Learning Jazz Standards 

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I get lucky sometimes. Thank you for watching!!

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Sing the melody. Best way to internalize!

Thanks. I try to sing as often as possible (and make my students sing, too).

@@pdbass Thanks Paul!

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I think so. Understanding vertical harmony is important however you get it. I will say, though, that Pat Metheny writes most of his music on piano, believe it or not. There is a little edge when it comes to the range of the piano vs guitar. YMMV!

medium.com/@samblakelock/list-of-20-jazz-standards-often-called-at-jam-sessions-9c3117eb9a3e

There are some lists of top 20 or 50 if you Google it, but I would start by getting an album like “Kind of Blue” by Miles Davis and learning those five songs. Go from there. The great Jazz albums tend to have the tunes people play the most. Good luck.

@@pdbass Great. And thanks for the reply.

@@ronj9448 For what it may be worth, per his suggestion on "Kind of Blue" by Miles Davis, as I understand it that is the Album Duane Allman would often be listening to before shows. Something I have heard from being around....harmonica player 46 years and was full-time by age 20. I grew up where ABB lived, literally on Hwy 41, and also played some shows with the band "Poindexters" featured and backing up Dickie Betts on his first solo album "Highway Call". I started in straight Bluegrass mid '70's, then full time in a Honky Tonk band, later though got into big band swing and had a swing dance, Jazz, R&B band for 10 years (we played Blues Festivals too) 7 piece with female vocals, keys, horns, etc. and we did many Jazz Standards....including 3 of the songs on that Kind of Blue album. I am by no means "a Jazz Cat" but, have played with many pros who are. You might also check some of the "Organ Trio" type players (Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff) including Joey De Francesco who did a cool album with Danny Gatton that had some Jazz standards, Danny Gatton could bridge Country and Jazz really well.

If you want to learn a tune, go listen to someone playing it first. Then 1) SING the melody 2) Play the bass notes while you SING the melody 3) Be willing to mess it up a few times! There is a difference between playing it perfectly and not really knowing it and messing it up until you know it FOREVER. Your ears will tell you everything you need to know. Good luck.