The 5 Solos That Will Teach You Jazz Guitar

[@patricm.3718]

What a fantastic time to be a musician.

[@JensLarsen]

Yes, it certainly is 🙂

[@philodonoghue3062]

Especially for us Baby Boomers - now we got the time, $ and KZbin. Oh, did I mention time?

[@ElvisPriceless]

@@philodonoghue3062 Not that much time, actually.

[@MrDrumHunter]

or not

[@patricm.3718]

@@MrDrumHunter Why not? When has there ever been All the insights into music at Anyone's fingertips in a Moment's notice?

[@jamiemorgan4146]

When I was going to Berklee, I saw Kenny Burrell. Absolutely amazing. Since we were students and really appreciated him, he was smiling and in Heaven. He didn’t want to stop playing or leave. His drummer and bass player wanted to leave after the set. They had terrible attitudes. Kenny stayed and talked to us and answered our questions. I still smile when thinking of him, he wanted to share everything with us!

[@classiccountryrevival8563]

Charlie Christian is a mad genius. The stuff he played sounds amazing to this day. How he came up with it 100 years ago, by himself, all before the age of 26 will always be a mystery to me.

[@tedpowers2045]

Jens is one of the few internet jazz teachers I repeatedly listen to. Awesome content and advice

[@michaelstevens8]

I said this on a previous video but it bears repeating. If i had to pick one solo or album to learn by ear that says this is what Traditional Jazz Guitar is supposed to sound like, it would be Wes Montgomery Smokin' At The Half Note. Tone, Rhythm, Language, Phrasing. Its all their. Great video Jens. Thanks.

[@NilsBreckoff]

That's my favorite jazz album.

[@keegsmarshall6610]

This really shows that Jazz improv is a language. Learn phrases, get the rhythm and dynamics. Express yourself in ways that make sense and are interesting. Always be listening. Same rules for a good conversation.

[@knockywigglesworth1909]

Conga drums were just very popular at time. Folk music, jazz & even some pop & early rock. Just a thing of the time.

[@zurckoni]

"Smokin at the Half Note", is a treasure trove. Thanks.

[@captainkangaroo4301]

Being a bit older than you and learning to play in the 60’s by ear off records was really the way we learned. I particularly loved The Mundell Lowe Quartet and Grant Greens Grant’s First Stand. I wore those records out literally. I couldn’t afford to replace them so I put a dime on the turntable tone arm to keep the needle from skipping through the worn down grooves on the albums.

[@AaronBowley]

i love this comment, i hate myself a bit inside if i look things up. it’s like so dumb, you can hear it, you can replay it in your head. you can slow it down in your head, there really no excuse

[@allancerf3024]

Not to be pedantic, but I've always thought the only way any one should learn to play any instrument is to hum or sing solos. If you can't do that - you may wish to find another pastime!

[@melodiclines2990]

is it possible to learn to improvise if youre 50?

[@tuliobs]

@@melodiclines2990 yes it is! Go for it!

[@TimothyFinbow]

@@melodiclines2990i hope so! That’s why I’m here 👍

[@TheCompleteGuitarist]

A brilliant video, thanks for sharing. Transcribing was my Eureka moment and I had spent 20 years struggling with improvising and ignoring transcribing but when I started ... it changed everything. I am also a language teacher and I apply similar approaches to teaching/learning guitar and language. Do as much by ear, learn vocabulary in context, transcribe. In language learning it's called shadowing.

[@kibavlood5826]

Jens thank you for making these lessons easy, simple and putting your heart and soul into it. I spent years man, years, on and on getting faster and faster. It got me nowhere, I was determined. Kept playing faster and faster. It soon wore me down and i realised its not worth the chase. Thank you for showing how small and simple things create the most profound work of music. Long live to you man. Stay safe dude.

[@JensLarsen]

You're very welcome! Glad you find the videos useful!

