Jay, for me, having watched your current video, this demonstrates that you are one of the the most understanding, student oriented saxophone teachers for any sax student
Guilty as charged. I did exactly what you said others do regarding the Blues scale: learn that scale in 6 of the most common " guitar" keys and stop. In my defense I was the rhythm guitarist in a band. For my 35th birthday I rented a tenor saxophone and it was my self indulgent release from playing guitar. Well the band heard I was playing sax and asked me to bring it to practice. My mistake was I brought it to a practice, played it on a few of our songs and that sealed my fate. A fate of just learning the minimum for each song the band asked me to play the sax on. Sadly I did that for 11 years. Now that I'm retired and not interested in playing in Rock and Blues bands I'm going to focus on learning more scales. Your videos have been very helpful in my quest! Thank you!
"Sadly" may be a bit harsh on myself. I remember the first night I brought the sax to a gig and I didn't pull it out until the last set of the night since I only knew 5 songs. After the set a gentleman walked toward the stage with the looks of heading towards our tip jar. Instead he made his way over to me and told me how much he enjoyed hearing the sax and put our largest tip of the night in my front pocket. I never experienced anything like that playing guitar! (Of course I shared my personal take with the band)
By GAWD this was a slobberknocker of a lesson! Trying to shake of two decades of rust so this is exactly the best way to get there this year! Great lesson and so appreciative of your work Jay!!!
I like the way you edited your playing of the scale patterns, at the end of the video, to make it seem like you did it all with one breath. Thanks Jay, for another great video.
Thanks for your expertise! I was intrigued by the Whole-half(AKA octatonic) scale in my advanced theory class. You can play major-minor-diminished triad all from the same root without "altered" tones. Then you have the whole tone scale. No "tonic". Every triad is augmented. Throw away tonality and go wild!
Jay - great content! Can't thank you enough. After decades off, I picked up my sax again about a year ago. After watching your videos for about 2 weeks, I've already learned more about saxophone basics, theory, ear training, and beginning improv than I ever learned previously through high school and college. I look forward to sticking with it, and hopefully reach my goal of being able to play jazz improv.
Thanks: Jay! I have a 1967 Mk 6, picking my horn Back Up,used to play jazz. Wanna Play Again.Improv Is Always Fun, gotta good Ear, need to build a solid Foundation Once Again.Lawton 8 Star B Tenor Mouthpiece.
Jay! Why i didn't knew you when i started the Sax( years ago...)!I am very happy to have discover bettersax during summer 2020! Please continue like that!
Great video! I'll never get away from modes 😅 but after hearing them on a guitar for so many years, it's refreshing to hear them with the voice of a sax! It sounded great, even towards the end when you applied a pattern and ran through each mode and scale! Cant wait to get to grips with this. Thanks Jay! 🙌🏾
Such a great piece! I am working from the other direction.. only knew how to play by ear for most of my life. Reading music used to give me such a headache, however, your vids/ courses and teaching style have been so enlightening and made learning so much more accessible. Thanks for everything Jay! Shocked I was able to get most of "Picking Up the Pieces" the first time through with the Funk band I am in!
I play trombone. You know the world of folks thinking you either can't read or can't play. Blending and amening the vocalist without needing to be out front and not needing to have a specific designated part. Just flow. These scales help. Best gig ever is one where the singer is told how this was their best gig ever and you as a horn player didn't solo or really go out front. You just made the singer sound good. Gotta know scales to blend without a chart.
Thank you so much for this! I’m super excited to start experimenting in the other modes and hearing what they each sound like. Thank you for making this free!!!
Estimado profesor,, muchas gracias por sus increíbles enseñanzas! Es realmente contagiosa su pasión por este bello instrumento musical! Quisiera con todo respeto sugerirle que pudiera subtitular sus clases para los que hablamos el español. Siempre agradeciéndole nuevamente su empeño por trasmitir tantos conocimientos con ese dinamismo y versatilidad!
Nice class! I liked a lot the pattern at the end. It's a good idea to use it and connect the scales. I'll use circular breathing to do it without breaking the exercise. Great!
