F Jazz Blues Soloing - Jazz Guitar lesson - Improvise with Arpeggios

The F blues is the most common Chord Progression in Jazz. In this video I will go over how you can learn how to play great jazz guitar solo using the notes of the jazz chords in the twelve bar jazz blues.
It's always tricky to move from playing pentatonic over the whole blues form to really get into the chords and play something that follows the harmony. In this lesson I'll present a set of arpeggios, some exercises, target notes and strategies for making solos where you can hear the harmony in the improvisation.
You can download the examples as an PDF here:
jenslarsen.nl/f...
You can check out the extension of this lesson with a 3 chorus Blues solo here:
jenslarsen.nl/p...
If you want to practice you can use Quist's great backing track for an F blues: • F Jazz Blues Backing T...
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[@wasteyelo1]

This is perfect for Billie's Bounce. At least for where I'm at. All this stuff you post Jens is really great. It really helps me.

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks man! That's great to hear!

[@TimOost]

that;s how i ended up here as well!

[@rundown306]

By far my favorite jazz guitar teacher on KZbin. Would love to see your approach to rhythm changes! (my next year subject in the conservatory) "sorry for asking too much but your lessons helped me a lot, always so clear and straight to the point" Thank you so much!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you! Funny I just started thinking about how to make some lessons on rhythm changes yesterday. It will be at least a few weeks though.

[@rundown306]

+Jens Larsen Can't wait! Thanks again.

[@JosephusDalrymple]

Thank you for opening my ears to the role the 3rd and 7th play in a chord, and for elucidating their place on the fretboard. Never recognized the d-chord could be played that way.

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you find it useful and found some new voicings! :)

[@btparker100]

I'm learning so much from this thank you Jens!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much for the support! I am really glad you want to help me and the channel to keep going!

[@maxmoves64]

dont change anything, Jens. These lessons are so well explained and presented. I am getting so much out of these and expanding my guitar vocabulary :) Danke danke danke :)

[@JensLarsen]

+mark robins You're welcome Mark! Feel free to let me know if you have any questions :)

[@maxmoves64]

+Jens Larsen i have questions during your vid but you are answering them as it progresses :)

[@JensLarsen]

That's great! :D

[@juanjop.feliciano7298]

That's one of the best lessons I've seen explained in youtube. Thank you Jens Larsen!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you! I am glad to hear that you can use it!

[@Ortopedrista]

Just to keep reminding you because you deserve it: you do a great job, man! Thank you!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you Pedro!

[@QuistJam]

Great work.

[@JensLarsen]

+QuistJam Thanks Jacob! :)

[@MecchaKakkoi]

Thanks for the great lesson. I really appreciate the time and thought you put into them, and this one is perfect for where I am with jazz guitar right now.

[@JensLarsen]

+MecchaKakkoii Great to hear that you can use it! be sure to let me know if you have any questions!

[@roccomastronardi6914]

Jena, thank you so much. Your lessons are very generous and sincere, and have helped me develop my playing a great deal. 🙏

[@JensLarsen]

You're very welcome! Thanks for checking them out! :) If you want to help me then share one of my videos and help me spread the word!

[@alilotfi7974]

Wow,actually its my first time leaving a comment in KZbin but i couldnt stop saying that ive never seen someone who explain everything so logicaly and comfortable and easy to understand, Tnx Jens... hope to hear more from you ;)

[@JensLarsen]

+Ali Lotfi Thank Ali! That's quite a compliment! I am glad you like the lesson, I have quite a few on my channel and make a new one every week :)

[@cjro77]

Thanks so much Jens for posting these lessons. I've been trying to learn how to play jazz for years but is very difficult to find really good sources on how to play jazz (books, videos, websites, etc..) Your videos are helping me a lot!! You know how to teach and explain complicate subjects very easy. Thanks again!

[@JensLarsen]

You are very welcome! I am glad to hear that you find the videos useful!

[@renatogeorgeroscani5786]

Really Thanks for your lessons!

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like them!

[@seamasmanly]

I’m enjoying your channel! Listening to you is part of today’s practice 😊

[@JensLarsen]

Great to hear! 🙂

[@rodneycampbell3825]

Jazz has made so much more sense I started watching your lessons especially the beginners course

[@JensLarsen]

Really glad to hear that Rodney! :)

[@rodneycampbell3825]

@@JensLarsen thanks for your videos do you have a video on how to play take five idk how to transcribe saxophone licks onto guitar yet

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks, Rodney! I didn't make a video on Take Five yet

[@rodneycampbell3825]

@@JensLarsen if you make one I'd literally pay for it lol I really want to learn the licks

[@fatcat87]

One of the best explanation jazz lessons ive come across

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks man! I am glad to hear that!

[@urbachd]

Your English is really impressive. I found studying German that I had to live in Germany to be really fluent. I know this isn't a music comment, but still, good job all around. And this is another one of your masterpieces!

[@JensLarsen]

+Dan Urbach Thank you Dan! I think we had really good English lessons at school and for the rest I watched a lot if American television shows with subtitles ☺️

[@mp_guitarist]

Thanks Jens, this is a great video, really informative and exactly advice I've been looking for. I'm looking forward to watching more of your videos!!

