Jazz Scales! The 3 You Need to practice and How You apply them to Jazz Chords

Jazz Scales can seem like a million options that you all need to learn in all positions and all chords, but there is a way to approach this that is a little easier than trying to learn all jazz scales in all modes. After all the Dorian mode is not as important as the Major or Minor key.
In this video I am going to take a practical look at the chord progressions you will encounter and what scales over what chords you are going to need. I am also going to discuss how you apply the scales to the chords and practice in a more general way towards being able to use a scale over any of it's diatonic chords.
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List of content:
0:00 Intro - a myriad of Jazz Scales
0:20 Practice efficiently
0:50 Finding the scales by looking at the progressions
0:59 The Major II V I Cadence: Dm7 G7 Cmaj7
1:15 The II V I and the other diatonic chords
1:44 The Major scale it's all you need from So What to Giant Steps.
1:57 The Minor II V I Cadence: Bø E7(b9) Am6
2:09 Adding Harmonic minor and Melodic minor
2:34 Secondary dominants and cadences
2:51 Secondary cadence to IV in C major
3:07 Secondary cadence to III in C major
3:27 IV minor variations
4:26 Diminished Chords the two types
4:40 Dominant diminished chord
5:04 Subdominant diminished chord
5:44 What is covered so far
6:06 The tritone substitute: Dm7 Db7 Cmaj7
6:23 The Backdoor dominant: Fmaj7 Bb7 Cmaj7
6:48 Double diminished or German Augmented 6th: Fmaj7 Ab7 Cmaj7
7:23 Cadences with other dominant choices: Altered and Harmonic minor
8:11 The three scales and where we need them - cutting away what we don't need.
8:55 Getting this into your practice routine!
9:12 Scale practice suggestions and knowing the scales
9:40 Example of what works and what doesn't work when improvising over an Fmaj7 in C major
10:59 The Bonus from practicing like this!
11:20 Learning the rest of the scales
11:58 Do you work with this system or do you have a better one?
12:36 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.
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[@JensLarsen]

If you like this video then check out: *9 Surprising Pentatonic scale secrets on a Blues* kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqianWB9mLmSh6s

[@NandoCorea]

Man! This guitar you're playing is which model and brand? That sound of her is very good!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you! It's an Ibanez AS2630

[@blacktridentgoods]

Jens Larsen what are you using as your Fretwrap? I've never seen one like that

[@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.

[@afrolatina7626]

I have an acoustic guitar will it work?

[@Britmysta]

I feel like I've free roamed into the area of the map where the enemies are like 5 levels higher than me, but I can't go back because I need the gear I came for.

[@emotionunbound4846]

Britmysta this is such a good comment

[@seungkirishima7558]

Literally me when I only have lvl 1 gear in a pubg match where the circle is two small and there are still 8 enemies

[@JackJack-zy3wi]

All talk no walk 🌍❤️😂😎

[@jeffreyquinonez8964]

Same 😐

[@barrypike4498]

This is such an apt description. :)

[@christiansteingasser1200]

I`m still confused, but now on a higher level..

[@JensLarsen]

That was what I was going for :)

[@WRCStudio]

That's kind of how jazz goes. It never gets easier the parts just get more complex

[@igrieger]

Hahaha, you put in a very funny way

[@pisnop]

You are hilarious! But I feel ya!!

[@Acekorv]

If I learned anything from my 25 years of practicing guitar and some jazz is that if you are not hearing what is happening the theory might not be much help so never forget to practice your ear when learning new scales and ideas. If you can’t hear it it’s much harder to play as well.

[@TiborRisko]

A minor pentatonic over EVERYTHING and very very VERY fast ;)

[@JensLarsen]

Right on! I usually prefer Em pentatonic though 😄

[@TiborRisko]

@@roosterball69 Yes, I know about all of these "musical ingredients", BUT...... "A-minor pentatonic over everything really fast" is just way cooler and very rock 'n roll ;)

[@TiborRisko]

@@roosterball69 :D :D :D :D Exactly! :D :D :D but Really really fast, like Yngwie, even during soft ballads ;)

[@sweatycrabthailand4262]

i prefere the cromatic scale over everything. i just say its advanced 12 tone jazz, so ppl dont know that i suck

[@fredfunf3456]

Check out Pat Martino.

[@psicotic67]

Dear Jens, i think that you are the only teacher that speak very clear the language of jazz guitar. With your precious video i'm gonna work too much with my guitar and at the same time i have a clear vision of my work. Thank you very much!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much Giuseppe I am very glad to hear that :)

[@drewcook7967]

I’m 3 years to late to this but thank you jens! I just recently have gotten into playing swing and jazz music and found myself struggling to not not sound like a blues player when jamming with it. Your lessons have really helped me understand some of the dynamics of this beautiful genre more. Thank you

[@JensLarsen]

Really glad to hear that Drew 🙂 Go for it!

[@lambda494]

Um, you just gave like 6 months of lessons for $1000s in a few minutes. Bravo, bravo, sir!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much! Glad you like it! :)

[@eliseoborrerobass]

Reading some of the comments, I see that for some of us, this is way advance; however, you have to understand that he (Jens) is trying to pack a lot of information on these videos and it's actually to make it easier for us. What I do is WATCH IT AGAIN! AND AGAIN! Then one day I go "ooh!!!" Thanks!

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks, Eliseo! Glad you stick with it!

