The Jazz Theory Workbook: Book

This workbook cuts through the mystique around jazz harmony by focusing on what actually matters: the harmonic language that shaped modern jazz and continues to shape it today. Boling's decision to anchor everything in bebop and post-bop practice gives students a coherent historical and musical framework rather than scattering them across decades of jazz history. The combination of clear explanation, abundant musical examples, and graded written assignments means students can learn theory and immediately test their understanding on their instrument.

Working through this book feels like being admitted into a tradition. Rather than treating bebop harmony as a historical curiosity, Boling presents it as a living system that contemporary musicians still build on. The constant interplay between explanation and application creates momentum; you're not passively absorbing theory but actively building skills you can hear and play.

This book serves students who are serious about jazz improvisation, composition, or arrangement and need a solid theoretical foundation. It's designed for musicians working at the intermediate level and beyond who already read music and understand basic music theory. Teachers and bandleaders looking for a structured curriculum in jazz harmony will find this equally valuable.

• Work through the harmonic examples at the keyboard or on your primary instrument as you read. Theory becomes concrete when you hear it and play it.
• Complete the written assignments before moving forward. Skipping them defeats the purpose; these exercises are where the concepts stick.
• Reference standard tunes from the repertoire as you study chord progressions. Listen to how real musicians navigate the changes you're analyzing on the page.
• Return to earlier chapters periodically. Jazz harmony is cumulative; each new concept builds on foundational material you may need to revisit.

This works best as an independent study text alongside small group or private instruction in jazz, where a teacher can answer questions and guide students through the assignments. Jazz ensembles can also use selected chapters during sectional rehearsals to deepen musicians' understanding of the changes they're reading on lead sheets and charts.

• Analyzing seventh chords and extended chord voicings in jazz context
• Recognizing and applying chord substitutions (tritone substitution, secondary dominants, turnarounds)
• Understanding ii-V-I progressions and their variations
• Reading and interpreting jazz lead sheets with alterations and complex harmonies
• Building improvisation vocabulary grounded in harmonic understanding
• Composing and arranging using bebop and post-bop harmonic practices