[@JensLarsen]

Glad it was helpful!

[@bobmanto636]

Thanks, Jens. I'm in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania, USA. I'm back in college majoring in music after retiring from work. I have mostly a rock background and lessons as a kid, but am getting into jazz. My professors are awesome and well-intended. I'm currently working on "Blues in the Closet" (Oscar Pettiford) for Jazz Ensemble and doing research to compliment my lesson. I think you're great and love your style of teaching. I subscribed and will be looking at more of your lessons. Thanks, again. Bob

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much Bob! I hope you find something you can use :)

[@RemyTrahant]

Another fantastic lesson, Jens, it was a great exercise to try and learn your solo by ear without looking!

[@dughlasmont]

You're a good teacher. -- thank you. I'm looking forward now to working with your guidance.

[@JensLarsen]

+Douglas Montgomery Great to hear Douglas! Thanks for checking out the lessons! :)

[@cikemini1]

Thank you Jens. I have some work to do memorizing, then applying and improvising on the arpeggios. Very helpful stuff!

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you find it useful 🙂

[@aiksaiks8805]

This was really helpful for my jazz audition! Thank you!

[@JensLarsen]

Great to hear! Good luck with the audition 🙂

[@maxharvey822]

This is very helpful thank you u r helping me getting my GCSE grades for music

[@peanutpeanut123]

Hi Jens, great lesson. One thing, at 5:19, the connecting arpeggios example, the tab/music at top of screen only show the first 4 bars! It doesn't change with the rest of the progression. Keep up the good work man, I come back to your lessons often

[@JensLarsen]

Sorry about that, I am not a professional video maker so there are all sorts of mistakes in my videos :)

[@TacoDonut8]

Such a great video man!! Learned a lot

[@JensLarsen]

Glad to hear it!

[@downhill240]

Great lessons here!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you!

[@pasha355]

great lesson!!! Thanks so much!

[@JensLarsen]

+Pasha Lychagin Thanks for checking it out!! :)

[@erwinvandijke6169]

this lesson helped me a lot!

[@JensLarsen]

I am happy to hear that Erwin! :)

[@anthonysilva5312]

Great work, as usual.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you Anthony! 👍🙂

[@meddlesomemusic]

Very useful advice thanks!

[@JensLarsen]

You're very welcome! :)

[@zoranbeats]

As a piano player this helped me alot

[@mrdellavegaify]

Great lesson!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much Marcos!

[@neilthecraig]

Helpful lesson thank you

[@JensLarsen]

You're very welcome! I am glad you like it! 🙂

[@GogOtHeCaT15]

Jens for president !!

[@JensLarsen]

+gogo chi I didn't know KZbin had a president 😆

[@2hardbackrub743]

Wow great stuff!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you! Glad you found it useful!

[@edbergquist4745]

Very good video...

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you!

[@mbyt961]

Thank you!

[@JensLarsen]

+Martin Borge You're welcome Martin!

[@solkingston6575]

Hey Jens, thanks for the lesson it helps immensely. Once I feel I can comfortably solo between the changes using the arpeggios/scales and using the target notes. What would the next step be to improve my soloing over a jazz blues progression?

[@JensLarsen]

Maybe a Chord Solo or some motif exercises: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4vRhIiwo791pa8 Both videos are in this playlist 🙂

[@solkingston6575]

Thank you :)

[@aberhan]

Another great lesson Jens. Strange how there always seems to be a few negative votes?

[@JensLarsen]

There are always going to be some people who don't like something 🙂 it's not worth worrying about

[@dwkarl55]

Hi Jens. Most arpeggio lessons I have seen focus on learning arpeggio shapes, but I don't think shapes work well if I'm trying to play at a position on the fretboard. It seems like if one wants to play at a position like you recommend, there would be an advantage to thinking of the notes of each arpeggio rather than trying to adjust the shape. However learning notes of all arpeggios seems like a much bigger memorization effort. I am wondering if you think of notes rather than shapes? I just want to know if I'm on the right track. Thanks in advance!

[@davystrangename]

Hi Jens, nice lesson as always. However I think that in example 4 something goes wrong, it freeses after bar 4.

[@JensLarsen]

+Davy Strangename Thanks Davy! True that is a mistake. The best I can offer right now is that you check it via the PDF on my website :)

[@patpogoallroundguitarist5814]

What do you think about the approach to only practice triads over standards, then occasionally add chromatics and sevenths to chords to simplify the process Jens?

[@JensLarsen]

I think you are better off doing the 7th chords, they are not a lot more difficult than the triads and do represent the entire harmony. Then I'd suggest adding the scale around it not chromatic notes. That way you are combining two things that both contain a complete picture of the chords. If you use triads you don't have a complete version of the harmony and if you combine it with chromatic notes you are adding something that is either random or at least more difficult to make good melodies with. So in fact I think that you are not simplifying the process like that, you are making it more difficult. Does that help?