[@dingoswamphead]

Not just the particular solos, but the way to learn them, listening over and over, and then singing them, is such good advice that I will take away immediately. My suggestions would be to learn whatever solos you realise you love! If you can get to know them well enough to sing you are probably going to pick up quite a few things. Very interesting suggestion about tunes that are only on KZbin. That has the advantage of being easy to slow down while learning. And thanks for reminding us of Kenny Burrell, the soulmaster of cool!

[@briangough7680]

This is a really practical and helpful video. You’ve always been clear: quickest way to learn Jazz is to listen to other players and copy them. Last week, I finally took your advice. I thought I’d start with something slow so chose Miles Davis opening on Green in Blue. I’ve already learned so much. With regard to listening, it’s given me an even deeper appreciation for his timing, timbre etc. In terms of playing, it’s given me a great problem to solve with regard to fingering, fretting and string usage. Thank you so much Jens. I feel like I’m starting to turn a corner with my playing and your channel has helped enormously. Signing up to Patreon now!

[@JuanCarruyo]

As a guy who started playing congas before switching over to guitar (and I still play them!). I think congas in jazz are awesome! Plus the guy who played on Midnight Blue is none other than Ray Barretto, who led one of the most iconic salsa ensambles of the 60s and 70s. You are truly missing out if you don't check him out. Much love.

[@jasonmudgarde286]

Also the Bossa Nova sound had infected all the movies during that time. Totally agree, Ray Baretto was great on all these Blue Note albums.

[@tasosdiaforetico7377]

I've got a conga caught in my nose excuse my allergy back in a moment.

[@svenjansen2134]

Conga belongs everywhere

[@chuckhanning1174]

Maybe congas are to jazz what the cowbell was to rock in the 70s…..

[@jaysonmakesmusic]

I learned Chitlins Con Carne for my college guitar exam! it’s a great little solo that incorporates jazz and blues licks!

[@obiwazz6929]

Your whole teaching style is excellent, you make things so clear, thank you and I will be tuning in to your channel much more.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you! I am glad you like the videos 🙂

[@HamlinandJolliffe]

I couldn't agree more. We are lucky.

[@josecueto6636]

great teacher. took me a while to understand Jens' stuff, until i learned some jazz approach I'm now very appreciative of his content...pure gold

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you find the videos useful 🙂

[@waynehicks1969]

This is great. Some of my favorite guitarists. Grant Green hardly ever gets mentioned among the great guitarists, but for my money he is among the very best when it comes to phrasing, His short rhythmically intense single note lines accented by stab chords make that guitar sound like it is having a singing conversation.

[@JensLarsen]

Grant Green is certainly up there :)

[@lordofthemound3890]

Grant Green was the first jazz guitarist that I ever sort of “got.” What I mean is, I can learn a, say, Charlie Christian or Wes Montgomery solo, but their improvisatory choices are not the ones I would normally make. It seemed alien to me. So unless I was consciously playing THEIR licks and trying to mimic their style, what I was playing didn’t sound anything like them. Grant Green was the first I felt in simpatico with-as if we were thinking along the same lines. It was the first time I ever really thought, “Yes, I CAN play this music.”

[@cblandblueyonder]

Your points about playing by ear are spot on. I improved my piano playing enormously by learning to play by ear - it just sounds more musical, and I can remember things, mainly because I think I started listening to myself.

[@JensLarsen]

Exactly :)

[@mrbend]

That Kenny Burrell is really quite iconic, it's the first Jazz Solo I learned, and it's really fun to play!

[@JensLarsen]

Yes, I have given that to so many students 😁

[@susanlee2570]

Amazingly but independent of you I teach the same solos - KB's "Chitlin' Con Carne"; Charlie C's "Grand Slam"; Grant G's "Cool Blues"; Wes' "Four on Six". I really emphasize listening to Grant Green who has to be the most underrated jazz guitarist - his "Miss Ann's Tempo" is another Bb blues like "Cool Blues". I think it is important to get through to students that what say Wes plays on "Four on Six" [which is a sort of contrafact on "Summertime"] can be applied to other tunes that have a similar harmonic movement. So by learning phrase by phrase you can play each phrase in other contexts by marrying the phrase with the underlying chords. Jens, thanks for this clip - Garry Lee: Perth, Western Australia.

