10 Beginner Jazz Standards

One of the most common questions I get from beginner jazz guitarists is:

“Which jazz standards can I play without spending weeks and months struggling in the practice room?”

To answer this popular question, I’ve put together my list of 10 essential tunes for jazz guitar beginners. And…

I’ve written three points telling you why I think each tune is important to play. 

There are three reasons why these tunes made the list:

1. They’re popular at jazz jam sessions. 

2. They have essentials jazz devices, concepts, progressions, and chords. 

3. They can be played by beginner jazz guitarists. 

To help you learn these tunes, here’s a playlist to check out. 

10 Beginner Jazz Standards Playlist

Alright, here they are, my 10 essential beginner jazz standards. 

Major Blues

1. Easiest jazz form to play when you have a rock, blues, or country background.  

2. The most common tune called at jazz jam sessions. 

3. Introduces the ii-V progression, the most popular in jazz. 

Minor Blues

1. Will also be familiar to country, rock, and blues players. 

2. Can solo with minor blues scale and sound jazzy. 

3. Introduces the minor ii-V-I progression. 

Summertime

1. A tune that many non-jazzers know and have heard before. 

2. Introduces the concept of relative minor-major key centers. 

3. The melody, minus 1 note, is the minor pentatonic scale. 

Bye Bye Blackbird

1. Features both major and minor progressions. 

2. Introduces the dim7 chord and diminished scale. 

3. Can solo with F major scale and a few adjustments. 

Autumn Leaves

1. The most popular jazz jam session tune besides blues. 

2. Features major and minor ii-V-I progressions.

3. The melody is perfect for a chord melody. 

Blue Bossa

1. Introduces bossa nova comping rhythms.

2. Has a challenging key center, the ii-V-I in Db.

3. The syncopated melody builds rhythmic technique. 

Take the A Train

1. Introduces the II7#11 chord, an essential jazz sound. 

2. The melody can be used as the basis for your solos. 

3. Famous intro and outro that sit well on the fretboard. 

Milestones

1. Modal jazz progression in both Dorian and Aeolian. 

2. Mixes swing and Latin grooves. 

3. Beginner chord melody tune.  

Tune Up

1. Introduces the descending ii-V-I sequence. 

2. Builds ii-V-I comping and soloing vocabulary. 

3. Melody and chords inspire melodic development. 

Blue Seven

1. Introduces the 7#11 chord. 

2. The recording has a famous bassline that you can learn.

3. You solo with the Lydian dominant scale.