[@ChristianSYLVOZ]

Hi Jens, In my opinion, this is by far the most effective synthesis you have produced to date. I do agree with the direction you give. Tkx again for everything you share.

[@JensLarsen]

+Christian SYLVOZ Thank you very much Christian! I am glad you find it useful ☺️

[@joet4348]

Man, you have to have the absolute best music lessons on KZbin (or anywhere I've seen on the internet). They're super informative, avoid hyping up topics and give logical exercises and background for progressing. Thank you so much for all the work that you put in to these lessons.

[@JensLarsen]

You are very welcome. I am glad you like them 🙂

[@MrRFasters]

You must be Jazz Cat already my friend, even to be able to follow this. And if you can follow this what is there to learn?

[@KennethGonzalez]

I like the way that you position which scales should be used. I think the key trick here will be to do as you've described -- play through the various changes to get both the fingering and sound underneath the fingers. Even good intermediate players may not be able to readily switch between the various scales on the fly. Songs move quicker than our ability to analyze->select->perform. Even if it's only portions of a second, you're still behind the song! Investing time to analyze and characterize the changes in a song helps get that baked in, so when you get "the move" down, you can focus on the finer aspects, not just hitting the right notes. Well done, Jens! Thanks.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much Kenneth! I completely agree: You need to prepare songs and know the progressions well in advance to be able to solo on it!

[@justinwuwuwu]

I tried watching this a year ago and couldn’t really follow along...now after a year of learning theory with you and beyond, I’ve come to rewatch and I can understand a bit more now! 😀

[@JensLarsen]

That's great! Most of what you need is to know a bunch of jazz standards. Then it starts to make sense 🙂

[@broncojonnes]

my brain melted

[@JensLarsen]

Oh dear? No lasting damage I hope 🙂

[@ljr8819]

I clicked the wrong page.

[@ljr8819]

I thought I struggled with maths.................... "Just let me hear some of that rock and roll music Any old way you choose it .................... :)" Do we really need to know this stuff to be able to play music?

[@oldgit4260]

@@ljr8819 no

[@fattmusiek5452]

You are 1000% in agreement with me rn. it was already mush, staying up late as hell, but this was just like...Straight up turned into mashed potatoes. If u watched this and were like "I literally understand everything he just said, 100%" I gonna have my "Bullshit" button ready to push. This was the most challenging video I've seen in a while for some reason. Time to sleep and if I actually have the courage to try again in the morning, THAT in itself would be an actual victory. Ded

[@tenbroeck1958]

This is one of the most practical presentations ever for developing a "tool belt" to draw from when playing. Thanks- awesome lesson Jens!

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like it 🙂

[@Taesian]

I'm pretty lost. But it might be because I'm high.

[@JensLarsen]

Well come back and give it a try when you are sober?

[@Taesian]

@@JensLarsen Of course! The three chords in the beginning, Dm7 G7 and Cmaj7, it sounds dubious and different when I play it by the head. What are those chords you're playing?

[@nicksmifso8071]

the only way i play ,lost and high

[@jasonkeith9317]

Funny shit!!!

[@oldgit4260]

I thought you needed to be high to understand it

[@dontgiveashit9678]

I really like to learn from a guy that tells you "all you have to do if you" and then unfolds material I will need two lives to integrate completely. Respect man!

[@dontgiveashit9678]

But I am really annoyed by youtubers telling me to subscribe. I will tho, only this time. This shit has morr value than 2 years in an academy, am I rediscovering the wheel?

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you! Be careful though, most of my videos will require you to think for yourself and work on it and I ask people to subscribe in most videos. 🙂

[@dkwvt13]

Jens, you are the master of understatement with your titles... This is a great lesson, a system designed to use and modify rather than a set of "closed" rules. I continue to be amazed at the outgrowth you build into your pieces. Thank you again,

[@cflowers69]

#1 Get a looper pedal. #2 Play through a particular chord sequence, and hit "loop". #3 Work your scale over the top of the sequence, noting what works, and writing those bits down. That is what you practice and that is how you develop your voice in terms of using this stuff. Stay with it for numerous years, and then enjoy the applause from the two people at the bar who are listening to you play this elevator/on hold-with-the-bank, music.

[@johnw.mcintosh4740]

This is one of the most straightforward and concise explanations of this stuff I have ever heard. I will be revisiting this over and over.

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like it 🙂

[@ddrumcorner4682]

1. I'm a drummer and bass player yet I'm 100% subscribed and will be sharing this content! 2. Mad respect for your insight and the way you approach teaching this subject amidst the sea of overwhelming information that is the Internet. 80/20 master! Peace

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much David! Really glad to hear that you like the video 🙂

[@win232323]

I've seen a lot of channels, but now its the first time that I have the feeling to get it to another level. You teach it very clearly!!! Thanks for that Jens.

[@JensLarsen]

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

[@lukebauer5495]

I binged most of your videos pretty hard last year. Turns out it was still a bit over my head despite 4 semesters of classical music theory and one semester of jazz comping. Now I am going back through all of your stuff and find that I am getting a lot more from it. This is to say: very useful stuff, once you finally have the mental space to process it all.

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks Luke! Glad you are getting something out of them!

[@titobattaglia7932]

This is his foundational harmony lesson in my view. Refined and expanded in his Melodic minor, tritone, harmonic minor lessons. But this one is very important. And if anyone gets lost - start using a part of this lesson. Make friends with the major scale and its arpeggios. Then move on to melodic minor. Then harmonic. Easy does it.

