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Jazz Forms: Modal Jazz
Characteristics, harmonic analyses and examples Updated 2025 Modal harmony uses groups of notes called modes over a fixed tonal center for long periods of time. Scale and mode are equivalent terms, though mode is used in a modal context, and scale is used in a tonal context. In a modal context, the notes of the melody are related to a unique tonal center meanwhile in a tonal context the notes will relate to different centers depending on the chord of the moment. Read more…
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Jazz Forms: 16 Bars
Characteristics, harmonic analyses and examples Updated 2025 The 16 bar jazz form has four four-bar phrases, the first is an exposition phrase, the second, a repetition phrase, the third one a contrast phrase, normally in a different key, and the last one, a conclusive phrase. Jazz Standards with a 16 Bar Form Blue Bossa (Kenny Dorham)Four (Miles Davis)Lady Bird (Tadd Dameron)Pent Up House (Sonny Rollins)Stolen Moments (Oliver Nelson)Sugar (Stanley Turrentine)St. Read more…
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“So What” (Miles Davis): Analysis
Harmonic analysis, improvisation resources and recordings of the jazz standard composed by Miles Davis Updated 2025 “So What” is a jazz standard composed by Miles Davis. It´s the first track on the 1959 album Kind of Blue (1959). The style of “So What” is modal jazz, swing rhythm and A8-A8-B8-A8 form. The key of “So What” is D dorian minor with a modulation to Eb dorian minor on the B section (bridge). Scale and mode are equivalent terms, scale is used in a tonal context and mode is used in a modal context. Read more…
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100 Jazz Standards for Beginners
Basic jazz standards listed in different orders Updated 2025 100 Basic Jazz Standards Tip: learn the form of the jazz standard before playing it. Read more…
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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…