7 Easy Jazz Standards In Minor You Need To Know

[@JensLarsen]

Did I miss a song, do you have other suggestions? The first 10 Jazz Standards you need to know: [kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6KTc6WKgLBpnc0](kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6KTc6WKgLBpnc0)

[@andyesp5037]

Fly me to the moon.

[@LeoGarciaMusic]

"Sugar", by Stanley Turrentine.

[@ballsysmallsy12]

Round midnight!!

[@thatlovejones]

Glad you mentioned You Don't Know What Love Is, love that tune.

[@dsteven1]

@@andyesp5037 A great tune, but I'm pretty to sure that it's in Major. Notice that it ends on CMaj7 :)

[@antonitabliashvili6513]

Greatest teacher on KZbin

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you!

[@tephros19]

Seriously, it's not even close either.

[@JohnsonSmithson]

Thanks for always making these useful videos! Greetings from Brazil

[@Jamsville]

Night In Tunisia is a fantastic minor tune also! Great for practicing your Tritone substitutions (and keeping time for a 4 bar solo break 😬) Also, your videos are getting so good Jens! There’s so much information and graphics packed into a short package.

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks! I actually don't find it that easy?

[@Jamsville]

@@JensLarsen oh, that’s right, it was supposed to be easy haha. You’re definitely right, it’s not that easy. Maybe after someone has learned all the tunes in this video they’ll be ready for it 😃

[@mikegallegos7]

About your vids; I appreciate that what you present inspires, challenges, and therefore makes me think and try harder. Thank you.

[@JensLarsen]

Glad to hear it!

[@Ensorcle]

Oh my god this channel is incredible. I've been missing these pieces that bridge 'basic' music theory and jazz constructions. This is so useful! Thank you! I'm going to literally watch everything you've made now....

[@JensLarsen]

You're very welcome!

[@adamscastle6222]

Great video! I agree with you regarding So What. It is really a modal tune, and the challenge (for me) is the form. It is easy to get lost soloing over D-7 for 24 bars.

[@JensLarsen]

Exactly! :)

[@jamescopeland5358]

Thank you Jens, I plan to work on that list of tunes.

[@JensLarsen]

Great! Go for it!

[@schnirzelzwirn]

Thank you for your valuable videos. I am fine with your list. My suggestions are to be understood as honorable mentions: Caravan to study the use of dim patterns over C9b, and Afro Blue to study diatonic cord progressions. Both easy.

[@joepalooka2145]

Hi Jens--- great list. You forgot to add one more thing that I find extremely helpful in learning jazz tunes----- IReal Pro backing tracks. They have a huge list of jazz, pop, country, blues etc. You can play the songs in every key, with chord charts and scale charts. You can use all the instruments on the backing tracks, or you can shut off the ones you don't want and just play with bass and drums, or drums only. You can export to Logic or ProTools or other software and make your own tracks. You can edit the tracks, and make your own backing tracks. IReal Pro is very cheap compared to Band In A Box, and is far superior as far as I'm concerned, especially the sound of the bass. It has sure helped me when I practice!

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks! Actually, iReal is probably pretty bad for your swing feel and certainly for your inner time feel

[@joepalooka2145]

@@JensLarsen ??? Totally disagree! Are you saying that Band In A Box is better? I've listened to your own backing tracks and they're not much different. Please explain how Ireal is "pretty bad" for my "swing feel" and "inner time" feel. I would seriously like to know. Please give me an example of a backing track that is good for "swing feel" and "inner time".

[@JensLarsen]

@@joepalooka2145 It is pretty simple: If you want to learn to feel time internally then use a metronome NOT a backing track when you play songs. If you want to learn to swing then don't use midi algorithms like iReal and Band in a Box. Your ears can tell if you try to listen, it is not that hard to hear.

[@LonnyJarrett]

Bumpin, Afro Blue, Lonnie's Lament, Idle Moments, Sunny, Red Clay-Some of my favorite minor tunes.....

[@Xenouvious]

Good video, Jens. Pat Metheny and Tigran Hamasyan’s takes on Solar are top notch.

[@felipenicholls6434]

Great video , tack !! 🙏

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much!

[@hansolodc]

Wonderful video Jens!

