5 Licks That Will Help You Understand Jazz Guitar

[@JensLarsen]

What is important for sounding like Jazz? 👉The 3 Bebop Licks You Need To Know: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJqpi5eCm5yUZ9E ✅ The 5 Solos That Will Teach You Jazz Guitar 😎 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gWiygGCpaJajhbc

[@banjobanjo-xn7lq]

Just curious at 6:16 where it flashes F#dim between Dmin7 and Cmaj7. Is that derived from treating it as the third of D7 which would lead to G7? Thank you Jens, I love your channel!

[@JensLarsen]

@@banjobanjo-xn7lq It is a #IV dim. Don't think in substitutions, it is very limiting for what is possible with harmony :)

[@banjobanjo-xn7lq]

@@JensLarsen . Thank you for the reply. I am not sure how it is not to be thought of as a sub as I imagine this is a ii-V in C. The Count Basie reference may help think of it simply as a line or chord movement. As you say I have probably seen it covered in one of your videos...now the search begins. Thanks again as I truly enjoy and appreciate these clips. I even share them with my keyboard player!

[@JensLarsen]

@@banjobanjo-xn7lq As I say in the video, you can harmonize things and go between two chords in many ways, and limiting yourself by assuming that it has to be substitution of one chord is not very useful. In fact, harmony just doesn't work that way, and that is a good thing.

[@banjobanjo-xn7lq]

@@JensLarsen . Thanks Jens. You are so right and what you say is truly LIBERATING. After studying jazz theory comparatively deeply the last 5 years (though I started approaching it 30 years ago and listening to Monk, Burell, Coltrane, Miles, reading Omnibook etc) and playing mostly other styles over 35 years, it may now be time to free myself from the institutionalized concept of ii-V-I's and the idea of substitutional harmony. Rhythm and harmony have so many less restricting possibilities and perspectives than following one or two rules. And yes, after picking up my guitar I heard the familiarity and movement of the #IV dim (sounds like a passing chord)...guess I just got too caught up in written substitution theory. Thank you again for your time.

[@JimmyDeLocke]

Well, now, don't let this go to your head but you are the best jazz guitar teacher on the web

[@JensLarsen]

I'll do my best :D Thank you Jimmy!

[@jumemowery1050]

Great reference to Sisyphus! In my case I'm sitting at the bottom of the hill admiring the boulder.

[@rob1389]

This is brilliant. I'm a beginner at jazz, I wanted to play jazz violin for decades but never had any idea how to get anywhere with it until I got hold of a jazz theory book a few years ago. I'm working my way very slowly through a few jazz standards. I find your video lessons are incredibly clear and helpful, and are pitched just right. I wish I had known about some of these things decades ago, but better late than never and I am really enjoying the journey. Thanks for posting such awesome videos!

[@rob1389]

"Jazz hyperspace" made me smile - such a lovely concept!

[@robertdouglas4293]

As an older fella, I just started to revisit music again, let alone stepping out the door. Jazz is also a state of mind, if you love the sound, your more then halfway there, continue the good work my friend, if I may say.

[@JensLarsen]

Certainly :)

[@LocolHoost]

Thank you very much for the useful information. I watch all your videos. JAZZ - is COOL!

[@JensLarsen]

Glad it was helpful 🙂

[@deanc.5984]

I love it but my brain hurts sometimes with the theory, I'm years away from solo's, I'm working on changing jazz chords smoothly, learning chords first. We must drink beer, learn jazz! At the end of your lesson, can you play for a few minutes so we can see, hear and chill👏👏👏🍺👍🎶I will practice.

[@csipkefamily]

Hi Jens, a great lesson again! Be alert, that the tablature at 2:40 shows different things than the video. The note are right but in the tab you reach out from the area while in the video you stay within the same box.

[@JensLarsen]

Hi Csipke, As you can probably tell, I am not very good at reading tabs so they will sometimes have mistakes. Look at it as having more options and some added ear training.

[@gazzie12000]

Yep I was just about to comment on that. The way it's played on the video is much easier (staying in one position) than the tab shows.

[@paulpmanhowland7818]

Great video. I've got the stubbornness part going for me, I appreciate the guidance on what to work on.