[@alistairtearne9518]

This is an amazing lesson. If you find it confusing, as I did, I'd recommend watching his melodic minor video and knowing your major scale plus arpeggios. It starts to click into place at that point and you realise that Jen's videos pack in weeks if not months of tuition . You just have to watch, pause and rewatch over again.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you Alistair! That's very nice of you to say so :)

[@dylanriner]

Hey Jens, I just wanted to say thanks for putting out these videos! I’ve been playing guitar for over 15 years, and I’ve just recently started to divulge into the music theory behind it. You definitely know how to make your lessons to the point about everything, and you don’t dance around the idea of what it is. Keep making great content my friend! 🎼

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much Dylan! That's great to hear! I will do my best to keep making videos! :)

[@andreparoni]

That's a million dollar lesson, Jens!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much André!

[@JazzgutsVGvanKampen]

Jens, you're a fine dedicated teacher. I agree on what you said about the 3 basic scales covering a great range in Jazz. I use these a lot myself. Further I study the octotonic (sequences) and pentatonic as altered scales as wel. Like playing Bb mi penta over G7 alt.Keep up your fantastic work, loved your lesson on the drop 2 voicings, very informative, greetings Vic.

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks Victor! Glad to hear that you find the videos useful! 🙂

[@mrjohnp555]

Jens, thank you for this video. This lesson, for me, is one of the most enlightening jazz guitar videos I have seen. It is incredibly dense with great information, with no fluff whatsoever, and presents a comprehensive way of thinking about improvising.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much! Glad you find it useful! 🙂

[@pipeh3e8]

This video is amazing, the real meaning of youtube overhere. You encorage me to learn the basis of jazz after long time running away from the music theory behind it, you know, there are lots of people like me that havent studied ever the musical theory, it would be years of learning and you just give all of us a 13 min video with a solid basis to start a concrete learning to the magic behind music :) Thank you so much

[@JensLarsen]

You're very welcome, Felipe! Glad you can put it to use and make some music 👍

[@michellepackman1484]

Thanks so much for making this video. I'm a classical musician coming to jazz now and it makes me feel better that all the scales I already know are useful. 😛

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much Michelle! 🙂 Yes you should be fine with those 3, just don't forget that we play the ascending version of the scales all the time 😁

[@michellepackman1484]

Even better!

[@joyfullmusicexploring-thom5093]

But: i guess i could profit a lot going to understand your system better. Have to learn it in small piecec. Thanks a lot for this vid. Its great advice !!!

[@hahabass]

I think most of the players who are confused with this probably tuned out half-way through, which is tempting, although interesting if you have at least a little knowledge of jazz chord construction and usage. The gold is in the summing up. I'll come back to this again to make sure it's embedded, but this was great. Thanks Jens.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much! Really glad you found it useful! 🙂

[@MastanehNazarian]

It's late at night and I could honesty follow the content of this video very easily because it comes from the experience of playing music! You may not realise but after a while of studying with your expertise and delivery style your videos calm me down and then if I wake in the middle of the night I'll just run a part of the info over a set of changes in my head and I'm a better person in the morning. True story!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you Mastaneh! That really makes my day 🙂

[@pixelatedparcel]

Well, this is somewhat of a relief to me because, being new to guitar and music theory (1 year, self-taught), I was beginning to feel pretty apprehensive about the time investment required to learn scales/modes beyond those we first learn in association with the major scale, let alone reach technical proficiency... Don't get me wrong, I'm totally into just enjoying the journey but as I have no serious musical ambition and really only want to be conversant in the medium this approach seems like a healthy compromise. Happy Holidays!

[@JensLarsen]

+pixelatedparcel Glad to hear that ☺️ Potentially this could save you a lot of time. Hope you have a nice Christmas too!

[@AndreGhozland]

I I had a very nice moment following your demonstration .Thank you Jens

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much Andre! Very happy to hear that!

[@The314moses]

Man, this guy is no joke. That was a wealth of knowledge in a short amount of time.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you :)

[@jakestewartmusic]

Thank you! I love this approach. I've started to discover that it's better to know how to use a couple of things really well and be able to really speak with them than know tons of modes. Too many modes can be difficult to wrap your head around because you have so many options for each chord and you're often thinking more about the roots constantly moving (prescribing a mode to each chord) instead of building a melody in the key that moves through the changes. By simplifying the thinking, you can focus on being genuine and creative with your melodies.

[@JensLarsen]

Exactly Jake! 🙂

[@workidd6001]

This is one of the best guitar lessons on youtube if you persist with it. Rome wasn't built in a day :) The section at 8:10 really brought it all together. Top drawer stuff, thank you for your work Jens

[@JensLarsen]

Really glad you like it :)

[@arthurchow2336]

very useful, thank you Jens, you are a humble and generous guy who is willing to share your experience with us all, truly appreciated your efforts, learning music should be like this, thank you

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much! Very nice of you to say so!

[@davisjdiaz]

Wow. This opened up so much, thank you :) ive recently kinda gotten stuck in the pentatonic minor boxes and didnt know why i couldn't play just that scale over certain songs. It makes sense that you need to basically match up what ur playing with the scales.

[@alexeyklochkov2275]

One of the most helpful lessons on jazz soloing basics. Many of these things I found myself from practice, but you explained it all very clearly and systematically. Thank you!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much, Alexey! I am really glad you find it useful!

