{"id":15483,"date":"2023-10-08T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-08T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/?p=15483"},"modified":"2023-11-10T10:55:37","modified_gmt":"2023-11-10T18:55:37","slug":"easy-jazz-standards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/easy-jazz-standards\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Easy Jazz Standards to Learn First"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>If you want to get started with jazz piano, you\u2019ve come to the right place! Jazz can be intimidating for beginners, but there are simpler jazz standards that can ease you into the genre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Playing jazz is a different experience than playing other styles of piano. There is more chord theory involved, but there&#8217;s also more room for freedom, improvisation, and expressing your own voice. Jazz is a lot of fun and provides a solid foundation for mastering other styles of music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are ten easy jazz standards that will introduce you to the basic principles of jazz. They\u2019re also very popular songs, making them perfect for jam sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><p><strong>Table of Contents:<\/strong><\/p><nav><ol><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#jazz-piano-what-you-need-to-know\">Jazz Piano: What You Need to Know<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#where-to-get-lead-sheets\">Where to Get Lead Sheets<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#1-autumn-leaves-joseph-kosma-1945\">&#8220;Autumn Leaves\u201d &#8211; Joseph Kosma (1945)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#2-fly-me-to-the-moon-in-other-words-bart-howard-1954\">&#8220;Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)\u201d &#8211; Bart Howard (1954)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#3-satin-doll-duke-ellington-and-billy-strayhorn-1953\">&#8220;Satin Doll\u201d &#8211; Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn (1953)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#4-misty-erroll-garner-1954\">&#8220;Misty\u201d &#8211; Erroll Garner (1954)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#5-so-what-miles-davis-1959\">&#8220;So What\u201d &#8211; Miles Davis (1959)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#6-blue-bossa-kenny-dorham-1963\">&#8220;Blue Bossa\u201d &#8211; Kenny Dorham (1963)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#7-christmas-time-is-here-vince-guaraldi-and-lee-mendelson-1965\">&#8220;Christmas Time Is Here\u201d &#8211; Vince Guaraldi and Lee Mendelson (1965)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#8-i-got-rhythm-george-gershwin-1930\">&#8220;I Got Rhythm\u201d &#8211; George Gershwin (1930)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#9-the-girl-from-ipanema-antonio-carlos-jobim-1964\">&#8220;The Girl from Ipanema\u201d &#8211; Ant\u00f4nio Carlos Jobim (1964)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#10-summertime-by-george-gershwin-1934\">&#8220;Summertime\u201d &#8211; George Gershwin (1934)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#beginner-jazz-tips\">Beginner Jazz Tips<\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\"><center><h3 style=\"font-size: 22px;\"><b>\ud83c\udfb9 For Piano Players, By Piano Players<\/b><\/h3><p>Love more guides like this? Subscribe to <i>The Note<\/i> for more quick tips, cheat sheets, explainers, and other stuff piano players love. Delivered to your inbox for free.<\/p><iframe class=\"email-form-include\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/weeklyemail\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe><\/center><\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-x-large-font-size\" id=\"how-to-play-jazz-for-beginners\" style=\"color:#f61a30\"><strong>HOW TO PLAY JAZZ FOR BEGINNERS<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large full-width\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/26153721\/jazz-kevin-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Man with dark hair in light grey suit jacket playing grand piano in studio.\" class=\"wp-image-15484\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/26153721\/jazz-kevin-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/26153721\/jazz-kevin-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/26153721\/jazz-kevin-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/26153721\/jazz-kevin-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/26153721\/jazz-kevin-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Catch Kevin Castro&#8217;s Jazz 101 lesson for free <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/how-to-play-jazz-piano\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"jazz-piano-what-you-need-to-know\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>Jazz Piano: What You Need to Know<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You&#8217;ll need a basic understanding of chords to play jazz. You don\u2019t need to know every chord under the sun, but you should be familiar with basic chords, especially <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/understanding-7ths\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">7th chords<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/piano-chord-progressions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">how chord progressions work<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some free lessons to help you along:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/how-to-play-jazz-piano\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>How to Play Jazz Piano for Beginners:<\/strong><\/a><strong> <\/strong>A complete overview of the skills you\u2019ll need to start playing jazz. Taught by our resident jazz expert Kevin Castro.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/251-chord-progression\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The 2-5-1 Chord Progression:<\/a> <\/strong>Watch our Piano Bench episode on how to play the most popular jazz progression in major and minor keys. We also demonstrate how to use ii-V-Is to reharmonize songs to give them more flavor.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/chord-symbols-piano\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Chord Symbols, Explained:<\/strong><\/a> Chord symbols can look like complex math equations. This article will teach you how to decode strange-looking chord symbols like \u201cC\u03947#5.