Beginner Improvisation Lesson for Saxophone (or any instrument)
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- #bettersax #saxophone #improvisation
Jay Metcalf gives a lesson on beginning improvisation on the saxophone.
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Well, you described my exact situation in that beginning
Cooper, there are so many who have had a similar experience.
Bro same
It's been 37 years since I played saxophone in high school. This is helping me bunches in familiarizing myself with the instrument. Great stuff. Thanks!
Glad it helps.
Same here it been 37 years since high school and i bought sheet music and i hate having to look. ..and then oops lol
..your awesome and thanks.
I will follow (80s song)
Add me to the club. Started in I think 3rd grade. Took private lessons from an old timer saxophone player. Was in three school bands at the same time in junior high and high school. I remember that I was playing / reading some very difficult sheet music. I stopped playing in 1978-9. Picked it up again in the early 90's, playing along with cd's. Life happened and playing my horn wasn't in my schedule. Picked it up for the first time since then last week.... Well, my fingers remember what to do, but my embouchure is completely toast 😂.
Thanks a lot!!! I'm mexican and some times is very hard for me understand english lessons and you are very cleary!!! "Me agradas" and love your videos!! =D
Thanks Yanira, That's great to hear. You can get subtitles in spanish by clicking the gear icon in the lower right corner of the videos.
Im mexican too, yo soy mexicano tambien espero te haya servido este video igual como a mi, saludos!
Jay, you take the boring out of learning and make it fun. Thank you
Jay you have just demystified improvising and ended several years of fear and waiting for the right moment to start. Thanks heaps mate!
I played the saxophone all throughout middle and high school, though I only stuck with sheet music, and never really tried to improv until senior year, but with no direction I was just a mess. It’s been a while since I’ve played, but I picked it back up recently, and this video helped me out a ton, thank you!
Exactly what have been looking for for the past 3 years
Everything you say I will do it. Cuz you're the only best teacher on youtube omg
You're the best Jay, I have come a long way in such short time and because you have made that possible with your informative videos! Love ya man!
He’s probably the number 1 sax teacher out here. Great respect for you man! Such a great job this gentleman is doing for the sax community
I have been subscribed to your channel for a few years and just listened to this video. I have read sheet music for years Trumpet at school and last 20 years playing Alto Sax, Im just stuck if I dont have music, and cant think of anything to play as I just freeze. Its so frustrating and you feel a failure. I can get a decent sound and play in a church band using written arrangementsbut want more freedom.
You give me hope, your videos are so informative and encouraging as all we players want to do is enjoy playing. Many thanks Jay
I play the steelpan but this has been veey helpful. I often over think things now that i am trying to improv and it can get quite incoherent as you said. The advice on limitation is exactly what i needed to hear. Thank you!
That’s a great way to introduce improvisation. Thank you. When I have a student I like to have them write songs within a scale or even within notes we choose (restrictions as you mentioned). I do this because I always had a difficult time memorizing melodies so through my weak spot I have been focused on composing new original melodies.
Thanks for your generous teaching Spirit! 🙏🚀🙏
I've been playing sax for almost 14 years, and teach as well, so this came up in my suggestions. I really like listening to different musician's explanations of different techniques and ideas, so I clicked. I currently attend Berklee after having attended many music and performing arts schools throughout my life... And I have to say... This was by FAR the BEST condensed crash course on improvisation I have ever seen, best explanation I have ever heard, and of course, could be applied to any instrument! Liked and subscribed, well done! Going to check out your other stuff and send this to my coworkers and students!!! Awesome!! 👏👏👏
I have an improv solo in a month and im absolutly terrified of it and this is going to help me so much. thank you
Great video. You hit the nail on the head for me. I've been a "chart guy" for most of my days and scared to death of free playing and improvisation. Your video helped break it down into simple elements that encourage me to start working on the techniques you've presented and to keep it simple in the beginning to build my improvisation chops and build confidence.
advice?.Play at any jam nite they will have you. You'll PROBABLY be the only sax guy there, so welcomed with open arms.
Sax guys generally don't even show up for free.
If you freak, just remember you'll give them what they paid for (probably nothing, lol) So win-win for them either way. Good for you to get over that part and JUST. GO. PLAY.
want a laugh? Listen to everyone else at a jam nite :) So, you screw up. B. F. D.
This is soooo good!!!
Thank you so much! I’ve been banging my head wondering how to get more fluid with my instrument, and finally have found a way.
Really means a lot! Bless you 😊
Thanks Jay. Great video!
I'm learning jazz on the chromatic harmonica. I've watched a few of your videos and am learning good principles from each one. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.
I took your advice, and I just want to thank you. Thanks to your video, my parents are always impressed when I improvise for them, I couldn't have done it without you. Limiting myself to notes really helped me use what I have, and make something out of it.
Wow, the lesson is so useful! Thank you, Jay! It is totally different from what I was told to do from the very first day of learning saxophone till just now! Why I have never ever tried to improvise and only play according the sheet music? A new world to me!
