Beginning Jazz Curriculum

Here is generally the path of tunes to learn when you are starting out. This curriculum is a work in progress.

First Tunes #

• Major Blues
• Minor Blues
• Autumn Leaves
• Rhythm changes
• All the Things You Are
• Take the A Train
• Satin Doll
• All of Me
• Solar
• Tune Up
• Ladybird
• So What

Waltzes #

• Alice in Wonderland
• What is this Thing Called Love
• Waltz for Debbie

Some Ballads #

Learn one really well. Here are some suggestions.

• Misty
• Moonriver
• The Nearness of You
• When I Fall in Love

Bossa #

Don't start with Girl from Ipanema. There are easier tunes to start with.

• Blue Bossa
• Black Orpheus
• So Danco Samba
• Samba de Orfeu
• Mambo Inn
• Oye Como Va
• Montuno Sessions (Charlie Palmieri)

Gospel #

• Amazing Grace
• Mercy Mercy Mercy

Township #

• Maraba Blue (Abdullah Ibrahim)

Funk #

Tight rhythm is everything. Straight 16th subdivisions.

• Chameleon
• Watermelon Man

Fusion #

• Song for Bilbao
• A song of song

New Orleans #

• Dr John - Down in New Orleans (from Disney's Frog Princess)
• Dr John - Such a Night
• Professor Longhair - Big Chief
• James Booker - Sunny Side of the Street

First Transcriptions #

• Red Garland - C Jam Blues
• Oscar Peterson - C Jam Blues
• Red Garland - Bye Bye Blackbird
• Tommy Flanagan - Mr PC
• Wynton Kelly - No Blues
• Chet Baker - Autumn Leaves
• Chet Baker - Blues in the Closet
• Sonny Rollins - Sonnymoon For Two