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also use our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/chords-and-scales\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chords and Scales Library<\/a> to easily look up chord and scale diagrams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"where-to-get-lead-sheets\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>Where to Get Lead Sheets<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Jazz standards are usually notated as lead sheets. Lead sheets contain the melody line in standard notation with chord changes above. There is no left-hand accompaniment\u2014you create it yourself!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many official lead sheets are still under copyright, though you can find free, unofficial versions online that are transcribed by fans. For reliable lead sheets, consider purchasing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><em>The Real Book<\/em><\/strong><strong>:<\/strong> Published by Hal Leonard, this is considered the most accurate, authoritative collection of notated jazz standards.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>A subscription to a sheet music library<\/strong> like Sheet Music Direct or Musescore.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>A Pianote+ Membership! <\/strong>We have over a thousand note-for-note transcriptions in our Song Library, including arrangements of all the songs in this list. We also have jazz lessons taught by experts, so <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/trial\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">try it for free<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Lead sheets are great for beginners, but master jazz pianists suggest putting them aside as soon as you\u2019re able. Memorize, learn by ear, and internalize songs to the point where you don\u2019t need lead sheets!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-x-large-font-size\" id=\"easy-jazz-standards-for-beginners\" style=\"color:#f61a30\"><strong>EASY JAZZ STANDARDS FOR BEGINNERS<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large full-width\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/26153942\/jazz-sangah-noona-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Woman with long hair and red shirt playing grand piano in smoky studio.\" class=\"wp-image-15485\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/26153942\/jazz-sangah-noona-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/26153942\/jazz-sangah-noona-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/26153942\/jazz-sangah-noona-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/26153942\/jazz-sangah-noona-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/26153942\/jazz-sangah-noona-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pianote Coach and jazz expert <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/sangah-noona-podcast\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sangah Noona<\/a> jamming in our studio.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-autumn-leaves-joseph-kosma-1945\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>#1. &#8220;Autumn Leaves\u201d &#8211; Joseph Kosma (1945)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Autumn Leaves Jazz Piano Solo Jesus Molina\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vZBe6BDB948?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Renowned jazz improviser Jes\u00fas Molina plays &#8220;Autumn Leaves.&#8221;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAutumn Leaves\u201d is a popular first standard for new jazz students. That\u2019s because the chord progression is very predictable. For example, look at the chord progression for the A section (this example is in E minor):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-text-color has-large-font-size\" style=\"color:#f61a30\">Am7 &#8211; D7 &#8211; Gmaj7 &#8211; Cmaj7 &#8211; F#m7b5 &#8211; B7 &#8211; Em<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Notice that the roots are a series of descending fifths, making this song similar to a trip around the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/how-to-use-the-circle-of-fifths\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Circle of Fifths<\/a>. You can also see this as a series of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/251-chord-progression\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2-5-1s<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Am7-D7-Gmaj7 = 2-5-1 resolving to G major<br>D7-Gmaj7-Cmaj7 = 2-5-1 resolving to C major<br>&#8230;etc.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve mastered Autumn Leaves in one key, try transposing it to another. Now you can play it with anyone!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-fly-me-to-the-moon-in-other-words-bart-howard-1954\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>#2. &#8220;Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)\u201d &#8211; Bart Howard (1954)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"&quot;you&#039;re too young to play piano&quot; they said\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0Y0FmZO3X9s?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Handily transcribed performance of &#8220;Fly Me to the Moon,&#8221; played by Brandon Goldberg.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFly Me to the Moon\u201d is similar to \u201cAutumn Leaves\u201d in that it\u2019s also a series of 2-5-1s repeated over and over! This song isn&#8217;t just beautiful\u2014it&#8217;s very famous and people who don&#8217;t typically listen to jazz will likely recognize it. Which makes it a perfect song to whip out at an impromptu public piano performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I find the melody in &#8220;Fly Me to the Moon&#8221; very conducive to improvisation because it gives you lots of notes and ideas to work with. The song also sounds very lovely at a slower tempo, so beginners can take their time exploring what improvisations go well with the harmony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-satin-doll-duke-ellington-and-billy-strayhorn-1953\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>#3. &#8220;Satin Doll\u201d &#8211; Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn (1953)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Satin Doll Oscar Peterson 1963\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YidAJ4VLyR8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;Satin Doll&#8221; performed by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/oscar-peterson\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Oscar Peterson<\/a>, one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>While the chord progression isn\u2019t as predictable as our previous examples, \u201cSatin Doll\u201d uses a simple melody and a harmony built on simple 2-5s. There is a key change right before the final resolution of each section, but it\u2019s not that complicated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/how-to-play-jazz-piano\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How to Play Jazz for Beginners: What to Learn First<\/a>, Kevin Castro goes over this song in detail, using it to teach complete beginners. So, use &#8220;Satin Doll&#8221; to practice essential jazz skills like swing rhythm and comping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-misty-erroll-garner-1954\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>#4. &#8220;Misty\u201d &#8211; Erroll Garner (1954)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Erroll Garner plays Misty\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/P_tAU3GM9XI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;Misty&#8221; played by the composer himself, Erroll Garner.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Erroll Garner originally wrote \u201cMisty\u201d as an instrumental piece, but Johnny Mathis loved it so much that he asked Johnny Burke to set lyrics to it. The song is later featured in the film <em>Play Misty for Me.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Written by a jazz pianist, \u201cMisty\u201d is a beautiful song that captures the essence of jazz piano. The harmony is quite simple and the same chords appear over and over. As a classically-trained pianist, &#8220;Misty&#8221; was my \u201cgateway\u201d to jazz and one that made a lot of things click. I think that\u2019s thanks to the classical feel of the song.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5-so-what-miles-davis-1959\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>#5. &#8220;So What\u201d &#8211; Miles Davis (1959)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Michel Petrucciani Trio - Live In Stuttgart (1998) - So What\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/abIQDHSa7oQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Renowned jazz pianist Michel Petrucciani shredding &#8220;So What.&#8221;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>With its iconic bass line, \u201cSo What\u201d might be Miles Davis\u2019 most famous tune. It sounds slick, and it\u2019s also an excellent introduction to modal jazz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The A section is in D Dorian mode, and then we transition to E-flat Dorian in the B section before returning to D Dorian in the A section. There are only four chords used in the entire song, and if you stick to D Dorian and E-flat Dorian, it\u2019s easy to improvise to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Scared of modes? Don\u2019t be! You can think of D Dorian as \u201cC major from D to D\u201d and E-flat Dorian as \u201cD-flat major from E\u266d to E\u266d.\u201d If you need a review of how modes work, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/piano-scales\/#modes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">read this<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"6-blue-bossa-kenny-dorham-1963\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>#6. &#8220;Blue Bossa\u201d &#8211; Kenny Dorham (1963)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Eliane Elias feat. Chick Corea - Blue Bossa (Official Video)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WsLuTkirmbQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Piano duet of &#8220;Blue Bossa&#8221; with Eliane Elias and Chick Corea.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Bossa nova, meaning \u201cnew wave,\u201d is a Brazillian style with a relaxed, swaying rhythm. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kuvo.org\/stories-of-standards-blue-bossa-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kenny Dorham<\/a> was likely inspired to write \u201cBlue Bossa\u201d from a trip to Rio de Janeiro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This tune uses pretty simple chords, but what I love about it is that it\u2019s very conducive to improvisation. I find that some songs \u201cspur\u201d improv better than others. And because \u201cBlue Bossa\u201d has a lot of descending scale lines, it lends many good improv ideas. You can try embellishing those scale lines with ornaments, going in the opposite direction, or picking different notes from them to riff on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"7-christmas-time-is-here-vince-guaraldi-and-lee-mendelson-1965\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>#7. &#8220;Christmas Time Is Here\u201d &#8211; Vince Guaraldi and Lee Mendelson (1965)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How to Play &quot;Christmas Time Is Here&quot; \ud83c\udf84\ud83c\udfb9 (Beginner Piano Arrangement)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Z-C-hN91eQs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kevin Castro teaches &#8220;Christmas Time Is Here&#8221; in our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/christmas-time-is-here-piano\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">free lesson<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This song has some scary-looking chords, but because it\u2019s meant to be played very slowly, beginners can sound good while taking their time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We have a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/christmas-time-is-here-piano\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">tutorial and beginner arrangement<\/a> for this song. But see if you can figure out the extensions and alterations in a lead sheet. Extensions are chords that include notes stacked on top of a basic triad. Alterations are when we change the quality of a chord tone.