Scott - you are a genius at pitching these beginner improvising lessons at just the right level . Too many of the other TH-cam stuff blows by the basic building blocks and leaves us beginners frustrated. THANKS!
For those who want to know what would be the chords on piano or guitar to play along with this exercise... D7 (on alto) = F7 (on guitar or piano) G7 = A#7 C7 = D#7 F7= G#7 And it's called cycle of fourths. Very nice Lesson...
As a beginner student of improvisation (this after six months working on tone and scales), literally this past week I have begun with the chord tones as described here. But my preference is to stay with just the root, 4th and 5th chords of an easy major key such as concert F on the alto. I am working on committing to memory the four chord tones of these three chords and then beginning to work around chord changes just using the chord tones. We have to get these chord tone positions (fingerings) totally committed to memory, so I'm sticking with just these until I can do them with total ease. This established an essential foundation, and has significantly improved my playing. I am now doing the same for two other closely related keys, concert Bb and concert C (I don't care what the keys are called for the Eb Alto, I function in concert pitch on guitar, bass and piano, so I refuse to care about the official designated alto key names). Eventually, I plan to move on to the relative minor keys and do the same thing, 1, 4, and 5 of the minor keys. Once all these are committed to memory, then I can progress to the next step of playing songs that include both major and minor chords for these three keys, either the major or the relative minor. Then I can move on to other keys such as Eb and G.
If you're just starting out with improv, you will have a lot more success if you follow a course of study. I have one in my Sax School that is great for getting started through early advanced. You will hear improvement very quickly. If you try to learn it on your own through TH-cam videos, you will make some progress, but it will take a lot longer, and you won't see how everything works together.
Can you Please make a video more in depth of chords, chords progression( how to play them on the same scale, and why number numerals are major minor minor major major etc and dominant?
Once again, awesome lesson. Thankyou. Could you please record a lesson on how to play the funky little sax solo in Cameo's "Candy" stepping through how you would work it out? It would also be awesome if you could show the music scene in where you are in Mexico and do your thing with the music around you. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.
Hi everyone, Scott you have just made the penny drop for me, its 5-30 in the morning here in Jersey CI. And I can't wait to start practicing this, I think once I have this under m belt I know where I'm going, Thankyou so much for explaining this and in such a great way 😊👍
My issue is to memorize all these chords letters coming from a Do re mi fa sol background. This method works well in reverse as well. If you play the chords together enough times you can remember them faster! Thank you Scott.
Thank you so much for this really helpful lesson. It will support me on my long journey to learn improvisation while understanding what I´m doing. You are a great teacher!
Nice lesson sir, I have learnt a lot since I subscribed to your channel. Sir, please make a video on how to use the octave key I.e when to hold it and when to release it
Thanks again Scott. This is exactly where I’m at - playing random notes and trusting my ear to find something sounding nice. So I’m definitely going to do this. Big thumbs up. Mexico sounds nice from the cold and damp UK. Enjoy.
It is very good way to lern about jamm after preperation ... If you go on the street and see a band you want to jamm to ... and thay are playing D7 chord ... you as a saxophonist have to transpoze ... And on the street it is not simple to do transpoze only in your head ... to know what are the notes on your chord to play
1. start with simple phrases with only the 1 of the chord 1.5 (from other videos by Scott) start with 2 bar phrases, + question-answer phrases 1.6 (from other videos by Scott) play with the rhythm - just 8th notes will be boring 2. add the 3rd to the phrases now 3. add the 5 to the phrases now, start the phrase on any of the 3 notes. Then add the 7 4. play over the range of the sax the 4 notes. jump between notes instead of going in sequence. 5. practice chord changes next - e.g. alternating 2 bars of D7 and G7
Hi Scott, I really enjoy your teaching and vids . One thing, I just got a Berkley Brazil Pop kustom 7. I believe you play one of these too. I noticed in one of your vids yours is Blue. The one I have is like a Reddish Brown . So is it the same as your except the Colour? I use it on a Keilwerth Shadow Alto. Keep up the great work Scott. If you ever do a Tour with a band in Wales I would really like to know. Cheers 🍻
Hi Scott. Great video. Query though. Is there a particular reason you chose those particular chords to improvise over? I thought, based on how you started, that the chords would have been the sevenths of the 1, 4, 5 &7th chords. That 7th would have been F# as opposed to the F7. Just seeking clarification, unless of course I have misguided myself. Please clarify for me.
Scott.. something I don't understand. D7 is a chord in Concert C right. So if I play a D on Alto Sax it's not a D in Concert C, correct. So don't I need to transpose the D to and Eflat instrument like an alto sax ?
It all depends on the chart you are reading. If you are reading music written for alto sax, then you don't need to transpose. When I am talking in these videos, I am 100% talking in the key of the instrument that I am playing, unless I specifically say that I'm not. So for this, the D7 is the D7 for alto sax. If it were for a piano/guitar it would be transposed to an F7. If it were for tenor sax it would be a G7. If you're playing alto sax music, you don't need to do any transposing to play it on the alto sax, even the chords.