Well thought-out video! More people should try improv. It really helps you to love your instrument even more, and forces you to find the limits of your abilities.
People should work on their techniques, but no player should be chained to sheet music. Improv is where composition starts, and I'm all for new music.
you are amazing and inspiring thank you so much for your message
Thank you! I am 66 yrs old. I always thought the sax sounded so good and it felt so good to listen to. I rented a tenor just 15 days ago, and some how I found your channel. I can't even describe how magnificently this instrument feels - it is a monster!!!! I just played a mini concert for my son on Christmas....5 small tunes...I played trumpet in grade school, so I could read. This was an excellent video, as your others are for me, as I am just trying to learn C scale and to learn the blues scale in C. Thank you so much, your instructions are streight from the Guy upstairs for me! They sre really good for me because I don't have an extra year or two to waist, and you speak from the heart!!
THANKS!!!!
What a great concept, that in order to take a risk, start by defining the limitations you intend to stick to. This video is exactly what I've been looking for. Thank you
wow! This is a great concept--perfect way to look at how to "contain" what you play--been plying for years, but set it aside for decades as life took over. Ready to play again--picked up my old Martin tenor, and this concept alone is a huge help! THANK YOU. Update: let me add that your emphasis on rhythm is critical! Even a single note played rhythmically can speak to the listener.
This is the best advise you could have given to a new musician or someone who has never attempted to improvise. Great idea to limit your options and keep it very simple. Getting started and enjoying it is the most important thing.
Thanks for the new leason. been trying to get back into playing my Sax for my own and for My Little one.
Thank you so much for this video! I am doing solos in class but I get so nervous because it’s my first time and everyone else is so good and I’m only used to playing sheet music. This video helped me a lot
Loved this - helping me get excited playing again after a bit of a funk. The idea of limitations is a game-changer :)
Wow! I learnt to play the piano with sheet music. I've never been able to play without sheet music. Thank you for this. I'm going to do it.
Hey, really awesome! If you are a visual artist you need to know where the edges of the canvas are. Even ( or especially ) if you are planning on being outside of the canvas. Limitation is an unfortunate word but the best we have.
Thank you!! This actually helped me a lot!! I’ve been playing tenor for like 2 months now over the summer and my director said we will be learning to improvise next year and I’m trying to get a head start. And I’m surprised I’m actually getting it :)
thank you my teacher told me about you and you are very good
This is soooooo inspiring! Inclusive and de-poshing the imporovisation! Lovvveeeee Jay!
You are a life changer. I have always been one who has stuck to sheet music and never go out and develop my improv skill. Ever since I have followed your vid I have become way better. Thanks so much😄
Brought my sax into a class because I had a big break in my schedule today. My teacher asked is I could play a few rifts for him so I was just like I'm gonna improvise random stuff... oh wait I don't know how to improvise. UA-cam here I come. Thank you this was helpful.
Absolutely fantastic! I applied this with my Sax and I was amazed at how it sound with just 4 notes, then took my guitar and did the same thing and after a few minutes it sounded great. Thank you so much for opening a new perspective on improvising, I always wondered how musicians improvised, now I know how to start!!
Jay, you are a super teacher…!!
Thanks for encouraging man. Now I know what to do. I need to know my scale first.
Thank you so much for this video I struggle a lot with improvisation but this makes it so much better and easier for me
Glad it helped!
Desde China les envio un saludo a ese grende equipo de Better Sax
Thanks jay,just started improv.Great advice
Lol,...I'm 62 this was my nephew's horn, now imlearning to play....... thank you !
Awesome advice - can't wait to start, thank you Jay
This is great information. Thanks for sharing! I never would have thought of it as starting with a few notes and building from there. As you mentioned earlier, I have ALWAYS played what I read and never ventured from there. I'm definitely going to try this!
You'll be glad you did I think.
I'm joining my church's youth worship band and they tend to improvise a lot! That'll help. Thanks!
All that you say have a lot of sense. You are a great coach
Thanks
Thank you so much!! Your videos are seriously helpful as a new jazz (hopefully!) player, this has helped me so much in prep for my audition and I’m feeling a lot less nervous after this to be quite honest. So well explained, you have a new subscriber haha!
This was exactly what I needed to hear today, thank you!
One week into playing my alto sax. I’ve played all the major scales on all 12 keys but not memorized it yet. I’ll be posting my weekly updates as I learn.
Sometimes I whistle my own Melodie’s while I’m listening to music and I hope one day I can improvise on my clarinet like that. It would be so much more fun to be able to do that.
I love this guy, awesome teacher and I learn from from him more than any other channel..Thank you so much..
You're the best man, I want you for my saxophone mentor
Thanks!
