Jazz Improvisation Lesson - Play the sax by ear
Вставка
- Опубліковано 28 чер 2024
- Jazz Improvisation (part 2 of 5) Play the sax by ear!
Buy Dr. Wally a Coffee! www.buymeacoffee.com/dr.wally
00:00 Introduction
0:44 Call and Response
3:52 Part 1 - diatonic (1-5)
5:40 Part 2 - diatonic (full range)
7:37 Part 3 - flat 3 (the blues flavor)
9:12 Part 4 - the Whole enchilada
"Don't get stressed out and ruin a good hobby". Those are great words of encouragement and inspiration. Thanks Dr Wally!
Thanks, and happy Practicing!!
If only I could. Am trying to stay calm!
Parker’s favorite key. Nice meeting notable tone and mood. Though he’d blow us all off our feet with his speed.
You have so got the 'Paul Desmond' tone to a tee. I love it.
You. I like you.
Oh this is fun. Playing along with Dr.Wallace is a humbling experience.
Just have fun and no worries, George! I've been doing this a long time, and there are plenty of players who humble me :)
Thanks for that. I sound so much better as of late. Could it be my new ‘56’??
@@georgeluna5845 gotta be the 56!
I love how every note you play stands on it's own. These are great!
That may be the nicest thing anyone's said about my playing. Seriously, thanks Tony.
Thoroughly enjoy your approach. The difference between musicians that hear melodically vs memorized patterns is always so apparent. Creatively it's really the difference between composers and technicians. You, Sir, have a beautiful sense of melody... as did Prez, Bird... so many others. I also really like that you stress LISTENING vs memorizing. Never cared for cats that were always trying to force their licks into spaces rather than playing off of or inspiring the interplay around them... Very good stuff and refreshingly appreciated.
Thanks very much!
You Sir, is a blessings to all of us Beginner saxophonists.. Thank you very much..
Most welcome, Rinkashime!
I love the way you make simple phrases sound great. Love your sound too.
That made my day, thanks Robert! Hope you have a great week my friend!
Thanks Dr Wally, you are one of the best out there. I'm a very new sax player. I'm lucky enough to have friends who are 'musicians' and can play very well. So I have developed improvisation very easily / quickly. None of it is fit for human consumption mind you. We have fun. It's great for develpoing tone. I pick a scale I'm working on and just mess around with those notes. It is also good for 'playing by ear' Again, i can't stress enough. I'm very new, sound terrible 95% of the time. but thats learning for you. I say to anyone still reading my ramble. Don't expect to be Dr Wally instantly with improv.
Back in my teaching days I never had a clue how to teach jazz! This is brilliant.
That is incredibly kind, Roger. Thanks my friend!
Making those first few simple phrases sound as good as you is such a challenge! Really shines a spotlight on my articulation. This is instantly my favorite video!
Aw man, Nick, that made my day. Thanks my friend. Happy practicing!
In part 2 and 4 - feel free to take the tenor lines down an octave (when needed)
Love,
Dr. Wally
Dr.Wally, is there somewhere I can download these backing tracks?
@@kodiererg You can use the first four bars of "I got Rhythm" in iReal pro - just change the key!
400 likes, 0 dislikes. y'all can see how much quality in Dr Wallace's video
Thanks Lee, I'm grateful to my students :)
You‘re the best! What a great tool to do the first steps in improvising.
Thanks Chris, I really appreciate that my friend!
Thank you so much, you are so generous for providing free tuition, it is exciting.
Most welcome, Ber. Happy practicing!
I like to call this, "Copy Cat" with my younger students. Great ear training!
It's really great! I've made an abonnement from your videos.
After googling "abonnement" - that's very cool!
Lovely Paul Desmond sound.
That made my morning, thanks John!
With you, doc, "Anyone Can Play Jazz"!
In this 101 Jazz Improv. Tutorial, I can hear Nursery Rhyme Fragments as well as melodic and thematic variations, which, when played with the "correct" - rather standard - Jazz inflections, phrasing and tonal quality, become Organic Real Jazz Improvisation.
