Jazz Idiom Practice List
These examples, concepts, and exercises are based on materials from pianist and educator Dr. Joe Gilman from Sacramento, California. More information at his website: JoeGilman.com
Idioms are just common phrases, or licks, that get thrown into a good solo. Like "dude" in California or "y'all" in the South, these are not complete phrases on their own, but parts of bigger phrases. Just like with language, the best way to add these fluidly to your playing is to over-use them and try them in all kinds of scenarios until you slowly eliminate the awkward uses and gradually sound more and more like a native speaker. Here is a list of idioms to master:
First, here's the overview lesson:
Select a lick below to start practicing individual idioms:
- Lift
- Drop
- Flip
- Dip
- Pivot
- Honeysuckle
- The Lick
- Cream In My Coffee
- Manhattan
- Falling
- My Kind
- Don't Get Around
- New Orleans
- Gone
- Cry
- Jersey
- Harlem
- Sunny
- Jersey Bounce