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, take Eb7(#11), a really jazzy chord that appears a lot in this song. This is a dominant 7th E-flat chord with an additional sharpened eleventh degree. That\u2019s eleven notes up from the root (E-flat), which is A-flat. The A-flat is then raised a half-step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/03155644\/Eb711-1024x427.png\" alt=\"Keyboard diagram showing Eb7(#11) chord with keys highlighted in red and labelled. Highlighted keys: Eb (root), G (3rd), Bb (5th), Db (7th), F (9th), Ab (11th), #11th (A).\" class=\"wp-image-15590\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/03155644\/Eb711-1024x427.png 1024w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/03155644\/Eb711-300x125.png 300w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/03155644\/Eb711-768x320.png 768w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/03155644\/Eb711-1536x640.png 1536w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/03155644\/Eb711-2048x853.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you need more help deciphering chords, check out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/chord-symbols-piano\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chord Symbols, Explained<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"8-i-got-rhythm-george-gershwin-1930\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>#8. &#8220;I Got Rhythm\u201d &#8211; George Gershwin (1930)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"10 levels of &quot;I got rhythm&quot;\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hQhImw7YHwA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cateen (Hayato Sumino) plays &#8220;I Got Rhythm&#8221; with increasing levels of difficulty.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI Got Rhythm\u201d is a jazz must-learn because the chord progression, the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rhythm_changes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cRhythm Changes,\u201d<\/a> has since become a standard of its own, appearing everywhere in jazz. Songs that use the Rhythm Changes include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201cCotton Tail\u201d by Duke Ellington<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cSalt Peanuts\u201d by Dizzy Gillespie<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cRhythm-a-Ning\u201d by Thelonious Monk<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cOleo\u201d by Sonny Rollins<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cAnthropology\u201d by Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The A section is built on a I-vi-ii-V progression, and the B section is built on the Circle of Fifths. Different songs will have different alterations to this structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Rhythm Changes can be fast and therefore more challenging, but knowing it will help you a long way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"9-the-girl-from-ipanema-antonio-carlos-jobim-1964\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>#9. &#8220;The Girl from Ipanema\u201d &#8211; Ant\u00f4nio Carlos Jobim (1964)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Girl From Ipanema - Jazz Piano by Yohan Kim\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vZHSQhFEvvo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Groovy performance of &#8220;The Girl From Ipanema&#8221; by Yohan Kim.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe Girl from Ipanema\u201d is perhaps the most famous bossa nova song of all time, written by the \u201cfather of bossa nova\u201d himself: Ant\u00f4nio Carlos Jobim.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On its surface, it may seem like a simple and relaxed tune, but the harmony is rather odd. This harmony has been <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/OFWCbGzxofU?si=3vOUZ5vPfNAdNJUZ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">re-interpreted throughout history<\/a> and if you want to play the &#8220;proper&#8221; version of &#8220;Garota de Ipanema,&#8221; learn it in D-flat major.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The syncopated bossa nova rhythm can be tricky. You can try <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/complicated-rhythms\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">breaking up the rhythm<\/a> and counting out loud. Or listen to a recording a few times to internalize how it sounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"10-summertime-by-george-gershwin-1934\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>#10. &#8220;Summertime\u201d by George Gershwin (1934)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Summertime -  Jazz Piano\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/H-ZlhDOHt6I?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A slick performance of &#8220;Summertime&#8221; by Antonio Guglucci.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSummertime\u201d was one of my first forays into jazz because a) I <em>loved<\/em> the Janis Joplin classic version as a kid; b) it\u2019s in A minor, so yay no sharps and flats; and c) the languid nature of the song (think lazy summer afternoons) makes it rather forgiving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, this song has classical roots. It\u2019s an aria from Gershwin\u2019s opera <em>Porgy and Bess<\/em>, which fuses jazz elements with classical tradition. What makes this song sound \u201cjazzy\u201d and \u201cbluesy\u201d is its melody, much of which is derived from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/pentatonic-scale-piano\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">pentatonic scale<\/a>. That\u2019s C-D-E-G-A in C major or A-C-D-E-G in A minor. The pentatonic scale is one of the first scales you\u2019ll learn as an improviser, which should make this song feel familiar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"box-snippet\">\n<div class=\"shadow\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div><i class=\"fas icon fa-piano\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-container\">\n<b>Author\u2019s Note: Jazz as a Second Language<\/b>\n<p>If you\u2019re a classically trained pianist like me, learning jazz can be a strange and exciting experience.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s strange because in many ways, you feel like a beginner again. Learning jazz when you\u2019re an experienced musician in another style feels like learning a related, yet completely different language\u2014like Spanish and French.