[@JensLarsen]

Stick with it :)

[@adamscastle6222]

I am learning a lot about soloing off the 3rd of the chord and using enclosures here. I need to work on this more especially when soloing over changes, but this video helps. Thanks!!

[@JensLarsen]

Go for it :)

[@johnholohan6584]

Your greatest video. You summed up jazz in just a few minutes!!! Love it!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you John!

[@boomerdell]

Fantastic! These videos always help reinforce and enhance what I’m learning from you in the Jazz Guitar Roadmap course. Such incredible content all the way around. Thanks, Jens!🙏🏽

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you Boomer 🙂

[@Hiwatt100W1]

What a lesson, you packed so much extremely useful information into 8 minutes! Thank you very much!

[@JensLarsen]

Glad it was helpful!

[@benkatof5852]

Nice Jens - roadmap material in a nutshell! I must say that after following you for a couple of years, this stuff has sunken in and I feel like a much different beginner now. With time and practice, it all works. Thank you!

[@JensLarsen]

Great to hear, Ben! You did make a lot of progress when you were in the Roadmap :)

[@benkatof5852]

@@JensLarsen I really liked the map course, anything new on the horizon?

[@paulafranceschi]

Well put!

[@marioprietomonzon6445]

Stuck on this part, this video is useful and inspiring at the same time, thanks

[@JensLarsen]

That is really great to hear!

[@somtingwongwai7194]

That's some serious stuff condensed into 7.43 mins, love it

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you 🙂

[@OM10PYE]

I love your production style. The Jazz GOAT! Hopefully one day I know how to start playing Jazz Guitar, it seems so confusing. Thanks Jens.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much! I really appreciate that :)

[@rubenmora9880]

Thank you very much for the fantastic tutorial. This is really interesting. Greetings from Spain.

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@davidtardio9804]

This video really says it all! Have you ever made a video about making lines that are not ii V Is? One that popped into my head just now would be a cycle of dominants like in the tune Yesterdays, but of course there are many other possibilities

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks! Yes, I have made quite a few videos on playing changes on a blues or using simple standards like Pent Up House, A-train and Autumn Leaves, but essentially these skills are not tied to a progression so they work on any progression. One reason for not doing dominant cycles is that it quickly becomes fairly theory heavy which gets in the way of all the other stuff.

[@EmilErnebroGuitar]

Ok.. who's your editor and how can I send a bag of flowers cause that's some amazing work right there! :) And Jens - always clear and great explanations. Educational inspiration for my own channels! /E

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you Emil! :) I will pass it on to Luciano!

[@Kimomaru]

Fantastic video, thank you Jens. Very relevant to what I'm struggling with.

[@JensLarsen]

Glad it is useful 🙂

[@ricklaino6385]

Great lesson Jens.... Much food for thought...!!!

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you think so!

[@jacksonholt4594]

I've studied and executed fingerstyle guitar almost exclusively. I figured with the high learning curve and fine-motor skills I had already mastered with fingerstyle, would transfer over and make my learning of jazz simpler. I was wrong.

[@samuelemahtolo]

Thank you, thank you, thank you !

[@JensLarsen]

You are so welcome!

[@robertordonez8166]

Maybe if I watch this video every single day will I start to understand jazz 😂 In all seriousness, thanks for the tips!!

[@subhanmagar8863]

I always love your lesson but my playing never sound like jazz 😟 is there any advice or lesson . Thanks in advance .

[@JensLarsen]

Try learning some solos by ear so that you get the right type of melodies into your ears and fingers> kzbin.info/www/bejne/gWiygGCpaJajhbc

[@marccavanaghpop-rock-jazz-8539]

I was looking for this Scofield album yesterday, I didn't remember the title. Flat out! Cool, thank you for the video!

[@JensLarsen]

It is a great album 🙂

[@Juanma4033]

Another great an useful video. Many thanks

[@JensLarsen]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Juanma4033]

@@JensLarsen Already practising target notes on my guitar with music player in front of me 🥴

[@artompkins7958]

How do you manage to put such a great lesson on-line every week?!?

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you 🙂 I work a lot

[@r0mangpt]

Thank you for your time 👏

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like it 🙂

[@jamescopeland5358]

Great lesson Jens, ths

[@jasonvidrio1803]

Hey Jens! Love the channel and your teaching method. I don’t know how to read music notation but I’m interested in your online course. Is music reading needed to gain the most out of your course?

