The world of jazz is so big that sometimes it could be hard to know where is the best place to start. We have so many standards, blues tunes and ballads to choose from, and that can make it very hard to just pick one and start playing.
In this post I am going to show you six jazz standards that I think you should learn first and why. I am also adding backing tracks and a simple chord sheet for all the standards in this list for you to download and practice with.
Blues In The Closet – Learning The Blues
Jazz was born from the blues. So, before you even think about picking up a jazz standard, you should go back and take a look on where it all came from. I suggest starting with the famous Blues In The Closet, by Oscar Pettiford and Harry Babasin. It’s a simple 12 bar blues that everybody should know. The melody is simple and catchy and it’s a great blues to play at jam sessions. I recommend learning Tal Farlow’s version; he plays great and improvises an outstanding solo.
Fly Me To The Moon – Mastering The Basics
Fly Me to The Moon, by Bart Howard , is one of my personal favorites when it to comes to teaching a standard to a beginner jazz guitar player. It is an easy tune in a very comfortable tonal environment. It is also an easy standard to just pick up and play, as well as a very good practice in transposing a tune to a different key (which you should definitely do). I suggest playing the tune in the key of C and, after you feel comfortable, transpose it to the key of G (one sharp), then to the key of F (one flat), then to the key of D (2 sharps), and so on. I recommend Frank Sinatra’s version for it is clear and in a good tempo to learn.
Autumn Leaves – Don’t Forget Your Minor Standards
There aren’t a lot of minor jazz standards out there, but that does not mean you should not learn how to play one. And Autumn Leaves, by Joseph Kosma, is a great tune to get you started. It is very melodic and the chord progression is pretty simple and straightforward. It is a great practice for minor II – V – I, and another great standard for jam sessions. I recommend listening to Chet Baker and Paul Desmond’s version: it is played smooth and clear and, if you are up to it, you can learn Chet Baker’s solo, which is a beautiful piece of improvisation.
Satin Doll – It’s All About The II–V
One of the most important skills for any improvising jazz guitar player is playing over a II–V progression. And Satin Doll, by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, is a great practice for exactly that. The A and the B parts are mostly a II–V progression and if you play it in a few different keys you will master the art of the II–V in no time! It is also a great and easy standard to play as chord melody (for more information about it, check my post on how to approach playing a chord melody). I recommend listening to Ella Fitzgerald’s version to get to know the standard a bit better, and, when you feel you want a bigger challenge, check Wes Montgomery’s version for a great solo.
All The Things You Are – Moving Between Keys
As a jazz guitar player you are asked to be able to move freely between scales, modes and keys in a single tune and that takes practice. A very good way to practice this ability is to learn the jazz standard All The Things You Are, by Jerome Kern. This tune teaches you to be fast on your feet when it comes to key changes. You will have to jump between 5 different keys throughout the tune, but don’t let it scare you from trying! All you need to do is to study the key changes and practice moving from one key to next one at a time. I suggest learning Ella Fitzgerald’s version, for it is slow and very clear.
My Funny Valentine – Straight Eights Is Not A Bad Word
Our list won’t be finished without a beautiful ballad. My Funny Valentine, by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, is exactly that. This standard has it all: a major II–V-I, a minor II–V–I, and even a pedal point (when the bass stays the same, but the chords on top change). Although jazz is all about the swing, it is also important to know how to play straight eights and in a slow tempo, but you can also play this standard in double time for those who are looking to spice things up. I recommend listening to Chet Baker’s version: it is beautifully sang and the rhythm section is phenomenal.
As I said before, the world of jazz is a big one and it can be very confusing in the beginning. But I believe that with this list of six standards you are starting on the right path. Just remember: give yourself time, be patient with yourself, build your practice routine and keep with it. With time you will see amazing results.
For more information about learning jazz guitar, contact me today.
Gal Dornay
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