The way I learned to so-call master the horn was first to practice the chromatic scale and memorize it, and memorize the pitch of each note and which keys to press to play it. Once I could hear every note, it was a matter of hearing what I wanted to play, and in time, my fingers could go where I heard each note in my head, no matter what key was played. I actually practiced chromatics first before individual scales. However, i didn't do much scale practice. Lee Konitz also told me to know the tunes, know the songs. He taught me these ideas, and I found that by not concentrating on scales so much, other than the chromatic scale, it freed me up to play the songs without being mechanical and doing what too many players do, which is to play scales and all their inversions in a solo, which makes it actually sound monotonous and not melodic, and playing melodically to me is what really brings out the soul of the saxophone.
I fully agree, I can now play any song that I can get into my head. Difficult solo.s can take me a longer to master but if I play around with it, I can usually figure them out quickly,
Hi thanx for your expert tuition I’m loving learning sax with you,I have a problem in reaching the keys with my little pinky so low b and b flat are impossible,can you advise many thanx Dave
In regards to my recent comment could you please tell me if there is a make of alto sax with a close coupled plate for my left hand little pinky to enable me to reach the lower notes regards dave
That's one way to get really good, I suppose. I think a method that might be less monotonous and get you more "mileage," so to speak, more quickly, would be to focus on a genre you particularly enjoy, say, Blues, or Blues-inflected Jazz, and work on building vocabulary and fluency with devices in that genre (phrases, turnarounds, endings, etc.) in a handful of the most commonly jammed in keys. That way, you can jam and participate at a reasonably respectable level in any number of songs, rather than just being really good and polished with one, then two, which, to use a metaphor, seems to me like speaking ONE sentence flawlessly, in a language.....then spending lots of time learning just ONE more. Anyway, that's just one man's opinion, and I hope it's considered in the spirit in which it's offered. All roads can lead to Rome - some are just quicker & more scenic than others! Peace / Out.. :-)
Actually, I'm not saying to spend lots of time on one song and ignore other stuff :) I'm saying set a clear goal for one song. In the programs I mention, I go into all the details which that takes. Including focusing on turn-arounds phrasing, endings, even putting meaning into solos etc. What is the powerful part is to put it all into practice and see your ability practically increase in this one song, in such a way that after a month you won't believe how good you are playing this one song. And automatically you will find all your other stuff is improving, because you start using the same techniques in all your other playing and songs. A better metaphor is: Your'e not going to improve rocket technology much if your just playing around with rockets a bit in your spare time. But if you set a goal to get to Mars.... Than you are going to improve every aspect of your skill with focus and determination :).
The way I learned to so-call master the horn was first to practice the chromatic scale and memorize it, and memorize the pitch of each note and which keys to press to play it. Once I could hear every note, it was a matter of hearing what I wanted to play, and in time, my fingers could go where I heard each note in my head, no matter what key was played. I actually practiced chromatics first before individual scales. However, i didn't do much scale practice. Lee Konitz also told me to know the tunes, know the songs. He taught me these ideas, and I found that by not concentrating on scales so much, other than the chromatic scale, it freed me up to play the songs without being mechanical and doing what too many players do, which is to play scales and all their inversions in a solo, which makes it actually sound monotonous and not melodic, and playing melodically to me is what really brings out the soul of the saxophone.
I fully agree, I can now play any song that I can get into my head. Difficult solo.s can take me a longer to master but if I play around with it, I can usually figure them out quickly,
I have a video on that also actially :) ua-cam.com/video/LOQanroCa2o/v-deo.html
This video changed my life. I learned more from this video than any lesson I ever learned on the sax.
Hi thanx for your expert tuition I’m loving learning sax with you,I have a problem in reaching the keys with my little pinky so low b and b flat are impossible,can you advise many thanx Dave
In regards to my recent comment could you please tell me if there is a make of alto sax with a close coupled plate for my left hand little pinky to enable me to reach the lower notes regards dave
Great video, thanks !
That's one way to get really good, I suppose. I think a method that might be less monotonous and get you more "mileage," so to speak, more quickly, would be to focus on a genre you particularly enjoy, say, Blues, or Blues-inflected Jazz, and work on building vocabulary and fluency with devices in that genre (phrases, turnarounds, endings, etc.) in a handful of the most commonly jammed in keys. That way, you can jam and participate at a reasonably respectable level in any number of songs, rather than just being really good and polished with one, then two, which, to use a metaphor, seems to me like speaking ONE sentence flawlessly, in a language.....then spending lots of time learning just ONE more. Anyway, that's just one man's opinion, and I hope it's considered in the spirit in which it's offered. All roads can lead to Rome - some are just quicker & more scenic than others! Peace / Out.. :-)
Actually, I'm not saying to spend lots of time on one song and ignore other stuff :) I'm saying set a clear goal for one song. In the programs I mention, I go into all the details which that takes. Including focusing on turn-arounds phrasing, endings, even putting meaning into solos etc. What is the powerful part is to put it all into practice and see your ability practically increase in this one song, in such a way that after a month you won't believe how good you are playing this one song. And automatically you will find all your other stuff is improving, because you start using the same techniques in all your other playing and songs. A better metaphor is: Your'e not going to improve rocket technology much if your just playing around with rockets a bit in your spare time. But if you set a goal to get to Mars.... Than you are going to improve every aspect of your skill with focus and determination :).
Really good advice……thx for sharing
Can you post the titles of your saxophone books? Are they beginners’ level books? If not can you recommend a good beginner book? Thanks
Very interesting method!
Thank you for your teaching ~
How do you avoid the switching sound when you switch notes?
What do you mean by switching sound?
@@danielcohen9637 when you press a note and it makes a **click**
that stays u just gotta play louder
Could you share some of the songs that are considered ‘Standards’? Kind regards!
Autumn leaves, st. Thomas, all of me, blue bossa girl from imPanema, desfinado, green dolphin street...
nice-I watched all and i put a like on this too
I like how you played "save your love for me"
thank you :)
This is great advice
For how long are you playing the saxophone?
Bravissimo
Sir can I buy jinbao saxophone?
I m zero in this. I m 58 . Music teacher keyboard player. India Gujarat
Great video!
Hello, watching from India.🌺🌺🌺🌺🎄🎄🇮🇳
Show me inscrever parabéns
"PUT SOME CHARLIE PARKER SOLO ON IT" HAHAH MAAN Parker is Jazz not classical xD but.. thanks for the video.. very helpful :)
Dank je !!
Yeess
Haw mach secsofhon
You better learn a shitload of songs if you want to become a master.
start with one :) )(this other will come all by themselves once you get into the groove ;)