Learn Jazz Improvisation on “All of Me”: Beginner Chorus 1 Etude
- Darren Lloyd
- Jan 31
- 3 min read
Learn Jazz Improvisation on “All of Me”: 3-Chorus Progressive Etude Breakdown!
Why this is Perfect for Beginners
Learning jazz improvisation starts with understanding the chord changes. Chorus 1 of this progressive etude focuses on:
Targeting chord tones
Playing simple rhythmic motifs
Connecting small jazz language cells
This breakdown will help you develop a solid foundation for improvisation while keeping practice manageable and fun.
Each 8-bar chunk comes with:
Sheet music image
Hidden YouTube video of the chorus in Bb
Practice tip
Learn Jazz Improvisation on “All of Me”: Beginner Chorus 1 Etude
Let’s dive in!
Chorus 1
Bars 1–8
Bars 1 & 2 - Chord notes, syncopation
Bars 3 & 4 - Target 5th and then approach the 3rd in bar 4
Bars 5 & 6 - Chord notes, bar 6 9b more chord notes
Bars 7 & 8 - Simple language starting on 3rd
Bars 9–16
Bars 9 & 10 - Chord notes, syncopation
Bars 11 & 12 - Target 5th and then approach the 3rd in bar 4
Bars 13 & 14 - Chord notes, bar 6 9b more chord notes
Bars 15 & 16 - Simple language starting on 3rd
Bars 17–24
Bars 17 & 18 - Chord notes, syncopation
Bars 19 & 20 - Target 3rd and then the root and 5th
Bars 21 & 22 - Sweet Georgia brown lick
Bars 23 & 24 - Chord notes (with 9th) diminished phrase (blog post on that coming soon)
Bars 25–32
Bars 25 & 26 - Enclose the root, approach the 5th (bar 26), chord notes
Bars 27 & 28 - Chord notes
Bars 29 & 30 - Chord notes, target chord notes, Bar 30 diminished phrase
Bars 31 & 32 -
Want the Full Etude Book?
This chorus breakdown is just a taste of what you’ll find in the full etude book. Each etude in the book focuses on:
Chord tone targeting
Rhythmic cells
Progressive solo development
🎯 Get the full book here:
This is exactly how I teach the 260 members in my monthly membership to improvise over jazz standards. Want to join us and improve your solos fast? https://buymeacoffee.com/darrenlloydtrumpet/membership
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Practice Tip to Finish: Focus on learning the changes first, then connect chord tones with rhythm and jazz language motifs. That’s the fastest path to confident, musical improvisation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Why should I focus on chord tones first?
Chord tones are the building blocks of your solo. By landing on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th of each chord, your improvisation will sound connected and harmonically correct, even if you’re just starting.
Q2: What are jazz language cells?
Jazz language cells are short melodic or rhythmic patterns you can reuse over chord changes. They help beginners create musical lines quickly without needing to invent everything from scratch.
Q3: How should I practice each 8-bar chunk?
Start slowly, playing along with the hidden video.
Identify the target chord tones in the bar.
Add one simple rhythmic or melodic motif to connect the notes.
Repeat until it feels smooth before moving to the next chunk.
Q4: Do I need to play this in Bb only?
No! The video is in Bb, but the concepts of chord tones and rhythm cells work on any instrument. You can transpose to your key as needed.
Q5: How long should I spend on Chorus 1?
Focus on mastering the 8-bar chunks individually. Beginners often take 5–10 minutes per chunk to internalize chord tones and rhythmic patterns. Consistent, short practice is better than long, unfocused sessions.
Q6: What’s the next step after Chorus 1?
Once you’re comfortable with Chorus 1, move on to Chorus 2 (Intermediate). You’ll start connecting chord tones with more rhythmic motifs and jazz language cells, gradually building your soloing skills.
Want to see all 3 choruses and more progressive etudes?🎯
Get the full etude book here: Volume 2 - https://www.jazzetudes.net/product-page/10-progressive-jazz-etudes-vol-2
Learn the same methods I use to teach the 260 members in my monthly jazz membership: https://buymeacoffee.com/darrenlloydtrumpet/membership
Free lessons to try (see if it's a good fit for you) -
Great job and good selection of tunes...thanks