How to Develop a Jazz Solo (First Steps)

Learn Jazz Standards Podcast

Brent Vaartstra: Jazz Musician, Author, and Entrepreneur

Music Commentary, Jazz, Jazz Improvisation, Jazz Saxophone, Jazz Theory, Jazz Bass, Jazz Piano, Education, Music, Jazz Guitar, Jazz Solo, Jazz Standards, Jazz Trumpet, How To

4.8 • 536 Ratings

🗓️ 8 February 2021

⏱️ 31 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Welcome to episode 256 where today I walk you through some different steps for beginning to develop a great jazz solo. A common mistake I hear is beginning a jazz solo with lots of notes and a myriad of ideas, rather than using call and response and a thematic building ideas. I show you actionable steps you can take to start bringing your solos to life. Okay, what was wrong with that solo? There is something horribly wrong with that solo and what was wrong with it was, right as soon as it ...

Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode is sponsored by the Learned Jazz Standards Inner Circle.
0:03.8	If your goal is to level up your jazz playing this year and feel confident improvising over
0:08.5	jazz standards, the inner circle has everything you need and more.
0:13.0	With monthly jazz standards studies, a library of powerful courses, and a vibrant community
0:17.3	of like-minded musicians, you're guaranteed to improve your playing every
0:21.7	single month.
0:23.1	Podcast listeners can get 50% off their first month when you go to LJSinnerCircle.com.
0:29.5	That's LJSinnerCircle.com or find the link in the show notes.
0:34.8	Now, on to today's episode.
0:52.3	Music the show notes. Now, on to today's episode. Okay. What was wrong with that solo? There was something horribly wrong with that solo. And what was wrong with it was right as soon as my turn to solo, I came out of the gate just playing as many notes as possible, just trying to fill out as much space as possible.
1:11.2	And guess what?
1:12.0	It probably sounded boring.
1:14.3	Probably didn't, you know, spell the chord changes as well as I could have.
1:18.5	It just didn't sound that musical.
1:20.4	It was just a lot of notes, regardless of whether they're the right notes or not.
1:24.3	So the big question is, how do we develop really, really awesome jazz
1:28.2	solos? Well, that's exactly what we're going to do today. We're not going to do what I just
1:32.5	did. We're going to make really awesome jazz solos that sound great. Let's do it.
1:37.3	Welcome to the LJS podcast, where you get weekly jazz tips, interviews, stories, and advice for becoming a better jazz musician.
1:46.9	And now your host.
1:48.2	He's a jazz musician, author, and entrepreneur, Brent Bartstra.
1:53.3	Hey, what's up everybody, Brent here from LearnJassstandards.com, which is a blog, podcast, and videos geared towards helping you become a better jazz musician.
	...

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