[@smileswrappedingauze]

that Bø E7(b9) Am6 is so good... like, people don't understand there are different voicings to play the same series of notes, but that one is especially nice... i also love how we both love harmonic minor, (b)9 of all the altered 7 chords, & minor6 chords.. which i figured out myself recently, then have been noticing you making the same kind of choices in your writing as i do in mine, & i'm like "hmm, maybe i'm( or should i say /we're) really actually onto something here..." ha.

[@stevek3984]

Those are the big 3, no question. - hats off to Jens for very clearly setting out the "Pareto Principle" for jazz soloing - 20% of the possible input producing 80% of the gain. Students need to know what to put on the priority list and why - it's amazing how much of the study material out there doesn't make it sufficiently clear and that's a crucial failing - jazz is hard and if you don't direct your energy where it's most effective, its going to be a very hard and long road.

[@JensLarsen]

Very true! This is indeed what I am trying to get across! Thanks Steve! 👍🙂

[@thomaspick4123]

Steve Cadge No wonder most people do not like jazz. Does one have to drink, smoke, take heroin, and commit adultery to like jazz?

[@fretlessblunder]

Jens, this is extraordinarily helpful. You have started with an endpoint: "here's what you need to play *most* jazz" and reverse-engineered the requirements to do so. This gives the jazz-student, like myself, an idea where I fall on the continuum of knowledge needed to get to the endpoint, and what to spend time working on. I often find myself mired in the minutiae of technique and arcane theory only to realize that I'm missing the bigger picture: developing a coherent and sensible method of study that will give me the most useful results and benefit my actual playing. Thanks for the great work!

[@JensLarsen]

+Rob B Thank you Rob! I am glad you find it useful! ☺️ it is indeed very easy to get lost in some small set of details

[@warrenwilson7836]

Thanks yet again for simplifying a topic and creating an effective strategy for approaching such a huge topic as jazz scales. Coming from a “classical” background and directly encountering the endless scales and modes with the underlying theory can be intimidating to say the least. I appreciate the way this vdeo - like so many of yours - pulls key essentials out and creates a way of looking at the theory of jazz scales for improvisation that is not only clear and readily undertstood but very practical. Still - gonna take a LOT of practice! (Thank goodness it’s great fun).

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much Warren. That's really encouraging to hear! Glad you also enjoy the journey!

[@carlosenriqueguitars]

This is pure gold. Thank you so much for this! All this chords, scales and even the way you talk ... It´s just great. (I can´t believe videos like this have 312 dislikes! Millennials have nothing to do these days.) #Guitar #JazzIsNotForEverybody #UntilGrowUp

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much Carlos! I think some people click on it expecting to learn jazz in 10 minutes, and that is of course not what it is about 🙂

[@guitargarrett1]

Basically what he is saying is master diatonic scales/chords. Maj, min, min, Maj, Dom, min, dim, Maj. Play the arpeggios and practice soloing over each chord. Then do the same for Harmonic Minor and Melodic. Great way to practice! Because im more of a rocker, I study more of the sounds of Modes, but for Jazz this really keeps things simple.

[@JensLarsen]

Exactly! 👍😎

[@ricklanders]

This is super helpful! I've been kind of "stuck" on just using the modes of the major scale for everything, which at least works pretty reliably over a basic ii V I, if not a little bland or basic. But it's hard to know where to go from there, aside from working on arpeggios more. This not only gives a good direction to take the next step, but provides the assurance that you won't be wasting your time in doing so. Thank you, Jens! Can't wait to start diving into these minor scales.

[@JensLarsen]

Go for it Rick!

[@ranradd]

While listening to Jens and watching him effortlessly move to the chord shapes he refers to is educational, inspirational, and more, sometimes I wish I had one of those handheld language translators with a setting for "Jazz to English."

[@benhurdamaso]

Grande aula! Parabéns e obrigado por disponibilizá-la. Um abraço

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much! I am glad you like the videos 🙂

[@williamjensen7365]

I just stumbled across Jens learning some new things, advancing technic while under Covid stay at home orders in Michigan. Great lesson, go through it slowly and write things down to get to an understanding. I like the use of C Major scale for the lesson, we should all get that. I need to get the the two minor scales here and use them as I have avoided them for some time. I have always been focused on the using the modes and scales associated with the chords. I guess that is diatonic? Thanks for all you provide.

[@JensLarsen]

You're very welcome William! I am glad you like the video

[@banjistakuba3272]

Perfect video thanks a lot, going to check other videos from you. I love the style of content where you just go through on a certain level and leave out stuff that doesnt necesarilly go with the subject. What I truly hate about many books about music theory is that they all assume you haven't bought one and therefore need 100 pages to understand that scales exist.

[@robsgirl6465]

Thanks so much, Jens. You sure did pack a lot of info in 13 minutes. My jazz teacher taught me to use the major scale this way... He said when I see a II-V-I, just start the scale from the root note of the I-chord. That's pretty much what I've been doing since 2013, and it seems to work. But now you've given me more to chew on. At 52 years of age, and playing guitar since 1973 (but jazz only from 2012), you teach me something new every day. Thanks.

[@robsgirl6465]

Oh yes, Jens, I agree. Perhaps a lot of people, instructors as well, try to make jazz more difficult that it needs to be, to maintain the jazz mystery? They often use high-brow words like "sophistication", as if one scale or mode is more "sophisticated" than the next. To my mind, theory is just that... theory. The real test is whether or not your playing sounds good; does it sound musical; it it musically pleasing and satisfying? If not, then even if the theory is correct, it doesn't really work. I like your approach. It works!!!

