How to learn to play a Jazz Solo in 7 easy steps.

When all is said and done there are only a few simple steps one needs to follow. Of course, this means simple to describe and a lifetime to master.

1. Learn to play your instrument. This seems obvious; however, it must be restated. You will always be limited by your skill at the instrument. On the bright side, those students with rudimentary skills will still be able to express themselves in a jazz manner, it just won’t sound like Oscar Peterson.
2. Learn and memorise simple jazz tunes ASAP. Then you can concentrate on playing a solo without worrying about whether you will make it to the end of the piece. Reading from a lead sheet and trying to solo at the same time is a complexity you want to avoid. The following titles are a good start. 
   1. Autumn Leaves
   2. C jam blues
   3. Blue Bossa
   4. Summertime
   5. Satin Doll etc.
3. Practice playing the tunes with the original recordings. This is the key to acquiring a good solid jazz feel. With good feel and rhythm playing a solo is soooo much easier. This is because with good rhythm even wrong notes will sound good or great. Start by just playing the melody with the recordings and work up from there.
4. Practice the broken chords of your pieces in the right hand because jazz solos are built on these patterns.
5. Learn some simple blues licks and transpose them to the keys of C, F, Bb, and Eb. These are keys you are going to be working in as a jazz musician.
6. Start transcribing, no matter how rudimentary your efforts might be. My 1st lick was repeated 8th notes in octaves for 4 measures in the Doobie Brother’s, China Grove.”. I was thrilled! I’ve played that lick for half a century. Check it out.  https://youtu.be/RX7iHsAIw9o?si=E4BzN9aau21kJ_MB
7. Practice jazz solo patterns over the chords in your pieces. Find a zillion patterns here:  jazz solo patterns - Search (bing.com)

Another perspective from Louis Armstrong. A Perspective that works every time. 

1. Memorize the melody. 
2. Mess with the melody. 
3. Mess with the mess. 

If I can help you, call me. 
​David