The 3 Jazz Standards Every Musician Must Know — and Why

The first three jazz standards most guitarists learn — All the Things You Are, Fly Me to the Moon, and Autumn Leaves — all run on the same engine. The chord progressions move in the circle of fifths (an extended ii–V–I), and the melody lands on the 3rd of every chord. See that one idea and one tune becomes three. You've probably already watched ten "jazz standards you need to know" lists. This isn't one more list that sends you somewhere else — every one of these tunes already has a full breakdown on this channel, so if you start here, there's a pile of material waiting for you. New to jazz guitar? Start from zero with a free 2-hour course and a 28-page PDF (Building Blocks): https://www.voicelidjazzguitar.com/bu... ▶️ TWO WAYS TO TAKE THESE THREE FURTHER Wes' Insight — the masters' versions, note for note. Fly Me to the Moon and All the Things You Are are live (plus an unreleased Wes Montgomery recording of Autumn Leaves in the bundle): https://www.voicelidjazzguitar.com/ja... June's Song Book — all three arranged into your own version: chord melody, solo, every line traced, Autumn Leaves included: https://www.voicelidjazzguitar.com/ju... 📺 WATCH NEXT — watch me build one of them end to end: "I Made the Jazz Guitar Book I Wish Wes Had Given Me" →    • I Made the Jazz Guitar Book I Wish Wes Had...   ▶️ PLAYLIST — Why Your Jazz Guitar Doesn't Sound Like Music:    • Why Your Jazz Guitar Doesn’t Sound Like Music   ⏱️ CHAPTERS 0:00 First Jazz Standards to Learn for Guitar 2:35 Three Jazz Standards Share One Chord Progression 3:23 Fly Me to the Moon: Circle of Fifths Bass Motion 4:01 Diatonic Circle of Fifths as an Extended ii–V–I 5:43 Autumn Leaves: Same Circle of Fifths Motion 6:40 All The Things You Are: Circle of Fifths Bass Motion 7:43 Melody Lands on the 3rd of Every Chord (Guide Tones) 8:10 Fly Me to the Moon: Melody Targets the 3rd 9:26 All The Things You Are: Melody Rests on the 3rd 11:27 Wes' Insight and June's Song Book: Three Standards Arranged #JazzGuitar #JazzStandards #CircleOfFifths #VoiceLeading