[@patpogoallroundguitarist5814]

I saw Rick Beato using that style of thinking over Giant Steps and it worked for him.. Thanks anyway.

[@JensLarsen]

Giant steps is not a blues in F 😁

[@JensLarsen]

Actually maybe I was too quick in answering that. Do you understand the difference between a 12 bar blues and a piece of music that modulates a third away every bar? Giant Steps moves so much and to chords that are not in the same key that staying completely basic will still spell out the harmony of the song. At the same time you also only have 4 notes per chord most of the time. so you are not going to add that many chromatic notes. In comparison a Medium Blues in F is practically a modal piece, and the movement of the harmony is better spelled out with the entire picture of the chord (ie the 7th chord arpeggio) This doesn't mean that you can't mess around with using triads and leading notes to make interesting lines, but it is just not the place I'd suggest you start for a progression like this which is how I read your initial question 🙂 Does that help?

[@patpogoallroundguitarist5814]

For me there's no difference practicing Giant Steps and The blues since I put a new chord on every bar in it..Don't get me wrong I am able to play seven arpeggios too 🐸

[@klausmathauer3316]

Thanks for the video. :) This might be a stupid question, but why is there a G in the Bdim? 1:08

[@JensLarsen]

That is probably just a typo. Just go with what I play

[@erwinvandijke6169]

a question has been bothering me quite a while. What's that blue thing doing at the end of the neck?

[@JensLarsen]

+Erwin van Dijke Haha! You're not the only one.... It's a hairband, I sometimes use it to mute open strings but 99% it's just sitting behind the nut looking pretty :)

[@adamsken1767]

Hi Jens, how come F is dominant and not major? Isn’t it i chord? Also the B diminished chord... under what mechanism does that work? B is neither the note for F major or F minor... I am confused as to how that chord can work in this chord progression

[@JensLarsen]

We usually play dominant chords in a Blues, that is just a habit. As for the B dim, that is a #IV diminished, and you could try to look up diminished chords on my channel, if you want more information on them.

[@christianalbina6217]

What has Jens got on the head of his guitar? The blue thing.

[@JensLarsen]

It's hairband that I use as a mute for open strings, but it does not really do anything when it is behind the nut- I sometimes use it while recording or practicing legato.

[@kennienielsen5704]

Du er genial!..

[@JensLarsen]

Tusind tak! Mon ikke det er lidt overdrevet :D

[@kennienielsen5704]

Nej, jeg mener det helt seriøst, uden tvivl jeg tjekker dine videoer ud, til jeg har fået det under huden. ;) Jeg prøver selv at finde rundt i det store billede og føler lidt at jeg kommer efter det, dog er dit input en super inspirerende detalje. Virkelig, tusind tak! :D

[@JensLarsen]

Nå, men det da ikke noget vi skal skændes om... Du må jo bare sige til hvs der er noget du vil spørge om! :)

[@kennienielsen5704]

Jeg er overhovedet ikke i stand til at kunne formulere et sprøgsmål der vil kunne gøre noget som helst forstand. Jeg tænker så bare en enkelt tanke dog, typisk.. :D Hvis jeg nu spiller den dur-skala som ligner "pentaton-skalaen" fra f.eks. A på (Dyb) E Til A på (Tynd) E (Håber det giver mening)..(5 bånd) Kan jeg så ikke udvide den enkelte skala til de forskellige situationer? For eksempel, jeg har hørt at en 9' og en 13' lyder super godt med en mol. og ligeledes en stor7' og en mere jeg ikke kan huske, der passer elskeligt med dur. Og det her princip kan man jo så udnytte i de forskellige trin i progressionen med tonearterne eksempelvis. eller hvad.. Når der er så mange spørgsmål man gerne vil stille, men ikke rigtigt kan formulere.. Jeg tror bare jeg skal kigge mig lidt rundt på kanalen :D :D

[@JensLarsen]

Ja prøv lige det lidt først. Der er et par dur skalaer der ligner A pentaton i 5. bånd :)

[@FredWisdomTV]

What gauge strings do you use?

[@JensLarsen]

+FredWisdomTV I use. .13 Sono-tone strings. You should check them out!

[@dom6023]

5:19

[@firefrets2162]

I don't wish to be anal, but aren't many of the chords you show in the chord charts 13th and 9th chords, not 7ths ? Interesting stuff. Thanks a lot. All the best.

[@JensLarsen]

+flat357 You're right of course, that is because when you play jazz you chose the chord you play yourself so extensions and even alterations are open to interpretation. An F13 could easily be replaced with an F7, an F9 or a number of other chords and it is up to the one playing the chords to make that decision (and not get fired by the soloist of course...) This way of notating the basic chords is quite common in jazz in general and I do it in all my lessons. Thanks for checking out the lesson!

[@firefrets2162]

+Jens Larsen Thanks for clearing that up Jens. Enjoyed listening.

[@JensLarsen]

You're welcome! Thanks for checking it out!

[@LMONDEGREEN]

Playing this in 0.5 speed is so funny

[@JensLarsen]

+L'MONDEGREEN And also good for my channels watch time :)

[@NicoDelCorno]

Thank you!