@@davidgloberman3098 If the piano player told you he was playing a D7 chord, and you played a D7 chord on the sax, it wouldn't fit. Because he is calling those notes D F# A C and we are a transposing instrument, and calling those notes by different names (B D# F# A). So it depends on who is telling you the chord. When the piano player tells you his chords/notes you need to transpose them into sax player notes. If it's written in sax music, then you don't need to transpose it. If it's written in piano music (or told to you by a piano player), then you do need to transpose. Oftentimes, when you are playing with pro musicians, they will even say - In my notes, or in saxophone notes. That way we are talking in the same pitch. The piano/guitar are "Concert Pitch." On alto sax, we are Eb pitch. Hope that helps!
Just be sure to get a negative covid test before heading back. The CDC is clamping down on citizens who are returning to the US from Mexico right now. ✌
Scott - you are a genius at pitching these beginner improvising lessons at just the right level . Too many of the other TH-cam stuff blows by the basic building blocks and leaves us beginners frustrated. THANKS!
This was so so incredibly useful! As someone said below "ah-ha moment...another light just turned on". Thank you so very much.
For those who want to know what would be the chords on piano or guitar to play along with this exercise...
D7 (on alto) = F7 (on guitar or piano)
G7 = A#7
C7 = D#7
F7= G#7
And it's called cycle of fourths.
Very nice Lesson...
Thank you very much. You really help me understand this instrument
You are one of the great teachers on TH-cam. Thank you.
Thanks!!
Best teacher on youtube by far.
Thanks for breaking it down to steps I can understand.
Thank you!!!
A very useful video!👏👏👏👏
As a beginner student of improvisation (this after six months working on tone and scales), literally this past week I have begun with the chord tones as described here. But my preference is to stay with just the root, 4th and 5th chords of an easy major key such as concert F on the alto. I am working on committing to memory the four chord tones of these three chords and then beginning to work around chord changes just using the chord tones. We have to get these chord tone positions (fingerings) totally committed to memory, so I'm sticking with just these until I can do them with total ease. This established an essential foundation, and has significantly improved my playing. I am now doing the same for two other closely related keys, concert Bb and concert C (I don't care what the keys are called for the Eb Alto, I function in concert pitch on guitar, bass and piano, so I refuse to care about the official designated alto key names). Eventually, I plan to move on to the relative minor keys and do the same thing, 1, 4, and 5 of the minor keys. Once all these are committed to memory, then I can progress to the next step of playing songs that include both major and minor chords for these three keys, either the major or the relative minor. Then I can move on to other keys such as Eb and G.
If you're just starting out with improv, you will have a lot more success if you follow a course of study. I have one in my Sax School that is great for getting started through early advanced. You will hear improvement very quickly. If you try to learn it on your own through TH-cam videos, you will make some progress, but it will take a lot longer, and you won't see how everything works together.
Absolutelly amazing lesson. Everything seems to be so simple, but glamorous. Very good explained
Thank you so much, Scott! This is the most amazing information I have seen in two years! Thank you so much for this material!
Brilliant video so simply explained
My favorite Jedi Master is the one you go to and the first thing he says is; "Wassup everybody!?!" The best!!! 🎷👏🆒🎶, thanks Scott for you being you!
no matter the background behind, the content is always great ! thank you for your lesson Scott ! clear as always !
Can you
Please make a video more in depth of chords, chords progression( how to play them on the same scale, and why number numerals are major minor minor major major etc and dominant?
Hey Edward! I cover all of that in depth in the improv section in my Sax School. Check it out www.scottpaddocksaxschool.com
Great video. I always over-think and over-complicate things. This is very helpful.
Scott, great job my friend!
Thank you, thank you!
This has been my brick wall for too long. Your explanation and demonstration was a game changer for me. Very grateful indeed!
Most helpful, thank you.
Very, very helpful. Thanks, Scott.
Good man Scott!
Thanks. Very helpful.
Once again, awesome lesson. Thankyou. Could you please record a lesson on how to play the funky little sax solo in Cameo's "Candy" stepping through how you would work it out? It would also be awesome if you could show the music scene in where you are in Mexico and do your thing with the music around you. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.
Quality Scott. Thx for sharing.
Thanks a lot, Scott! You've helped me a lot!
Awesome video!!!! Really needed this!! Thank you so much!!!!! 👍👍👍👍
Hi everyone,
Scott you have just made the penny drop for me, its 5-30 in the morning here in Jersey CI. And I can't wait to start practicing this, I think once I have this under m belt I know where I'm going, Thankyou so much for explaining this and in such a great way 😊👍
My issue is to memorize all these chords letters coming from a Do re mi fa sol background. This method works well in reverse as well. If you play the chords together enough times you can remember them faster! Thank you Scott.
Thank you so much for this really helpful lesson. It will support me on my long journey to learn improvisation while understanding what I´m doing. You are a great teacher!
Nice lesson sir, I have learnt a lot since I subscribed to your channel.
