Jazz Standards 101 – Bluesette
$39
Online course + printable PDF eBook (188 pages) | Tabs, notation, audio & backing tracks | Instant access | Works on all devices, including desktops, laptops, tablets, mobile phones, Apple, Linux, and Android
Written in 1962, Bluesette quickly became Toots Thielemans’ signature tune and is now one of the most popular jazz waltzes. Because it was written on guitar, the song feels natural to play and is a great piece to study as a jazz guitarist.
In this course, you’ll practice the melody, scales, arpeggios, and chord shapes of Bluesette.
You’ll pick up practical skills, tools, and vocabulary you can use on other jazz standards as well.
Toots Thielemans once said that Bluesette was born by accident. While messing around on his guitar, he started whistling along with his chords, and a new sound was created.
What will you learn in this course?
- Harmony - Find out how Bluesette is put together by exploring the music theory behind it. This includes ideas like substitution, secondary dominants, pivot chords, and deceptive resolution.
- Single-Note Melody - You’ll learn the melody of Bluesette just as Toots Thielemans played it, including the famous intro and shout chorus.
- Chord Melody - You learn a slower version of the melody harmonized with chords and sixths.
- The Melody in 4/4 - Learn how Bluesette can be played in 4/4 time with a Latin groove.
- Chord Studies - You’ll build your chord skills and vocabulary with three chord etudes. You start with shell chords, move to drop chords, and finish with a more advanced rootless chord study.
- Arpeggio Studies - You’ll start with one-octave arpeggios, then move on to arpeggio substitutions and triads, building patterns you can rely on when improvising.
- Scale Studies - Learn which scales fit Bluesette, practice simple patterns to create melodic lines, and explore altered sounds to add tension and variety to your solos.
- Voice Leading Study - Practice connecting the important notes smoothly through the chord changes, making your solos sound more musical and connected.
- Solo Studies - You’ll begin with a simple solo to put the ideas you learned into practice, then move on to more advanced lines with substitutions to grow your vocabulary.
- Toots' Solo - You’ll learn the original guitar solo, a great example of how the tune can be phrased and developed.
What you get with Jazz Standards 101 - Bluesette
- Step-by-step system to master Bluesette and improvise with confidence
- Online course (lifetime access) with Q&A, bookmarks, video & audio player
- Printable PDF (188 pages)
- Watch video demonstrations online or download them, and adjust the tempo to suit your practice.
- Listen to 50 audio examples, available to stream or download, with adjustable tempo.
- Practice with 8 backing tracks you can stream or download, and change the tempo as needed.
- Follow along with standard notation and guitar tabs, complete with helpful notes.
- Access Guitar Pro 8 files for every example in the course.
$39
10 reviews for Jazz Standards 101 – Bluesette
David Rousselle (verified owner) –
This is the perfect piece to learn a variety of concepts simultaneously, from 3/4 rhythms to harmonic progressions. The lesson is thoughtfully designed to help you absorb the necessary knowledge and apply it under your fingers.
Thomas Howalt (verified owner) –
Rich and varied – there are hours of content for selfstudy and work. Some of it is beginner’s level, some intermediate and also some that challenges seriously. Total value for the money. Strong recommendation!
doug dexter (verified owner) –
As a mostly self-taught guitarist, most of what I learn these days is from online courses and transcribing solos from recordings but this course has really helped me understand this tune on a much deeper level through harmonizing the melody using 6ths, shell chords, drop chords, triads, scale choices as well as studying the authors solos. Highly recommended.
Bert van Raalte (verified owner) –
A thorough course with clear steps and all the positive aspects mentioned before. Takes time to process all the assets, as a prove of value.
Vera Calenbuhr (verified owner) –
Very nice course of a classic jazz tune from a classic artist. What I like about the course is that it looks and analyzes the tune from so many perspectives, which helps to acquire a deeper understanding. Technically it‘s sometimes demanding for me, but it really helps to get better.
Frank Wybouw (verified owner) –
Frank Wybouw
This course sums up all the theory on chords ,arpegios ,scales …that I learned in the last 3 years at the academy.
Great way to learn the practical relevance of it all.The recommended listening tracks alone make this course worth investing in. Great audio and backing tracks. Easy to use.
Patrick De Pelsemaeker (verified owner) –
“In addition to fully detailed scores with Play-Along tracks and video tutorials, you’ll gain insight into the structure and chord use (drop 2, drop 3, quartal chords, tritone substitution, etc.). Through this jazz classic, you’ll pick up a great deal of extra knowledge. In this way, the Bluesette Premium Course serves as a springboard to a higher level of jazz knowledge.
David Kalitowski (verified owner) –
Bluesette is one of my favorite tunes. As soon as I saw the course I bought it. Like his other courses and individual songs, Dirk breaks down the parts of the song in easily digestible pieces. And I need that.
Noah Landes (verified owner) –
It’s a very thorough , well thought out course. I am only 70% through it and I have already learned much about chord melody, arpeggio substitutions and triad substitutions. Bluesette was a song I had lots of difficulty getting my head around because of the continuous harmonic movement but this course is helping me simplify things and giving me lots of new ideas. I will continue to work through this course and try applying these concepts to other tunes.
Lorenzo Vitale (verified owner) –
Great stuff, I love Bluesette! The modulations are a challenge, but doable. I’m learning a lot!