The Musician’s Playlist: Standards You’ll Hear at Every Show

In the world of music, certain songs become part of the universal language spoken by professional musicians. These songs are called “standards,” and they are beloved for their timeless appeal, simplicity in structure, and ability to showcase a musician's technical skill and creativity. Standards are vital to live performances, jam sessions, and gigs across a variety of genres because they provide a familiar foundation for musicians to play together, improvise, and interpret in their own unique ways.

This article explores the most common musical forms that define standards, how jazz standards function among musicians, and the role of more recent popular songs in the instrumental repertoire.

1. Musical Forms of Standard Songs

Music is made up of structures that help guide both musicians and listeners through a song. Many standard songs follow particular forms, making it easier for musicians to perform and improvise with others. Understanding these forms can help musicians communicate seamlessly in live settings and create exciting variations on familiar tunes.

The 12-Bar Blues

The 12-bar blues is one of the most iconic musical forms in popular music, especially in jazz, blues, and rock. It consists of a repeating 12-measure harmonic structure, often based on three dominant chords (I, IV, and V). The simplicity of the form allows musicians to focus on expression, improvisation, and storytelling within the melody or lyrics.

The 12-bar blues has been a staple of live performances and jam sessions for decades. Musicians love its adaptability, and the format can be heard in countless songs across different genres.

• Examples of Common 12-Bar Blues Standards:

  • "Sweet Home Chicago" – Robert Johnson

  • "Hoochie Coochie Man" – Muddy Waters

  • "Rock Around the Clock" – Bill Haley & His Comets

  • "Now’s The Time" – Charlie Parker

The 32-Bar AABA, Song Form

Another widely used form is the 32-bar AABA structure, especially common in jazz and older pop standards. The form consists of two similar A sections, followed by a contrasting B section (known as the bridge), and then a return to the A section. This form is a hallmark of classic vocal standards and instrumental tunes, offering musicians a structured yet flexible framework for improvisation.

• Examples of 32-Bar AABA Standards:

  • "I Got Rhythm" – George Gershwin

  • "Blue Moon" – Rodgers & Hart

  • "Over the Rainbow" – Harold Arlen

  • “Georgia On My Mind” - Hoagy Charmichael

Modern Pop Song Form, “Verse-Chorus” Form

In modern pop music, the verse-chorus form dominates. This structure features verses that tell the song’s story or develop its themes, followed by a recurring, catchy chorus. The chorus often includes the song’s central message or hook, making it easy for listeners to sing along. It leaves room for creative arrangements, especially in pop and rock performances. This form is longer, filling up a full modern song length.

Modern Song Form = Intro, Verse, Chorus, Verse, Chorus, Bridge, Chorus

The verse is often split into 2 parts sometimes called the “Verse” and the “Pre-Chorus” or simple “A Section” & “B Section”. There is also sometimes an instrumental “hook” that plays at the end of the chorus.

• Examples of Popular Songs Using Verse-Chorus Form:

  • "Shape of You" – Ed Sheeran

  • "Rolling in the Deep" – Adele

  • "Don’t Stop Believin’" – Journey

  • “Firework” - Katy Perry

Each of these forms plays a crucial role in different genres, helping shape the structure of songs that have become standards for live performance.

2. Jazz Standards: The Language of Musicians

In jazz, standards are more than just songs—they serve as a common language among musicians. These pieces allow musicians from different backgrounds and styles to come together and play without extensive rehearsal. They can meet at a jam session, pick a tune they all know, and immediately start creating music together, improvising over the familiar harmonic framework.

Jazz standards are foundational to a musician's education and repertoire. They help players master harmonic theory, rhythm, and improvisation. Jazz musicians often memorize these songs, understanding their chord progressions, melodies, and common improvisational patterns. Over time, standards evolve as musicians reinterpret them, adding their own personal touch.

The Most Common Jazz Standards

Some jazz standards are so ingrained in the culture that nearly every jazz musician knows them. These songs appear in what are called "Real Books" or "fake books"—compilations of lead sheets that give the melody and chord changes for popular jazz standards.

