Ain't Misbehavin': Interm./Easy Guitar TAB

This collection gives intermediate guitarists a genuine taste of authentic jazz-age writing without requiring complex fingerings or advanced harmonic knowledge. The arrangements balance simplicity with stylistic accuracy, so players hear real swing phrasing and period-appropriate voicings from day one rather than watered-down approximations. For teachers looking to introduce students to jazz standards and swing rhythm, these 12 songs are immediately playable and deeply rewarding.

Stepping into a speakeasy during the height of the jazz age. These melodies have elegance and charm, with chords that shimmer and swing rhythms that make you want to move. The simple strum patterns keep the music light and accessible, but the harmonic language underneath carries genuine sophistication.

Intermediate guitarists ready to explore jazz standards and singers who want acoustic guitar accompaniment for early jazz repertoire. This book works equally well for solo practice and for accompanying vocalists in rehearsal or performance.

• Emphasize the swing feel by laying back slightly behind the beat on eighth notes; the printed rhythm may look straight, but the spirit of these pieces demands a relaxed, lilting pulse.
• Study the suggested intros, endings, and turnarounds included in the arrangements; learning these transitions will give you the authentic early-jazz vocabulary and make ensemble playing feel seamless.
• Keep the strum pattern conversational rather than mechanical. Let the lyrical phrasing of the melody guide your rhythmic choices, especially on ballads like 'As Time Goes By' and 'Dream a Little Dream of Me.'
• Practice the jazz chords at the beginning of your session to build familiarity with the slightly different voicings; these aren't rock or pop chords, and intonation matters more when harmonies are this close.

Pair these arrangements with vocal soloists in a jazz-themed concert or use them as repertoire for a guitar recital focused on American standards. The collection also works beautifully as a bridge between classical guitar and jazz studies, introducing jazz vocabulary and phrasing concepts through songs that students already know or quickly absorb.

• Reading and executing swing rhythm notation (straight eighths played with swing feel)
• Jazz chord voicings and their harmonic function within 12-bar and 32-bar song forms
• Accompanying singers with appropriate rhythmic and harmonic sensitivity
• Jazz phrasing and articulation appropriate to the 1920s-1930s jazz-age style
• Learning and executing classic jazz intros, endings, and turnarounds