[@johnsammers]

I have to thank you as well Jens. I've been playing guitar for 50 years (hours are another story) and always loved jazz, with hopes and dreams of being a jazz player, but found it too hard to remember all those changes and substitutions. You seem to make it feel achievable.

[@JensLarsen]

That is really great to hear John! Go for it 🙂

[@meldonellis1051]

Thanks Jens - this video gives me hope, after watching your videos for over a year, with the feeling I was a student registered in the wrong class, but too embarrassed to leave.

[@JensLarsen]

Go for it Meldon, it is only a bit of work, nothing is impossible

[@chuckbouscaren3898]

Meldon Ellis, that's so funny and also very relatable. Cheers!

[@guitarnation7420]

What a great lesson! I myself have been playing/teaching guitar for 33 + years and in that time, I've found myself always flirting with Jazz in some way. It was always calling to me, but I've only really begun to take it seriously in the last 2-3 years believe it or not. Lol I come from a deep Blues, Soul, R&B, Funk background, but truly always wanted to incorporate more Jazz in my playing. What's not to love about this style? In any case I'm going to take this lesson very seriously and pursue these wonderful suggestions. Great channel and great teacher! He always works hard to explain whatever he teaches and that's the mark of a great musician and teacher in my humble opinion. He's a keeper. More lessons PLEASE! Peace.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you very much! I really appreciate that 🙂

[@rcjinAZ]

Great advice for playing anything (not just jazz) by ear.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you! :)

[@richardjanosy4154]

It makes sense that to learn a solo, we listen to it again and again. I can remember when I was younger, in the 60s, we would hear Samba pa to, by Santana, to example and I could him the whole thing - it was all in my head.

[@urbachd]

You are still the best, Jens! I feel like you are an old friend. If I met you on the street (unlikely, since I live in Oregon!) I would greet you like my best pal, and you wouldn’t know who the heck I was! Thank you so much for all you do. I can’t believe how much I’ve learned and continue to learn from you!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you Dan! It could be fun to have a cup of coffee some time 🙂

[@keegsmarshall6610]

I feel much the same. I don't know if Jens fully understands how much impact he has on a planet of viewers. If half of my teachers in school were half as good at teaching as Jens is, then I would be twice as good as I am today. He has a great combination of humility plus professionalism, he has more clarity expressing himself than many native English speakers, brilliant video editing skills to help explain concepts and an ability to be interesting enough to keep the viewer's attention. His videos are a lesson in how to make educational videos. Thanks Jens!

[@TenThumbsProductions]

I am looking to expand my jazz vocabulary on Ukulele, this is GREAT. You are a legend buddy!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you 🙂 Glad you find it useful!

[@rolandgagnon2090]

@@JensLarsen q

[@SharpElevenMusic]

The intro cracked me up jens! 😂😂 hahaha, dryer than dry humour. Great video! Yes, just reading through solo's can be detrimental, it might be indeed one of the most common mistakes made. May I add to the "just listen until you can sing it", which is great advice by the way, that for my part it can also mean "sing it in your head". Here at Sharp Eleven Music, we're both ehm... singing as good as Kanye. But we can simulate the audio (the solo) in our head, visualize it, although for audio the term would be "audiate". If we were to go with some of the jazz advice classics with "only play what you can sing", "make sure to be able to sing the solo you want to transcribe", the road to jazz would have ended a long time ago :) that's ust for people who are terrible in controlling their vocal chords, it's not game over. And if you can control those vocal chords, it can be a tremendous tool indeed!

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks :D You guys are obviously the experts on transcribing, so it is great to hear that you agree!

[@lowbrassman2000]

Great video. Thank you! A super talented buddy of mine would transcribe solos without any rhythms, just note heads, no measures, time signature, etc. This was his way of journaling the solo, but still kept him responsible for truly knowing it inside and out.

