LJS 64: 5 Tips for Never Losing Your Place In a Jazz Standard

Welcome to episode 64 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about 5 tips for never losing your place in a jazz standard. Getting lost while playing jazz standards is a frustration many listeners and readers have expressed to us and we are here to help. Listen in!
Listen to episode 64




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In this episode

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Familiarize yourself. Do your homework on the song and make sure you know it forwards and backwards. The more you familiarize the less likely you are to get lost.

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Practice keeping your place. Use a metronome and try different beat variations of clicks. Break down the song into smaller parts.

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Map out the song. Analyze it and identify points of importance.

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Feel the pulse. Graduate from counting to feeling. Feel fewer beats at fast tempos.

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Become familiar with jazz harmony. If you can recognize typical chord progressions in jazz standards it becomes much easier to keep your spot.


Listen to Episode 63: How to Become and Expert Sight Reader (feat. Brett Pontecorvo)
Extra resources:
How to Avoid Getting Lost in a Jazz Standard
Best Drum Trainer
LJS 31: Ear Training for Jazz Musicians
Mentioned in the show
30 Days to Better Jazz Playing eCourse
A 30-day audio eCourse that walks you through focused, goal-oriented practicing, where you will be working on things that actually improve your jazz playing.

Anything to add to today's show? Leave us a comment below.