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks Jack! 🙂

[@alexanderpotts8425]

nailing it lately with material that makes jazz feel a lot less daunting to beginners!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you Alexander Potts! 🙂 I am glad you can use it to see the bigger picture!

[@dagfinnlyngstad]

Fantastic lesson, love it when it is so spot on and fast, no outside and unessesary talking! 👍👍🎸🎸

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you find it useful! :)

[@juliuscaparas8438]

Thank you jens :) it's been 3 days now I've been watching your videos and applying it on my guitar playing practice. Especially replacing backtracking tracks for Metronome :) it was a huge help. Thanks again. Now looking forward on this lesson Cheers from the Philippines 🇵🇭

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you Julius! 🙂 Glad you enjoy the videos!

[@nlmal4]

You read my mind. 👌🏾👍🏾

[@JensLarsen]

+Mike Allen Thanks Mike!

[@MoNsTa4DuB]

everything breaks down to the Major Ionian scale/mode it's even constructed in the last octave of the Harmonic series! Forget about learning 1000000 different Lydian scales in my opinion understand submediants counterpoint and develop an ear for tension notes like b9 #4 b6 etc. played over various chord progression settings! great lesson!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you Andrew! 🙂

[@JulianLambert]

Agree - absolutely.

[@controversialchristian2378]

What do you mean?

[@tecnolover2642]

I agree and disagree. I agree with having an ear for hearing tension notes. I disagree that ionian is all you need. You need to learn the others too and in every position if you want to become proficient in jazz guitar.

[@prodigaljess]

I recently subscribed to your channel, and more than anyone else I’ve seen on KZbin, you are really helping me to understand and demystify jazz and to develop a logical, functional, comprehensive and efficient practice routine. Thank you! I’m a student right now, living on loans, but when I’m working again, I look forward to being able to support you more. Thanks again. God bless you, brother.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you, Jesse! That is great to hear! :)

[@larrylorenzen2449]

Very helpful video jam packed with info! I'm getting to work right away. It was really freeing for me to realize that all the modes ( Ionian, Dorian etc.) are just the common major scale starting on a different degree of the scale. So, if you learned the major scale, you've also learned the 7 modes. Also, A tri-tone substitution is just an exremely altered dominant and can be treated that way instead of thinking of a chord a tri-tone away. eg. B7 is really F7 flat 5 flat 9.

[@cheopys]

major, harmonic & melodic minor are the primary scales in Baroque music too

[@JensLarsen]

Yes, they are the basis for pretty much all tonal music 🙂

[@cheopys]

You’re right of course but I can’t recall seeing the pure minor / Aeolian in Baroque; renaissance music used it. I love your videos.

[@PhrygianPhrog]

I can't play guitar any more (carpal tunnel syndrome), but this actually helps my sax playing.

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks Alex! That's great to hear that you can use it on another instrument! Of course sorry to hear that you can't play guitar anymore, but the change to sax must be nice as well?

[@PhrygianPhrog]

Thanks, yes it's fine. The "inner jazz voice/line" is always developing, just have to use a different expressive tool now!

[@martinrooms3084]

Me too

[@tecnolover2642]

Sorry to hear about the carpal. Could you elaborate a bit on how it happened for all us guitar players could find it very useful. I have often wondered why not more guitarists have carpal. Is there something you did wrong in your technique or maybe stretches that can help prevent this?

[@musicalexcursions]

Jens, This is excellent. I look at things almost exactly that way, but you put it together succinctly and compact. Extremely well done.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much! Glad you found it useful 🙂

[@kayramati]

Thank you for this clear and helpful summary. I am a trained bassplayer with all the knowledge mentioned in the video, nevertheless I got stuck in how exactly to practice and extend solo/impro skills. This gives a good guidance in how the knowledge is connected to scale/arpeggio practice.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much Kay! 🙂

[@downhill240]

Great lesson!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you! 👍🙂

[@TheStrataminor]

Jens I really love your stuff, and after years of wondering what music I want to put my heart into, this style (as represented by you and your interpretation) makes me feel like musically I am home! Thanks for your efforts and some heart in a world that can be a bit heartless and full of hate! Keep it up and blessings to you!

[@richardmcnulty6934]

My dude Cookie Monster chillin on the nut

[@ronnieoates1294]

I must commend you sir. Your passion for jazz, talent and your approach to sharing this journey with others. Thank you so much, I have absorbed amazing lessons already! And consider you a great source for my own journey.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you Ronnie! Glad you like the videos! Go for it :)

[@TubeBJYou]

Jens Larsen's videos are always very good, but this is undoubtedly one of the coolest videos I've ever seen !!! Extremely relevant information, presented in an objective and clear way !!! Very nice to have the subtitles in Portuguese !!! Your Brazilian fans thank you !!!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much! I am glad you found it useful! If you have any suggestions for topics or things you are looking for the feel free to let me know 👍

[@TubeBJYou]

It is an honor to receive, in response, a comment from Jens Larsen !!! Your videos cover a number of key subjects for a musician of any instrument and any musical genre !!! I searched your channel and did not find a video on slash chords. This is a suggestion: video about slash chords, if possible with portuguese subtitles !!! In advance thank you for the attention !!!

