5 Scale Exercises That Make It Easier To Learn Jazz

Scale Exercises are the source of a lot of problems, I certainly remember this from when I was getting started with Jazz, but there are some great exercises that can really make it a lot easier. These 5 did that for me, and one of them is also a powerful and practical way to build fretboard overview.

The Mistake Everyone Makes Learning Jazz Guitar

Barry Harris Videos:

Get the PDF on my website:

Get the PDF and GuitarPro files on Patreon:

✅DOWNLOAD A FREE E-BOOK with 15 II Valt I licks!
Sign up for my newsletter:

Content:
00:00 intro
00:42 #1 The Scale
02:02 #2 Diatonic Arpeggios
04:09 #3 Diatonic Chords
05:40 #4 Chromatic Notes
07:18 #5 Vocabulary
10:12 The Mistake Everyone Makes Learning Jazz Guitar
10:22 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:

[rudygarza]

Oh wow that’s me ! Lol.. Rudy here and just came across this video and working on my major scales and on to the other ones yet at a pace.. it isn’t boring since I never worked on any scales and it’s really nice to start recognizing these exercises … but really love the idea that we can make it or work them to sound them nice

[raydamoiseau]

I wish Jens and his students a superb restful day. Keep doing your he(ART) everyone 😎

[boomerdell]

Yet again, Jens delivers an outstanding lesson in which what can often feel like topics and techniques that are out reach somehow become understandable and accessible. Thank you, Maestro!🌟

[irawhitlock]

Ty so much for the Barry Harris playlist! Your content is musically life changing. Now, back to the practice room for me!

[bmoraga]

This one video saved me about 5 to 10 years of wandering in the desert. Thanks Jens!

[RCSmiths]

Jazz may be complicated, but there are always roots dna foundations to learn from, and everything can come naturally.. Cheers as always man!

[jn]

Shell voicing in one position and the same lick across the neck - I haven’t tried these. I love learning new exercises. Thanks Jens!

[ZauberTocc]

Super video, contains enough material to keep me busy the next 2 years.

[MrAOdom]

This is one of the most useful and informative videos I've ever seen on YouTube

[JensLarsen]

What is your best advice for Scale Practice? 😎

The Mistake Everyone Makes Learning Jazz Guitar

[JoePariseauMusic]

Yes, please post the link of Pat's video. 🙏😊

[davehappablap]

much value in this one lesson. I have weeks of valuable work to do. THANKS, Jens!!!

[paulpmanhowland]

I will watch this again with guitar handy. Great stuff @Jens Larsen.

[macleadg]

Here’s a scale exercise I dreamed up recently. Play your scales & arpeggios, but never play on the beat. First just play the eighth note between quarters, then all the permutations of one, two, or three sixteenths and triplets between beats. I find it difficult, especially at faster tempos, not to drift toward playing on the beat. I definitely need the metronome for this! Thoughts?

(P.S.: I’m new to jazz, so forgive me if this is something everyone already does)

[djekse]

Thank you, yes please, make a Barry Harris Playlist.🎉🎉🎉

[cbolt]

This is perfect for where I'm at in currently in my playing 😎

[falsenotefest]

Very good exercise, useful and practical to open mind and fretboard, thank you

[adolfohuet]

Nice video I can mix some of this in my current practice

[tomanderson]

This is an excellent video, I really appreciate it. You offer some tabs available on request, I would lover to have those.

[Finn]

Really useful. Also for a piano player. Thanx.