What is jazz: If someone asks you to make it sound jazzy, what should you do?
Now then, today’s topic is “jazzy.”
Let’s say someone requests something with a “jazzy vibe,” even though they don’t really know much about jazz.
Or maybe they just want jazzy background music—that’s fine too.
So what should we do?
At this point, binge-listening to stuff on YouTube that sounds about right won’t magically give you the grasp you need, and you’ll miss the deadline.
Of course, listening to jazz is important.
Everyone has their own impression of jazz, but what exactly does the person in charge mean by “jazzy”?
Something standard like a four-beat swing?
If that’s the case, they’d probably just say, “Please make it jazz!”
Since they specifically said “jazzy,” I’d interpret it as jazz-tinged—something that includes tension chords, feels like an 8-beat, and doesn’t come across as rock or pop.
Here’s one quick and easy approach.
In this case, rhythm and chords are the key.
Jazzy rhythm
A 90s acid-jazz-style loop using breakbeats.
Let's pick something cool—not too slapstick and not overly intense.
jazzy chord
Since I'm not a jazz musician and don't have time to study from scratch, for now let's just repeat Dm9 to G7(13).
It’s what’s commonly called a “tension chord,” but let’s skip the tedious explanations and first just savor this harmony.
This combination seems to be the best fit for introducing tension.
I tried typing it in.
Rhythm and chords.
The rhythm is one of the loops that come pre-installed with Stylus RMX.
For the melody, if you “anticipate” it by inserting the note a half step below the note you want to write, it will sound distinctly jazzy.
In the first four measures, the melody has no pickup, and in the last four measures, it has a pickup.
The vibe will come through, right?
In conclusion
This time I wrote about Jazzy in a very brief way, but I think it’s also effective to start from small clues like this, gradually expand, and increase your range of ideas.