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks! I actually have a video on that: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZzUlnt5q7mCZ5Y It's a bit old and doesn't have subtitles. Sorry about that 🙂

[@jeffd8597]

Lot's of great info here. STEP ONE: Listen to as much jazz music as you can. Scales are only the building blocks of melodic ideas. You must know what "jazz" is supposed to sound like before you employ scales etc. You must learn the jazz "vocabulary". Many people seem overwhelmed and rightly so. If you are not familiar with jazz tunes you're gonna be lost.

[@JensLarsen]

Very true! listening to jazz is essential! 🙂

[@TheMusicaCienciadrb]

Thank You, wonderful video

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like it! ☺️

[@beatniko]

Great! thank you. Just starting some more serious study of jazz and you have confirmed and clarified what I felt about those 3 scales..off to work now!

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks Warren! Go for it! :)

[@austinmchale7232]

I use the tetrachords on adjacent strings as the basis for chord scales, 1 to 1V on one string and V to V111 on the next. Admittedly, I only play Irish trad dance music, but I found it settled my position transitions on guitar.Anyway ,Lars,you probably already know this. I enjoy your easy teaching style very much. Slan!

[@JensLarsen]

Down with the flu today, but I am really curious about how you work on and see this? I find this approach much more useful for jazz than modes at least...

[@Yourguitarworkshop]

great videos Jens! Love your approach. In regards to diminished chords, in what situations would you use the symmetric diminished and dominant scales? Do you prefer to use harmonic minor? Thanks, André (ps hope you get well soon!)

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you André! I almost never use the diminished scale on dim chords, and when I do it is a some what conscious "reharmonization" The diminished scale is not really a part of tonal music so if you go by what you "naturally hear" then that isn't it (of course we should not always limit ourselves to what is "natural" in our culture etc. but still..) I use dim scale a lot on dom7th chords, but it is again a special effect or sound on top of a song.

[@mrsunlite]

Hello Jens, I use the modes to play out of the chord shapes to get the flavour of the chord. I understand that all modes relate to Ionion, so playing out of the Ionion scale are you saying arpeggios are more useful than modes? I thought that was how jazz used to be made before modal jazz arrived?

[@JensLarsen]

+mrsunlite if you are playing a song with chords in progressions then it is more useful to understand the chords in the key than assigning a mode to each one.

[@mrsunlite]

Jens Larsen Thanks, just trying to get the distinction between modes or arpeggios within the major scale. I guess I play off the chord tones and sometimes add parts of the scale for whichever mode of the parent Ionian that may be. Are we talking the same thing?😀 If I played phygrian or lydian over a Ionian I would consider that modal.

[@martijnvanspaendonck7989]

I see a lot of comments bellow about the theory in this video being too difficult and going at a fast pace. I disagree and I'm actually happy that there are video's on KZbin like this, that are not aimed at total beginners and don't last 30 minutes to explain 4 chords. I'm a professional player, but play mostly everything pop and easy standards, if needed. I'm always looking to upgrade my jazz skills, but never really have the time or motivation, since there are so many fun things to do in music.. And life : ) But when I do have the spirit, videos like this help, because it's an easy and quick overview. It's stuff that I mostly know, but sparsely use, so it's good to have it summed up like this and have 'ahaaaa, I forgot about that' moments. The only thing that would have been better is have short melodic lines or licks for every example. Now you're just stating the facts and move on. Let's hear some playing with the theory. Just one or two simple examples per cadence. No tabs needed.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much Martijn! 👍🙂

[@maxmustermann-hf7vw]

well the thing is... the title is kinda misleading thats all.

[@JensLarsen]

@@maxmustermann-hf7vw I don't think I agree with you, it covers 99% of the chord progressions you will encounter in mainstream jazz and shows how you cover those with 3 scales and the diatonic chords in those. That's also what the title promises right?

[@micheldindaine8403]

I agree to your comment, some videos are not aimed at total beginners and we have to be clear on that.

[@ivonsmith3095]

Great content as always. Recently just because I love the sound of it I decided to map out all the scale tone chords (as john McLaughlin calls them) and playable 3 string (starting on bass, then mid then treble 3 strings) arpeggios for an extended chord: Fmaj9. From here I get bass mid & treble arpeggios that are small bite size riff oriented packets and seven for each set as I harmonize the major 9th for each scale degree. I’ve never seen this done before so I thought it was an interesting exercise. I used 1,3,5, 7, 9 to build these Scale Tone Chords for each mode of the major scale. It’s a really interesting way to extend the sound of standard jazz type harmonic chords in a key but with a common thread (maj9 sound) and you get 21 x 5 note arpeggios in low mid and higher registers that are more interesting than the usual M7, m7 & m7b5 set. I’ve never seen these extended chords harmonized like this across the modes and then also made into 3 register arpeggios but it MUST be “a thing” already. Would it have a name to reference. Anyway it’s a great exercise in learning a harmonic approach up down and across the neck and making it more interesting than standard jazz scale tone chords. I intend to continue with chords/arpeggios firstly that really appeal to so I can improv those sounds anywhere on the neck. Any suggestion would be appreciated. Thnx again Jens!!

[@judemichael3]

Excellent - brought it down to a simple level for beginner improvisers. I'm your great fan. Thank you for the lessons

[@JensLarsen]

You're very welcome!

