jazz patterns

The blues chord changes appear in more jazz songs than any other harmonic structure. The importance of learning how to play over these changes cannot be over emphasized.

I am providing a workout on jazz blues in all 12 keys. Be sure to try Evan Tate’s 250 Jazz Patterns and Steve Neff’s blues lessons over these backing tracks in all 12 keys.

I am including a player for all of the backing music. The backing tracks are all in Concert key. For example, if you play the tenor saxophone and select a backing track in the key of C – you will use a pdf chart in the key of D.

Have fun working through all 12 keys!

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Jazz Blues Variation 1 in the Key of C follows:
[podcast]https://paulmaine.com/wp-content/uploads/jazzbluesvariation1-c.mp3[/podcast]

Rock Shuffle Blues in the Key of Db follows:
[podcast]https://paulmaine.com/wp-content/uploads/jazzbluesvariation1-dflat.mp3[/podcast]

Jazz Blues Variation 1 in the Key of D follows:
[podcast]https://paulmaine.com/wp-content/uploads/jazzbluesvariation1-d.mp3[/podcast]

Jazz Blues Variation 1 in the Key of Eb follows:
[podcast]https://paulmaine.com/wp-content/uploads/jazzbluesvariation1-eflat.mp3[/podcast]

Jazz Blues Variation 1 in the Key of E follows:
[podcast]https://paulmaine.com/wp-content/uploads/jazzbluesvariation1-e.mp3[/podcast]

Jazz Blues Variation 1 in the Key of F follows:
[podcast]https://paulmaine.com/wp-content/uploads/jazzbluesvariation1-f.mp3[/podcast]

Jazz Blues Variation 1 in the Key of Fsharp follows:
[podcast]https://paulmaine.com/wp-content/uploadsjazzbluesvariation1-fsharp.mp3[/podcast]

Jazz Blues Variation 1 in the Key of G follows:
[podcast]https://paulmaine.com/wp-content/uploads/jazzbluesvariation1-g.mp3[/podcast]

Jazz Blues Variation 1 in the Key of Ab follows:
[podcast]https://paulmaine.com/wp-content/uploads/jazzbluesvariation1-aflat.mp3[/podcast]

Jazz Blues Variation 1 in the Key of A follows:
[podcast]https://paulmaine.com/wp-content/uploads/jazzbluesvariation1-a.mp3[/podcast]

Jazz Blues Variation 1 in the Key of Bb follows:
[podcast]https://paulmaine.com/wp-content/uploads/jazzbluesvariation1-bflat.mp3[/podcast]

Jazz Blues Variation 1 in the Key of B follows:
[podcast]https://paulmaine.com/wp-content/uploads/jazzbluesvariation1-b.mp3[/podcast]

“The Ultimate II-V-I Primer” is another excellent publication from Steve Neff. This book targets the beginning improvisor but the material is beneficial to any aspiring jazz improvisor.

The book begins with an introduction and a few test progressions. If you can’t play through all of the test progressions, you need to take time to work through all exercises and internalize them.

The exercises are well conceived. The exercises begin with ultra simple exercises and then add rhythmic variety. One of the goals is to be able to play through the progressions and not lose your place. As the book progresses you are asked to improvise over changes limiting your note selection. For example only use the 1, 3 and 5 of each chord. As the book progresses the parameters are expanded thus providing you with more tools to choose from.

The book is targeted to beginners but many intermediate improvisors could also benefit by learning their chords inside out in all 12 keys. Benefits are also gained on how to connect the notes from one chord to another in a smooth flowing manner.

I highly recommend this book. It can be purchased from Neff Music.

This website has backing tracks that work well with the exercises in the book

Long Sequence Major II-V-I Backing Tracks in All 12 Keys

You can also use the techniques you learn in this book and apply them to the following:

Jazz Standard Workout in All 12 Keys – Backing Tracks

You can also use the techniques in this book to improvise over much faster jazz backing tracks such as the following:

Bebop – Anthropaulogy ( Anthropology contrafact ) in All 12 Keys – Backing Tracks

Have fun improvising!

jazz patterns

Backing Tracks for Jazz Blues Variation 1 in all 12 keys with Charts

Review of “The Ultimate II-V-I Primer” by Steve Neff