21 Jazz Skills You Can Practice Right Now

[@jzgtr100]

Have been working on Pat Martino Linear Expressions. Working on the first five activities, transposing to all keys and breaking each activity into smaller chunks and playing over jazz blues and easier tunes like Blue Bossa. Truly, it’s a lot of work, but I think it’s improving my playing and it’s starting to creep into my vocabulary.

[@gavinwarner3480]

This is great, I have tons of resources from my guitar teacher but I struggle with directing my practicing so this is amazing and I’m sure it’ll be super helpful

[@curtpiazza1688]

Great advice!

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Thank you!

[@Raven-Creations]

#22 Harmonize a melody. For each melody note, find a three note chord inversion with the melody note on top, with a bass note which creates a nice bass line. As well as being a good academic exercise, it helps unlock the fretboard, builds your knowledge of chords, and it also gives you something to practice playing.

[@benmalone6139]

Compose licks and solos that's served me so well in other genres

[@Dannytyrellstudios]

This guy is really great

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

Very good pointers. This part is for those that are struggling with the altered scales. These are some things I do. No order First 5 notes of all 12 scales .think where is the chord tones..3 etc .try to make a blues/ jazz tune up li.iting to 5 notes. Say the five notes ..sometimes backwards ..then do the 1/2 whole dim for C Db D..that takes care of the w3 families of Dom dim 7 chords. I note the grip of the first 4 notes of the 1/2 whole dim scale. I practice that of C F and G. Then try A and D first 4 notes. Look between Bb and Db on the piano..it's a minor third on the black keys. Then find that same thing on the Eb to Gb .another min 3. So that open up two additional patterns. One is B C D Eb and the other is E F G Ab .this is because of the semitone or half step between E and F and B and C. Also I work the grips starting on the black keys. Then maybe later on I go to maestro or score creator and write out the music to see what it looks like and sounds like. Now the fun stuff..it all fun. I l may do circle of fifths from forwards and reversed .or try thirds..dominant and minor 7s. Then I'll play Georgia on mind F Emin7b5 A7b9 should I go to Dmin7 7 here or F6 (F A C D) . Some .choices are F blues scale of D blues scale..F blues does not fit part of this song in the jazz format ..I need a G and an A ..D blues fits there... Then I may do a blues pattern in all white or scales,, the first five notes.. This is good dexterity workout. This does a number of things It reinforces where the min third is. I look t the D grip and play D F G Ab A and E and the grip E G A Bb B and look for another grip and lo and behold A blues is the same finger grip on A..A C D Eb E. Then I do the same thing on the the black keys. The black keys don't have as many Sim problems. I haven't mastered all of these but it's in the works. My average warm up is a few hours. .I do lots of the other things that you suggest. Thank you for you video.

[@billreeve3245]

Learning Scrapple From The Apple. Great list. Thanks

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Sounds good Bill! My pleasure.

Cool, man! Nice ideas, thank you! I'll give a try on some of them that I've didn't tried yet.

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Glad to hear it Cesar!

[@dingoswamphead]

Thanks Brent. Very sensible and inspiring.

[@alanperlman984]

I'm working on incorporating into my playing (i.e., memorizing so that I don't have to think about it) a system of 7th chords based on melodic minors. Four variations of C7: (1) 1/2 step up: C7 with key signature (K/S) of Db melodic minor (MM) = C7alt. (2) 1 step down: C7 with K/S of Bb MM = C7susb9 (3) up a fourth:: C7 with K/S of F MM = C7+sus (4) up a fifth: C7 with K/S of G MM = C9b5 I learn these for every seventh chord, memorizing them as constellations of black and white keys, so that my fingers can find them anywhere and create a very large number of voicings. E.g., a B7 according to rule (1) is a C MM, which my fingers learn as "every white key but Eb." Three more 7th chords: (5) whole-tone (6) whole-tone diminished (these are explained elsewhere) (7) simple sus4 -- K/S of the fourth (C7 with K/S of F) I practice each scale 7 ways, starting on each note, up and down,so that when I solo, I can continue my line (or whatever)on the appropriate note of the next chord, whatever it is. I know this is heretical, but I do not spend one minute transcribing. The time is better spent practicing on the piano. I can get the same benefits from what I call "listening deconstructively." ("OK, what did he just do?"). I welcome questions/comments, either here or at [e-mail].

