5 Concepts Jazz Guitar Beginners Must Understand To Learn Faster

There are some things I wish I could do better in learning Jazz. To help you from getting stuck as a Jazz guitar beginner, I am going to share some ways to learn more efficiently and how to focus on the right things.

How Chord Melody Will Help You Master Important Skills

7 Hard Guitar Skills That Pay Off Forever

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Content:
00:00 Avoid My Mistakes
00:18 #1 Exercises Are Not Music
01:53 The Most Important Song To Learn.
02:24 #2 This Is How To Practice Improvisation
04:38 #3 How Do You Give Yourself Useful Feedback
05:56 #4 Not The Notes You Play
07:50 #5 So Little Theory, So Much Benefit
09:06 The Most Beautiful Jazz Guitar Skill
09:19 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:

[BluesSky]

Most great musicians are lifelong learners. Many years ago I used to see Mike Stern at his 55 club and was amazed to learn he took weekly piano lessons, I bet he still does and probably practices scales regularly too. It’s a lifelong journey and triangulation from different perspectives helps to see the path more clearly.
As always, thanks for the perspectives Jens.

[jonahleonard]

Jens Larsen is single-handedly saving jazz. Thank you sir

[irawhitlock]

I just can’t get over the fact that this wealth of knowledge is free. You are a treasure.

[LFVELA]

i am always looking for things to learn and its nice that i always ended up watching your videos. The way you see music and explain it, i love it. Thank you for your wise advices

[jongoforth]

Jens, your advice applies to every instrument, to everyone that wants to get better at improvising. Having played professionally for almost fifty years(sax, flute, clarinet if provoked with money)-and still learning more every day-I have to say that had I been able to have your tutelage when I was young would have saved me a lot of time. I've been a "closet" guitarist for years, and you have helped that immensely.
Marvelous stuff. You are a great teacher-and funny to boot!

[JensLarsen]

Share your advice for beginners, what helped you or what went completely wrong? 🙂
7 Hard Guitar Skills That Pay Off Forever

[HIFI]

Jens, I'm really a bass player, but love your stuff. At any rate, some of the best advice my teacher gave me is to know not just the chords, but also the melody, as well as the words (of all of the verses) if there are words. As a bassist, sing the song (or melody) as you are working on the lines. To start soloing, play the melody, work around it, step off it, and come back. Was super helpful for my bass playing (as well as guitar and piano.) Stupid jazz milestones like being able to play Stella in 12 keys are for the birds - play Stella really fucking well in Bb.

[RCSmiths]

We all need to start somewhere when it comes to Jazz. As I have said, it's a high commitment, but it's such a worthwhile reward in the end! Cheers man

[tjancijr]

"3 Notes Through Changes" = HUGE. Thanks, Jens!

[williamraffle]

Absolutely great, condensed, rock solid advice. I teach more rock/pop guitar but this is basically the same approach I take students through who are often terrified of the idea of making their own music. It works!

[viennapalace]

Ex horn player & current guitar novice here.
What I love the most about your videos is, your tips & suggestions apply to every instrument, not just guitar & they appeal to the music nerd in me.
Your tip about recording yourself is a good one but I used to go one step further & video myself. It's surprising what you can pick up when you can watch yourself play, especially if you can get a good shot of what your fingers are doing.
Videos can also stop you from pulling stupid faces while soloing, expose looks of boredom when you're not playing (not good when you're on stage) & all sorts of little things that would usually go unnoticed. I highly advise it.
Thanks for all your efforts! I may never achieve the high level of playing you display (in fact, I'm almost certain I won't) but knowing where the top of the mountain is important to know if you ever hope to get there.

[ianweston]

I studied jazz guitar for a long time and eventually gave it up. I was too caught up in all the theory and couldn't make it sound like anything and just lost interest. Your videos (and Jimmy Bruno's, too) have explained things in such a way that I'm starting to understand the music and phrasing etc much better. Still a long way to go, of course, but I actually want to play more jazz tunes now. Thanks!

[kylealanhobbs]

This is all really great advice! It’s funny, today I was cleaning out my classroom and I found a folder I made over 8 years ago with an intense regiment planned out to learn every scale, key, mode, and chord inversion. 😂 I thought I’d be Jeff Beck in 6 months…

[fortuneburnycandy]

Knowledge is power, but selfknowlege is more important. Because you are the one who is learning, Thank you Jens Larsens i love you, for your help.

[DavidLee-xztl]

Thanks for pointing out the things that tripped you up when you started. Students don't realize how much goes into being able to play; the many layers of knowledge and experience that work with one another. Putting listening and phrasing right at the top is such great advice. Thanks for sharing your experiences and explaining them so articulately. We can relate to what you relate.

[bigsmjd]

Having become familiar with the fret board, the caged system, major scales, minor scales, of course pentatonic scales, and blue scales, modes… I find myself gravitating towards jazz because my ears want more resolve.
Jens is outstanding at helping to bridge an understanding on how to build Jazz fluency!

[pandalilpig]

guess im not alone in thanking jens for the referral..1...2....3....thank you jen!

[michaelstevens]

Great Advice Jens. If all a Musician practices is Exercises, then when they play a Gig, Recording Session or Jam Session, unfortunately, its going to sound like an Exercise. Your also right about Composing Phrases and Recording them and Listening to them. But, I have to add a very important point. Its very important to be constantly Listening to Great Jazz so that when you Compose a Phrase you'll be Composing Phrases with Good Jazz Language, and when you Record and Listen, you'll know what to listen for. I'm always surprised when a student of mine says they are serious about Jazz, but they rarely Listen to Jazz. Your also right about Articulation and Dynamics. They are Critical parts of Phrasing. Thanks.

[Flacodanielon]

You are such AN INSPIRATION DUDE… you are a gift to humanity.

Never stop.

[hearpalhere]

Thank you for another fantastic video Jens - you are a wealth of knowledge. I love your sense of humor too 🙂