<\/p>\n<p>But jazz is also immensely freeing. Once you understand the basics of the language, jazz lets you express yourself in ways other styles of piano don\u2019t!<\/p>\n<p>Learning jazz as a second language can be challenging, even frustrating at times. (No one wants to feel like a beginner again in something they\u2019re supposedly experienced in.) But I encourage other jazz learners to embrace discomfort, experiment, and not be afraid to sound bad. Jazz is worth it!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-x-large-font-size\" id=\"beginner-jazz-tips\" style=\"color:#f61a30\"><strong>BEGINNER JAZZ TIPS<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large full-width\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/27081138\/jazz-jesus-molina-1024x684.jpg\" alt=\"Man in red jacket and dyed blond hair playing red keyboard in swanky modern apartment.\" class=\"wp-image-15505\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/27081138\/jazz-jesus-molina-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/27081138\/jazz-jesus-molina-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/27081138\/jazz-jesus-molina-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/27081138\/jazz-jesus-molina-1536x1026.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/27081138\/jazz-jesus-molina-2048x1368.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Need inspiration? Check out Jes\u00fas Molina&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/how-to-improvise-on-piano\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">improvisation tips<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Jazz can be intimidating, but if you go into it with the right mindset, playing jazz is an incredibly rewarding experience.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\" id=\"learn-the-basic-skeleton-of-a-song-first\"><strong>Learn the basic skeleton of a song first.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you start riffing, filling, and improvising, learn the song in its most basic form: melody in the right hand, chords in the left. Doing this lets you get familiar with the song\u2019s narrative, harmonic structure, and general \u201csound.\u201d Patiently building this foundation will help with fancier stuff later. In other words, spend some time getting to know the standard. Talk to it; ask it questions!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\" id=\"pay-attention-to-rhythm\"><strong>Pay attention to rhythm.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;With good tempo, literally everything sounds good!&#8221; &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/jesus-molina-podcast\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jes\u00f9s Molina<\/a>. This blew my mind because as a beginner, you tend to worry more about which notes to play. But rhythm, articulation, dynamics, and expression are just as important. In fact, adding a dynamic rhythm to the same set of notes can vastly improve its sophistication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\" id=\"think-of-jazz-as-a-language\"><strong>Think of jazz as a language.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>This is something you\u2019ll hear from pro jazz players: jazz is a language. To master it, practice vocabulary, grammar, and common phrases. You do this by studying theory, learning licks, and transcribing. Then, once you\u2019re fluent in the language, create your own sentences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, treat learning jazz like learning a new language. Listen to it a lot, converse with other people (jam!), and immerse yourself in it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\" id=\"dont-be-afraid-to-sound-bad\"><strong>Don\u2019t be afraid to sound bad.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>When I first started playing jazz, I was very careful about playing &#8220;correct&#8221; notes. The result was a stiff, overly planned performance that wasn\u2019t jazzy at all.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At some point, I decided to stop worrying and play whatever I felt. Surprisingly, I sounded better\u2014and a lot more jazzy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you understand the basic skeleton of a jazz progression, explore and experiment. Sounding bad at first is normal. In my humble opinion, it\u2019s even necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\" id=\"have-fun\"><strong>Have fun.<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, you&#8217;ll know you&#8217;re doing jazz right if you&#8217;re having fun. Remember: jazz is about expression, creativity, jamming, and having a blast. So if you&#8217;re enjoying yourself, you&#8217;re winning!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\"><center><h2 style=\"font-size:22px\"><b>\ud83c\udfb9 Learn Piano With Real Teachers<\/b><\/h2><p>The best way to learn piano is with real teachers, but not everyone has the time and money for a private instructor. At Pianote, you can get real feedback from real experts\u2026all from the comfort of your own home. Explore our Method and community yourself with a free 7-day trial.<\/p><p><\/p><a class=\"join\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/trial\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TRY PIANOTE FOR 7 DAYS<\/a><\/center><p><\/p><\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Get started with jazz by playing one of these easy and popular standards.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":15817,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[524,509],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15483","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-styles","category-technique"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15483","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15483"}],"version-history":[{"count":24,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15483\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15916,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15483\/revisions\/15916"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15817"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15483"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15483"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15483"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}