7.

So far, so good. Now let’s see what happens when we start moving some basic chord tones. We’ll start with the root of the Bmaj7 chord. If you move it down by a whole step, you wind up on the note A, which functions as the fifth of the next chord, the D7. Move A down another whole step and you land on the root of Gmaj7. Continuing down by whole steps in this manner–in other words, moving down the B whole tone scale–will move you from root to fifth to root to fifth through the entire Giant Steps cycle.

You can also apply the same down-by-major-second movement starting on the fifth of the Bmaj7, which is F#. In this case, the fifth moves down a whole step to E, which functions as the ninth of the D7 chord. (You could also look at it as the fifth of an A minor chord that serves as the ii/V7 to the D7.) This note in turn moves downward to the fifth of the Gmaj7. Again you’re descending through a whole tone scale, this one beginning on the fifth of the Bmaj7.

So if you want a handy memory aid to help you organize your guide tones in the Giant Steps cycle, simply think of two whole tone scales (using half notes to match the harmonic rhythm), one descending from the root and the other from the fifth of the Bmaj7 chord.

When you spotlight the third of the major seventh chords, things get more interesting. The third of the Bmaj7 is D#. Moving down a half step lands you on the note D, which is the root of the D7. To get from there to the third of the next chord, Gmaj7, you have to jump down a minor third. When you extend this downward movement of half step/minor third throughout the entire cycle, you wind up with an augmented scale.

You also get an augmented scale when you use the same movement starting on the seventh of the Bmaj7 chord, thus: A#, A / F#, F / D, C#.

To recap:

* For voice leading from the root and fifth of the major chords in “Giant Steps,” consider using, respectively, the B and F# whole tone scales.

* For voice leading from the third and seventh, use the D# and A# descending augmented scales.

I hope these concepts will help you see the symmetry in Coltrane changes and make life easier for you as a result. If you want a resource you can take into the practice room with you to help you master “Giant Steps,” check out my book The Giant Steps Scratch Pad. It’s available in C, Bb, Eb, and bass clef editions. See below for ordering info.

Happy practicing! Oh, and be sure to visit my jazz page for plenty more tips, solo transcriptions, exercises, and articles of interest to jazz musicians.

The Giant Steps Scratch Pad

.
Instant PDF download, $9.50
C edition
Bb edition
Eb edition
Bass clef edition

Print editions–retail quality with full-color cover, $12.95 plus shipping: order here.

September 19, 2010 by Robert Hartig

Filed Under: Band, Jazz, Jazz Improvisation and Technique, Music, Saxophone Tagged With: augmented scale, chord tones, Coltrane changes, Giant Steps cycle, Giant Steps Scratch Pad, guide tones, jazz musicians, solos, voice leading, whole tone scale

C Edition of “The Giant Steps Scratch Pad” Is Now Available

I’m pleased to announce that “The Giant Steps Scratch Pad, C Edition” is now published and available for purchase on Lulu.com. If you play the flute, piano, guitar, or any other concert pitch instrument and want a practice companion to help you master Coltrane changes, then this collection of 155 licks and patterns is for you!

Besides the new C edition, “The Giant Steps Scratch Pad” is also available in Bb and Eb editions. A bass clef edition is next in line. I’m not sure what kind of editing it will require, since the shift is to a different clef rather than a different key. I’m hoping that the process will be a simple one and I’ll be able to release the bass clef edition soon.

If you want to learn more details on what the book has to offer, read the initial release notice for the Eb edition. The description applies to all the editions, which are identical except for the keys in which the musical material is written.

At the risk of sounding immodest, I’m not aware of any other resource, either in print or online, that offers such extensive practice material for the Giant Steps cycle. You can find plenty of information on the theory of Coltrane changes, but it has been a different story when it comes to a hands-on, made-to-be-played book that jazz musicians can take with them to the woodshed. “The Giant Steps Scratch Pad” fills that gap. If you want to solo confidently and creatively over the challenging, lopsided changes of “Giant Steps,” then pick the edition that’s right for you and order your copy today!

