The Jazz Standards Playbook Vol. 2
Sure, you know some jazz standards. You may even have some basic jazz harmony and improv skills. But if you’re really being honest, half of the time you have no clue what you are doing.
I know how you feel, and many others are in the same boat as well. That’s why I’m here to help make jazz standards less complicated…
Welcome to The Jazz Standards Playbook Vol. 2!
Let’s take a deep dive into 10 jazz standards that will expand your knowledge of jazz harmony and take your jazz skills to the next level.
If jazz standards (especially more complicated ones) seem difficult to you, no need to worry, I’m here to help walk you through them step-by-step.

In case you don’t know me, my name is Brent Vaartstra. I’m a professional jazz musician, educator, author, and podcaster. But I’m best known as the jazz musician behind the internationally followed website Learn Jazz Standards.com. I wrote The Jazz Standards Playbook Vol. 2 because my students, readers and podcast listeners often wonder how to approach jazz standards.
In Vol. 1, I went over 10 jazz standards that addressed the fundamentals of jazz harmony. In Vol. 2, we take a look at another set of 10 jazz standards that go deeper into jazz harmony.
The Jazz Standards Playbook Vol. 2 walks you through in-depth studies of jazz standards that both address the fundamentals and explore more complex jazz harmony. I make understanding these important jazz standards easier.
The Jazz Standards Playbook Vol. 2
10 Jazz Standard Studies That Will Ignite Your Jazz Improv
Sure, you know some jazz standards. You may even have some basic jazz harmony and improv skills. But if you’re really being honest, half of the time you have no clue what you are doing.
I know how you feel, and many others are in the same boat as well. That’s why I’m here to help make jazz standards less complicated…
Welcome to The Jazz Standards Playbook Vol. 2!
Let’s take a deep dive into 10 jazz standards that will expand your knowledge of jazz harmony and take your jazz skills to the next level.
If jazz standards (especially more complicated ones) seem difficult to you, no need to worry, I’m here to help walk you through them step-by-step.

In case you don’t know me, my name is Brent Vaartstra. I’m a professional jazz musician, educator, author, and podcaster. But I’m best known as the jazz musician behind the internationally followed website Learn Jazz Standards.com. I wrote The Jazz Standards Playbook Vol. 2 because my students, readers and podcast listeners often wonder how to approach jazz standards.
In Vol. 1, I went over 10 jazz standards that addressed the fundamentals of jazz harmony. In Vol. 2, we take a look at another set of 10 jazz standards that go deeper into jazz harmony.
The Jazz Standards Playbook Vol. 2 walks you through in-depth studies of jazz standards that both address the fundamentals and explore more complex jazz harmony. I make understanding these important jazz standards easier.
Which Jazz Standards Will You Study?
If you know and understand these jazz standards, you’ll automatically unlock hundreds more.
#1: There Will Never Be Another You
#2: Someday My Prince Will Come
#3: Tune Up
#4: Just Friends
#5: Take the A Train
#6: Days of Wine and Roses
#7: Alone Together
#8: Solar
#9: What Is This Thing Called Love?
#10: The Girl From Ipanema
Which Jazz Standards Will You Study?
If you know and understand these jazz standards, you’ll automatically unlock hundreds more.
#1: There Will Never Be Another You
#2: Someday My Prince Will Come
#3: Tune Up
#4: Just Friends
#5: Take the A Train
#6: Days of Wine and Roses
#7: Alone Together
#8: Solar
#9: What Is This Thing Called Love?
#10: The Girl From Ipanema
Which Jazz Standards Will You Study?
If you know and understand these jazz standards, you’ll automatically unlock hundreds more.
#1: There Will Never Be Another You
#2: Someday My Prince Will Come
#3: Tune Up
#4: Just Friends
#5: Take the A Train
#6: Days of Wine and Roses
#7: Alone Together
#8: Solar
#9: What Is This Thing Called Love?
#10: The Girl From Ipanema
What you will achieve:
Each jazz standard study is packed with important resources, and lessons to help you unlock and understand these jazz standards.
How to analyze jazz standards with roman numerals. So you can understand the chord changes.
Key improvisational concepts. Using 10 brand new improv lessons based on the studies.
The 3 jazz theory concepts that will help you unlock these standards. So that you’re set up for success.
Key harmonic lessons in jazz standards. So that every other tune is 10X easier to understand.
What you will achieve:
Each jazz standard study is packed with important resources, and lessons to help you unlock and understand these jazz standards.
How to analyze jazz standards with roman numerals. So you can understand the chord changes.
Key improvisational concepts. Using 10 brand new improv lessons based on the studies.
The 3 jazz theory concepts that will help you unlock these standards. So that you’re set up for success.
Key harmonic lessons in jazz standards. So that every other tune is 10X easier to understand.
The Core Lesson Materials
Each jazz standard study includes three important core materials to support your learning experience.