Sir, please make a video on how to use the octave key I.e when to hold it and when to release it
A great video. Very helpful. Thank you.
Thanks Scott!
Thanks again Scott. This is exactly where I’m at - playing random notes and trusting my ear to find something sounding nice. So I’m definitely going to do this. Big thumbs up. Mexico sounds nice from the cold and damp UK. Enjoy.
It is very good way to lern about jamm after preperation ...
If you go on the street and see a band you want to jamm to ... and thay are playing D7 chord ... you as a saxophonist have to transpoze ...
And on the street it is not simple to do transpoze only in your head ... to know what are the notes on your chord to play
Vendes libros en pdf todo sobre improvisación?? Me interesa amigo scott
Thank you scott for helping us with the improvisation , 💯🎷
Really useful to refresh my improvising concept! Thanks sir!
Scott, this is a very valuable video, I really appreciate it. Thank you.
Alway great advice! Thank you
Another usefull video 🙏🏻 thank you
1. start with simple phrases with only the 1 of the chord
1.5 (from other videos by Scott) start with 2 bar phrases, + question-answer phrases
1.6 (from other videos by Scott) play with the rhythm - just 8th notes will be boring
2. add the 3rd to the phrases now
3. add the 5 to the phrases now, start the phrase on any of the 3 notes. Then add the 7
4. play over the range of the sax the 4 notes. jump between notes instead of going in sequence.
5. practice chord changes next - e.g. alternating 2 bars of D7 and G7
Great video!!!!! Thanks!
Very informative 😉👍🏽👍🏽
Excelente como siempre, muchas gracias por tus videos!!!!
sounds like your sax is in a different key than my c flute. can you recommend a tutorial like this that would work for me?
Yes, the alto sax is an Eb instrument so you would have to transpose up an minor 3rd.
Very interesting stuff. When I play a chord, in the middle of it my brain just kind of forces me to change to a different one. It’s kind of fun.
Hi Scott, I really enjoy your teaching and vids . One thing, I just got a Berkley Brazil Pop kustom 7. I believe you play one of these too. I noticed in one of your vids yours is Blue. The one I have is like a Reddish Brown . So is it the same as your except the Colour? I use it on a Keilwerth Shadow Alto. Keep up the great work Scott. If you ever do a Tour with a band in Wales I would really like to know. Cheers 🍻
Thanks this is so helpful well all your lessons are .Is there a way to donate? Again thanks so much
Thanks Nikki! I've launched a Sax School if you'd like to learn more or support my teaching you can join the school: www.scottpaddocksaxschool.com
@@ScottPaddock Thank you
Do you have to account for note transposing if, say, you're playing alongside a guitar?
Yes, check out my video on the sax being a transposing instrument. It explains everything.
Scott what microphone are you using in your sax school videos?
Woooowww amazing information
Many many thanks
Hi Scott. Great video. Query though. Is there a particular reason you chose those particular chords to improvise over? I thought, based on how you started, that the chords would have been the sevenths of the 1, 4, 5 &7th chords. That 7th would have been F# as opposed to the F7. Just seeking clarification, unless of course I have misguided myself. Please clarify for me.
Hey Marvin, the chords just go around the circle of 4ths. D7, G7, C7, F7
@@ScottPaddock oh ok. Understood. Thanks
Scott.. something I don't understand. D7 is a chord in Concert C right. So if I play a D on Alto Sax it's not a D in Concert C, correct. So don't I need to transpose the D to and Eflat instrument like an alto sax ?
It all depends on the chart you are reading. If you are reading music written for alto sax, then you don't need to transpose. When I am talking in these videos, I am 100% talking in the key of the instrument that I am playing, unless I specifically say that I'm not. So for this, the D7 is the D7 for alto sax. If it were for a piano/guitar it would be transposed to an F7. If it were for tenor sax it would be a G7. If you're playing alto sax music, you don't need to do any transposing to play it on the alto sax, even the chords.
@@ScottPaddockthanks. So am I correct that if someone played that D7 chord on piano and I played a D on Alto Sax it wouldn't fit ?
@@davidgloberman3098 If the piano player told you he was playing a D7 chord, and you played a D7 chord on the sax, it wouldn't fit. Because he is calling those notes D F# A C and we are a transposing instrument, and calling those notes by different names (B D# F# A). So it depends on who is telling you the chord. When the piano player tells you his chords/notes you need to transpose them into sax player notes.
If it's written in sax music, then you don't need to transpose it. If it's written in piano music (or told to you by a piano player), then you do need to transpose. Oftentimes, when you are playing with pro musicians, they will even say - In my notes, or in saxophone notes. That way we are talking in the same pitch. The piano/guitar are "Concert Pitch." On alto sax, we are Eb pitch. Hope that helps!
@@ScottPaddockthanks so much Scott. This really helps. Happy New Year
Would you be able to help me if I play piano
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🎷🎷🎷🎷
Just be sure to get a negative covid test before heading back. The CDC is clamping down on citizens who are returning to the US from Mexico right now. ✌
You use seldom your tenor,it’s a pity….