One Of The Best Lessons I Ever Had (Jazz Beginner)

A common problem for any Jazz Beginner is playing solos that actually sound like Jazz. It is not enough to know what notes to play, you also need to learn how to make them into lines that sound right. But that doesn't have to be that difficult, and Barry Harris has a few tricks as well!

Barry Harris' Chromatic Scale:

I Wish Every Jazz Beginner Could Watch This!

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Content:
00:00 A Less Than Perfect Teacher
00:47 A Great lesson!
03:10 The Beginner's Problem With Phrasing
04:39 It is not Enclosures or Passing notes
05:26 Keeping It Simple Makes It Powerful
07:29 Using Barry Harris For Variations
09:29 Barry Leads The Way To Great Phrasing!
09:40 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:

[jdnepari]

Even if I didn't care about jazz guitar I might watch your videos just for the production aesthetics. The pop-ups kill me. And Denmark in black and white? Genius.

[bobm.]

Jens is the G.O.A.T. Also further proof Danish people are some of the funniest people on the planet. Cracking me up!

[RCSmiths]

Absolutely important for anyone getting into Jazz, especially beginners. Theory is a tool that leads into music and musicality! Cheers Jens

[SnowAngelfish]

These guitar lessons are some of the most polished and best produced on youtube. Amazing content!

[LuizFelipeLima]

Jens, I'm learning so much from your videos. The way you care about music and teaching is inspiring!

[danqodusk]

Those are a couple of gems, Jens! Very useful information. I think many of us beginners get caught only thinking about arpeggios and scale tones, totally disregarding all the notes between the scale notes. We sort of view those notes as off limits. I'm certainly guilty of employing this view. Now we now why the chromatic scale contains 12 tones.

[George-jomi]

Really love your clarity and patience. It reveals to me what Mark Levine said in his' Jazz Piano Book' that it's 99% practice and 1% magic! Thank you Jens!❤❤

[davidgaughran]

I love these ideas, they're so simple to use, and I now have something sounding a bit more filled out. And just with arpeggios, no scales. And they're great fun.

[BudiXplorer]

Fantastic lesson! As a jazz beginner, your insights are gold. Thanks for breaking it down so well!

[JensLarsen]

What was an important lesson for you? 🙂Share some advice!

This is how you get started playing Jazz solos!

[stevenponte]

as a very "experienced" jazz beginner, your videos have been amazing. Being a pianist I have often heard of Barry Harris but never realised his importance, and probably thought it was too advanced for me. Thanks again

[dariolombardo]

Wow, what a lesson! Thank you so much Jens 🙏

[eliasmsv]

The Barry Harris approach is so fantastic. I always fumble around when trying to target the correct notes so having a system to rely on when starting out is nice. Thanks for the lesson champ

[plouf]

3:22 - 3 levels of beginner jazz lines - this is golden. I am a pianist and I often wonder what it is that is missing to make my lines more exciting. The explanation about changing directions on downbeats is exactly what is missing in my lines (unless I steal licks from the masters)

[rish]

Jens - I really wish I had these lessons 35 years ago. I still am bad at jazz, but now I have something with which to work. I tried teachers & they always say: "just do jazz licks". This is a ton of information in a short amount of time -- it requires a lot of practice, but it gives me hope.

[amno]

The information you give seems like stuff people charge for, I really appreciate this

[rudycapistrano]

Important lesson for me now is joining your Roadmap to Jazz Guitar course. The motto of "Learn Jazz Make Music" is so relevant to me. (hope i got that quote right). So much information on the internet nowadays hard to find where to start, your course is a good compass in trying to learn jazz...note..."trying..." 😅😅😅

[tangopaparomeo]

Jens, another outstanding lesson. This from a pianist (!) who's learning a ton about bebop soloing from your videos. My sincere thanks!

[heimenitaia]

Wow I just noticed that yesterday I played the Barry Harris concept about half step chromatic enclosure. Thank you for all your contents, that helps me a lot with understanding what I've played and tried to associated with. Great day.

[-solidsnake-]

I just listened to everything you said (paying about 10% attention) and I didn’t instantly get better at music without practicing. So you’re obviously not the teacher I’m looking for. In all seriousness, thanks for sharing your wisdom.