September 2, 2010 by Robert Hartig

Filed Under: Band, Jazz, Jazz Improvisation and Technique, Music, Saxophone Tagged With: 155 licks and patterns, Coltrane changes, concert pitch instrument, flute, Giant Steps cycle, Giant Steps Scratch Pad C Edition, guitar, jazz musicians, piano, solo confidently and creatively

Bb Edition of “The Giant Steps Scratch Pad” Is Now Available!

Tenor sax, soprano sax, trumpet, and clarinet players, I’ve kept my promise and haven’t forgotten you! I’m pleased to announce that The Giant Steps Scratch Pad, Bb Edition is now published and available for purchase on Lulu.com.

In case you haven’t followed any of my related posts, “The Giant Steps Scratch Pad” is a book of licks and patterns on the Giant Steps cycle. Made for the woodshed, it had its inception over ten years ago during a period in my life when I was immersing myself in Coltrane changes. Finding nothing in the way of practice material, I bought a spiral-bound book of staff paper and began writing down my own ideas, which multiplied over time into more material than I could wrap my arms around.

In recent months, it occurred to me that the material could benefit other jazz musicians. So I transcribed it using MuseScore, and after more hassles and delays than I care to describe, finally published the Eb edition for alto sax and baritone sax players just two weeks ago. Read the release notice for more information on what the book has to offer jazz instrumentalists of every stripe who want a practice companion to help them develop their technique for improvising on “Giant Steps.” In a nutshell, information abounds on the theory of Coltrane changes, but this is the first book I know of that actually gets you soloing on “Giant Steps.”

Flutists and other concert pitch instrumentalists, fear not: The C edition is next in line, and I’m already underway with editing. Bass players and trombonists, a bass clef edition will follow after the C edition has been published. So, campers, be patient. Nobody’s going to be excluded from the party.

“The Giant Steps Scratch Pad” is now priced at $10.95. I had initially settled on $13.95, but when I factored in the cost of shipping from Lulu, I decided to trim down by a few bucks. Head to the Scratch Pad landing page to access both the Eb and Bb editions, and other editions as they become available.

I’m hoping to have the C edition published within a week, so look for another announcement soon.

August 23, 2010 by Robert Hartig

Filed Under: Band, Jazz, Jazz Improvisation and Technique, Saxophone Tagged With: Bb edition, clarinet players, Coltrane changes, concert pitch, flutists, Giant Steps cycle, Giant Steps Scratch Pad, jazz instrumentalists, jazz musicians, licks and patterns, soprano sax, tenor sax, trumpet

The Giant Steps Scratch Pad: NOW PUBLISHED!

You read right: The Giant Steps Scratch Pad has finally hit the streets!

I hadn’t wanted to give further updates until now because it seemed that I kept running into snags and delays. That kind of news gets embarrassing to write about after a while, and no doubt it’s tiresome to read. But all the hurdles have finally been crossed, and I am extremely pleased to announce that my book of 155 licks and patterns on Giant Steps changes is at long-last published and available for purchase.

Let me quickly follow with this caveat: The Eb edition is the one that is presently available. However, with that trail finally blazed, Bb, C, and bass clef editions are all in the works and will be following shortly. I finished editing the Bb edition earlier today, and I hope to complete the job tomorrow, so look for it in a day or two, or at least sometime this week. After that will come the C and bass clef editions. (UPDATE: ALL FOUR EDITIONS OF THE GIANT STEPS SCRATCH PAD ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE. SEE BOTTOM OF PAGE TO ORDER. CLICK AND ENLARGE IMAGE TO YOUR LEFT TO VIEW A PAGE SAMPLE FROM THE Bb EDITION)

If you’ve ever wanted to build the technique to blaze your way through the changes to John Coltrane’s jazz landmark, “Giant Steps,” this is the book to help you do it. It’s truly a one-of-a-kind. Here’s the cover copy for it:

Build Your Technique and Creativity for the Giant Steps Cycle

Looking for a practice book to help you master “Giant Steps”? The Giant Steps Scratch Pad will help you develop the chops you need.