I have now begun to "think" (of) "Mary Had A Little Lamb"; played in a fragmentary, call-and-response fashion, I can hear myself "speaking" Organic Real Jazz in a melodic manner somewhat a la Paul Desmond and, more accurately, a la Dr. Wally Wallace. [(beggar's declaration (lgh)]
I adore it, Dr. Wallace.
Next, I shall be using fragments - with variations - of "Hot Cross Buns" as the thematic spring board for my ad lib.
When I speed up - in my head - "One A Penny, Two A Penny", I do feel and sound as though I am playing Organic Real Jazz.
Oh, how I love the repetition of the phrase "One A Penny, Two A Penny" when it is sped up!
Thanks, Doc.
This makes my heart happy! Happy practicing and keep them hot buns crossed my friend!
So GLAD to have found this online!!! Will help keep my sax chops sharp and improve my jazz improv skills!!
Great to have you Chelsa! Have a wonderful week and happy practicing!
Wally Wallace back at it again
Can't stop. Won't stop.
@@drwallysax Dont stop
That's very cool doc! Thank you! I still believe that "once is a mistake twice is jazz" ❤️🎷
Love that saying, Mik! Have a great rest of the weekend!
This lesson is for beginner jazz student. Important from the instructor saying:
Style and rhythm are more important than notes.
thanks for you video !!~~ this is what I want to practice!!
Excellent! Happy practicing, be sure to ask questions!
@@drwallysax thank u so much~! I love your video a lot!!
This is so much fun! I used to do this kind of improv with father (on trombone) and older brother (on guitar) when I was a kid. I have missed the jazz conversations that happened that way. You get extra points from me for sneaking in a lesson on enclosures and a couple Paul Desmond licks, to boot. Keep them coming! My practice session was so much more fun for it.
Awesome! Thanks Lee!
Your teaching is methodical and definitely a very great way that will guarantee a studious person to get results. Thanks, Doc. You are amazing. Yes, I've got to watch this and practice again and again for it to stick.🙏
Thanks so much Kadrian - I LOVE your videos. Great sound a what a fun energy!
@@drwallysax Thanks Doc, I'm working on it.😀
Enchilada's and Jazz, now we're talking, I mean playing. This is great fun! Thanks again for all these wonderful lessons!.
Mexican food and Bebop - I call it heaven. Happy practicing, Richard!
Great demos and info. Thank you for your videos! You’re awesome! 😊
Another great learning tool. Many thanks
Muchas gracias Maestro por la traduccion...Muchos de nosotros no hablamos Inglés, y usted es un muy buen profesor..mucho éxito
Love the phrasing in that opening line of the video
Excellent video yet once again from Dr. Wally! Thank you!
Thanks Tuna!! Happy practicing my friend! Hope you have a great week :)
Soo glad I stumbled onto you. You’ve got a really excellent and unique thing going here. I love the ultra clarity of your process. Perfectly matches the wonderful clarity of your Desmondesque playing. Wind at your back 🖖🏽
Thanks Jack, much appreciated. Happy practicing!
Great video Dr. Wally. Thank you
Most welcome, Sean. Happy practicing my friend!
Teacher Wallance oh thanks for this lesson.. very impactful
Brilliant - I love this summer of Jazz and Blues already! By the way, your playing is mesmerising and wonderful to play against.
Thanks my friend :)
Oh, play with me, not against me! kidding....happy practicing !
This was awesome
Ahhhhhh! Great series idea. I enjoy conversations the most out of anything I practice. This kind of stuff is what keeps me motivated. Thank you so much for making these for us. Your super fun to watch and play with.
Oh man, thanks Lonny. This makes me very very happy to hear!
Uuauu, your classes are fantastical!!!
Thank you!
Cool beans! I'm really liking this series.
Thanks Spenser - more cool beans to come my friend!
Very nice ear training exercise Dr. Thank you!
Most welcome!
Ho snap, too late to watch this evening ! but tomorrow, I'll be back !!
Get up early and make some noise, Bitterspike!
Very nice suit Dr.Wally.
Thank you Dr. I’m on it.
Excellent! Hit me up with questions and have fun!
I’m stressed since I have a improv solo very soon but don’t know how to, your videos are better than anything ever! Just right for me!