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@hifreq-therapy1058]

Nice list, Jens! I really like these sorts of videos since I don't learn lines or theory from YT (since I study music at university). Just finished Bernies Tune and Mulligans Solo on it from the 1952 recording. Now I figure I gotta work on more minor stuff since I lack good ideas on tonic minor chords. Also I need things to play over minor 2 5 1's to improve my Stella by Starlight. I'll try Softly as in a Morning Sunrise since it I really like listening to it.

[@austerereligiousscholar2314]

Thanks, Jens. Great video as always. One of my favorite minor songs is "Work Song" by Nat Adderly. Yeah, I know, horns. But it is played on guitar as well. There is even a version with lyrics performed by Eric Burden and the Animals!

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks! Actually that isn't always in minor :) check the Wes/Adderly version

[@duffypratt]

A little harder, but I Love Paris, Love For Sale, and It Ain’t Necessarily So. Good video.

[@priapus1298]

I like Birk's Works too... great way to introduce students to the blues scale too. I haven't found too many melodies that exclusively are constructed from the blues scale.

[@JensLarsen]

Good point, but that is essentially a minor blues :)

[@Wieger09]

Hi Jens. So what: for me the challenge is to keep track of where I am while soloing. I needed endless rehearsals to get it right (most of the time). Same with Sister Sadie, with its AABA form and the single chord A section, and other such songs. These songs help me to become a better musician.

[@brendaboykin3281]

Great list. Thank you,Jens. My suggestion: "Jordu" Duke Jordan, rec-Clifford Brown Max Roach.🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@colincotter6]

Hi Jens. Great channel, and I just bought your book which is also really useful. Thanks! I’d love to see a video on how to practice improvisation over changes with two chords per bar. It would be great if you could think about that some time.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you! Essentially you should use this approach (sorry for the old video) kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2e3g4p8m8SKh9E I might have another video, and I do have a really solid WebStore lesson on it.

[@colincotter6]

@@JensLarsen Thanks I will check those out! I don’t mind an old video.

[@MrVglewis]

excellent lesson!!

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you liked it!

[@samdroid37]

thank you thank you thank you!!

[@cjgreen4331]

Going to watch the video tomorro because it's 2am, but I'm calling it. Autumn Leaves is #1

[@TexasGreenCows]

Nice, really enjoyed it Jens! What is interesting is the neapolitan sub-dom change which I like to see as the VI in cm. I'm trying to get the rhythm on some of the songs listed but Solar has my attention the most for now.

[@JensLarsen]

Go for it!

[@anthonydelise316]

love this!

[@MrFint0]

Love the videos. Yesterdays!

[@JensLarsen]

Awesome! Thank you! And yes! :D

[@brucebyrnes125]

Grant Green's Idle Moments is a great minor key song that is fairly simple to play.

[@jimlawrence1771]

Cry Me a River is great minor tune. Great for m6 practice.

[@JensLarsen]

But it is actually in major 🙂

[@ronvonk1118]

Nice list, good to take a look at these songs again. However, the Autumn Leaves you used as example is from the Cannonball Adderly album 'Something Else' . Miles Davis is present on this album but please give credits to this wonderful saxophonist (and band leader on this album).

[@JensLarsen]

The reason I say it is Miles' version is that That album was only released under cannonballs name because Miles was stuck in another contract and Miles kept playing that arrangement live for 10 years. Miles is also playing the theme.

[@cfibanez]

A lesson on Angel Eyes please!!! Such a beautiful song.

[@cliberg]

Love the nod to the other Bernie at 2:46!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you 🙂

[@philiprowland9390]

Lullaby in Birdland. Even though it goes to tonic major, it’s a nice one to practice the minor 1-6-2-5

[@JensLarsen]

I get what you mean, but I do indeed consider that a minor tune 🙂

[@Petetsx01]

I love Tommy Flanagan's 'Minor Mishap'. Just playing the line itself is a step in building some vocabulary. Now that I'm humming it to myself, I'm wondering if it's a major key tune masquerading as minor, but I don't think so. Afraid to leave this and lose my comment while looking it up. Also Dexter Gordon's 'cheesecake', and Jimmy Heath's 'Minority'.

[@claudiotacconi7763]

Hi Jens, Another great video, thanks!! Would you consider "Sunny" for this list? If not, why?

[@mikegallegos7]

I suggest "Exactly Like You" because improvisation can be easy or not ... there is room in this tune to play less or more in solo arpeggios or backing chord progression. It is one of my favorites as style and treatment can be varied and this can be dictated or varied by the vocalist's style...I mean it seems to me an easy piece to back and to solo with much or little skill. I find, in this song - and most others -simple chording and leading notes = less is more.