You raise a great point about getting arrested by sheet music and not being able to play improv. The inverse is also true. I play guitar, I never learned cords, and I'm not great at reading music, I can but I'm slow (percussionist for yeeeears) so all I can play is riffs, or songs I learned by tabs. I've managed to accidentally write a few things of my own by making mistakes that I liked the sound of. You've gotta find a good balance between the 2. Learning to be able to improvise gives you good confidence early on and is fun. Learning scales and cords and how to read music gives you building blocks. Here I am at 31 starting all over with the fundamentals, having to learn to read music all over again and learning a sax as though it was my first day of band in 6th grade. At least I have a partner to learn with, my son, who is starting band in 6th grade. He chose the sax too.
I have approached improvisation as if I'm eating an elephant and I'm overwhelmed because I try to swallow it whole. This is a great lesson because now I can take little bites and bigger ones when I feel comfortable. Thanks, Jay!!
Glad it was helpful!
@@bettersax Is that drum backing track still available?
Big, big help ! Thank you
I liked your advice! Even a novice like me could grasp the concepts. You just got another subscriber.
God bless you, God bless your family, and God bless the saxophone.
Man god bless you for your time I got my baritone saxophone today and those tips are vital
Love jay he is good I been somewhat a bit busy jay but I will be on it next week I love it your very good 😌
Thanks for another great video, you just blew my mind !!!
indeed
very inspiring
for a beginner like me
thanks
This is my first comment and thumbs up ever given...definitely this has made my sax playing much more enjoyable. Thanks a lot
Thank you very much!!! It helped me a lot!!!
Jay I love you, I have no idea what I would do without you.
You are an amazing teacher.
thank I will try it... just start learning for a year. I know basic techniques but when it comes to improvisation I feel stuck... to many things to chaos. I should try your advices
Thank,s😊
Another quality lesson, thank you Jay. Looking forward to the next instalment.
+Steve Cave More on the way!
Great Recommendations!
Better Sax
This was incredibly helpful.
I’m having to improvise on a bari saxophone on February 25 playing a little gig with my jazz band at my local library I’m also in 7th grade in middle school
Thanks dude this is extremely helpful
Great teacher!
Great job, again. Thx Jay
I grew up playing the flute and band and was one of those people that you described in the beginning where I was constrained by only being able to read sheet music. I've only recently picked up the saxophone and have been playing for about 3 months and I am determined to not let that restrict me anymore.
+Christina Eldridge Great. You should take the PSBE course that is free. bettersax.com/psbe
Thank you for this lesson very helpful ☺
This was great
3:26 - can you please make a video on how to create the sort of sound you can make at this timepoint with different notes? Is it a specific jump? Like A to E?
You answered a question I had for many years. "How do I start improvising?" Thank you very much! I have another question. How can I start playing by ear if I'm use to playing by reading and playing with sheet music?
Excellent as always -Perhaps you could run a ‘live loop’ Session where you provided a drum beat plus the parameters for people to join in on - but keep changing them say every 15-20 mins…😊
Why not have a performance of Terry Riley’s ‘in C’ which spans say 2 hours or more and players pop in and out over the ‘Performance’ and they get to play their 52(?) fragments….
Have started to play and practice seriously for the last three weeks and have been playing about three to four hours a day, using your core and pentatonic lessons and ... developed severe pain in both thumbs but more so on the right thumb. Could you comment on best hand position and best way to hold the Sax to minimize thumb pain problems? In advance, thank you! I d like to get back to your lessons ASAP!
this is actually really helpful!! thanks. when i read a standard i try to go through all the freaking scales and the result is i'm not saying nothing. with 3 notes you can be more melodic than with so much crap on the sheet lol thank you!!!!
Very useful lesson. Keep up the good job! Congrats from Brazil.
+Daniel Spolaor Thanks!
Good Stuff!
Loved it!
This was very motivating for a beginner sax player - thanks!
great video, studying dance and transitioning to music, this is a very important skill, that is the same in dance and singing. since before sheet music their had to be improvisation until it became codified into a standard. When we improvise we find our flavor and that is what made those great musicians that push the standard to a higher level. Praise God for all things
Great lesson! It will help me a lot, as I am one of those who only play if we can read the music. Thank you!
Hey! I got an actual tone out of it today! I got a C# and then a B.
The dog didn't lose her mind, so I guess I'm getting better. Strangling fewer geese today.
YAS-23, got a great deal on it. Yamaha says it's probably late 80's but they're not great record keepers. I know they made them 1980-2000/2001 i think. It's probably a 7.5 or 8/10, particularly for its age and being a student horn.
You are changing my teaching! Thank you!
I been improving sense i started high school. And I thought I been doing it wrong until this video.
I am so glad this came up in my reccomend. So helpful, thank you!!
Bravo Jay, keep motivating us! Best from the Gulf ;)
+Thierry Martin Thanks!
EXCELENTE VIDEO ! GRACIAS
You are a good teacher ever! Thank you for sharing this. :)
i love your lesson, its really helped me
Oluwo I’m glad this helped.
Thanks! Just the advice I needed! :)
I seeing it again and you are an amassing great teach, thanks love👍