[@davidespinosa1910]

Since major is a mode of natural minor, we could say there are three scales: * Natural minor * Harmonic minor * Melodic minor

[@JensLarsen]

Yes, but that would be a bit superficial and not really help you describe the content that I cover in the video

[@a2ndopynyn]

@@JensLarsen I was taught that there are three master scales: The major, the harmonic minor, and the fixed melodic minor, which is really just a major with a flat 3rd. The modes from all of these will give you 98% or more of what you want for melody and lead lines, particularly the fixed melodic.

[@adam__mark]

8:40 what you need to work on

[@JensLarsen]

True! :)

[@nicoimagina41]

incredible video it`s gold nuggets!! i learned to much and i organize my knowledge. i will came back many times to review. thanks you very much!!

[@eduardolaudares]

Thank you very much. I NEED TO HEAR THIS. I'm a flute player and a keyboard player. He was stuck. How to turn my knowledge into good phrases on the flute. Very good!

[@JensLarsen]

You're very welcome! I am glad you found it useful 👍🙂

[@filippomarangoni5402]

Hi Jens thank you for this clear and great lesson only a question:the work you suggest with the major scale ( diatonic thriads and arpeggios) is the same method of study to apply to the melodic and the harmonic minor? I ask you just to organize better my study

[@JensLarsen]

Yes I practice the same things in melodic and harmonic minor as I do in major. Usually I will spend a period just focusing on one of those scales and then use that when I practice technique/warm up

[@filippomarangoni5402]

Jens Larsen thank you .. i will adopt the suggestion.. 👍🏻

[@Hexspa]

I've just organized my scales according to Joe Pass as: major, minor, and dominant. Major and minor each have two structures, maj7 and maj7+ then mi7 and mi7(b5) respectively while dominant has three structures: x7, x7+, and xo7. I figure that covers everything so I'm just going to learn those chords with the sound of all available tensions and I should be good.

[@JensLarsen]

You should do what you think works for you 🙂

[@CMM5300]

I think you forgot min/maj7... It's good to organize your scales that way. You lost me with xo7. Assuming + is augmented. Dominant7, dominant7 augmented 5, sooo dominant 7 dim5? Like 1 3 b5 b7?

[@Hexspa]

@@CMM5300 x is any letter. xmin(maj7) is minor - it's a harmonic variation in minor, at least that's from where it's derived. I see what you mean in that dominant is neither major nor minor but you can't call min(maj7) major nor mixolydian so it has to be minor. It's not worth a whole class on its own. Edit: I just realized that you're right - I didn't mention that variation. Really, there are probably dozens of variations I left out. xo7 is diminished. Diminished is often a substitution for dominant. You can build a diminished from a dominant's b9, 3, 5, or b7. Often, when theory/jazz guys see a diminished or x7(b9), they'll interchange the two scales. Sometimes diminished is used as a chromatic passing chord too, or just for suspended effect as in the intro to "Volare". + is augmented because the whole tone scale gives you a major third and a minor seventh - dominant. It's a variation of dominant just as the major seventh in harmonic minor doesn't make the scale not minor. x7(b5) is not fundamentally different from x7+ other than the melody is probably emphasizing the lower note. The whole point is to make it simple for yourself. Its easier for me to think of three chord families than the other extreme of even calling inversions separate 'chords' like some websites will have you think.

[@Hexspa]

@@JensLarsen Sorry, Jens, didn't see your reply. Thank you for your videos and inspiration. Believe me, I'm still learning what works for me! Cheers.

[@CMM5300]

@@Hexspa I was unsure how you was labeling the chords and organizing your scales. I personally think of min/maj7 as a different scale category with different sets of pentatonics. (1 b3 4 5 7) for example works great for melodic minor harmonic minor.... you had 3 different dominant7's listed. That's what confused me. I've been doing just one category for dominant scales. Altered dominant 7 of coarse. I have ran Into unusual dom7 and dim7s before with not so common chords scales. Dim7 natural3... dom7 b5.... i didn't know if you had other categories for reasons I didn't know. I tend to categorize chords in this way. Dim7, min7b5, min7, min/maj7, dom7, maj7, aug7 And have my scales arranged to play over each chord category. Most people think of major and augmented as the same category. Same thing with diminished and minor. Maybe I should simplify things....

[@andrewkhalil]

Love your video's. Also very handy that you categorize the video, that's very handy if you want to recap certain things!

[@sanderrygaard8878]

Seeing Danish/ English KZbinrs is great.

[@JensLarsen]

Tak Sander!

[@13thAMG]

Jens, can you explain what is minor major???? How can a minor be major? ("FmMaj"???)

[@JensLarsen]

+13thAMG Yes. The tonic chord in F melodic minor : F Ab C E. An Fm chord with a Maj7

[@Waltriani]

I had the same thought as 13thAMG. Looking at the explanation of Jens and Lunar orbit I recognize the chord, very much used in brazilian music, just don't think it is a good way to write it. FmMaj lead me to think in a minor third together with a major third, not a major 7th. I've seen written as FmM7 and Fm7+, which I think are more explicit. But anyways, great lesson Jen and lots of information to digest. Regars from Brazil.

[@philipround9334]

Once you are beyond triads in your understanding of chords, Maj is never referring to the 3, but rather the 7. Minor always refers to the fact that the chord has a b3 in it. Maj is telling you that the 7 is straight out of the major scale (as opposed to the b7 when it is NOT qualified with the Maj adjective). mi always refers to the type of 3, Maj always refers to the type of 7.

[@tamwar3]

Its a minor chord with a major 7th. So for example an A minor major would be A ( root) C (minor 3rd) E (5th )and G sharp ( major 7th )

[@charleshoernemann8661]

Listen to the final chord of the James Bond Theme 😉 (it has even an added 9th... FmMaj9). The recording is in Em btw...

[@AntonioGonzalez-mj8us]

An amazingly complex topic made straight forward and simple, thanks man

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you Antonio Gonzalez I am glad you found it useful! 👍

[@trapOrdoom]

I literally cannot stop watching your videos. Too good man.

[@sammydolgin]

why do you use harmonic minor over dominant 7th and diminished chords if neither of those chords have a major 7th in it (like harmonic minor does)?

[@JensLarsen]

Because I am not using it from the tonic. I am using C harmonic minor over G7(b9) and B dim 🙂 Does that make more sense?

[@sammydolgin]

@@JensLarsen I see, the major 3rd of G is B, which gets you the major 7th sound found in C harmonic minor. B dim has B, D, F, Ab, which are all in C harmonic minor.... Crazy that you can improvise with this in real time but it's starting to become clearer! Thank you for your quick reply.

[@JensLarsen]

You need to practice it until you don't have to think about it :) It's not that difficult actually.

[@zardeh63]

You deserve more thumbs up for asking an actual question based on the actual content covered in the video, bravo to you Sammy!

[@sammydolgin]

@@zardeh63 :)

[@nunolance23]

Yes, would love to see the tabs for that lick on 10:19 :)

[@JensLarsen]

Haha! Congrats on making it that far in my video! 😁

[@nunolance23]

Jens Larsen Haha, of course man, I'll actually learn it when I can, no need for tabs! Thanks for the video, man!

[@punkrawkgangsta]

Jens, I really like your teachings and style. Most videos I have to speed up, yours I have to slow down, so much info to mentally download!

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like it 🙂

[@robertjamesonmusic]

Thank you for your help. Really helping me connect everything.

[@Da_Xman]

My last remaining brain cell just went into a coma - "If we summed this up..." 8:11 Thanks, Jen's⚡👍⚡😀⚡👍⚡

[@JensLarsen]

You're very welcome! I am glad you like it! 😁 Hope you don't get any lasting side effects!

[@BetterWokeThanAsleep2]

It would be really helpful to show the tabs of the chords to make it easy because some of the chords are shown differently in different places...

[@JensLarsen]

Well, instead of trying to watch a video on Jazz theory and chord analysis where you want to learn the chords then maybe check out this study guide for Jazz chords: jenslarsen.nl/how-to-learn-to-play-jazz-chords-study-guide/ That might be exactly what you are looking for :)

[@Anthony-fr2ub]

Thank you Jens... This is a great channel, and a great deed you doing to teach people, blessings.

[@qahlur6679]

I have absolute zero knowledge in jazz. I don't even know how to play normal guitar except for the basic notes. But you sir, helped me alot with this video. Im glad i started with this from zero. Obviously i didn't understand anything but i wrote it down anyways because it showed me what to study. I will definitely master the 3 basic scales. The Major scale, the harmonic minor and the melodic minor. Thanks again for this awesome video. Definitely helpful for those who wants to learn jazz.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you! I am glad you found the video useful! :)

[@guitardev9399]

Get well soon!

[@JensLarsen]

+Guitar Dev Thank you very much! I did manage to recover in the meantime ☺️

[@juanmanuelmedinaherrera7798]

Guitar Dev ññ

[@Roymunson_]

3 minutes in and hes gone over about 12 chords with less than a second of attention to each - good sign it's beyond my depth. I'll check back in a couple years for the next 3 minutes.

[@JensLarsen]

True! Roy, this will only make sense to you if you are already trying to learn jazz songs 🙂

[@Roymunson_]

Hey no problem, not everything is for beginners. I am between beginner and intermediate. I have the major and minor chords and positions memorized and can calculate (but not muscle memory) the 7th and maj7th chords but lack the technical ability to fret them as fast as I visualize on the fretboard. Where would you suggest I look for help with this hurdle?

[@amphibian87]

buy a keyboard! you learn much faster. guitar is a more complicated fractal piano. if you know your major chords, it's just a matter of learning minor, extensions, altered, dominants/7ths. It's really not bad. The harder part is committing them to muscle memory and being able to play them intuitively, instantly, and in succession in time.

[@slickrockcreek1]

The keyboard is an excellent idea - anyone who wants to be serious on any instrument should have some familiarity with the keyboard which lays it all out in a very linear and visual format. Doesn’t need to be an expensive keyboard to achieve this purpose.

[@Ronno4691]

@@amphibian87 This is good advice, for anyone. Jazz Piano is literally slowed down Blues piano.

[@sammyalejandro8017]

This video made me a better player🎸👍🏻. Looking forward learning more from you, sir! 🤟🏼

[@JensLarsen]

You're very welcome Sammy! I am really glad you found it useful!

[@TheDevice357]

wow, for about 41 yrs 10mins and 15secs thought about scales. it was this moment you made it way more simple. thank you... haha useful

[@JensLarsen]

+jeffrey centra You're very welcome Jeffrey 😁Glad you found the video useful!

[@karlsotto7580]

Teach us more on bebop please.... 😇😇😇

[@JensLarsen]

Maybe browse through this playlist: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJetfJJuhsiGa7s Or let me know exactly what you are looking for! 🤔