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Hey Alan, sounds like you're doing some great stuff!

[@alanperlman984]

Thanks so much. I know a little theory but am largely self-taught. Been playing for like 50 years and finally starting to catch on. I have large hands (can reach an eleventh in the LH, very helpful for sus chords). I like to play 8,9, even 10-note chords using most or all of the scale. Another tip I'd like to share with the community: you can get very fast by exercising with a squeeze/stress ball. Replaces boring exercises and is much more efficient. We are, after all, "athletes of the small muscles." :)

[@ejvt]

This is great advice and pure gold. I just need 2 lifetimes to do it all hahaha thanks a lot Brent, great material as always.

[@philippelecomte1639]

Merci Brent pour cette vidéo inspirante et utile : pour cette semaine, je privilégie "Improvise over one chord", "Enclosures" et learning by ear and heart Miles'Freddy Freeloader solo. Thanks to you. C'est un vrai plaisir de regarder tes vidéos.

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Thanks for watching Philippe!

[@wilsonliberal5195]

Great

[@saxmansoul]

Have tenor sax solos in big band pieces; will practice singing the solo then play it on the sax. What do you think?

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Sounds like a great idea Hugh! Happy practicing.

[@amandajstar]

Great advice, great voice, and fabulous teeth!

[@cillakinross3875]

Not sure where to start, but I think playing a couple of my songs in a 'difficult' keys (Eb etc) would be a good job, plus focusing on interval ear training.

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Sounds like some good ideas Cilla! You got this!

[@benjaminmarquez1211]

ami me gustaria saber si tienes libros o CD en espanol

[@gurugeorge]

Great collection of tips! Thanks for putting out this free stuff.

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Thanks! My pleasure, glad to help.

[@JustinArmstrongsite]

I like to practice writing down the standards / solos that I'm transcribing. It forces me think about and be very accurate with the rhythms being played. Figuring out exactly where Miles Davis is playing in relation to the beat is a lot of fun (and often tricky).

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Awesome Justin! Sounds like a good day or two's work.

Yes, when learning by ear, I always write it down. What you've said is true. We become more aware of what is happening. Plus, it become something I can come back in the future or I can pass it forward to my students.

[@leroypridgen3732]

Awesome video! This is so helpful!!

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Glad to help Leroy! Thanks for watching.

[@algonte]

#22 practice rhythm patterns (ie. Rhythm Trainer for Android)

[@ingridayarza]

This gave me great ideas! Thanks Brent 🤗 And at the same time I felt good because I'm doing this things. Just need to listen to more jazz.

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Great Ingrid! Glad to help.

[@markfreemantle7608]

So, if there a low bandwideth, no cost Jazz Channel I can listen to (at work ;-)

[@larrywiseman5534]

Practicig Long tones is very essential. ....

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Thanks for adding Larry! That's a great one for horn players.

[@matteo-ciaramitaro]

I know what I'm gonna do this weekend

[@joenoia]

hello to Learn Jazz Standards

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Hey Joe!

[@SilasThorn]

Learning a solo by ear sounds like a fun project. What are some simple but challenging solos that you'd prefer?

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Hey Silas, I always like to suggest Miles Davis' solo on Freddie Freeloader. Simple but melodic!

[@SilasThorn]

Awesome! Thanks!

[@ingridayarza]

Learn Jazz Standards That actually was the first ever solo that my teacher told me to learn haha

[@jazzman_10]

Check out this one...kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpjadJeahdCme68