Characteristics, analysis, and examples of jazz standards that can be considered models of study
Updated 2023
Characteristics
- Form: rhythm changes, blues, 16 bars, AABA and variations.
- Style: dixieland, swing, bebop, cool, modal, hardbop, bossa nova and fusion.
- II-V-I: major and minor.
- Color: major, dominant and minor.
- Rhythm: swing and latin.
- Key: C, F, Bb, D.
- Chord families: diatonic, secondary dominants, extended dominants, substitute dominants, modal interchange and diminished chords.
1
“I Got Rhythm” (George Gershwin) (1930)
Form: rhythm changes
Style: swing
II-V-I: major
Color: major and minor
Key: Bb
Rhythm: swing
Chord families: diatonic, secondary dominants, extended dominants, passing diminished.
Related jazz standards: “Oleo”, “Rhythm A Ning”, “The Theme”, “The Flintstones”, “Lester Leaps In”.
2
“Sonny Moon For Two” (Sonny Rollins) (1959)
Form: blues.
Style: bebop.
II-V-I: major.
Color: dominant.
Key: F7
Rhythm: swing.
Chord families: diatonic, secondary dominants, diminished.
Related jazz standards: dozens of jazz blues with the same chord progression.
Jazz Blues Exercises
3
“Equinox” (John Coltrane) (1960)
Form: minor blues.
Style: hardbop.
II-V-I: minor.
Color: minor.
Key: C-
Rhythm: swing.
Chord families: diatonic, substitute dominants.
With this jazz standard we can practice the minor color with different minor scales, and the minor II-V-I progression.
4
“Blues For Alice” (Charlie Parker) (1951)
Form: major blues.
Style: bebop.
II-V-I: major.
Color: major.
Key: F
Rhythm: swing.
Chord families: diatonic, secondary dominants, substitute dominants, modal interchange.
This jazz standard has different resolutions to the tonic chord, and the “Confirmation” harmonic pattern that goes from I to IV.
5
“Blue Bossa” (Kenny Dorham) (1963)
Form: 16 bars.
Style: hardbop.
II-V-I: major and minor.
Color: major and minor.
Key: C-
Rhythm: bossa nova.
Chord families: diatonic.
Related jazz standards: “When The Saints Go Marchin´ In”, “St. Thomas”, “Summertime”.
6
“All Of Me” (Simmons & Marks) (1931)
Form: ABAC (AABA variation).
Style: swing.
II-V-I: major.
Color: major.
Key: C
Rhythm: swing.
Chord families: diatonic, secondary dominants, extended dominants, modal interchange, passing diminished.
Related jazz standards: “Out Of Nowhere”, “There Will Never Be Another You”, “The Days Of Wine And Roses”.
7
“Autumn Leaves” (Kozma-Prevert) (1947)
Form: AABC (AABA variation).
Style: swing.
II-V-I: major and minor.
Color: major and minor
Key: Bb
Rhythm: swing.
Chord families: diatonic, secondary dominants, modal interchange.
With this jazz standard we can practice the modulation from major to minor and major II-V-I to minor II-V-I.
8
“In A Sentimental Mood” (Duke Ellington) (1935)
Form: AABA.
Style: swing.
II-V-I: major and minor.
Color: major and minor.
Key: F
Rhythm: jazz ballad.
Chord families: diatonic, secondary dominants, extended dominants, substitute dominants, modal interchange.
Related jazz standards: “As Time Goes By”, “Body And Soul”, “Misty”.
9
“One Note Samba” (Antonio Carlos Jobim) (1961)
Form: ABCAD (AABA variation).
Style: bossa nova.
II-V-I: major.
Color: major.
Key: Bb
Rhythm: bossa nova.
Chord families: diatonic, extended dominants, substitute dominants, modal interchange.
With this jazz standard we can practice afro-brazilian rhythms (bossa nova, samba) and the rest of Jobim´s compositions: “Girl From Ipanema”, “Wave”, “Insensatez”.
10
“So What” (Miles Davis) (1959)
Form: AABA.
Style: modal.
II-V-I: no tonal harmony.
Color: minor.
Key: D-
Rhythm: swing.
Chord families: diatonic.
With this jazz standard we can practice modal and tonal-modal harmonic forms: “Impressions”, “Recordame”, “Dear Old Stockholm”.
“So What” (Miles Davis): Analysis
10 Jazz Standards for Beginners
copyright©danielfedele2023
Great tune selection, including very basic forms up to bebop, modal, and bossa nova. The recordings you have chosen are also excellent!