Feature Images

Master All the Things You Are – Part I: The A Section

By Eric • Jazz Standards • PRO • Mulgrew Miller

All the Things You Are is one of the first tunes musicians learn when it comes to jazz improvisation. But unlike many players think, it’s not exactly an “easy tune” or something that only beginners should play…

The ability to create a musical solo on this tune requires a surprisingly deep understanding of harmony and some specific melodic tools, something that you won’t get from a few scales and a collection of memorized chords.

I can vividly remember working through the changes to All the Things You Are, trying to make sense of the chords and struggling to come up with melodic lines – all while hearing the masters sail through the changes.

And years later, even when I had more language and technique, I still struggled to improvise the way I wanted or to navigate the chords with ease like my favorite players. I’m sure you’ve experienced the same thing on this tune or many others like it…

That’s why we developed this 3 part series for PRO members, giving you the tools you need to unlock the secrets to this familiar Jerome Kern standard.

Big Image Inside a Post

Over the course of three lessons we’ll take you through each section of All the Things You Are in detail, starting today with the ‘A’ section.

Even though a lot of players say they “know this tune,” many are still missing the key harmonic relationships that are essential to sounding great on this standard. Today we’ll show you how to fix this problem, step-by-step.

It’s important that you start with the melody and chord progression in your ears and your mind. Below we’ll build on this foundation, focusing on specific musical concepts and tools that you can apply to your solos.

Along the way you’ll learn:

Screen Shot 2021 02 09 at 12.48.42 PM

Let’s get started…

What is the Form?

all the things you are form

Before we dive into specific chords or improvisation techniques, let’s start by taking a quick look at the form of this classic standard.

When you first glance at the chord progression to All the Things You Are it can seem somewhat random…

Screen Shot 2021 01 16 at 1.22.55 PM

Sure, there are Major, minor, and V7 chords and even some common chord progressions you might recognize, but the important question is how do you put it all together in a way that makes sense?

How do you move in a logical way from the first chord to the very last chord?

Hey, Sorry to Interrupt...

I know you were just getting into this lesson, but this one’s reserved for Jazzadvice PRO members.

Already a PRO member? Log in below to keep reading.

Ready to Take Your Playing Further?

If you want to go deeper into this approach and build a complete understanding of the music, this is exactly what we build on inside Jazzadvice PRO.

PRO gives you access to:

  • Our 5 core courses covering ear training, harmony, and improvisation
  • In-depth lessons breaking down tunes, solos, and real musical concepts
  • Clear paths to connect ideas across tunes and develop your playing
Explore Jazzadvice PRO

Join thousands of musicians using Jazzadvice to practice with clarity and direction.

Related Lessons:

Screen Shot 2023 02 28 at 10.13.48 AMThe Ultimate Guide to Bebop Tunes: 30 Essential Songs Minor harmony in jazzEverything You Don’t Know About Minor Harmony in Jazz Master The Jazz LanguageMaster The Jazz Language Minor Chords ExplainedThe Confusion Around Minor Chords FINALLY Explained

So here’s the deal…

We’re not some big company. We’re just two guys — Forrest & Eric — who’ve spent years pouring everything we know about jazz into this site.

Thousands of musicians have learned from Jazzadvice, but here’s the truth:
Jazzadvice has almost shut down more than once. Creating this kind of material takes time, energy, and everything we’ve got.

That’s why we built Jazzadvice PRO — to give aspiring improvisers the best jazz improvisation material on the planet, while keeping the site alive for years to come.

So if Jazzadvice has ever helped you break through a plateau, find new motivation, or rediscover why you love playing, consider joining PRO to give back, while taking your own playing to the next level.

Jazzadvice PRO
Get complete access to our lessons, courses, and future content.
$10
/ month
Billed Yearly
Unlock PRO Lessons
Unlock PRO Jazz Courses
Unlock All Future Content
Join Jazzadvice PRO

Join thousands of musicians learning jazz with Jazzadvice PRO

What makes Jazzadvice PRO
such a good deal?

Each of our full-length Jazzadvice Courses is available individually for $229, and for good reason — they’re complete programs built to transform how you hear, understand, and play jazz.

And with Jazzadvice PRO you get all five courses, every PRO lesson, and everything new we release for just $10/month.

That’s over $1,000 worth of material included with Jazzadvice PRO.

Included With Jazzadvice PRO

Jazz Theory Unlocked

Ear Training Method

Melodic Power

Jazz Visualization Course

Reprogramming the Musical Mind

Full Library of PRO Lessons

Access to all Future Content

Individual Price

$229

$229

$229

$229

$229

$108/year

Included

TOTAL VALUE: Over $1,000
YOUR PRICE: Just $10/month (billed yearly)

Thousands of musicians paid full price for these courses and lessons, and for good reason. The material works. It helps players make real, lasting progress.

Jazzadvice PRO gives you everything for one low price — lessons, courses, and every new release — so you can stop piecing things together and start focusing on what really matters: becoming the player you want to be.

All Member-Only Lessons

Every lesson like the one you were just reading is part of a larger collection — deep dives on the real skills that matter: improvisation, harmony, ear training, and the practice habits that separate great players from the rest.

  • Tons of focused, member-only lessons that go far beyond what we can share publicly
  • Downloadable workbooks and exercises to quickly turn deep concepts into real skills.
  • Fresh new lessons added regularly to keep your practice inspired

All 5 Fundamental Courses

Jazzadvice Fundamental Courses

When you’re ready to go deeper, Jazzadvice PRO gives you the full picture. Five complete courses that will take your skills to new heights:

The Ear Training Method - Hear harmony like a pro.

Melodic Power – shape lines with clarity, direction, and intent.

Jazz Theory Unlocked – Unravel the logic behind any tune.