Thanks for this great lesson. You've clearly presented a lot of information I use with my guitar and voice students when discussing improvisation and harmony. That said, it would be even better if each scale you play had accompanying finger charts on the screen in order to help those with decent music theory but struggling with fingering the saxophone itself.
Jay, I really like your sound - and the fluidity with which you play the pattern through all the different scales - quite inspiring and a challenge to gain that capability by daily practice. Thanks..
Hi Jay. I'm confused how to play the first note on Aeolian(natural minor) in this video 2:22. how to play the lower A note? The lowest note is bB on alto saxphone.
Thanks for clarifying about melodic minor. I saw this debate on facebook about whether it changes on the way back down, had no idea the jazz world defines the word differently.
Exactly! So there is the CLASSICAL Melodic minor raised 6 and 7 going up, lowered 6 and 7 going down. But the JAZZ Melodic minor scale 6 and 7 are raised going up and down? Very interesting. Thank you for that!
Another great addition to musical development. As always clearly demonstrated and explained. Hope you are enjoying the personalised bettersax. What mouthpiece and reed are you using. Thanks Jay
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
Hi. I went to the link for the download and signed up. Got in but found no link to download the sheet. I would like to try it to see. I want to take improvisation seriously and am looking for the best courses during the current times. A little disappointed that it does not seem to be easy to get what you say is there: i. e. The scale sheet.
Thank you so much! I own an Akai EWI (I found your TH-cam channel while searching for EWI resources). Hope you don't mind that I don't practice these scales on the saxophone... ;-)
I Love all your videos but have really spent a lot of time with your mouthpiece comparisons! They’re excellent! Easily 5*s! I’m still considering buying a Jody Jazz because of you! 😀 Quick question... Might switching to a Jazz mouthpiece make me less apt to keep inadvertently slipping back to my classical embouchure? That is... Might a Jody Jazz mp feel different enough from my Selmer E that I could more easily adopt this new way of playing? Thanks so much for all your videos and for how much you put into making them so concise, organized and encouraging.
Brilliant advice and approach Jay! Would you suggest expanding the range of scale practice (adjusting accordingly) through the whole playable range of the specific scale? eg C major starting from low C (or B) reaching high F and returning back to low C (or something similar). Also, would you recommend practicing slurred?
Greetings to you Jay.. Beautiful content on all your videos. What kind of advice could you give to me as a long time ago clarinet player who recently switched to tenor sax and kinda struggling with reading notes?! Thanks and big up to your community of beautiful people..
Hello, Jeff. I live in Paris France. I wish I could buy or at least try your Better Sax saxophone. Too bad no delivery is possible in France. Do you plan on supplying our country some time soon ? Best regards.
Hi there, thank you for the great advices. I'm looking for a theoric pdf about harmonic (no video), does your harmonic foundation course contain a pdf or it is only videos? If not do you have any other pdf or maybe some book reference that I could use? Really I'm looking for a bedside book, or a pdf that I could print. Thank you :)
Me: just finishes performances based grade 8 exam yesterday Teacher: alright so let’s play some scales *throws a bunch of variations with specific articulation patterns*
Is my alto sax is out of tune or is it just me? I try the first Major Scale (Ionian), but my G is kinda' flat? I'm not sure but when I'm trying to do it, it has different tune? Not sure
you need to confirm your email address by clicking the link in the email we sent you. Probably went to junk or spam folders. Once you do that, you'll be taken to the page with all the downloads. Send us an email if you can't find it. bettersax.com/contact
Jay, for me, having watched your current video, this demonstrates that you are one of the the most understanding, student oriented saxophone teachers for any sax student
Thanks Marv
How do I get all of these scales from you, Jay?
Guilty as charged. I did exactly what you said others do regarding the Blues scale: learn that scale in 6 of the most common " guitar" keys and stop. In my defense I was the rhythm guitarist in a band. For my 35th birthday I rented a tenor saxophone and it was my self indulgent release from playing guitar. Well the band heard I was playing sax and asked me to bring it to practice. My mistake was I brought it to a practice, played it on a few of our songs and that sealed my fate. A fate of just learning the minimum for each song the band asked me to play the sax on. Sadly I did that for 11 years. Now that I'm retired and not interested in playing in Rock and Blues bands I'm going to focus on learning more scales. Your videos have been very helpful in my quest!
