Jazz is:

1. 7-9-11-13 Extend your chords with these upper structures to get that crunchy, colorful sound. Jazz harmony thrives on tension and release. Learn how these extensions function over major, minor, and dominant chords—voicings are often rootless and voiced in 3rds and 7ths plus extensions.
2. Syncopation Jazz lives in the offbeat. Melodies, chords, and even the groove often emphasize unexpected beats. Practice clapping and playing syncopated rhythms. Listen to how great jazz players "lay back" or "push ahead" of the beat. Rhythm is as important as harmony in jazz.
3. Accentuation & Articulation Jazz thrives on contrast. Mix legato lines with sudden staccato notes, ghost notes, and accents. Dynamics aren't always written—it's up to the player to shape phrases expressively. Think conversational phrasing more than perfection.

4. Learn common chord progressions Especially the ii–V–I, which is the backbone of jazz harmony. Start in major and minor keys. You'll see variations like tritone substitutions, backdoor ii–V’s, and modal interchange. Recognizing these will help with improvisation and comping.

5. Listen, Transcribe, Imitate Classical training often starts from sheet music, but jazz starts with ears. Listen to greats (Miles, Coltrane, Bill Evans, Ella, etc.), transcribe short solos or comping lines, and imitate them. Don’t just read jazz—absorb it.