• Popular Tunes in Jazz Repertoires:

  • "Autumn Leaves" – Joseph Kosma

  • "All The Things You Are" – Jerome Kern

  • "Take The A Train" – Billy Strayhorn

  • "So What" – Miles Davis

• Ballads and Slower Standards:

  • "Misty" – Erroll Garner

  • "My Funny Valentine" – Rodgers & Hart

  • “Fly Me to the Moon”

These songs form the backbone of many jazz performances, where the goal isn’t just to play the melody but to improvise and reinterpret the piece in a way that is fresh and unique to each performance.

Importance of Standards in Music Education

Learning jazz standards is a key part of becoming a professional musician. Through these songs, musicians develop a deep understanding of harmony and melody. Playing standards teaches important lessons in rhythm, phrasing, and how to interact with other musicians during live performance. They are a vital part of music education, helping players develop their ear, learn to improvise, and gain the technical skills needed for professional musicianship.

3. Modern Popular Songs as Standards

As music continues to evolve, so does the idea of what constitutes a “standard.” While many standards come from jazz, blues, and traditional pop, more recent popular songs—especially from the past 50 years—have also entered the standard repertoire, particularly for instrumentalists performing in live settings. These songs often feature simpler harmonic structures than older standards, but they still offer room for creative expression.

Classic Rock and Pop Standards

Classic rock and pop songs have become essential parts of the repertoire for cover bands, instrumentalists, and singers alike. These songs resonate with audiences and often feature strong, recognizable melodies and guitar-driven arrangements. Musicians love to perform these songs, whether faithfully or through their own creative arrangements.

• Popular Rock and Pop Standards Often Covered:

  • "Hotel California" – The Eagles

  • "Yesterday" – The Beatles

  • "Sweet Child O' Mine" – Guns N' Roses

  • "Superstition" – Stevie Wonder

Funk, Soul, and R&B Standards

In addition to rock and pop, funk, soul, and R&B songs have become standards in their own right. These songs are often played by instrumental bands, as their infectious grooves and rhythmic complexity make them ideal for live performance and improvisation.

• Funk, Soul, and R&B Songs Commonly Performed:

  • "Ain’t No Sunshine" – Bill Withers

  • "September" – Earth, Wind, & Fire

  • "What’s Going On" – Marvin Gaye

  • "Sir Duke" – Stevie Wonder

These songs are often reinterpreted by jazz musicians or incorporated into live sets by bands looking to energize their audience with familiar, danceable tunes.

Recent Standards from the Last 20 Years

Some songs from the past two decades have also entered the repertoire of musicians, especially in live settings. Although these songs might not yet have the same status as jazz standards, they are regularly performed by cover bands, instrumentalists, and even in jam sessions.

• Contemporary Songs Gaining Popularity as Standards:

  • "Sunday Morning" – Maroon 5

  • "Make You Feel My Love" – Adele (written by Bob Dylan)

  • "Uptown Funk" – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars

  • “Don’t Know Why” - Norah Jones

These songs often become standards due to their catchy melodies and rhythmic hooks, providing musicians with ample room to showcase their skills while keeping the audience engaged. Familiarity is key when it comes to entertaining an audience.

4. The Role of Standards in Performance and Improvisation

One of the primary reasons standards hold such an important place in musicians' repertoires is their role in improvisation. Jazz musicians, in particular, use standards as a launching pad for creative expression, turning simple chord progressions into complex solos. But this is not limited to jazz. In rock, blues, and pop, musicians often stretch the boundaries of a standard by adding their own solos, unique arrangements, or spontaneous changes.

The familiarity of standards allows musicians to take risks in live performances, knowing they have a solid foundation. Whether it's through a jazz ballad or a funk classic, standards provide the musical structure that allows creativity to flourish.

The Standards Are Yours to Explore!

Standard songs have a vital place in the repertoire of professional musicians. From the blues-based structures that underpin so much of modern music, to the jazz standards that function as a shared language for improvisation, to the more recent popular songs that are often performed in live settings—these songs transcend genre and era. They allow musicians to connect with each other, their audiences, and the rich tradition of music that continues to evolve. As new songs become part of the standard repertoire, the world of music remains a dynamic and exciting place for both performers and listeners.