Thank you!
"Sadly" may be a bit harsh on myself. I remember the first night I brought the sax to a gig and I didn't pull it out until the last set of the night since I only knew 5 songs. After the set a gentleman walked toward the stage with the looks of heading towards our tip jar. Instead he made his way over to me and told me how much he enjoyed hearing the sax and put our largest tip of the night in my front pocket. I never experienced anything like that playing guitar! (Of course I shared my personal take with the band)
My son just got a saxophone 🎷 and now he is following you, great teacher keep it up
As someone coming back to the sax after years, your videos are incredibly helpful. Thank you so much Jay! An absolute angel to us all 🌟✨
Same
By GAWD this was a slobberknocker of a lesson! Trying to shake of two decades of rust so this is exactly the best way to get there this year! Great lesson and so appreciative of your work Jay!!!
Thanks!
Thankyou for all the content you provide us, we are all appreciative!
All of this for free too! Thanks Jay we really appreciate it.
My pleasure!
Serious props. The hours scribing out all the sheet music is real dedication
Thanks Jay, you are the best music teacher I've ever had!
I like the way you edited your playing of the scale patterns, at the end of the video, to make it seem like you did it all with one breath.
Thanks Jay, for another great video.
Thanks for your expertise! I was intrigued by the Whole-half(AKA octatonic) scale in my advanced theory class. You can play major-minor-diminished triad all from the same root without "altered" tones. Then you have the whole tone scale. No "tonic". Every triad is augmented. Throw away tonality and go wild!
"A mode is the same notes, just starting in a different place."
Wonderfully put.
Seriously underrated point
Im a beginner and I don't know what any of this means, but I'm going to practice it anyways.
I recomend you to take some courses of Bettersax, because i was like you 6 months ago and now i see much more clearly a lots of things.
Me to
😢
Such a great teacher
Im late to this comment but I use these scales to improvise
If this pdf is actually free, you are a legend
It is
That’s amazing man. Thank you so much
Jay - great content! Can't thank you enough. After decades off, I picked up my sax again about a year ago. After watching your videos for about 2 weeks, I've already learned more about saxophone basics, theory, ear training, and beginning improv than I ever learned previously through high school and college. I look forward to sticking with it, and hopefully reach my goal of being able to play jazz improv.
i so love your tone.. nice work , simplified and understandable
My son just got a sax thanks for your educative lesson
Thanks: Jay! I have a 1967 Mk 6, picking my horn
Back Up,used to play jazz. Wanna
Play Again.Improv
Is Always Fun, gotta good Ear, need to build a solid Foundation
Once Again.Lawton
8 Star B Tenor Mouthpiece.
Jay! Why i didn't knew you when i started the Sax( years ago...)!I am very happy to have discover bettersax during summer 2020! Please continue like that!
Super job, Jay !! Thanks a lot for the video!
Great video! I'll never get away from modes 😅 but after hearing them on a guitar for so many years, it's refreshing to hear them with the voice of a sax! It sounded great, even towards the end when you applied a pattern and ran through each mode and scale! Cant wait to get to grips with this. Thanks Jay! 🙌🏾
11 hours ago? This is probably the earliest I've seen a video from a search
What did you search for?
Im so happy you emphasize the major scales in all keys. I"ve been driving that into my students for year.s K
Such a great piece! I am working from the other direction.. only knew how to play by ear for most of my life. Reading music used to give me such a headache, however, your vids/ courses and teaching style have been so enlightening and made learning so much more accessible. Thanks for everything Jay! Shocked I was able to get most of "Picking Up the Pieces" the first time through with the Funk band I am in!
I play trombone. You know the world of folks thinking you either can't read or can't play. Blending and amening the vocalist without needing to be out front and not needing to have a specific designated part. Just flow. These scales help. Best gig ever is one where the singer is told how this was their best gig ever and you as a horn player didn't solo or really go out front. You just made the singer sound good. Gotta know scales to blend without a chart.
A breakdown that is not too intimidating. Thanks Jay.
You are literally the best 🎷❤
Thank you for all these great resources!!😭
You're very welcome!