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you, Jason! Reading music is not a requirement for the course, I imagine that most people in there can't, but since there are demonstrations with notes and tab it is never really something anybody talks about.

[@jasonvidrio1803]

Alright that’s great. Thanks Jens! I will look into the course this weekend. Keep up the great work and continue to inspire players to learn jazz!

[@JensLarsen]

@@jasonvidrio1803 Thank you Jason :)

[@jasonvidrio1803]

I just completed the first chapter on your course and man! Looking forward to the entire curriculum! Great stuff Mr. Larsen!!

[@RealinDealer]

Keeps me inspired. Or should I say: hanging on. Thanks!

[@JensLarsen]

Go for it :)

[@cbolt4492]

Top work Jens 😎

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you! 🙂

[@rockguitarshred]

You're awesome and very informative:)

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you think so!

[@Remi-B-Goode]

Thanks so much for these advices!

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like the video :)

[@dry509]

Would you also mind defining what one means when they say that one chord resolves into another chord?

[@JensLarsen]

That you can hear tension that wants the chord to move to the next chord. Try to play a G and then a C

[@jakubskyba7946]

You are a genius :D

[@JensLarsen]

Glad it was useful!

[@lucagianquitto]

So Inspiring!!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you, Luca 🙂

[@jazzguitarjohn73]

love this lesson thanks Jens!!! (p.s. the tab at 2:40 is different than what you are playing - screwed with my head for a bit :head_explode_emoji: haha

[@banjobanjo-xn7lq]

At 6:16 you flash F#dim as a sub for G7 in the ii-V of C. I am curious as to the rationale. Could it be stemming from a D7 inversion starting on the 3rd or possibly Cdim resolving to major tonic? Thank you Jens. Love the channel!

[@JensLarsen]

It is a #IV dim. Think Basie ending? I have videos on it :)

[@seri1897]

Wow !! Thank you Jens....I found this lesson very important and i m trying to focus more now on triads/arpeggio.i have a question tho!! Is playing triad or arpeggio is the only way to make good solos?? Are there any other ideas too??

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like it 🙂 I would study arpeggios and triads but make sure to also study solos so that you learn how to use them. There is a link in the video description to a video that suggests easy solos to learn by ear, that is a good thing to work on as well.

[@seri1897]

Thank you so much

[@Mikkokosmos]

The random chord tone example sounded pretty good. Like Stravinsky 😜

[@JensLarsen]

Haha! I knew someone would comments that 😂 A little (positively) surprised it was you

[@Mikkokosmos]

@@JensLarsen at your service 🤠

[@JensLarsen]

@@Mikkokosmos 👍😁

[@Remi-B-Goode]

exactly, à la Eric Dolphy !

[@FilippoMeloniguitar]

Hi Jens, thanks, very informative as always. Not sure if you have done it already but I would love to hear your opinion on how to solo over the girl from Ipanema, the Stan Getz version. Thanks!

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks! It is not really any different than any other standard Jazz progression, so in that way the stuff is already on the channel. I haven't made a video specifically on that song though.

[@SoulmateParis]

The first prerequisite to playing jazz guitar is to be a good musician. Or, have Jens as your teacher !

[@rockstarjazzcat]

Ooh! Jazz hyperspace!!!

[@johnnostrat]

Hi Jens - at 2:40 the lick fingering tabbed doesn't match how you finger it in the video on the bar of Dm - I was getting in a tangle until I focussed on your fingerings!

[@JensLarsen]

Ok. I can't check it right now but that can I deed happen. I rarely use tabs so I am not good at checking them

[@jazzhead335]

I like the sound of diatonic notes. Are there any jazz players who use less chromatic and more diatonic notes?

[@JensLarsen]

Hm.. Tricky to say actually. I guess most players use mostly diatonic notes and only chromatic passing notes every now and again? Maybe check out some of the earlier Pat Metheny stuff, or Paul Desmond?

[@nelsonwakefield1214]

Thanks again for another thought-provoking lesson. I do feel like I followed it all but my chord spelling is still a little slow so I really have to think through the changes. One of the topics that is catching my attention is the use of arpeggios in a single position. I'm assuming you've likely covered this in a previous video. Can you direct me to a lesson where you discuss practicing these arpeggios? I'm assuming these are diatonic and follow the key. So, if you change keys, you may need to change position. Thanks again for a great lesson!

