Important (beginner) Jazz Advice: 5 Easy Jazz Standards To Start With

Learning Jazz standards is incredibly important, but it can also be unbelievably difficult in the beginning. These 5 songs are all great options to start with when you are building your repertoire.

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Content:
00:00 Intro
00:53 #1 Pent Up House
02:15 #2 Perdido
03:24 How Not To Learn Songs
04:31 #3 Satin Doll
05:37 Start with the Major Key
06:47 #4 Afternoon In Paris
08:00 #5 Take The A-train
08:37 Honorable Mentions
09:03 What Should You Practice If You Are New To Jazz
09:15 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:

[boomerdell]

As a student in your Jazz Roadmap course, and also as a beginner, I can attest that "Take The A Train" is an excellent starting point for learning some of the most fundamental and important skills in jazz. I highly recommend Jens' course, even to you more advanced players. Thank you, Jens!

[cheeseheadfiddle]

I think learning songs that have lyrics is a good thing to work with as well. Listening to a pretty straight up singer sing the melody with the lyrics can get the tune in your head better in some way. Sinatra, Lena Horn, Nat King Cole etc. Sing along with it. Then move to an instrumental version, then go to learn it once you can sing it.

[dcjway]

Autumn Leaves was the first jazz tune I learned. It’s a song I know well because I used to love listening to Barney Kessel’s version from his album Autumn Leaves.

[jqpmxqu]

You're definitely one of the best teachers on YouTube. No flashy tricks nor bull excrements. Thanks for your commitment

[eduardoobregon]

Another great song to learn at first is “in a mellow tone”
Great video Jens!

[andercoyote]

Jens I want to tell you I started watching your videos just last year. At first I thought it was way over my head but I'd plug along and often had to put the playback speed at 75% 😂 was overwhelmed with the amount of content but I knew you were my teacher, I just had to stick to practice.
Slowly I began to understand more and more concepts and the vocabulary-- both musical and actual terminology!
I continued working on what I could outside of your videos then would go in for more...now a year later I am playing jazz chords, have an understanding of basic theory, the circle of fifths, the fretboard, my technique and speed is much improved, I'm playing a variety of scales in positions and starting to work on arpegios and chord melody!
I still suck but wow what a lot I've learned! And I actually understand your videos now and I can play them at regular speed 😂
Thank you so much!! Gracias ! Gracias!

[karlderdelinckx]

I started with all of me - autumn leaves - all the things you are - my funny valentine. Partly on guitar and partly on piano. Piano parts really helped to see the chord structures clearer. The different keys was just what I was looking for. But I must say i’m not bebop soloing over it. I’m just using the scales and go where I feel like.

[drewserafini]

I teach a number of beginning jazz students and one of my favorite choices (and most of theirs as well) is Mack The Knife. Compact 16-bar form, easy melody, and is mostly made up of ii Vs and a modulation to the relative minor which is very common in other standards.

[ekdguitar]

Again great lesson. Exactly what I need. Yes please more: 5 Latin songs and 5 in a minor key. Thanks!

[jeffreed]

Thanks again Jens! I would recommend: Autumn Leaves, Blue Bossa, Misty, Ladybird, Satin Doll/Just Friends.
Focus: tonal center analysis/scale use
Next level: Sweet Georgia Brown, After You’ve Gone, Rhythm Changes (Bb), Gentle Rain, Black Orpheus.

[READERSENPAII]

Chitlins Con Carne is a great song to learn! Not only is it pretty easy, but how it is arranged helps you understand how to play with other instruments. The solo leaves a ton of space, and the chord voicings for the guitar allow the bass guitar to come through great in a band setting or on a mix. This song was the first song that I threw together in Logic and it showed me how each instrument can be arranged to come together perfectly.

[outinacornfield]

Thank you, Jens for this revised version of your recommended top songs to learn. I am pleasantly surprised by Afternoon in Paris. And of course I, and I imagine all your viewers and listeners, would love to see your top five standards in a minor key. And your top five tips for being apparently perpetually cheerful.

[nowayjay]

These are all great tunes. I studied a majority of these while learning Jazz.

I also recommend Scrapple from the Apple, Billie’s Bounce, and Line for Lyons.

Great video!

[antsonc]

Perdido and Satin doll... I think they were the first two tunes my first jazz teacher used with me. Autumn leaves would obviously be an easy choice, then I'd say (choosen by my teacher as well) After You're gone and There's no greater love.

[jameslockhart]

There should be a basic jazz blues on your list, Jens! C Jam Blues must be the simplest head to learn (even in all keys 😉) and Bag's Groove is an easy pentatonic riff for rock guitarists starting out with jazz.

[JaredPlane]

I have to say, Jens. You're editing is world class! :O

[petsounds]

For me they are there will never be another you and all of me. Both songs contains in them all the most common cadences in jazz (minor/major 251, 4 minor/backdoor, static dominant, turnaround) while having a simple melody and tempo.

[vincej]

Great video Jens as always. I have come to realise something about learning Jazz remotely over the internet. The presenter must be watchable. This might seem obvious but if the presenter does not do videos at all, like Dirk Laukens, then that is almost a non starter. Then if the presenter delivers videos which are bland, and unengaging then again, they will not hold your attention. I have been watching your videos for probably 10 years and in recent years you have really upped your game with much improved lighting and interesting amusing video inserts. You do a great job, and I am glad that I have finally made the decision to join your tuition programme. I am not a guitar beginner by any means, however the only reason it took me so long is because you can be quite academic and to a *jazz beginner* that has made me worried that I was not good enough to even understand your lessons. However, I feel confident enough now to take the plunge - it is exciting to make a start!

[ehd.f]

Hahaha “danish mountains” got me good 😂

[iainmacdonald]

Thank you Jen’s .. this is exactly what I was looking for