[@JensLarsen]

Whatever works for you :)

[@jansestak954]

I think it's useful to write the solo down. Firstly, on paper i can see much clearly what harmonic and melodic choises is the soloist making. Secondly, when I write it down, I'm more likely to spend more time with it, think harder and sqish more ideas from it. Lastly I'm more likely to remember it, cause I can open my sheets and play it again years later, which helps me with implementing ideas to my own playing. I'm definitely learning by ear, cause of the feel, articulation and all kinds of stuff, but I'm also writing it down cause of those reasons.

[@pabloacuna88]

Great video! I really enjoy transcribing Chet Baker solos. They are generally simple and the trumpet has a very clear sound.

[@JensLarsen]

Greeat! Go for it :)

[@lennonjerrott7535]

+1 for for prince of cool!! His recording of Autumn Leaves from She was Too Good to Me is was really put me onto jazz, Chet's solos on it were the first lines that I could sing to myself. One of the most purely musical guys ever recorded imo

[@prodigaljess]

Jens, I've been digging your videos for a few years now and just getting to a point where I'm starting to take jazz study and practice discipline more serious. I've been playing off and on for about 20 some years and between bad practice habits, laziness, being all over the map stylewis and a lack of focused study, I'm no where near where I should be. But I'm getting more serious about it. I really enjoy how you do your videos. There are perfect for people like me with fairly bad ADHD. Background context, high level explanation, a deeper dive, background examples and multiple visual and written cues...all punctuated with some very clever humor (some of it delightfully self-deprecating) and creative video editing. Thank you for sharing your wit, your wisdom, your triumphs and your failings in your journey through jazz. I think one of the biggest things that's hurt me as a player is over-reliance on both tab and charts and failure to better develop my ear and just learn things off of recordings. Keep up the great work, brother. God bless you. Numbers 6:24-26.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you Jesse! Great that you are really getting into Jazz and that the videos are useful!

[@BrageHT]

Julian Lage's solo on Nocturne (Live in LA) is surprisingly easy, but a great study in comping yourself when soloing in a trio. Great video as always!

[@JensLarsen]

Thanks! Julian is indeed surprisingly easy on that song :D

[@steellemonstudios]

Kenny Burrell’s “Chitlins Con Carne” was one of the first jazz solos I learned. Great list!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you 🙂

[@xebio6]

That whole album is the perfect gateway into jazz for those of us who come from a blues/blues-rock background, since it's a very bluesy approach to bop. The same can be said about most early Grant Green.

[@davidpatrick1813]

Very helpful in not only learning solos but learning songs. I struggle learning any so just improvise new melodies that ring in my ear.

[@WillsJazzLoft]

I love the advice that you give during the intro. One thing I'll not do is get frustrated and fail. Thus I'm taking that advice

[@JensLarsen]

Super! Go for it!

[@ansonmulvey6595]

I’m so glad that this guy is into music enough to make fun of it. This dude funny.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you! :)

[@mikelord9860]

I'm not a jazz player (though I do listen to jazz guitar and would love to learn to play basic stuff) but I've learned not to be in a big hurry to learn a melody you really like - yes by all means listen to it several times, store it in your head, play it back there and comprehend it more and more before letting it work down your arm into your fingers and unto your guitar; and God knows it'll take more time once it's there, but at least the cerebral part will be basically done. Speaking of melodies, one I've always liked (but never quite nailed down is Freight Trane, by Kenny Burrell. Our local PBS station uses it for a restaurant review program.

[@emilong]

This is perfect - I was just looking for a list of solos to get started transcribing. Thank you, Jens!

[@JensLarsen]

You're very welcome!

[@jongoforth1405]

Jens, you are a total gas, a fantastic teacher, and obviously a marvelous musician. I've been a guitar dabbler for years-a professional reed/flute player for almost 50 years, but I gotta say, your videos are for any instrument. I've peeled many Wes solos on horn, a couple Benson solos, Kenny Burrell, some shapes from Sco and Abercrombie-and the great Mick Goodrick, to name a few. One solo of George's (that I've listened to at least two thousand times!) is his solo on Body Talk, off the CTI album of the same name. He is totally on the case. Unstoppable. Interestingly, the CD (I had the LP first, years ago) adds another take of Body Talk.On that take, George sounds good, but the take that made the record stuns me EVERY TIME I hear it. Please keep up the great work. All the best, Jon

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like the videos, Jon 👍🙂

[@wendellharrelson2815]

Jens, thanks for your great improvisation guidance. I would like to add the wonderful Hank Garland's "Jazz Winds From a New Direction" album which influenced George Benson's development. Hank's lines are pure genius and so smooth.