[@JensLarsen]

But is isn't in minor though?

[@EnriqueDominguezProfile]

My funny valentine. Very didactic.

[@stuartcowie8922]

I agree, My Funny Valentine.

[@JensLarsen]

That is not ih minor though 🙂

[@grantholland421]

Jens, I'd like to see a similar video on bossa nova tunes - one that highlights that tight voice leading effect that you often hear with nylon strings.

[@ronvonk1118]

Another beautiful song in minor is 'Fragile' by Sting. That's jazz enough for me (gets covered a lot) and also very playable.

[@craigs19721972]

In a Sentimental Mood.

[@JensLarsen]

That is actually in major :)

[@hermanncordes2866]

The Keith Jarrett Version of Solar is also great.

[@davidballe5040]

Hi Jens, Speaking of Miles Davis, could you do a new vid featuring him and some od the more modal 'flavours' that he was so famous for. Thanks for all the great content over the years

[@JensLarsen]

Not sure if I would frame it like that, but that could be a good video. Maybe check out this video on some modal stuff: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zpy7hZ-ZmMdmoMU

[@cmingus26]

Dear old Stockholm is also a great minor tune (btw I‘m suggesting this as a bass player😜)

[@JensLarsen]

That is a great song :)

[@vendome6846]

Duke Pearson’s Cristo Redentor, Kenny Burrell played on the original recording on Donald Byrd’s “New Perspectives” album. Maybe Blue In Green, not necessarily an easy tune but an essential one in my view.

[@JensLarsen]

That might be good, but isn't that common :)

[@renleblanc2993]

Moanin is a great minor tune - but need to go to the Art Blakey version which has the solo sections as a great minor vamp.

[@sandrosadhukhan]

Art Pepper's rendition of Blue Bossa is smokin..

[@kevinmurphy8792]

Easy minor key song: Sunny (G Benson, P Martino).

[@matpatsey1]

Black Orpheus is one of my favorite minor songs…

[@javierperezuc8162]

Sir Larsen. How about Nica's Dream, Lullaby of Birdland and Beautiful Love. They're nice tunes imo. Thanks a lot for your great lessons! ☮️

[@JensLarsen]

Great suggestions, but maybe not easy, and one is not in minor :)

[@danieljohnston3708]

Stolen Moments by Oliver Nelson is a nice easy one to learn.

[@JensLarsen]

that is essentially a minor blues, right? :)

[@danieljohnston3708]

@@JensLarsen Yes, but with a beautifully arranged 16 bar melody. My favorite jazz composition in a minor key by the way is Idle Moments by Grant Green. I could listen to that tune everyday for the rest of my life and not get tired of it.

[@CarstenAgger]

More jazz standards in minor: My Favorite Things (at least the A section is in E minor) I'm currently working on Fly me to the moon - the chord progression in the first section is *very* similar to that of "Autumn Leaves".

[@JensLarsen]

Those are both in major though :D

[@CarstenAgger]

@@JensLarsen Thanks, I stand corrected! :)

[@JensLarsen]

@@CarstenAgger haha, it is hardly that important

[@BL55]

@@JensLarsen Jens - can you elaborate on why you are saying My Favorite Things is not in a minor key (at least as regards the ‘A’ section)? I see that it starts on Em and then has a minor cadence in bars 15 & 16 back to the Em. Just trying to understand… thanks!!

[@JensLarsen]

@@BL55 what is the last note of the melody and the last chord?

[@ZalMoxis]

Great discussion Jens... What about 'no mask' as a new jazz standard ??

[@JensLarsen]

I have never heard of it. Does it get called a lot on jam sessions where you are?

[@ZalMoxis]

@@JensLarsen It's very big on the TV at the moment... ;-)

[@marciamakesmusic]

Oof

[@MrBruneaux]

Something slightly out of topic here: You were referring to Barry Harris in several of your videos. Recently I digged into his theory a little bit and was astonished by the underlying beauty and mathematical logic. However I am asking myself what one can take away for applying this theory in playing? How to benefit from the chromatic rules, diminished scales, chord relationships and break this all down in digestable chunks? Just as an idea for upcoming videos...

[@nstf2]

Hey Jens! Do you think it would be possible to do a video on João Bosco’s song Incompatibilidade de genios? I’d really love to hear you break down the chords of the song and explain the chord progressions used as well.

