Doxy, Tenor Madness, My one & only love, It might as well be spring, My funny Valentine, On Green dolphin street, Misty, When I fall in love, Stella by Starlight, East of the sun west of the moon, as time goes by. To learn these songs I use Ireal pro on my iphone and a blutooth speaker. Recommendable!! The great thing about iReal pro is that you can set the key, tempo (bpm), style, number of times it loops, and you can tweak the rhythm section to your liking. For style, you can choose Swing or Latin but also “Long tones” which uses the major notes in the chords progression. Also a great way to learn the chord changes of a song!!!
Sounds like you've got a great set going there! Yeah, iReal Pro is the bomb!!! I use it myself all of the time, and as soon as my students start improvising I have them get it. I've never checked out the long tone option, definitely going to take a look at that one. Thanks!
Scott Paddock You’re welcome, but I made a small mistake, the option in iReal Pro is called Long Notes, not Long Tones. It is listed in the list of Jazz styles under L. Very useful. I also change the key of some songs to learn these songs in another key as a scales practice. It combines the fun of owning a song with practicing scales in different keys.
Thank you soo much for this. I'm 42 and have always dreamed of playing the sax so I just began my journey. I want to be able to play "To God be the glory" and at church in general, pop and jazz for fun secondary.
Right on the spot on the importance of scales. They may not be fun, but essential to play songs and they also help you to be able to improvise. Thanks.
You are so right on what you stated in this video. I'm on a fixed income so I really can't afford lessons. As far as TH-cam videos. You're the only one I watch. Your advice is way better than what I saw on You Tube before I seen your first video. I'm looking to play for my Church. What type of music I like to play back in the days when I was better than I am now. Dave Koz, Euge Grove, Paul Taylor, Kenny G., Dave Sanborn, Jeff Kashiwa, and a few others. 13 years my left had was damaged so I can't feel the upper keys, do to nerve damage. But all in all Scott, you're helping out a lot of us who want to better our skills/ technic. Keep up the good work and thank you.
I used to have a terrible ear but after working on ear training for 3 years, I have a great ear now. I could transcribe any song and Improvisation on the spot.
Hi Scott, I've been enjoying your videos and just started learning alto sax. I'm mainly a guitarist, but started out on clarinet in grade school. The songs I've started picking up by ear include Amazing Grace, Auld Lang Syne, As Time Goes By, Stranger on the Shore, Summertime, Can't Help Falling in Love, Desperado, Over the Rainbow, and the Bobby Keys solo from Dion's The Wanderer. I'll be checking out more of your videos, Thanks, Mike
I can't stick to just one genre. I'm transcribing a few ones: Blues Walk (Lou Donaldson), Ben Webster Poutin' (There's a great video of Ben with the Oscar Peterson Trio) My Groove Your Move (Hank Mobley) and Goodbye Pork Pie Hat are my favorite Blues Jazz songs so far. The solos in these songs are a Masterclass. I listen to them over and over again and keep transcribing small pieces and licks. Yesterday I started with the Skatalites Rock Fort Rock, which is easier compared to the ones listed above and great fun to play along and improvise with, as it's only in one key with few chord changes. All these songs can be found in TH-cam or Spotify fairly easy. Thanks Scott for the advise, I'm looking forward to hear more about your new site.
Those all sound like challenging transcription pieces... small bites definitely the way to go. I have some favorite albums, and solos that I can listen to over and over and over also.
Hey Scott, From my point of view I try “ Ain’t no sunshine”, Summertime, Careless Whispers, Cameleon, Mercy Mercy mercy and other Acoustic songs on the Sax without backing tracks. Here in Columbus, Ohio, busking with an amplified speaker can get you a fine.. but, if your just playing a Sax it’s ok. So I’m hoping to get a list of songs to play without backing.. Thanks for all your videos, they’re what I need to remind me of things from high school. I’m yearly 50 and don’t track the sheet music like before. It’s been over 25years since I’ve played for a crowd..
