3 Stupid Mistakes You Should Avoid When Learning A Jazz Standard

Learning Jazz Standards is difficult in the beginning, and here are 3 things that I did completely wrong when I started.

50 Jazz Standards you want to know:

3 reasons your comping sucks:

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Content:
00:00 Intro
00:16 Learning A Jazz Standard
00:40 The Aebersold Album of Doom
01:18 Improvisation = Jazz?
01:43 They Don’t Improvise?!
03:25 Listening To The Song
05:01 Why You Need The Melody!
06:06 Modal Improvisation And Scales Sucks for Changes
07:54 The Weird Paradox Of Difficult and Easy
09:27 The Exercise that changed everything
09:50 Like the video? Check out my Patreon page!

My name is Jens Larsen, Danish Jazz Guitarist, and Educator. The videos on this channel will help you explore and enjoy Jazz. Some of it is how to play jazz guitar, but other videos are more on Music Theory like Jazz Chords or advice on how to practice and learn Jazz, on guitar or any other instrument.

The videos are mostly jazz guitar lessons, but also music theory, analysis of songs and videos on jazz guitars.

My Gear:

[JensLarsen]

Did you also mess up learning Jazz songs in the beginning, and what is a good tip?
50 Jazz Standards you want to know:

3 reasons your comping sucks:

[mdg]

I have already a reason: Learning exercices through the standard (coltrane patterns, different shapes arpeggio), but not improvising with the concept of it... it happened to me with Autumn Leaves last month, now that I know the problem, I have set for myself new goals for the new jazz standard I'm going to learn (fly me to the moon) and I'm going to learn Autumn Leaves AGAIN. I already tried it with only playing the triads on Fly Me To The Moon and I saw improvement INSTANTLY. For you Jens watchers, go watch: This solo exercice changed everything.

[nujazzelectro]

Thank you, this is probably the best advice everyone can have about jazz improvisation especially for those who are just starting and just getting in to playing jazz, a lot of musicians nowadays don't know this, everyone just seem to improvise and jump in the solos not singing the melody in their head

[brentwheeler]

Jens.... this lesson and the "confessions of a wannabe" video that precedes it are, in my view, some of your best work. Close to cringe honesty, instantly recognisable problems - then in the 2nd video "3 steps to sort it out". I have watched years of your material - as you have likely seen. Its all very good of course.... but your little recipe here - the two part story is a true gem. You might consider editing some of the bits etc so that you have one full single "Here's the path" lesson. This material is very valuable, very authentic and presents all you have to offer here (vast amounts) in its very best light. I can only say "thank you".

[karlderdelinckx]

The part about learning to improvise and landing at jazz is very recognizable. It’s the idea that if you can figure out soloing over jazz you unlocked the secret of improvising over everything … which is something different from learning the jazz language.

[przemekkasprzyk]

A true master is one who's made all the mistakes imaginable and learnt something from each of them :-)

[moreorlesslikeso]

I find a lot of my own past experiences in what you’re telling here. Made all these mistakes myself, but – alas – haven't really yet summoned the time and energy to proceed successfully on the right path... Guess I do need honest guys like you to remember me and rekindle my ambition. Thank you so much!

[Yuval_L]

Nice Episode - this will help anyone who needs a solid formula for efficient and productive learning of standards, jazz song form in general.

I was fortunate to have an early introduction to classical, blues, jazz and other genres through my family's musical tastes and a savvy first classical guitar teacher, he was also an art teacher later at my high school.
This teacher gave me William Leavitt's MMFG volumes 1-3 as a present for a high classical exam pass. Little did I know what I had been gifted. Soon I got a new-real-book and started playing the melodies and chords in every position and key I could. I played with a pick, fingers, or hybrid and started learning to create solo arrangements. The methods of Don Mock, Joe Pass and many others were also invaluable in helping me learn more about Jazz guitar specifically. Learning to read from the commencement of my musical journey was a great help. Amassing a library of records and books became a passion.

This was decades before what we now have with gems like yourself on YouTube and so many electronic resources for learning and sharing too.

