NOTE: At the end of this article, there is also a super-fun Youtube short that summarizes the first part of the lesson below. Scales are the “raw material” of melody, whether improvised or composed. It’s not likely that you’ll study jazz improvisation to any serious degree without spending a lot of time learning, exploring and [read more…]
Whether you’re a big time professional sax monster, or a part time hobbyist on the horn, chances are that you often find yourself hard-pressed to find as much practice time as you would like to. Real life duties such as work, kids, errands, chores, mayonnaise spills (don’t ask), and even unchallenging gigs can keep us from [read more…]
SPOILER ALERT: There really aren't that many melodic and harmonic "tricks" you need to know to play great solos. After going through just a few of these etudes and their brief analysis, you'll be well on your way to having a rock-solid "improvisational arsenal".
INFINITEMUSICIAN.COM
20% Off Limited Time Sale!
Let’s begin with a simple thought experiment: There are two tenor players sitting in at a straight-ahead jam session. Player 1 has a great sound, solid command of the harmony, superb chops, a fulsome and controlled altissimo, creative ideas, but a tendency to rush the time. Player 2 has an average sound, a limited grasp [read more…]
Introduction The fundamentals are an essential component part of required musical practice on the saxophone/woodwinds. The fundamentals provide a secure foundation across all areas of importance for a rich, stable sound and a well-developed technique. One of the important fundamental areas I would like to briefly discuss and share with you today is, the overtones [read more…]
Many saxophone players (and horn players in general) have a complicated relationship with harmony. This can be for a whole spectrum of reasons ranging from a) the feeling that you struggle to stay on top of it, and essentially leave it up to whoever’s playing the chords to take care of it while you try [read more…]
If you’ve ever wanted that gritty, bluesy snarl that cuts through a band mix, you’re in the right place. “Growling” is simply adding a vocal sound while you play so the reed’s vibration interferes with your voice—creating that raspy texture. Do it right and you get color, power, and attitude on command. There are two [read more…]
This begins as a simple exercise in practicing 2-octave major scales in all 12 keys, ascending and descending, at increasing speeds. General Idea Start from low Bb, and play each scale in 2 octaves up and down, repeating the bottom note before moving up a half step to the next scale. Instead of speeding up [read more…]
Introduction Proper reed selection is very important because the reed affects almost every aspect of saxophone performance especially tone, intonation, response, range, embouchure formation and endurance. There are many brands of reeds being produced from cane grown in various regions of the world. Since there are so many reed brands to choose from, it is [read more…]
Secondary dominants play a crucial role in harmony theory, especially in jazz improvisation. They add richness and excitement to diatonic progressions, while expanding the possibilities of cadential harmony. To explore this important concept effectively in the context of jazz improvisation, I have designed a series of chord progressions. Each progression incorporates all secondary dominants, offering [read more…]
House music is one of the most exciting and sax-friendly genres of electronic music. Unlike other styles such as techno or trance, house music is characterized by its infectious 4/4 beat, soulful vibes and deep grooves. The chord structures are usually simple and repetitive, almost always in minor keys, there is a lot of open [read more…]
Tips and Techniques from the pros PLUS free access to the Sax Lessons with the Stars archive - 10 years worth of interviews and exercises featuring the likes of David Liebman, Bob Mintzer, Ben Wendel, Bob Reynolds, and many more!