Songs I have and am working on, Alone Together, All the things you are, Summertime, Sunny, Four, Bill's Bounce, Beautiful Love, Song for my Father, Take Five, Take the A train.
Stairway to Heaven - I like it because on my tenor it uses all the high palm keys and makes for some interesting hand/finger work. Never mind when it’s good, it sounds wonderful...
Thanks Scott for these advises, now up to us to organize all your usefull videos in order to match with each advice, this is what I 'll try to do. Greetings from Bangkok.
I am really an amateur, but have always loved Night Train, Watermelon Man, Summertime, Harlem Nocturne (my favorite), and Georgia on My Mind. I could use the help as I do not sight read.
I've been playing since I was a kid. Kinda put it down in my mid 20s and picked it back up here in my mid 30s. I mostly practice out of the Bird Omnibook and the Cannonball Omnibook. I occasionally try to transcribe solos or learn them by ear but I'll admit, I get lazy about it. I also work on tunes out of the Real Books. And I do long tones and I pretty much know all the scales but it wouldn't hurt me to work on the harder key signatures more. For funky stuff, I like to throw on Maceo Parker and play along. Can't go wrong with Maceo!
My go to practice favs - As Time Goes By Moonglow She Unchain My Heart You Don't Know Me It Had To Be You Chicken Long Train Running - Solo Let's Stick Together ❤
Hi Scott...........The first song I learnt was Strangers on the shore, then Perfect (Ed Sheeran ) . Endless Love, (Palm Keys used scary lol) these last two are helping me though. P.S. I hate you cos your so fricking good. Seriously though thanks for your help and tips, this vid was great. Playing 10 months by the way
So many awesome songs, in addition to the ones you mentioned mine are: Misty, My One And Only Love, Alfie, Easy Living, Autumn In New York, Skylark, Take Five, and In A Sentimental Mood. I just can't pick one 🎷👍🎉🆒😎
I love Benny Goodman! I actually toured with the legacy Tommy Dorsey Orchestra right after I got out of college. I'll try and throw some big band in there!
I am learning All of Me right now. I also helping out this Rock band playing keyboards and Saxophone (Alto) playing on 3 solos and a Sax part. The solo's are Same Old Song & Dance (Aerosmith) Live with Me (Rolling Stones) Bitch is back (Elton John) and Bitch Sax part another Stones song.
Scott, have you done a session on mouthpieces, reeds, ligatures etc. Also, what is the blue coloured mouthpiece your using on the alto sax in your videos as well as the reed type(synthetic or bamboo) and strength and the ligature you use. Your insight would be of great help, regards
Thanks Marcus! I haven't done any mouthpiece videos. I honestly don't know a ton about mouthpieces. I put it on, if it sounds good, I play it. If it doesn't I take it off. I have no idea how facing and chambers, etc work. All my gear is listed in the about this video section of every video.
Thank you so much Scott! your way to teach is so good and i really apreciate and enjoy learning with your videos. Muchisimas gracias and always following your post on instagram =)
My goal is to improv..trying to remember scales and chords..just have FUN...I can follow n read music..Sergey playalong all the way here..I'm strong in some aspect..it just chords changes n scales, "chord progression" I know which notes to hit.but how to flow is where I struggle..that chop chop is that a packet? Patterns? I'll search on those books..patterns of jazz it was ok, but didnt grab my attention enough..t.y.
I did a few videos on improv. Check them out, they will get you headed in the right direction. Improv is one of those things that seems really tough until someone teaches you to do it, and then it is really easy. If you approach it the correct way you gradually add harder chords/scales over a long period of time until you are comfortable with most anything that pops up.
I been watching your vids for a while..repetition..repetition..repetition../practice..t.y...was taking lessons with a 65yrs gangsta..but where I work there are a lot of changes going so had to stop taking lessons until I get my life into a better place..