Aaaaay, I’m back my man! This was nuts, thank you so much!
Lil' Boo!!!! I missed you! Have you been off on adventures with GorfGarf?
@@drwallysax Alas, I have lost all contact with my adventuring partner. However, we shall never lose our connection through the power of the sax! Thank you for sharing all your talent with all these wonderful people, and I will continue to turn to you if I need knowledge :). Keep it up my man!
@@drwallysax Tis been a year good sir and Im still practicing using this video. Incredible stuff man, your altissimo videos are also incredible just still working on that :). Hope you're doing well!
awesome lesson, its now a bit late but tomorrow i will try this out :) (and maybe the next days!)
Have fun and let me know how it goes!
What a fabulous video lesson…great stuff and never mind ‘hot dogs’…I love burgers!
Awesome ! Thank you
GOOOOORRRFGAAAAAARRRF!!!! happy Monday
Excellent lesson..
Thanks Jon - happy practicing!
This is brilliant.
Thanks Seth! I think you're brilliant.
Bellissimo sound
Thanks frank!
You've helped me with so much. New subscriber right here!
Fantastic, welcome to the Academy!
hey doc,....
hopefully you remember my name. Sure love what you do for fellow players. I'm hearin' a little Desmond here! Theory is important, but it's also about what's in your head, and translating the thought to sound. When Bach wrote the Brandenburg's, I doubt he was thinking about a secondary dominant or a Picardy third resolution. It's all about what's in the mind that makes the music. One thing that helped me over the years is training my head to hear the intervals, eg, to hear a fourth, think of taps, for the sixth, NBC theme,...etc. By exercising the intervals using mental association helped my improv a lot over the decades. Discography is vital as well. sonny Rollins, Stitt, Mobley, Scott Hamilton, etc. It's like the businessman Tom Peter's said, be open to ideas, they come from everywhere. Best wishes for continued success and God Bless for helping all young enthusiasts,....From an old f**t.
Hey Gary! Great to see you! Absolutely right my friend, theory came AFTER the great music. It's a nerdy view of art in retrospect. Have a great week Gary!
@@drwallysax wOW! YOU MUST LIVE HERE! Just played a pool party here in AL. Was a a drag, but fun tunes anyway. Would like to send you a cd sometime, but need info., can I get from your site? Also would like to meet w/you when I visit my BRO N' LAW in Raleigh. Aren't you in S.C.?
I think I may have mentioned possible gig w/Jamey Aebersold in June. Sure am looking forward to that. Would love to chat sometime. blessings and keep on!!
Fun stuff. I feel this jazz now.
Thanks Victor! Happy practicing my friend!
Thanks! ... You Really have a great way of teaching/ stress free/...Looking forward to next week!/Month :-) Kiambu, Kenya
Happy practicing my friend!
Very nice! Thank you for this next step! Great ear training exercise!
Thanks Rob, hope you have a great week and happy practicing!
@@drwallysax I really enjoyed playing this call & response. For the more "complex" lines when playing the first & second time around I had to choose whether to focus on rhythm or pitch as it was difficult to do both at the same time.
Well done Wally!
Thanks Dave!
Thanks for the lesson, Dr. Wally! Someone had recently been listening to Ornithology (5:08) and Tenor Madness (6:00) I hear ;-)
Amazing!!!!
Thanks, Christine! Hope you're having a wonderful week! (now go practice :)
This is the good stuff! Now, time to ... find some time to practice!
Happy practicing, and have a great week!
It's really late here, but I'm a 100% going to practice this exercises tomorrow . Awesome material Dr. Wally! I'm following these religiously! (as in passionately and motivated. I'm not kneeling to pray in front of my sax)
Ha! Excellent! happy practicing, Javier!
Exellentissime bravo !!!!! Thank’s
Thanks my friend, happy practicing!!!
Very nice, Mr. Desmond Wally
You. I like you.
@@drwallysax thanks a lot. I like you and your sound
Thanks for the video! I will try that, it looks like fun 🙂
Have fun and hit me up with questions, Oliver!
@@drwallysax I just practiced it and it was a lot of fun!
