Improvisation 101: 30's/40's Swing
Prerequisites
It’s important to note that having a regular classical practice routine will be incredibly helpful before taking on this style of music. Many of the concepts we’ll cover—especially phrasing and technique—are rooted in classical training, just like the swing musicians of the 1930s and '40s.
If you don’t have that background, or if you come from a more modern jazz approach, I highly recommend checking out the following method books:
Jimmy Dorsey Saxophone Method: A School of Rhythmic Saxophone Playing
The Modern Trombonist by Tommy Dorsey
Benny Goodman’s Clarinet Method
The Harry James Trumpet Method
These books, written by jazz legends, skip the fluff and focus on the core skills you’ll need. They’re a great bridge between classical foundation and swing-era improvisation.
Sound of Swing
Before we jump into exercises, it’s important that we all understand the sound we’re aiming for. Listening closely and developing a clear stylistic model is the first step toward improvising in this tradition.
Below are six recordings: 3 swing-era excerpts and 3 modern jazz excerpts
As you listen, ask yourself:
What makes the older style sound different?
Exercise 1
Let’s begin by playing arpeggios through some chord changes—this will help you get comfortable outlining harmony while maintaining that smooth, legato sound we just heard.
Instructions:
Play arpeggios over the provided chord progressions.
Focus on a legato feel—your notes should connect smoothly and musically.
Try to come up with as many variations as possible:
Change your starting note
Use different inversions
Vary the direction (ascending, descending, mixed)
Once comfortable, transpose the exercise to all 12 keys.
After listening, one of the key differences to notice is how the swing-era recordings prioritize a legato sound as their core sound. While there are occasional accented or percussive notes, these are typically used to emphasize syncopation or the swing feel in the solo. In contrast, modern jazz tends to have a more consistently percussive quality throughout the line