The Chord Map
The Chord Map shows you all of the chords in the song, including basic piano and guitar voicings, but most importantly, the chord tones in each chord.
The Guide Tones Chart
The Guide Tones Chart identifies the important notes you need to target in each chord and shows you how to connect them together. It serves as a great tool to jump-start your improvisation.
The Chords Analysis
The Chord Analysis is the most valuable resource. It walks you through a roman numeral analysis of the chords, with color-coding to help organize and make sense of the harmony.
The Core Lesson Materials
Each jazz standard study includes three important core materials to support your learning experience.
The Chord Map
The Chord Map shows you all of the chords in the song, including basic piano and guitar voicings, but most importantly, the chord tones in each chord.
The Guide Tones Chart
The Guide Tones Chart identifies the important notes you need to target in each chord and shows you how to connect them together. It serves as a great tool to jump-start your improvisation.
The Chords Analysis
The Chord Analysis is the most valuable resource. It walks you through a roman numeral analysis of the chords, with color-coding to help organize and make sense of the harmony.
What’s included?
195-page pdf eBook full of jazz lessons
Audio examples and backing tracks
Tons of exercises and examples
195-page pdf eBook full of jazz lessons
Audio examples and backing tracks
Tons of exercises and examples
The Jazz Standards Playbook Vol. 2 by itself is incredibly valuable, and you can get just the eBook. But because I believe real musical transformation can only come if we take massive, determined action, I’ve created a companion course for those who want to take the extra step…
The Jazz Standards Playbook Vol. 2 by itself is incredibly valuable, and you can get just the eBook. But because I believe real musical transformation can only come if we take massive, determined action, I’ve created a companion course for those who want to take the extra step…
The Companion Course
The primary goals of the companion course help you get the very most out of The Jazz Standards Playbook Vol. 2.
Helps you actually finish the book. So that you get the full benefits.
Helps you take action. By getting assignments and posting on the Community Discussion Board.
Provides a community. So you can take the journey with others going through the book.
The Companion Course
The primary goals of the companion course help you get the very most out of The Jazz Standards Playbook Vol. 2.
Helps you actually finish the book. So that you get the full benefits.
Helps you take action. By getting assignments and posting on the Community Discussion Board.
Provides a community. So you can take the journey with others going through the book.
Here’s what you get:
Here’s what you get:
Here’s what students said about the Jazz Standards Playbook Vol. 1:
Brent in his newest publication achieves freshness, rigor, and making learning appealing and attractive. The layout of the e-book is beyond delight. In Brent’s masterful, sereine, and yet rigorously structured lessons there is no place for loftiness. And so he says: “I want you to take action”. And at the same time, he assures the student that “I’m not going to leave you hanging”. Great achievement, Brent! Thank you for this gift!”
Anne from Berlin
PianistI purchased the Learn Jazz Standards Playbook together with the video course. I really like the training approach in this material! I’m learning the theory behind the songs, how the chords are constructed and how they relate together. It is fun and challenging to learn. Furthermore, the extra video course is really motivating to keep you going and practicing. Thanks, Brent!
Wim from The Netherlands
Tenor SaxophonistThe Jazz Standards Book and videos demystify the workings of making music without making it seem like too much work. I have been woodshedding for forty years and learned more in my first week with this course than I thought possible. I can’t wait to follow the footsteps of jazz pioneers and take some Giant Steps!
Will from California
Flutist and SaxophonistThanks, Brent! You have a great approach to teaching this stuff, very inspirational and explained in a clear and logical fashion. The challenges are difficult enough to get me practicing but not overwhelming. Keep up the good work!
Maximillian from Austria,
ClarinetIt’s time to get started!
Versions for C, Bb, Eb and Bass Clef instruments. For all skill levels.
eBook Only
- 195 PDF eBook full of jazz lessons
- Audio examples and backing tracks
- Tons of exercises and examples to work through
eBook + Companion Course
- All 4 eBook instrument versions
- In-depth video tutorials
- Course Community
- Trackable progress
- Bonus: Mindful Jazz Listening Masterclass (45 min)
eBook Only (Vol 1 & 2)
- The Jazz Standards Playbook Vol. 1
- The Jazz Standards Playbook Vol. 2
- 20 total studies of important jazz standards
eBook + Companion Course (Vol 1 & 2)
- -$20 Discount
- Vol. 1 Companion Course
- Vol. 2 Companion Course
- In-depth video tutorials
- Course Community
- Trackable progress
- Bonus: Giant Steps Study
- Bonus: Mindful Jazz Listening Masterclass (45 min)
OR
Become an Inner Circle Member!
Save money and gain access to everything Learn Jazz Standards has to offer:
- The Jazz Standards Playbook Vol.2 Course + access to all LJS courses
- Jazz Standards Club access (monthly standard study)
- Access to a growing library of Basics 101 courses
- Monthly Jazz Mastermind access (live Q&A calls)
- Premium Community Forums and Practice Groups)
Only $29/month or $288/year!