Well, Call-and-Response may just be my new favourite thing. Even back in school when I was taking music lessons (clarinet/torture stick) I never did call and respond. Though I pretty slow on getting the matching down -making up a vague approximation to the response more than a few times as I've practised with this vid- I'm definitely having a lot of fun!
I've even taken the plunge this month and am learning the eltude (using the slowdown feature on the vid to great effect)! Here's hoping I'll be able to play most of it by the end of the month xD
Fantastic, this makes me so happy! keep at it!
Wow, that‘s fantastic and something I will really enjoy. would like to do it right now, however I am about to go for having a night rest now, but guess what I going to do tomorrow! 😉
Thx Kai
Have fun and let me know how it goes!!!
Great video Wally! Thank you so much!..... A lot to practice until next Sunday... the goal is to go for the whole enchilada!!! LOL
You got dis!!! Go for the WHOLE enchilada, Eduardo!
I've never done improv and have been very nervous about trying. This lesson was wonderful! Yes, I soon was playing a LOT of "could be better" lines--but I was playing them! Thank you, Dr. Wally!
YYYYeeessss!!!!!! So happy to hear that - BeBop ahead Elissa, you got dis!
Hi Elissa,
I've been playing Pro for over 50 yrs. The Doc. has a wonderful site and approach. I also taught beginning to post grad students from Northwestern U. and played w/pros from Toronto to Mexico and NY, to LA, and Brazil, United Artists, Warner Bros., etc. IF you have the drive and desire, YOU CAN DO IT, whether it;s passion for music, or ANYTHING else. In regard to could be better, one thing I learned on the road is,...no matter how good you think you are, there's always somebody better and somebody worse. To say you're the best is arrogant, but to say you're your personal best is a badge of honesty. BTW, how old are you if I may ask?
@@garyzimmer8061 Older than Dr. Wally is all I'll admit to. ;)
I've been playing for many, many decades, but mostly legit (and clarinet is my main instrument). My husband is a professional on sax and clarinet--his Dixie makes me swoon--so it's a little intimidating for me to play in his shadow. He's very supportive though, and the plus side is I hear terrific live jazz almost every single day. The minus side is he's definitely NOT a teacher--he has no idea how to break things down for a beginner. This channel (and the fundamentals course) has been awesome for me.
@@elissahunt Love dixie, played it on clar., sop sax. My only claim to fame w/classical was the community symphony and a one night stand w/the St. Paul Chamber orch. on Bassoon. That was in 75 under Richard Davies. He was an amazing conductor.
Do you or your husband by chance know Chuck Credo? Met him back in 77 in the French Quarter, Maison Bourbon. He played in Al Hirt's dixie group. Also got to meet Buddy DeFranco before his last Euro. tour. Fine clar. man, and great guy. Thing that surprised me was he was using a DEG power star barrel; I was skeptical, but as good as he played he convinced me! best wishes, keep playin'.
gz
Great video and explanation of what is going on in the lesson. The metronome is going to fall off that fence post one of these days...
I used Gorilla Glue. It's saying put. (and thanks for the kind words)
Dr Wally, this is great! I tried it today and it was a lot of fun! I did feel slightly underdressed for the occasion though :)
Paula, I expect formalwear in your next asynchronous virtual UA-cam lesson. I have standards....
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽Tank you¡
Most welcome!
I would love to find out the obvious question what mouthpiece is this?Dr Wallace is funny witty great teacher and deserves more subs
Hey man I love your videos while not a sax, player I’m a trumpet player so I just use the tenor parts to practice but I think you might as well should add the C instrument notes in case any C instruments want to play along as well
I'll certainly entertain the possibility. My students are pretty much all saxophonists, I have to keep it simple :)
This is great. Any chance you could add a mp3 of you playing to the fundamentals course. Would like to load it to a program to put phrases on a loop to practice with.
All the jazz improvisation (and much more) exercises will be in a different program, launching in June! In the meantime - use the first four bars of "I got Rhythm" in iReal pro - change the key to whatever you like!