Thank you so much for this! I’m super excited to start experimenting in the other modes and hearing what they each sound like. Thank you for making this free!!!
thank you very much for the material, it's so helpful
You’re welcome
Estimado profesor,, muchas gracias por sus increíbles enseñanzas! Es realmente contagiosa su pasión por este bello instrumento musical! Quisiera con todo respeto sugerirle que pudiera subtitular sus clases para los que hablamos el español. Siempre agradeciéndole nuevamente su empeño por trasmitir tantos conocimientos con ese dinamismo y versatilidad!
Nice class! I liked a lot the pattern at the end. It's a good idea to use it and connect the scales. I'll use circular breathing to do it without breaking the exercise. Great!
Thanks, Jay, for the great content. I'm eagerly awaiting my Better Sax! Looking forward to playing it soon.
Thank you! I'm sure you will love it.
Are you liking it so far?
Thank you Jay - I have gotten great at the blues scale and altissimo, but my solos are getting stale like you said! Practicing these scales now!
all those scales at the end in one breath, your my hero Jay
Thanks for this great lesson. You've clearly presented a lot of information I use with my guitar and voice students when discussing improvisation and harmony. That said, it would be even better if each scale you play had accompanying finger charts on the screen in order to help those with decent music theory but struggling with fingering the saxophone itself.
Jay,
I really like your sound - and the fluidity with which you play the pattern through all the different scales - quite inspiring and a challenge to gain that capability by daily practice. Thanks..
Super lesson 👍 Thank you very much!
Hi, Mat nice to see you again, I haven't seen you for ages
Hi Jay. I'm confused how to play the first note on Aeolian(natural minor) in this video 2:22.
how to play the lower A note? The lowest note is bB on alto saxphone.
Thanks so much, Jay. This is an incredibly thorough, helpful exercise and it's REALLY helping me cement my scales in all keys.
Wow!Thank you so much!I've got my work cut out for me.
Great insperational video!
Happy New Year Jay, thanks for all your help and advice and PDF's
Happy new year!
Great lesson for me!
Thanks for clarifying about melodic minor. I saw this debate on facebook about whether it changes on the way back down, had no idea the jazz world defines the word differently.
Exactly! So there is the CLASSICAL Melodic minor raised 6 and 7 going up, lowered 6 and 7 going down. But the JAZZ Melodic minor scale 6 and 7 are raised going up and down? Very interesting. Thank you for that!
uah! bravissimo maestro! Very usefull 💥💥💥🎷💥💥💥
I love how your more recent videos focus more on music theory. It will really help further my music education and it helps a lot.
Another great addition to musical development. As always clearly demonstrated and explained. Hope you are enjoying the personalised bettersax. What mouthpiece and reed are you using.
Thanks Jay
The easiest way I’ve found to think about modes is based on the major, with Mixolydian as flat 7 and the Dorian as flat 3 and 7
Thank you, Jay! Much appreciated.
You're the best! Thank you 💖
Will the Better alto sax be available in France ?
Thank you for all you do for sax players. Much appreciated !
Aghh thanks Jay !! For the first time someone who writes it in all 12 Keys
Thanks, Jay. I’m having trouble finding the PDF you mentioned for “12 Scales…” Maybe I missed a step ? Thanks. John P.
Great. Thank you
Looks bewildering all these scales
Wow : that's GREAT 🤩
Many thanx : all you do for sax players is very useful 👍
You are really kind providing the sheet music
This is super helpful, thank you for the video!
Glad it was helpful!
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
Will You release a Tenor Better Sax in near time? Thinking of start taking lessons with a tenor sax🎵
Yes coming soon!
Thanks Jay
thank you so much ~~!! i have subscribed !
Hi. I went to the link for the download and signed up. Got in but found no link to download the sheet. I would like to try it to see. I want to take improvisation seriously and am looking for the best courses during the current times. A little disappointed that it does not seem to be easy to get what you say is there: i. e. The scale sheet.
Very good, thanks !
Thank you so much! I own an Akai EWI (I found your TH-cam channel while searching for EWI resources). Hope you don't mind that I don't practice these scales on the saxophone... ;-)
I wanted to know if you could ad delay and reverb to your sax playing in the headphones
Wow what a teacher! Jay you kill it. Any referral program for the new alto?