I’m so confident you’re going to love The Jazz Standards Playbook Vol. 2, that I’m willing to make a guarantee- a 30-Day, 100% Money-Back Guarantee.
- If you’ve gone through the book and have done the work, yet don’t feel like you’ve gotten value out of this eBook, send me an email, show me you did the work, and I’ll refund all of your money (I’ll even eat the credit-card processing fees). Me and the team here at LJS believe in this book and we’ll take responsibility for it.
I’m so confident you’re going to love The Jazz Standards Playbook Vol. 2, that I’m willing to make a guarantee- a 30-Day, 100% Money-Back Guarantee.
- If you’ve gone through the book and have done the work, yet don’t feel like you’ve gotten value out of this eBook, send me an email, show me you did the work, and I’ll refund all of your money (I’ll even eat the credit-card processing fees). Me and the team here at LJS believe in this book and we’ll take responsibility for it.
What if I haven't gone through Vol. 1? Can I still benefit from Vol. 2?
Yes, you’ll get a lot out of it. You don’t need to have purchased Vol. 1 to get benefit from Vol. 2. While Vol. 1 does have more jazz standards that cover jazz harmony fundamentals, you still won’t be left in the dark with Vol. 2. Vol. 2 has some more complex standards in it than Vol. 1. When in doubt, just get both!
Do I need to be able to read music to use The Jazz Standards Playbook Vol. 2?
It can be very helpful to have a basic understanding of reading music on your instrument. You don’t need to be a fantastic reader, just enough to decipher the musical examples. Audio examples accompany every example and exercise in the book, and this will help you especially if you’re a novice reader.
Are there notated melodies of the jazz standards in the book?
No. Due to copyright law and after much consideration and discussion with the rights holders, we decided not to include melodies.
However, jazz, and especially melodies, is best learned by ear. In the book, I give you all the resources you need to do this, including an intro chapter walking you through the LIST method for learning jazz standards by ear.
Can I benefit from The Jazz Standards Playbook Vol. 2 if I'm trying to learn a new instrument?
You can, but The Jazz Standards Playbook Vol. 2 does not teach you how to play your instrument. While the book does explain basic-advanced music theory concepts to help you through the studies, I would suggest working on your instrument fundamentals before diving into this book.
I'm an intermediate-advanced jazz player. Can The Jazz Standards Playbook Vol. 2 help me?
Absolutely! Regardless of whether you are a beginner or advanced player, these studies can be extremely beneficial. Vol. 2 specifically addresses several more advanced jazz standards that will be beneficial. If you are trying to decide, look at the list of standards being studied and see if you want to learn more about them.
I'm new to jazz. Is this a good book for me?
Definitely! The Jazz Standards Playbook Vol. 2 is written to help you understand the core material. Just be sure that you already know the fundamentals of your instrument. Consider buying both Vol. 1 and 2 especially if you need to start with some basic jazz harmony which is covered a little bit more in Vol. 1.
Should I get this book even if I know some or all of the jazz standards?
Absolutely 100%. While I give you all the resources you need to actually learn these 10 jazz standards, this is beside the point.
The goal of this book is to dive in deep to these standards and draw important lessons from them to help you understand jazz harmony and improvisation better. Even if you know all of them already, you will get immense value from this book.
How do I know which version of the book to get?
This book was designed for all melodic instruments. We have versions for C, Bb, Eb, and Bass Clef instruments.
Each version has been transposed from the original to fit the ranges of all instruments.
Some common C instruments are guitar, piano, and flute.
Common Bb instruments are tenor sax, soprano sax, clarinet and trumpet.
Common Eb instruments are alto saxophone and baritone saxophone.
Common Bass Clef instruments are upright bass, electric bass and trombone.
Make sure you know which concert pitch your instrument is tuned to.
I'm a drummer. Is this eBook good for me?
While this book is aimed towards melodic and harmonic instruments, drummers can still benefit from these studies. Drummers have a responsibility to know the form and understand harmony as well, and so The Jazz Standards Playbook can be a helpful resource to have.
Is this book different from your 15 Essential Jazz Etudes book?
Quite different. 15 Essential Jazz Etudes is a much shorter book with etudes for a handful of jazz standards and little instruction. The Jazz Standards Playbook Vol. 2 is a full-on method and resource book that has in-depth instruction, analysis, and teaching. That being said, the etudes book could be a helpful companion to this one.
I'd like to use the material or companion course for my students or classroom. How can I purchase a class copy?
The Jazz Standards Playbook has been transposed from its original version for C, Bb, Eb, and bass clef instruments. If you’d like to use this eBook or companion course as a teaching resource for your students, contact us about purchasing for a larger group!