[@lucagrieman3681]

I like Charlie Christian’s solo on “Six Appeal” to start student’s off. Only 16 measures long, and the phrases are digestible. Pretty much only in one key, but a really nice V7 lick in there to show students how to outline changes.

[@JensLarsen]

Yes, that's a great one too! I have used that as well :) Solid choice!

[@daveberkheimer2166]

The last solo I learned was the John Scofield solo on his version of the old Ray Charles Busted. It gives you some really great insight into the phrasing that John is famous for. And the good thing is that it's an easy chart with simple changes, thus making it easier to see how the phrases connect to the underlying chords. It's a great solo, with a great feel, and a lot to learn from.

[@TomStrahle]

I started transcribing Charlie Parker when I started playing jazz in high school. It was great for my ear, but it didn't really lead me to being a jazz musician. And I thought the tempos were half what they really were, 140bpm not 280bpm for example, thus my transcriptions were populated with 16th triplets and 32nd notes, haha.

[@NeonRadarMusic]

Thank you so much for this video. As someone who's finally beginning to get into jazz, I simply wasn't able to figure out where to start, so you've saved me a lot of time :)

[@JensLarsen]

Glad it was helpful! 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/

[@CharlesK441]

I'm binge watching all of your videos whilst I work. Love Jazz Guitar 🎸 😍 I need to get my a.. into gear and start studying again 😊👍🏾👏🏾

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like them 🙂

[@Guitarraeficaztutorialesytabs]

I remember my years in jazz formation, the first solo we got to learn was that Grand Slam, and others that I remember were the "Bluesette" solo by Toots Thielemans, and the Just Friends solo by Chet Baker. Great video!

[@JensLarsen]

Good way to get started! 🙂 Glad you like the video

[@bluestrain100]

I see that I'm the odd man out here. Learned to read music in the school marching band on trombone. More than 50 years ago. I'm coming over from the blues genre. Everyone knows the structures are similar but again totally different. But I'm reading, listening and trying to learn from each and every remote source of advice. And I think Mr Larsen is just awesome! He's well advanced and I want to learn how a top guitarist got to be a top guitarist.

[@raymundo5044]

I heard a live recording with George Benson on guitar and Jean Luc ponty on violin unbelievable it was great...

[@michaelzinna6536]

Hello Jens, I want to thank you for sending this bonus video. I think you are a very fine player and I like your videos very much. At 70 its good to review that things that one studied and keep it going. Thank you again.

[@stumpshot70]

That conga sound is hip man.....I remember first hearing that on midnight blue and somehow got it in my head that that sound was the epitome of 60's cool jazz.

[@m.r.2183]

Thank you for the video. I would like offer a different angle to the conversation which would be to concentrate on motivic development and learning to sustain and develop an idea through a chorus. It can be a simple 2 bar phrase with variations in logical phrase lengths. it doesn’t have to be complicated. This helps you play what you can actually hear and to play horizontally across the changes instead of plugging in pre learned riffs. Listen to older players who have mastered this, Prez, Getz, Desmond, etc. simple yet sophisticated melodic construction. Horace Silver is another. Miles. Chet. Personally I find it difficult to really use licks that l learned from transcription but the value of transcription for me anyway is it gets you into the rhythmic feel and thought process of a great soloist.

[@irishmuso7129]

Listen to this man and you will make more progress than with any other online teacher.

[@titosmith7942]

One I've enjoyed learning is Miles Davis's solo on Autumn Leaves from Cannonball Adderley's album Somethin' Else. It's surprisingly straightforward and the phases aren't super fast.

[@TheCompleteGuitarist]

I love that solo.