[@JensLarsen]

Sorry, I don't think that is famous enough for that :)

[@alexanderlockwood3318]

It would be really cool to do So What as a vehicle for teaching some cool model stuff? Maybe something along the lines of how to make some surprising lines out of it? I think I get overwhelmed trying to be inventive sat on a one chord vamp, model or otherwise :)

[@marciamakesmusic]

Just look at the original recording for ideas. Every solo is so different, you don't have to only play notes from the mode, just like how you're not limited to a blues scale on the blues

[@renleblanc2993]

Swing to bop - Charlie Christian

[@stefanomorbidelli8878]

2:09 Dexter Gordon's version is great too.

[@nickrees4706]

A bit less well known but one of my favorites at the moment, john Lewis’ Django

[@CarstenAgger]

Nica's Dream (it doesn't qualify as easy, but I love playing it)

[@JensLarsen]

Fair enough :D

[@Mikkokosmos]

What about...Minor Swing!? 😜👍

[@Lurco8]

Yeah in Gypsy Jazz there are a lot more tunes in minor. Although maybe my ear sucks and those are majors hiding in the minor disguise, as Jens mentioned in the beginning...

[@cjgreen4331]

@@Lurco8 Nah, there aren't a lot. All I can think about in minor are Bossa Dorado, Avalon, Minor Blues, Noto Swing, Impromptu

[@JensLarsen]

But is that really a common jazz tune or just in the gypsy jazz circles? 🙂

[@Mikkokosmos]

@@JensLarsen probably mostly in GJ circles but it's definitely in minor :p

[@buoncri]

@@JensLarsen are gypsy jazz circles not so jazz ?

[@linuxlife]

Afro Blue

[@JensLarsen]

That is a good one! :)

[@АйратСитдиков-в2р]

I learn now" Body and Soul" by Kenny Burrell,how about it?) in Em flat...(although, maybe D mayor flat right to say)I miss information about harmonic function and modes

[@JensLarsen]

Yes, that tune just starts on the II chord and isn't in minor, but it is a great tune 🙂

[@АйратСитдиков-в2р]

@@JensLarsen yes,it is!but for me that song seems like minor ) now i transcribe last 4 bars that record (album version)

[@clarissalee5398]

Hi, are there any books to get me started with basic jazz guitar? I would like to do some extra reading with some exercises included in the books. Thank you!

[@JensLarsen]

You can check out my first book here: geni.us/Y69J4 But I don't know what you already are familar with, do it may not be a perfect fit for you?

[@clarissalee5398]

@@JensLarsen thank you! I will check it out. I’m only familiar with common jazz chord shapes but I don’t know the scales, technical terms (like diatonic etc) and how to apply them into improvisation. Hoping to learn more from your videos!

[@JensLarsen]

@@clarissalee5398 the thing that I am most proud of and would recommend as the best way to learn is my course, but that is a bit more expensive. Maybe start by checking out this post: jenslarsen.nl/how-to-learn-jazz-guitar-suggestions-to-begin-studying/

[@ricardobartrach]

Black Orpheus!

[@AnimeLover-qd8oy]

Sing sing sing! Top 1

[@Euro.Patriot]

For the beginning what other keys are there? I heard of ones with natural symbols.

[@Euro.Patriot]

Fb major scares me because it has a bb.

[@coozbayt1021]

NOBODY talks about the guitar seat. Backrest? Swivel? Foot rest? Any suggestions? What do you use?

[@JensLarsen]

I just use an office chair from IKEA, nothing special

[@underwoodvoice9077]

6:17 channeling his inner Glen Fricker.

[@andyesp5037]

What about fly me to the moon

[@JensLarsen]

That is not in minor 🙂

[@darrenschiminski7060]

I think Yesterdays is a good minor tune to learn

[@JensLarsen]

Certainly, but still a song that moves around a lot 🙂

[@ericmorrison4188]

What about “Black Orpheus”?

[@nickmartorano6766]

Other great jazz tunes in minor key are:. Song for my Father Black Orpheus Estate How Insensitive

[@GGutierrez]

Corcovado is in Am. Manha de Carnaval is in Gm.