Reprogramm the Musical Mind – upgrade your habits & mindset.

Visualization for Jazz – build mental fluency to play with freedom.

Everything New We Create

Jazzadvice keeps growing — and when you’re a Jazzadvice PRO member, you grow with it. That means every new lesson, every new course, and every new tool we build automatically becomes part of your membership.

No upgrades. No extra cost. Just an ever-expanding library designed to help you keep improving.

And here's the truth...

Every musician hits a point where progress stalls, where you feel stuck, repeating the same ideas and not sure how to move forward. That’s the moment most people drift away.

But you don’t have to. You found Jazzadvice for a reason — because you have a true desire to take your playing to the next level. And everything we’ve built inside PRO is designed to help you keep that momentum going, to keep you inspired and play with confidence.

So if these lessons have sparked something in you — even just a glimpse of what’s possible, don’t let it fade. Join Jazzadvice PRO, keep learning, and see how far you can really go.

Jazzadvice PRO
Get complete access to our lessons, courses, and future content.
$10
/ month
Billed Yearly
Unlock PRO Lessons
Unlock PRO Jazz Courses
Unlock All Future Content
Join Jazzadvice PRO

Join thousands of musicians learning jazz with Jazzadvice PRO

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What payment methods do you accept?
A: You can easily pay by credit card or PayPal.

Q: How do I access my content?
A: After checkout, simply log in to your Jazzadvice account. From your Dashboard you’ll instantly see everything included with Jazzadvice PRO or any individual Course you’ve purchased. Everything is online — no shipping, no waiting.

Q: Will my PRO Membership renew automatically?
A: Yes. Your membership will renew automatically. You can manage or cancel anytime directly from your account. One-time Course purchases do not renew. For full details, please see our PRO Membership Terms.

Q: What is Jazzadvice PRO?
A: Jazzadvice PRO is our complete membership. It includes all PRO Lessons, all PRO Courses, and all future content we release.

Q: What format is the material in?
A: All content is 100% online. Courses may include streamable video, written materials, and audio exercises. PRO Lessons often include downloadable PDFs or practice guides. Nothing is shipped.

Q: What if I’ve purchased a Course in the past?
A: You’ll always keep access to what you’ve purchased. Jazzadvice PRO simply goes further by giving you access to all PRO Courses, all PRO Lessons, and future member-only content in one membership.

Q: How do I cancel my membership?
A: You can manage or cancel your membership any time from your Account Settings on your Dashboard. When you cancel, your access continues until the end of your current annual membership term.

Q: Who is this for?
A: Jazzadvice PRO is for musicians who want to build a real foundation, study deeply, and apply what they learn. It’s not for total beginners, but if you know basic scales, chords, and progressions, you’ll benefit whether you’re an experienced beginner, intermediate, or advanced player.

Q: Will this work for my level?
A: Yes — as long as you’re not a complete beginner. If you’re just starting out but already know the basics, our Courses and Lessons will give you the structure and clarity to move forward faster. And if you’re intermediate or advanced, they will fill in the gaps, reframe what you already know, and help push your playing to a deeper level.

Q: Do I need to read music?
A: Lessons often use notation, scale numbers, and chord symbols, but you don’t need to be an advanced reader. A basic familiarity with major and minor scales, chords, and simple notation is enough to get started.

Q: I’m not a jazz musician. Will I still benefit?
A: Absolutely. The ability to hear, understand, and use the language of music isn’t limited to jazz. Whether you play classical, rock, folk, or any other style, the skills you’ll build in Jazzadvice PRO will make you a better musician.

Q: Which course should I start with?
A: You can begin with any of the 5 PRO Courses — they’re designed to complement each other. If you’re unsure, start with the area where you feel weakest, or follow our suggested sequence on the site for a clear roadmap.

Q: What is Premium Legacy?
A: Premium Legacy, briefly called PRO Basic, is our retired lesson-library membership for longtime members. It includes access to PRO Lessons, but does not include access to PRO Courses. Premium Legacy is no longer available for new members.

Q: If I already purchased a Course or have a Premium Legacy membership, do I get a discount or credit toward Jazzadvice PRO?
A: Previous Course purchases and legacy memberships remain in your account, but they do not automatically transfer as credit toward Jazzadvice PRO. If you have a specific question about your account, contact us and we’ll be happy to take a look.

Q: Is there a money-back guarantee or refund if I don’t like it?
A: No. We don’t offer refunds. Our lessons and courses are the result of years of work and require consistent effort. If you’re committed to improving and practicing, you’ll get enormous value from your purchase.

Q: Can I share my Membership, Course, or PRO Lessons?
A: No. Access is licensed to the one person who purchases it. Sharing or redistributing any content is not allowed and will result in revoked access without refund.

Q: I’m a teacher. Can I use PRO content or Course content in the classroom?
A: No. PRO memberships, Courses, and PRO Lessons (formerly Premium Lessons) are licensed for one user only. Please respect our copyrights and direct your students to purchase their own access.

Q: What instruments is Jazzadvice PRO for?
A: All instruments. Lessons and courses are designed to apply universally, because every musician needs these skills.

We're here to help...

If you have any questions we're more than happy to answer them.

Develop Your Jazz Improvisation
The PRO Way

Jazzadvice PRO gives you access to our jazz courses and most detailed lessons, including deep dives into tunes, harmony, and improvisation.

See What’s Inside PRO

Jazz Lessons

Getting Started

Browse Lessons

PRO Membership

Member Log In

Tools for Musicians

Courses

Jazz Theory

Melodic Power

Ear Training Method

Visualization

Reprogramming

Categories

Transcribing

Jazz Language

Music Theory

Jazz Standards

Ear training

Connect

Join Newsletter

Facebook

Twitter

About Us

Contact Us

©2026 Jazzadvice. All rights reserved

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use