Welcome to episode 179 of the LJS Podcast where today I go over 7 different options for playing an intro on a jazz standard. While you can just count off a tune and start playing the head on beat one, it can be nice to set up a song with an intro. I walk you through some options and give you a call to action at the end.
Listen to episode 179
One basic question that you might have when starting to play a jazz standard is exactly that. How do I start the jazz standard? How do I introduce it when playing at a jam session, a gig, or just with another friend?Well, of course, there’s the obvious one which is, just count it off and start playing the head-on-beat one. But sometimes, it can be appropriate to have an introduction to a song, it can be more creative and even there are times when certain jazz standards have composed intros that are appropriate to play before getting started on the head.
So, in today’s episode, I’m going to be going over some different options for playing introductions to jazz standards. I’m going to go over 7 of them for you to give you some options.
In this episode:
1. Pedal on the V chord
2. Play the last 8 bars
3. Two chord vamp
4. Improvise a chorus up front
5. I-VI-ii-V
6. I-ii-V
7. Composed intro
I look forward to having you join me in the next episode!
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