[@JensLarsen]

I was thinking about including Manha de Carnaval but I actually don't consider that an easy standard, or very easy at least. Corcovado is in C major, not in Am :)

[@GGutierrez]

@@JensLarsen Thank you. I guess I do not know how to tell the major scale from the relative minor. Perhaps this would be a topic for a lecture by jou.

[@GGutierrez]

@@JensLarsen Corcovado that I have starts on Am6 and does a 6325 to F, then switches to the parallel key of Fm. It eventually ends up in C

[@tll-prp8890]

Maybe it is not considered a jazz standard but what about 'My Favorite Things'?

[@JensLarsen]

It is a standard, but I am not sure that it is really easy, and it isn't really in minor 🙂

[@JensLarsen]

Still a great song!

[@tll-prp8890]

That song is magnificent, it prompted me to start play jazz

[@dsteven1]

I would add Footprints as a relatively easy tune in C minor.

[@hamishspencer]

Nardis, Song for my Father, Moanin', A Day in the life of a fool

[@zoog152001]

emily remler is amazing

[@JensLarsen]

Certainly!

[@Avacado721]

Sneaky Bernie hahaha

[@Avacado721]

Can you explain why you said WHAT IS THIS THING CALLED LOVE?

[@JensLarsen]

What do you mean?

[@hycus4292]

"Easy Living", that ist the song I am missing here...

[@jonnymantra7629]

Yesterdays :)

[@billkimball2161]

How about Yesterdays?

[@JensLarsen]

Certainly! But a song that moves around a lot.

[@chbungue]

Footprints?

[@nickrees4706]

My Funny Valentine(?)

[@hifreq-therapy1058]

It starts with a tonic minor kinda sound but cadences to the parallel major. I'd consider it more major than minor.

[@nickrees4706]

@@hifreq-therapy1058 I think there are more cadences to minor with half diminished and dominant seventh flat 9 but OK, I’ll try again.: My Favorite Things Song for my Father

[@hifreq-therapy1058]

@@nickrees4706 Yeah I totally get that but the final chord usually is a giveaway for intended tonality. But you could certainly argue that a bigger part of the song happens in a minor realm.

[@JensLarsen]

Indeed, the song is in major 🙂

[@nickrees4706]

@@JensLarsen is it totally in major? Is major like a dominant gene, that even if a bit is in major and it ends on a major.chord, then it’s definitively major! 😀. If a song starts and ends in minor but has a bridge in major does that make it ‘major’? Is there room for gray area here? BTW enjoyed the Bernie cameo (with mittens) 😀

[@martinmacedo9091]

Ok, it fails the easy test, and is possibly more modal than minor, but I can't believe nobody mentioned Take Five.

[@DennisSheaPRM]

#goBerniego

[@JensLarsen]

👍

[@Domitianvs]

Jazz oriented Bernie memes? Count me in!

[@davidtardio9804]

Black Orpheus?

[@JensLarsen]

Certainly! :)

[@Avacado721]

You love Bernie don’t u ? Hahaha

[@donnicholson3200]

Just after a minute in you stumped me. I thought F was the relative minor of Bb major, not G.

[@marciamakesmusic]

F is the dominant. To get the relative minor go down a minor 3rd / up a major 6th.

[@RobData]

and there's me thinking that Ab major has F as its relative minor

[@stuartbradley2692]

Some people watching this are bassists btw. Just sayin' ...😄

[@JensLarsen]

Haha! There are always people who get offended by my videos 😂

[@stuartbradley2692]

@@JensLarsen I'm not one of them! 😄

[@martinlopez8843]

Sugar? Body and soul?

[@martinlopez8843]

Great video., Thank you!

[@ГуглХромов-ь1с]

It is better to see once than hear 100 times. A lot of theory, but where is the practice? Why do you have s guitar in your hands? You can chat without it.

[@JensLarsen]

If you are watching a video on which Jazz Standards to learn then it is not a huge leap to assume that you know how to learn a Jazz standard. Making a 10+ hour video of how to play the melody, the chords and how to solo over these songs would be completely meaningless. Did you really expect me to teach you all of that in 8 minutes?

[@792164ed]

One for Daddy-O Bbm

[@francesco0185]

I would have preferred a tutorial with just one song rather than a monologue about some songs. I'm not at that level. But thanks the same.

[@JensLarsen]

Then check out the links in the description 🙂

[@francesco0185]

@@JensLarsen Thanks, I'll do it right now. :)

[@nathanbouton6700]

Stolen Moments/Chitlins Con Carne????