[@titosmith7942]

@@TheCompleteGuitarist Agreed, it's so tasteful.

[@BGMMM100]

I love playing that one on guitar! I play it every day to remind myself that space and patience are more important than raw speed… Not gonna lie though: sometimes I still let my mind go blank and my fingers do all the work 😂😂😂

[@titosmith7942]

@@BGMMM100Nice on playing that solo! It's the guitarist's disease to just noodle without listening to what we play. I still do it as well. 😅

[@BGMMM100]

@@titosmith7942 Thanks man! I’m sure we’ll both continue to develop as guitarists in ways that will excite and surprise us :)

[@enricosenno7767]

Grand Slam was my jazz baptize as well...cheers

[@knotwilg3596]

Hi Jens The way I'm approaching Jazz soloing today (2 years into my study) is replicating Dirk Laukens' solos (All of Me, Mr PC, Autumn Leaves) at a slower tempo so that they are manageable for my current level. I learn them by heart and try getting them up to decent speed. Dirk has great supporting material on which scales and arpeggios he's actually using but I don't really connect with that part of the course. Rather, it goes the other direction: I'm starting to acquire a repertoire of arpeggios from learning these solos. I'm also trying to listen & replay Paul Desmond's solo on Take 5 (as so many others have done). After viewing this video I may try something similar by replaying Wes Montgomery and maybe even transcribe some Monk for guitar. Cheers

[@JensLarsen]

If it works for you and is fun then that's great 🙂

[@eichlerphoto]

In addition to guitarists, would suggest checking out Lester Young solos. Reputedly, Charlie Christian did this early on. Lester Young in a trio with Nat King Cole and Buddy Rich is a good set of examples of some his best playing. I think it really teaches smooth, swinging phrasing and is not technically difficult for a beginning jazz player.

[@JensLarsen]

Yes, Lester is certainly worthwhile! Great tip!

[@jantonisito]

Thank you for the "Grand Slam" suggestion - the entire tune is worthy looking at. I think Benny Goodman should required reading for anybody that wants to play jazz in a small combo.

[@JensLarsen]

Yes, that would indeed be useful 🙂

[@JohnSteins]

Thanks for your advice and encouragement. I might venture that the congas are a kind of a holdover from the beatnik era. Maybe? I like it tho.

[@danielportugal1507]

Loved the video Chet baker it could happen to you its a lovely vocal solo that its beautiful to transcript to the guitar

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@tonylewis3472]

fab choice of solo study

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like it!

[@maxb4107]

Charlie Parkers Version of Body and Soul with Efferge Ware taught me a lot! His feel and the melodic lines are awesome. If you leave out some of the fast arpeggios and the crazy ending youll have a blast learning it! Edit: to get the most out of it, write down the form and try to relate the lines and arpeggios to every chord underneath. It opened a lot of doors for me

[@michaelperrone9823]

Not so basic, but I asked a guitar teacher once to help me learn Django Reinhardt's recorded version of Body and Soul. Of course, Bebop "gypsy jazz" is not. But really, really worth a listen! Just gorgeous.

[@JeannieSargent]

Jens, you're spot on here! Great video!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you Jeannie! 🙂

[@camilovillamizar6171]

Because congas are awesome. Thanks for the video, great references!

[@billmiller9145]

First Jazz/Blues tune I ever learned was Chittlins Con Carne. Still one of my favorite albums ever.

[@JensLarsen]

Solid song to begin with 😎

[@larryhall2805]

The closest solo to jazz that I've learned is Midnight at the Oasis played by Amos Garret. My learning process must be on track because I took this advice and learned it phrase at a time. I probably should now look at those phrases and how they synch up with the chord changes. Thank you for these suggestions.

[@jean-lucbersou758]

About great guitar solos ....the northern european vickings are on the boat with GUSTAV LUNDGREN ! THANKS to you JENS ....you BRING serious and precious tools .

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like it 🙂

[@Lamanns2605]

I just came across George Benson‘s solo on The Thang off of Lou Donaldson‘s Alligator Boogaloo record. It‘s short, very tasteful and played with great feel. In my opinion a great place to start.