Mike, the alto is only available from bettersax.com for now.
Actually play in a band with a friend who is looking for a new horn and wondered if I get a % commission if I sell him on buying it ! Lol
Hi Jay! Is the PDF link still up? Can't get it by following the link in the description
I Love all your videos but have really spent a lot of time with your mouthpiece comparisons! They’re excellent! Easily 5*s! I’m still considering buying a Jody Jazz because of you! 😀
Quick question... Might switching to a Jazz mouthpiece make me less apt to keep inadvertently slipping back to my classical embouchure? That is...
Might a Jody Jazz mp feel different enough from my Selmer E that I could more easily adopt this new way of playing?
Thanks so much for all your videos and for how much you put into making them so concise, organized and encouraging.
Great video Jay! Would you recommend 70 bpm to practice those? Thanks Sid.
Whatever tempo you can play with solid rhythm and no mistakes while staying relaxed.
Great lesson, as usual!
What mouthpiece are you working with in this video?
Brilliant advice and approach Jay! Would you suggest expanding the range of scale practice (adjusting accordingly) through the whole playable range of the specific scale? eg C major starting from low C (or B) reaching high F and returning back to low C (or something similar). Also, would you recommend practicing slurred?
Thank you
You're welcome
Greetings to you Jay.. Beautiful content on all your videos. What kind of advice could you give to me as a long time ago clarinet player who recently switched to tenor sax and kinda struggling with reading notes?! Thanks and big up to your community of beautiful people..
i wish i had a sax lol so cool
Hello, Jeff. I live in Paris France. I wish I could buy or at least try your Better Sax saxophone. Too bad no delivery is possible in France. Do you plan on supplying our country some time soon ? Best regards.
Jay, we’re you circular breathing or was the scale demo just expertly spliced? It sounded excellent.
Isn't that the bettersax brand you playing with Jay?
Hi there, thank you for the great advices. I'm looking for a theoric pdf about harmonic (no video), does your harmonic foundation course contain a pdf or it is only videos? If not do you have any other pdf or maybe some book reference that I could use? Really I'm looking for a bedside book, or a pdf that I could print.
Thank you :)
Yes the harmonic foundation also comes with a pdf book
Should I learn arpeggios for these?
You got anything for reading sheet music? I have no idea how to read music
How does you sax sounds like jazz and beautiful and mine just sounds basic
This is great!
Ummm I have the pdf- but can someone tell me how I’m meant to play a low A? Thought that’s was only possible on baris?
Great Jay, but I can't find the free pdf in the shed? The link takes me to the shed, but when I log in I can't find the pdf? Please help
I am beginner to, I don’t know what this means, but I am going to repeat
couldn't download the 12 scales you need for jazz. Can you help?
What mouthpiece are you using on this video Jay?
This is a Jody Jazz HR* 7
@@bettersax I'm really loving the sound of this sax
Fantastic
Hi Jay! Is your tongue articulation every two notes or every four notes, or no articulation at all? Thanks!
It’s varied.
Please I can't download the PDF. I need the link
see, i think one could do a performance where they just play scales for 2 hours. different patterns, different timings, ... sold gold. lol
thanks
Do you have these scales that start no lower than low Bb?
Me: just finishes performances based grade 8 exam yesterday
Teacher: alright so let’s play some scales
*throws a bunch of variations with specific articulation patterns*
Why is your Melodic Minor Scale the same up as it is down? Usually the 6th and 7th are raised on the way up and in the key signature on the way down.
I see, it is the "Jazz" Melodic Minor Scale
Is my alto sax is out of tune or is it just me? I try the first Major Scale (Ionian), but my G is kinda' flat? I'm not sure but when I'm trying to do it, it has different tune? Not sure
Looking for a nice jazz reed any recommendations???
Gideon Harripersad vandoren ZZ.
Hi Jay. Thank you for your help. However, I am not receiving your PDF scales via email. Is there an email for me to get in touch.
Thank you.
you need to confirm your email address by clicking the link in the email we sent you. Probably went to junk or spam folders. Once you do that, you'll be taken to the page with all the downloads. Send us an email if you can't find it. bettersax.com/contact