Plenty has been written about the theory behind Coltrane changes. This is the first book designed to help you actually improvise on John Coltrane’s benchmark tune. In it, you’ll find

* A brief overview of “Giant Steps” theory

* Insights and tips for using this book as a practice companion

* 155 licks and patterns divided into two parts to help you cultivate facility in both the A and B sections of “Giant Steps”

“Giant Steps” isn’t innately hard. It’s just different and unpracticed. This book gives you a wealth of material to help you take Coltrane’s lopsided chord changes and make music with them. Choose the edition that fits your instrument—Bb, C, Eb, or bass clef—and then get started today.

“Ever since John Coltrane recorded ‘Giant Steps,’ its chord progression has been a rite of passage for aspiring improvisers. Bob’s book The Giant Steps Scratch Pad presents a practical approach to Coltrane changes that will challenge advanced players and provide fundamental material for those just beginning to tackle the challenge of Giant Steps.’” —Ric Troll, composer, multi-instrumentalist, owner of Tallmadge Mill Studios

“In this volume, Bob has created an excellent new tool for learning how to navigate the harmonies of ‘Giant Steps.’ This is a hands-on, practical approach with a wealth of great material that will be of assistance to students of jazz at all levels of development.” —Kurt Ellenberger, composer, pianist, jazz educator and author of Materials and Concepts in Jazz Improvisation

I’ll of course be putting up an advertisement for the book on this site. But no need to wait for that. If you’re an alto sax or baritone sax player, you can purchase the Eb edition right now!
Trumpeters, tenor saxophonists, soprano saxophonists, and clarinet players (did I miss anyone?), the party is coming your way next, so keep your eyes open for the next announcement.

It seems strange to me that something like this book hasn’t been done before, but as far as I know, The Giant Steps Scratch Pad truly is unique. It has been a lot more work than I ever anticipated, but I’m really proud of the results. Major thanks to my friend Brian Fowler of DesignTeam for creating such a totally killer cover for the print edition. But there’s more to this book than good looks alone. I trust that those of you who purchase it will find that its contents live up to its appearance. If you’re ready to tackle Coltrane changes, this book will give you plenty to keep you occupied for a long time to come.

NOW AVAILABLE IN C, Bb, Eb, AND BASS CLEF EDITIONS, AND BOTH IN PRINT AND AS A PDF DOWNLOAD.

Instant PDF download, $9.50
C edition
Bb edition
Eb edition
Bass clef edition

Print editions–retail quality with full-color cover, $10.95 plus shipping: order here.

August 16, 2010 by Robert Hartig

Filed Under: Band, Jazz, Jazz Improvisation and Technique, Music, Saxophone Tagged With: 155 licks and patterns, alto sax, baritone sax, benchmark tune, clarinet players, Coltrane changes, Giant Steps changes, Giant Steps cycle, Giant Steps Scratch Pad, improviser's, Jazz, John Coltrane's jazz landmark Giant Steps, lopsided chord changes, soprano saxophonists, students of jazz, technique, tenor saxophonists, theory, trumpeters

The Giant Steps Scratch Pad: Getting Back on Track

Finally…the grunt work is done. I’m pleased to announce that today I finished keying in the last of the patterns and licks in my “Giant Steps” practice book. Not only so, but I completely revised the introduction and wrote a new section of “Preliminaries and Practice Tips.”

Preparing “The Giant Steps Scratch Pad” for publication has been a longer haul than I had anticipated, but the extra time and effort I’ve invested have produced a much better product. And in the process of transcribing it using MuseScore notation software, I’ve had ample opportunity to better consider my options for self-publishing.

“The Giant Steps Scratch Pad” will be available in C, Eb, Bb, and bass clef editions. I’m now weighing the pros and cons of print versus electronic editions and the feasibility of offering both. Whatever I decide, the hardest part is now behind me (knock on wood). I still need to figure out how to merge my text and music score files into a single document, and I need to create a cover, and I need to set up an online store. But the book in its essence now exists in a format that is a huge improvement over the scanned, handwritten material I had initially envisioned as an e-book.

Bottom line: If you’ve ever wanted to build the chops needed to play John Coltrane’s tune “Giant Steps,” this book will help you immensely.