[@JensLarsen]

Nice! Great suggestion 🙂

[@derrylgabel]

Great video Jens! I just sent this out to some students. You have one of the best jazz guitar channels for sure. Thanks for what you do!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you Derryl! I am very flattered that you recommend the video!! :) Hope you are well!

[@patpogoallroundguitarist5814]

I recently discovered Bob Mintzers solo on Blue Bossa. I love when he hits the ninth and seventh on the F minor in the beginning. The phrasing is top notch.

[@JensLarsen]

He is great! Don't think I know that solo though :)

[@patpogoallroundguitarist5814]

@@JensLarsen The fantastic thing is that it seems somewhat easy for transcription purposes :)

[@v2vroth]

Thanks so much for what you do I have learned so much from your videos!!

[@JensLarsen]

That is really great to hear 🙂 🎸

[@jack6136]

Larson ! You have finally done it ! I am actually playing my guitar as you teach and trying to learn a few things ! How Dare you be that interesting and good at teaching! 😂❤🎸🎸🎸😳😳😳

[@JensLarsen]

Great! Go for it!

[@Guitar6ty]

As a multi instrumentalist Bongos are almost as much fun as F# minor with fold and tuck or a Barney Kessel chord fest. Excellent sound advice and demo.

[@gazicj]

great stuff, as always! You are really helping me, making jazz more accessible. there is so much to learn, and it's tricky figuring out how to organize one's practice, and how to sequence what skills to build--the when and how of doing that effectively, is priceless---ty much, and godspeed

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you find the videos useful 🙂

[@lizzy210458]

Thanks for such an intelligent, clear and encouraging tutorial! Keep up the good work!!

[@JensLarsen]

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

[@nkhmd]

I was so glad you spent time on Wes....when I was trying to learn Jazz, Wes was "it" for me, ,especially early on....the "familiarity" and "rightness" of his phrases just blew me away....still, after 30, oops, make that 40 years, his lines just seem like no one else's in terms of swing, feeling "right", and deeply familiar, ("vaguely reminiscent"), somehow integral to me....I know my description is a bit over the top, but I"m not sure how else to convey the sound/feel....I enjoy your videos, even tho I don't play guitar anymore (now it's piano, and mainly Bach, Bach, Bach, Mozart, some Beethoven and Bach.)

[@davewallace1209]

I agree totally with you about describing that feeling of "rightness" in a melodic phrase. I call it the music inside the music. Nobody seems to know where it comes from or how to teach it to me. I agree with you too about Bach. Also Bach and Bach.

[@ggh_-ts6pn]

For me its learning Canonball Adderley Milestones sax solo on guitar. The phrasing on that solo, how he changes from playing inside the scale and then playing outside to create tensions is incredible. Its already amazing to be able to compose such a melodic & tasteful solos like that, no mention its an improvised solo. Its also technically very demanding. And also its training your ear because its super fast.

[@JensLarsen]

So in other words it is a great solo but not for beginners? :D

[@ggh_-ts6pn]

@@JensLarsen haha sorry did not realize this is mainly for beginner. Yes you probaby has to learn how scales & triads and how to play through changes first before learning this

[@jgunther3398]

i just now found that solo on yt transcribed in standard notation. i think if a guitarist could read music he could learn this solo pretty quickly compared to learning it by ear, especially in learning and retaining its details, and use the time saved to learn other solos, also from notation. i think it's a tragedy guitar players don't start off reading music like every other instrument does. probably most horn players today start in marching band where the first thing is reading music. i think if you learn from notation you learn accurately and quickly and still develop the ear needed to improvise

[@Bellabaddi]

Awesome, dig SRVs version as well

[@marvinfourte7721]

Charlie's Christian solo on Benny's Bugle is 2 choruses of a blues in Bb. I still use that phrasing today, it's essential for jazz guitar. It also can be done in the blue scale shape, which shows you (if you're coming from a blues/rock background) how we use additional notes as colors that outline the changes. Transcribing saxophones, in the beginning, is wildly difficult because of the legato of sax phrasing. The timbre of trumpets and their phrasing can be more guitaristic, for this I'd suggest Miles Davis's solo on Solar. You're learning a standard that has a lot of ii-v's. I learned 2 things: the real book has the melody wrong at least if they're using this record as an example. The other thing is that the notes are SUPER simple. The rhythm isn't "hard," but I bet you find some ideas in there that you didn't think about playing as a beginner or intermediate player. These two solos aren't fast or played over complex chordal arrangements.