I love your work. Even if it's nothing new entirely, there is always well thought out perspective within. 🙏🏼😃

[ricklaino]

"Green Dolphin one of my first introductions to jazz also
Great lesson as usual...!

[gmpas]

jens, this video made my day dude. brought back so many fun and fond memories as well as being a great reminder of some important things that I tend to forget about during the course of life.

your production skills have really gone off the charts man. Love The incredible hulk insert. very descriptive. and the bit about crashing and burning wow how many times a day do I do that after 60 years, but you still just get up brush yourself off and get back at it and have fun for you frustrated and crash and burn again. for some of us it's what makes the world go round as we hope to improve.
keep the videos coming. really enjoy your playing, your approach and your humor.

[daveberkheimer]

I was lucky in two ways as a guitarist, first I started as a horn player. Why is that important? Well the very nature of playing a wind instrument requires that you come to understand because you have to breath. And being a horn player introduced me to Jazz and the idea of improvisation.... because where else besides Jazz are you going to hear horn players heavily showcased. In addition I learned to not an absolute necessity, but definitely helpful. In fact, as a kid as was in so much of a Jazz fog that when I first started playing guitar and listening to other forms of music I was astounded, and disappointed, that most of the great guitar solos that I loved were not improvised.

The other lucky thing was that, as a guitarist, my first gigs were pickup gigs with Country bands. Now before everyone goes off on Country music, realize playing pickup gigs with a Country band is not that much different from playing pickup gigs with, say, a Blues band. You're expected to have some knowledge of the basic chord patterns of the music, have a decent ear to pick up the changes, as well as have some basic improvisational skills. Granted it's not like playing Giant Steps, but it allows newer players to step into the ocean of improvisation without drowning. And as much as Country tends to be looked down upon, I knew far more Country players who could navigate the Jazz world, than Rock players.

[ralphkoch]

Hi Jens. I had a total flashback when you talked about how difficult i was earlier with no internet and the local library as the best source to get some jazz records and trying to grasp a bit here and there and the resulting confusion. You have just made it a lot easier for beginners. Thanks for all.

[rjones]

When it comes to standards, learning the melody and to play it as it was played in historical context are the crucial steps in my opinion. I feel good solos highlight the changes and motifs present in the song.

[HeinzDuschanek]

This is definitely one of the best jazz guitar lessons on YouTube :-) Thank you, Jens

[jimcampbell]

can't get enough of Lens knowledge. thanx again.☆

[joepassfan]

A great post. It summarizes things I did not understand and the wrong paths I also took. There was no music in our house and had no idea of a 'jazz standard'. Then I wondered why my blazing one minor rock pentatonic box did not sound jazzy or work over the whole tune. Eventually I learned I first needed to listen to a good version. Then, learn how to memorize and play both the chords and the melody by yourself before considering real soloing. I remember my first jazz lesson and all I wanted to do was solo. The teacher suggested how about 'All The Things You Are'... I said great, what's that?

[egyptianminor]

LOL @ 7:09 - Chromatic scale (omit F#! and C#) ! Great video and great insights and tips, thanks for sharing.

[kwonza-gamingandanime]

I've heard the same reasons to really learn the head well on tunes from several of my instructors and peers-and while I do learn my heads thoroughly and try to utilize them in "hearing" the harmony, the problem lies in how I don't have an inner monologue. I don't hear notes or even my own voice/thoughts in my head. While I try to vocalize out loud, it's super hard to sing a melody line AND play a solo alongside it.

[christophervaca]

I first heard Count Basie Orchestra in high school and was hooked. When I joined the band, an older kid showed me drop 2 voicings. I still can't play like bird tho.

[JohnNoirSmith]

Didn't REALLY come here to do shameless self promotion, but I do improvise all my solos.
Sometimes while improvising I find bits that I really like and try to incorporate into the song's solo time and again, but basically all my solos are improvised blues solos.
Always thought people preferred the ones that were all "pre-figured out" though, so it was nice to hear appreciation (to such an extent as stopping to listen to soloists like Vai because they DIDN'T improvise!) for it