3 Things You Need to Improve in Your Jazz Solos

The fact that you need to improve something in your playing is not the end of the world. In this jazz solo lesson, I am going to discuss how you are able to spot problems and realize that it needs work. Then you can start looking for a good strategy to fix issues and get you on the path to becoming a better Musician.

This Jazz Solo Lesson is a little philosophical and going over 3 very common problems that I come across with students and with my own playing. I also discuss some of the strategies that you can apply to help solve the problem.

Other videos with advice on learning jazz and improving your practice:

The Article on my Website:

Content:
0:00 Intro
0:12 Improving and learning is a part of playing Jazz
0:28 3 Common Problems and how you deal with them
0:52 #1 Overplaying
1:34 Good Taste?
2:15 A Solution (and Wes Montgomery)
2:58 Ideas for Exercises
3:28 #2 Timing - A problem with a few nuances
4:10 Authentic Re-enactment of bad timing
4:44 Ideas for Exercises and ways of working
5:40 #3 Playing The Changes
6:00 Identifying the problem
6:25 Ideas for exercises
7:24 Like The Video? Check Out My Patreon Page

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Edited by Luciano Poli

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[JensLarsen]

What do you consider common problems in soloing? (and can you find the mysterious yellow dot?)
Content:

0:00 Intro
0:12 Improving and learning is a part of playing Jazz
0:28 3 Common Problems and how you deal with them
0:52 #1 Overplaying
1:34 Good Taste?
2:15 A Solution (and Wes Montgomery)
2:58 Ideas for Exercises
3:28 #2 Timing - A problem with a few nuances
4:10 Authentic Re-enactment of bad timing
4:44 Ideas for Exercises and ways of working
5:40 #3 Playing The Changes
6:00 Identifying the problem
6:25 Ideas for exercises
7:24 Like The Video? Check Out My Patreon Page

[RCSmiths]

I am very aware that I need improve on my own guitar playing, but as someone once said: "Always Look for the Helpers, You will always find people who are helping"


Great work and advice indeed!

[ketutgitar]

jens is one of the best jazz teacher in my opinion, for the LAST 3 month i watch his channel and never comment, but now i tell you guys i play jazz and love jazz because of him, and i Do basic jazz lesson a little that also because of him inspire me so much. Thanks

[Clutch_Taruntula]

These 3 basic tips are exactly what I what I need to incorporate into my practice routine. Working on the more abstract rudimentary aspects of playing like you described sounds like the best way to get better faster. Great advice as always

[rickjensen]

Excellent content as always Jens. One thing that really helped me was being part of a Brazilian samba band some years ago. The rythms were complex and tricky to follow, but they became part of you, so I could feel the pulse without trying and others commented that they could feel this when hearing me play. Very helpful to play Villa- Lobos' guitar music and also the original 1960s bossa nova songs for a secure and infectious sense of rythm, and to be able to keep time without even trying or noticing.

[CyberDocUSA]

Some people are _close-talkers, _ some are _fast-talkers, _ others are soft-spoken or just the opposite. I like the phrasing concept of only playing notes while exhaling ones breath. During inhalation, no notes can be played. It's a cool exercise I borrowed from someone famous (can't remember who).

[tinajackel]

„Authentic re -enactment“ 😂😂😂i really had to laugh out loud especially after I realize you also put a black rectangle on the guitars name too

[vishyoutubevideos]

great video. listening to this sort of thing before practice is really helpful.

[patshep]

i've been working with a metronome lately, so it makes me happy to reinforce my decision.... it's actually fun to practice with one, and i'm not sure why i haven't done so in so long

[komedericksonekds]

Thanks for these instructions. They are very helpful

[zygotegarden]

Thank you for the reminder to watch out for overplaying - something I am often guilty of as a beginner to jazz music. I agree with your suggestion about recording your playing. It can be tough to listen back and realise that what I thought was a good solo was really sloppy and full of mistakes, but it is the habit that I think is helping me to improve.

[DovidM]

With regard to timing, a common problem is that if you play a passage louder, you tend to play it faster. You are often not aware of this unless you record yourself and listen to the playback.

[HGQjazz]

Always pertinent info Jens! Love how you "broke one off in their (critics) a$$" with the time/backing track criticism! Keep it up!

[jumemowery]

Thanks Jens. I really like you conversation analogy

[BurntMcgurnt]

Love to hear all methenys crazy ideas and all his notes damn hes good! he can somehow play the most insane lines and not overplay at all

[tomcripps]

As someone who has spent decades playing rhythm for mostly pathological lead guitar players I vowed to never be that guy. I tend to favor slow music. I use the one position method of 3-4 frets to get a better understanding of the melody and it usually works. It also builds tension and draws the listener in to wonder when are you going to go up the fretboard.

[paulpmanhowland]

Great video. In particular, I really think you got to the heart of the matter on timing. Regarding #1, Overplaying, I think it can be helpful to transcribe horn players, unless they are circular breathing, they have to stop and breathe occasionally. I've heard it suggested to occasionally practice guitar or other non breathing dependent instruments as if one is indeed playing a horn, playing on the out breaths only, I haven't tried this.

[MathKJW]

Great advice and demonstrations, as always. I agree that playing with the click is the best way to strengthen your inner clock and ability to navigate the changes without getting lost. I do record myself to determine whether I’m staying in the pocket but I also comp with my own recording to test whether I’m really navigating the changes and to see if I’m playing interesting ideas; am I interested as an accompanist?

[gutued]

Hi Jansen. First let me appreciate you for the effort you’ve put in sharing tones of info.
I am preparing for my grade 8 Rgt electric guitar exams offered by London college of music, and I have two sections that are a little tight.
1• rhythm
2• improvisation
Am supposed to improvise over 13, 11, 7b5, 7#9, major9 and more of those kinds of chords. Is there a blanket approach to this kind of chords while improvising?, do I stick to modes, arpeggios and tonal centres? or are there particular scales that can work magic without having to sound too scale like or mechanical.
2• please advice on the best way to practice this monster chords and if you have a chord progressions you can share for my practice I can download. 😊
Am following you from Kenya.
Thanks.

[eternalrainbow-cjiu]

I do totally agree...BWV1003 play it entirely than afterwards, just try to phrase very slowly and try to think as Bach after a motive create an expectation, the very moment the expectation is fixed, than go the other street, play super slow, to master each I dea completely coordinate your own changes just in one key, with inside modulations like bach did, I did this today and it remembered mhow I once experiencer true improvisation...not to play fixed things play what you hear and break expectations! Be Zen in that!