Continuing on in the spirit of shameless self-promotion–hey, it’s my blog, and I get to do this sort of thing!–I thought I’d share the “Preliminaries” part of the section titled “Preliminaries and Practice Tips.” You know, just to whet your whistle, start a little buzz, put a bug in your ear, that kinda thing. I think you’ll find this little writeup interesting, maybe even enlightening, possibly even useful:

“The Giant Steps Scratch Pad” is straightforward. It’s about building your chops for Coltrane changes. Still, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind.

“Giant Steps” cycles through three key centers spaced a major third apart. The tune is written in B concert (if you can really pin it to a single key), and it takes you through the keys of B major, G major, and Eb major. A quick glance will tell you that the notes B, G, and Eb (D# enharmonically) spell out a B augmented triad.

Formally, the tune consists of two eight-bar sections in an A-B format. Each section has its unique hallmarks:

* The A section can be distilled into a series of V7–I cadences that descend by major third, thus: F#7–BMaj7, D7–GMaj7, Bb7–EbMaj7. Simple enough, except that Coltrane had the audacity to insert a bar line in the middle of each cadence. So instead of a nice, perfectly symmetrical treadmill of chord changes, you wind up with this awkward roller-coaster: BMaj7–D7, GMaj7–Bb7, EbMaj7–F#7.

* The B section is essentially a series of two-bar ii–V7–I cadences that ascend by major third. But of course, once again Coltrane complicates a simple thing by beginning each two-bar phrase with a major chord, then in the following bar modulating abruptly to the ii–V7 of the next key. In other words, the chord series Am7–D7–GMaj7, C#m7–F#7–BMaj7, Fm7–Bb7–EbMaj7, becomes EbMaj7–Am7–D7, GMaj7–C#m7–F#7, BMaj7–Fm7–Bb7.

In a nutshell, “Giant Steps” was John Coltrane’s way of tweaking simple, essential musical formulae in a way that has had jazz musicians stubbing their toes ever since.

Just remember: The A section of “Giant Steps” descends by major thirds through three keys, and the B section ascends by major thirds through those same keys. Got it? Good. With that conceptual foundation in place, here are a few pointers for practicing…

I’ll close with that cliffhanger. Can’t you just feel the tension? You want to know my “Giant Steps” practice tips, don’t you. I can just tell. Don’t worry, you can find out all about them once the book is released. So stay tuned, jazz campers. A little more work and then I’ll look forward to announcing publication.

May 20, 2010 by Robert Hartig

Filed Under: Band, Jazz, Jazz Improvisation and Technique, Music, Saxophone Tagged With: Coltrane changes, Giant Steps practice book, Giant Steps Scratch Pad, Jazz, John Coltrane's tune Giant Steps, patterns and licks, practice tips

Giant Steps E-Book Soon to Be Released

If you want to bone up on the theory behind John Goltrane’s landmark tune “Giant Steps,” you’ll find plenty of information online as well as in print. But when it comes to actually cultivating the chops it takes to play “Giant Steps,” you may have a tougher time finding material. Could be that I’m uninformed, but I just haven’t seen much in the way of practice resources for Coltrane changes.

So I’ve decided to share my personal material. Years ago, I went through a period when I steeped myself in “Giant Steps,” and during that time, I started writing down licks and patterns for “Giant Steps” in a music notebook. Today, after supplementing the stuff I had already written with some new material, including licks using the augmented scale, I completed the front matter and introduction.

All that remains to be done now is to register the copyright and set up an online store on Stormhorn.com. The e-book’s title is “The Giant Steps Scratch Pad.” It will be the first product I’ve created and sold on this site, and I feel excited about offering it to you.

If you want to view a sample page (and cop some free licks), click here. Otherwise, stay tuned. I expect to have “The Giant Steps Scratch Pad” available for purchase soon, and will announce its publication upon release.

May 5, 2010 by Robert Hartig

Filed Under: Jazz, Jazz Improvisation and Technique, Music, Saxophone Tagged With: Coltrane changes, Giant Steps, Giant Steps Scratch Pad, John Coltrane, John Coltrane's landmark tune Giant Steps, licks and patterns for Giant Steps, licks using the augmented scale, practice resources for Coltrane changes, Stormhorn.com