Learning jazz standards without a teacher

[mahmudfasihulazam]

I take it that jazz standards should ideally be learned by ear.

Accordingly, the ideal approach appears to me as follows: Figure out the melody, the bass and the chord progression and then arrange it all into a solo piano piece.

However, there are books out there- I haven't read any of those yet- that have the melody and the progression. Then there are method books and books with full arrangements. Is taking help from a book a good idea? If so, then I think full arrangements are the way to go because most of what I hear/see people playing is not just some chord sequence with a melody going on top- it is more like a jazz "piano piece" with everything in it! Technically challenging too!

Once a couple of arrangements have been learned (just like learning classical pieces) arranging other standards by oneself can get easier.

What should I do? Get a book? Ignore books and rely entirely on myself and the records? Or some proper combination of both?

My current decision is to rely entirely on myself- I can't totally commit to it yet. So, I need some advice.

If books are necessary, which type of book should I get? Methods? Arrangements? or Ones with just melodies and chord progressions? Some recommendations would be most helpful.

Any advice whatsoever, is most welcome. Thanks.

[stoat_king]

I have a few books full of sheet music for jazz standards.
I can only speak for myself here - but I find that, with very few exceptions, having the sheet music only provides clues / useful pointers.
Its not at all like classical music where everything you need to know is on the page.

With many of the jazz standards I like, the music as written in the books I have doesn't sound right at all and needs rearranging for me to be happy with it.
I can only think of two pieces where what I play has much resemblance to what's on the page.

So, don't reject getting the sheet music out of hand but be aware that with jazz, the sheet music is more of a guide / reference than something to be slavishly played verbatim.

I haven't regretted buying these books for a minute - even though they are not the magic bullet I hoped they would be. They're still very useful.

[dcstudio]

I am a working jazz pianist.

standards should be learned by ear I agree--but you most know the chord progression and the extensions as well.  The Real Book is a collection of leadsheets that include the notated melody and chord symbols above the staff...  I always have it with my wherever I play.  There are also books like Pocketchanges which only have the chord symbols.


A teacher would sure be able to point you in the right direction--however--to learn jazz you must listen to jazz...a lot.   There are volumes of analysis on every solo, chord progression, and standard you could think of.