Blog
If you’re looking for jazz tips, advice, lessons and general information about jazz, this is the right place! We post new content in our blog 3-4 times a week, and it’s all free for you to use. Get started by checking out our latest posts or choose a category.
Jazz Theory
Hexatonic/Pentatonic Jazz Improvisation Workout
We’ve talked about pentatonics on LJS in the past both on
the blog
and on the podcast.
In this post, I...
Jazz Advice
3 Rhythm Changes Strategies from John Coltrane on Oleo
In the 1950's, Miles Davis released a series of iconic recordings of jazz standards with his “first great quintet,” which, in its most classic...
Rhythm
Combining Rate Shift and Odd Groupings to Spice Up Your Rhythms
There are many ways to make your solos more interesting utilizing rhythm.
In previous lessons, Using Rests and...
Jazz Advice
3 Altered Licks All Jazz Musicians Should Know
There are some melodic lines that are so iconic that, despite my outspoken general opposition to the idea of “lick playing,” I believe every...
Jazz Theory
How to Use Altered Pentatonics
I’ve discussed the major pentatonic scale here on LJS before and some of its uses. In this post I want to briefly review the...
Drums
Trading Fours Like Elvin Jones: Style And Analysis
A few months ago, I shared with you a lesson on Elvin Jones, entitled How To Comp On The Drums Like Elvin Jones, in which...
Jazz Theory
How to Improvise Over “Inner Urge”
Joe Henderson’s “Inner Urge” from his iconic 1965 record also entitled Inner Urge is one of the most frequently called tunes at jam sessions...
Bass
How to Practice Walking Bass Lines for All Jazz Instrumentalists
Here on Learn Jazz Standards, there are a few great posts on walking bass lines for bass players: How to Keep Your Bass Lines Interesting...
Drums
How to Make Pro Drum Charts For Small Jazz Ensembles
One of the biggest pet peeves of being a drummer is to deal with poorly made charts. For some strange reason, musicians tend to neglect drum...
Jazz Theory
Practicing Using Upper Structures on “Solar”
As jazz musicians, we’re always trying to find ways to hear and come up with different types of melodic lines while improvising.
One strategy that...