[@srenolsen2775]

Another video jam-packed with all the relevant information. And funny. Thanks.

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ozannidayi]

Fantastic choice of first song!

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you like it! That is a killer album 🙂

[@ozannidayi]

@@JensLarsen yeah i love Kenny Burrell... spent many long hours binge listening Kenny

[@melodiclines2990]

This is very useful. Still trying to understand superlocrian

[@billmiller9145]

Love Chittlins Con Carne! Actually learned several bars of this when I first started out

[@JensLarsen]

Great place to start! 🙂

[@professorchaos9171]

Listening to these all day at work thanks for the content! Going to have to check out your store!

[@michaelzielinski4030]

Love it..just started playing jazz..is that a Stanford Guitar???

[@JensLarsen]

No, it is a Gibson. I never heard of Stanford guitars? 🙂

[@cunecao]

Thank you so much. You are helping me a lot with those tips.

[@JensLarsen]

Makes my day to hear that! :)

[@vizzo7]

it's not a guitar solo but This Year's kisses with Billy Holliday and teddy wilson. The beginning sax solo is very good for phrasing, rhythm and simplicity

[@DaveCorsello]

Thanks for this video. When I heard Wes Montgomery's solos on Airegin and Unit 7, I had to figure them out. In the 80s, his chord melody solo on Round Midnight from The Wes Montomery Trio album that starts at about 3:30 helped me to learn about moving voicings up and down the neck on the first 4 strings with diminished seventh chords a la Barry Harris (who I learned about years later). George Benson's solo on Billie's Bounce is also a classic that contains some iconic motifs.

[@rifosi]

Great video. I’ll check it out all these suggestions. Thanks!

[@JensLarsen]

Go for it 🙂

[@rocketshiptoaltair]

Looks to me like you've been sifting through my CD collection :) I have to admit to finding Grant Green rather late even though I had a couple of his albums for years and I agree his playing is tasteful and not too difficult to figure out. A couple of other names I would add is Louis Stewart and Herb Ellis. Well worth a listen. Herb duetting with Joe Pass is not for the faint hearted. I have Ulf's book on Saxophone solos for guitar. Really interesting study. Subscribed and looking forward to more content. Thanks Jens.

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you Paul! Great suggestions 🙂 Grant Green does indeed sneak up on you

[@siemekkisiel8963]

I love, love, love your sense of humor!

[@JensLarsen]

Thank you! Glad you like that aspect of my videos!

[@PC160]

Pat Martino's solo at the end of Barry Miles' Descent is one I've always liked (even if there aren't any chord changes!).

[@cgabriele1555]

Maybe a bit harder than the ones you recommended, but i'll go with Paul Desmond on all the things you are, that solo is so good

[@valencupida]

grateful for your content

[@JensLarsen]

Glad to hear that

[@toddoliver168]

Love this lesson that I had to learn myself after starting out learning bird solos... "more nasal than my guitar tone" ha! best line ever

[@JensLarsen]

Haha! Thanks Todd!

[@danielkwiatkowski5728]

Thanks a lot Jens! An incredibly inspiring (and fun) video. I'm also glad that there's Grant Green on the list, as I absolutely love his style:) A great video that gave me a boost and a sense of direction - thanks a lot again 🙌

[@JensLarsen]

Glad you enjoyed it! :)

[@johnwilliam3727]

Good my teacher I will learning now.

[@chrissguitarshow206]

Montgomeryland funk is one of wes Montgomerys best single note solos

[@zizoumonk10]

For anyone starting out, I recommend transcribing George Benson’s solo from Take Five Live at Montreux. Super easy.