Jazz Standards & Improvising -
"Autumn Leaves"

It is suggested that the jazz student buy a copy of the "REAL BOOK" (also is available in Bass Clef) which has hundreds of jazz standards. On the pages of this website are tools & information about improvising over the chords of jazz tunes. The tools for making up your own melodies for solos are the notes of the chords (arpeggios) that harmonize the melody of the jazz tune as well as the scales (modes) implied by those chord tones and the melody. Some sample exercises with both arpeggios and scales are included here.

The .mus files can be downloaded and opened with FINALE, version 2007 or higher. The .pdf files can be downloaded and opened to print with Adobe Reader.

String Lessons Page

The index to the right lists links to some of the tools that can be used in improvisation over jazz changes (the chords that harmonize the tune). They are written in both treble and bass clef.

More Studies with Jazz Scales

Transcriptions of Jazz Bass Solos | .MUS

Back to Lessons Page

Dr. Montgomery's Resume Page

Nine Jazz Bass Etudes (pizz or arco)