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10 Jazz Standards for Beginners
Characteristics, analysis, and examples of jazz standards that can be considered models of study Updated 2025 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. Read more…
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Major and Minor (Blues) Pentatonic Scales
Pentatonic scales in all keys, theory, how to study and melodic patterns. Updated 2025 Pentatonic Scales: Theory Tip: play the scales in C before playing a different key. Read more…
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Jazz Scales: A Roadmap for Beginners
Melodic patterns, rhythmic patterns, how to study. Updated 2025 I don´t recommend playing the scales in all keys from the beginning, it´s too much information and difficult to memorize. I prefer to follow this roadmap: 1 Play the major, mixolydian and dorian scales in C over play-a-longs. Memorize formulas Major: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Mixolydian: 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7 Dorian: 1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7 Play the melodic patterns. Visualize the notes to facilitate adding new scales comparing them with the major scale in C. Read more…