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks Nelson! Try this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIvIY2V4g8und6M Essentially you want to be able to go to other keys without moving position, but that is another story :)

[@nelsonwakefield1214]

@@JensLarsen Thank you! This is just what I was looking for. Back to practicing :)

[@JensLarsen]

@@nelsonwakefield1214 Go for it :)

[@viennapalace]

I wish these videos were around years ago when I was learning to play the sax...

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you 🙂

[@dry509]

You said there are a lot of chromatic notes in there referring to a Benson line…what do you mean by chromatic or chromaticsm?

[@JensLarsen]

Notes that are not in the tonality or chord at that point

[@codydafoe2951]

i was wondering if you can tell me what Gm/maj7 means.sorry i am working out of a al di meola book

[@JensLarsen]

G minor triad with a maj7 :)

[@VitalBigras]

What you named "forward motion" is what I need to work on…

[@JensLarsen]

Go for it 🙂

[@ianstukenborg437]

Funny as hell how I'll sit here and watch these soloing tips when i just really need to learn some tunes and how to play the chords for awhile i think....

[@cbolt4492]

On the list...

[@JensLarsen]

👍

[@MrDaigoRiki]

I’d like to learn Cuban music too.

[@JensLarsen]

I am sure there are channels for that out there :)

[@crazyshred]

great animations lol

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you :)

[@bobdeluxeandtheideals1356]

Cool

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like it 🙂

[@maxwellshammer5283]

At the beginning you mention John Scofield and figuring out what he was doing. Have you ever done any videos on his style? I can quite get his dissonance and how he uses it. It seems there’s right dissonance and wrong dissonance, and mine is wrong.🤣🤣🤣

[@JensLarsen]

A few: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j2LEnZejltJpZqs 😁 Is that what you mean?

[@maxwellshammer5283]

@@JensLarsen Wow! Thank you!

[@ezra3776]

Hi... I came here for Jazz Guitar for beginners...?1?

[@JensLarsen]

It is difficult to give too specific advice because everybody is different and at different levels, but maybe check out this post: jenslarsen.nl/how-to-learn-jazz-guitar-suggestions-to-begin-studying/

[@yrtracingteam106]

Same here..some basics

[@guitarplayer5932]

these lessons are a bit hypocritical for lack of a better term , in order to properly use and implement them you have to already know scales modes , all the notes on the guitar, chord and scale theory very very well which means you probably know this stuff already lol

[@JensLarsen]

You certainly don't need modes (you don't use modes for most jazz), and everything is in one position so you also don't need more than one position of the C major scale. You will need to put in more effort than just watching the video if you want to internalize the skills and knowledge covered in the video, but that will be true for anything you want to really learn. Is your username ironic?

[@LadisMiranda-gb1jw]

It's obvious your very talented, but for beginners who just want to learn some riffs to practice, your videos have a lot of you talking about your knowledge. It goes over my head and I don't have time to sit and listen to a lecture on music theory. Direct and to the riff would be a lot more appreciated. Just a suggestion, but I felt I'm owed you an explanation for the 👎🏾. Just my opinion, I'm a nobody.

[@JensLarsen]

Remember that not everybody is at your level, and that maybe most people who want to learn Jazz already know a lot of other stuff. That is at least the impression I have from my audience and also what you probably will see if you read the comments on this video (since you are anyway here) Just playing a lick without any context will teach you nothing compared to turning what I show you into an example of something that can be used in many ways, if you want licks direct and without any context then you should probably spend more time watching KZbin shorts, in my experience that is not what my audience want in a video like this, but as you can hear, I also don't consider it very useful. I felt I'd give you a way to understand the content regardless of whether you are open to it 👍

[@turkmusik]

That jazz "melody" style does nothing for me. Oh so relaxed. That's not really what a good melody does. It doesn't just stitch together notes in a technically pleasing manner. A good melody builds and says something. Jazz players are so focused on doing things with complex chords that they have forgotten what a melody is. It's basically the line you sing.

[@JensLarsen]

Well that is fair. You also don't do anything for the Jazz "melody" style 😄