Hi there, Download ‘Freemake Video Downloader’ - the basic version is free (Google to find it). Once installed, paste the URL for this video into the window, select your output file and convert 'to MP3'. I used Transcribe for looping and slowing down - works really well 😀
hey, what's updoc? good stuff 4 my fav hobby harp! thx
Hi, Doc. Thanks for such an amazing info. One question: what are those backing tracks? II V I s? Thanks
Paul desmond !
Great lesson, thanks again for sharing all the great wisdom and guidance. Also, just curious if you're still playing the WCW 56 mpc?
Oh absolutely!!! The one in this video is just the matte black version. Would you believe they sent me one of each color ;)
I'm also testing the tenor prototype - you maaaay find it int he Bebop scales video (spoiler alert). Also there miiiiiiiggght be a super top secret amazing project under way for the alto mouthpiece as well (sshhhhh). So long answer to short question: heck yes, I'm all in on the 56 and then some!
@@drwallysax Awesome, thanks for the quick reply and great news. I just received my "56" alto mouthpiece and am just starting to play it (since I'm primarily a tenor player) and so far I like it but haven't found the "perfect" reed combination yet. Also, I'll definitely be picking up a tenor version of 56 when available as my Vandoren T6 is decent but I certainly don't love it. Thank you again for the informative reply, awesome content and weekly videos. I appreciate them all!
Making my lunch. Scatting my response phrases. Ain’t life grand. I thought I was Ella there for a minute. Wait, what?
Ha! Singing is such an amazing Pedagogical tool! Unfortunately, if I sing in my videos, I would have zero subscribers very very quickly. Happy Monday Jamie!
Wow, nice learning session, very lyrical and Desmond sound on the horn. I love this tone reminds me of my favourite Paul Desmond on the alto sax. Dr. the horn is something different dark rust or coffee colour no idea what you term it and the mpc seems to be a vintage meyer (correct me if I am wrong).
Hey Sumit! The horn is a new model I'm testing: Zen Cooper. It's being released in the US soon, I'll be doing a review video soon. The mouthpiece is my signature model! The 56, made by Windy City Woodwinds!
@@drwallysax Beautiful sounding horn. But I personally feel it's more your tone. I love your tone on the sax, reminds me of the legend (P.Desmond).
Great video Dr Wally !
I wanted to say that While I'm playing, I tend to use my throat and I understand that it must be avoided . I also finish a sentence with a shorter than it's ment to be.
can I do anything to stop these things?
The throat should be relaxed and the tongue should act as a valve. Practice long notes, making no change other than adding and removing the tongue on the reed.
Hi Dr. Wally, can`t find the links to Parts 3 and 4
Hi Dr Wally,
Thanks for another great video. Is there any chance of getting the backing track you’re using as an audio file?
Thanks,
Robbie
I don't have the mp3 for upload, but you can use the first four bars of "I got rhythm" in iReal pro for free!
Hey good stuff. Are there any other resources online to practice call and response
Not that I'm aware of - but I'm building a giant course around it!
It is not free, but bettersax has some paid courses with ear training lessons. I have them and they are good. Still not easy for me.
I used to only ever use a Classical S90 mouthpiece and I had the cushion on it for comfort. I just got a new V16 mouthpiece for Jazz, should I learn to play it as is or get another cushion?
I love the cushion, I'd get another one. More comfort and opens up the oral cavity a bit! I use them.
Thank you sir. Of course you start on the worst note on my horn, that middle D sounds way too high, that'll teach me to correct it. So do I try to think of the current key + color notes when responding or "just feel it" and hope the fingers will match the note I'm thinking one day?
it will happen, Pierre, keep at it!
Did you get a new light or new camera or something? Looks a lot better than usual!
Just like the saxophone, video production needs to be practiced!
Good stuff mate
hey Kevin, I joined the 21st century! Finally got a mirrorless camera and a 14mm lens (workflow is soooo much easier). I might make 2 videos a week now. Thanks for noticing my friend!
Did you also get a new horn, your Yamaha looks more bronze than usual, but could be the lightning
@@Rabittsfoot1 Testing a new horn about to be released in the American market: Zen Cooper. I'll be doing an exclusive review in a couple of weeks. (good eye!)
@@drwallysax A competitor to the better sax alto QUESTION MARK?
👁see 👍
Please describe the microphone, amplifier and mixer setup and settings you used for these demo's. I enjoy the sound and would like to eliminate any artificialites, or at least take them into account, when trying to match it. I realize the instrument is a major factor, second in importance only to the player, and not easy to acquire with a limited budget, which is not the same for a mouthpiece which I've already purchased both the WCW "56" and the "56 Select" pieces. I also recognize this is one year after this specific video, but it seems you're using the same amplifier/mixer setup in more recent videos as well. Am I right?
Please. What is the easiest way or best way to remember how to play chords in each key. How do we learn those patterns. I am a guitar player and in the guitar you can use the same pattern for every note on a string but it gets more difficult with a piano for example because they are not the same on every key, and now the saxophone which even more difficult remembering every pattern.
Can you please shade some light on that?
Thank you
hey where did you get this backing track? is it based off a standard?
Hey Hayden - it's just a simple I - vi - ii - V7 loop I created to outline the hey area of F. Made with Band in a Box. You could do the same with iReal pro - just loop the first 4 bars of "I got rhythm" in your key of choice! It's 4 chords - but all prolonging the home key area. Make sense?
An interestig and fun approach, but If I’m playing what you are playing, am I then improvising? I appreciate your sound. It’s reminds me of my favorite saxophone player, Paul Desmond. (Personally I’m playing the tenor).
Hey Hans, as mentioned in the explanation - the first step is to re-create. Then you alter it. That's the roots and first step of improvisation. You start with an existing melody, then make it your own. Happy practicing!
If Paul Desmond were a teenager now, he would have subscribed.
If Paul Desmond were a teenager right now, I'd still pay him for lessons :)
Thanks for the kind sentiment my friend.
Assume you have a video that already answers this question but, it’s Sunday and I’m too lazy to look for it; what is the brand and model of your microphone? Oh, GREAT lesson!
Good question - I'm testing the new saxophone: The Zen Cooper. It's a house brand from a Taiwanese manufacturer. Full review in a few weeks.
@@drwallysax it sounds great just thru my iPad speaker, when I’m done with my “honey-do” list I plan on playing along with my studio headset. Thanks!
@@donl3248 Waaaaiiiiit!!! Sorry, I misread! The microphone! It's a Sure KSM 44a (just bought it).
@@drwallysax No worries. Thanks for the update. 👍🏼
Where can I download the backing track? Or perhaps is this something I can re-create on iRealPro?
iReal Pro! Just loop the first four bars of I Got Rhythm in the key you want - it's a I, vi, ii, V - but it's all outlining: a major key area
Doc, i see your tone is great.. reminds me of Paul Desmond or Stan Gets. So, i have a question. I noticed (as a Noob) that the reed strength (not the brand.. of course) plays a big role in tone production. Am i wrong? What is the reed strength you usually use? Must be at least 3/3,5. Just curious. Thanks a lot. Wish you all the best.
You nailed it, reed strength is the key to west coast sound (aside from the player). You need a bit of resistance to create the warm, laid back feel! (and thanks for the kind words). Happy practicing!
how your tone is so good?
Aaannnd now you're my new best friend :)
@@drwallysax but for real, any advices? any tutorials? I found mine too much "in your face", for this reason not comfortable to listen to. Of course long tones, but I guess there are many ways to play long tones, and all of them form different tone. . ahhh philosphy. Maybe its your microphone? I have Re-20, and t.bone Ovid System CC 100 clip on, and the sound far from yours :D
Hi Dr. Wally which microphone do you use??? I have condenser microphone but when i try to record from 4-5 feet away also it picks distorted sound... Volume levels are too high... Saxophone sound comes too distorted and doesnt looks good... Do you record it in sound proof room??? Please guide
Hey Rohan - it's a sure....something. You're going to have to lower the input level. Are you using an interface?
Mild mannered accountant by day, swinging Jazz cat at night?!
I'm swinging at all hours. Preferably before 9pm. I have young kids. I'm tired by then.
40 views in 8 minutes - my average is 40 views in 8 months!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Keep at it my friend, the more you give, the more you receive :)