Winelight/Mr Magic/Let it Flow Tenor and Alto jamming in general is my goal. Blues+Funk Some jazz Grover Washington jr is pretty hard to match and whenever I attempt to sight read anything of his my timing, fingering, and overall tone quality fail. Sometimes it happens for me but more often then not I’m so pumped to jam that I disregard key signatures and play all the wrong notes. Few Examples on my channel it’s almost embarrassing but in the end I enjoy playing.
I hear All Of Me on every street corner when I'm there. Basin Street Blues. Make sure you check out Frenchman Street - that's where all of the great music is, and on a Tuesday night check out The Rebirth Brass Band at the Maple Leaf... it's not in the French Quarter but is some of the best music you will hear in NOLA. Definitely worth the $10 Uber ride.
great video! you just summarised my work for the next few years ;-) I am playing since about an year but didn't really learned scales or technique. I learned some songs and trained my embouchure so far. Question: when to start working on improvisation? what steps need to be completed before attempting improvisation? Your videos are very helpful, thanks a lot and please keep posting!
Scott, thanks for all of your videos and valuble information in them. Are there any specific song books which will contain the classic Jazz, Blues type music. I've only been playing for a year on Tenor sax. Any help will be very appreciated.
A little bit of everything on my tenor, from georgia on my mind, hit the road Jack... to bossanova at the moment (how insensitive). Still haven't found an exact goal... just having fun
So how would you suggest adult students approach practicing all this stuff? How much time a day? Or week or whatever? When it comes to improvisation, do you suggest starting off try to play along with iDeal Pro and a Real Book and just trying it, or do you have a system on working on some theory on chord understanding and scales that work?
I tell everyone to practice at least 30 minutes a day for 5 days a week if you want some results. Obviously, the more you practice the faster you will get better, but that is the minimum to make any traction. I did a couple videos on improv, have you checked them out? That's a good starting point. Teaching yourself improv is kind of tough, I'd definitely recommend a few lessons to get you started and help unravel the puzzle. Once, you get a few songs under your belt, figuring things out gets a lot easier.
Who else can teach you improv other than yourself? I'm guessing it's really a case of your level of musicality. If you know viscerally how songs/tracks tend to go, then once you've got the muscle memory down, it should be a relatively straightforward task to hear something in your head and then play it out. I find your answer kind of baffling as surely it depends on someone's level of musical awareness and experience. I've been a closet singer for 40 years, so I think I know something about musicality and playing by ear. Will have to see once saxaphone turns up ... maybe it's really difficult, but I choose not to believe that ...
I'm coming back to playing after not playing for ~8 years. Now that I'm not in any type of ensemble, it's been tough finding music to play on my own and not be bored. Do you have suggestions where to find backtracks to songs and sheet music just to play for fun? (for alto sax) really enjoying your channel so far!
Thanks! Hmmm, I'm sure there are some websites. I don't know the names of them though, but try googling sax backingtracks. I know there are some with music on TH-cam.
My funny valentine,geogia on my mind,europa,the nerness of you, the man i love, the shadow of youre smile,look of love, My way, im a fool to want you etc etc
Scott, please when telling us a song, tell us who played it; who did summer time please and autumn leaves ?? And Scott, I would love if you could give us tips of more kinds of music, we do jazz and funk a lot, I would appreciate if you add some African tunes to your tutorials, Afro pop, that kinda thing 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Hey Nyes, thanks for the comment. Those are all jazz standards played by tons and tons of people. I'd suggest putting the title in TH-cam or Spotify, etc and listening to some of the versions that come up. I never play African tunes, or afro pop....... so, I'd probably not be a very good guy to get a tutorial from.
What does "learn songs" mean? In the end there was a side comment of "almost memorized". Is that the goal, to memorize? Or maybe it is to play it in different keys? Play with a singer or other instruments? Just wondering.
To me, learning a song means being able to play the melody and make it sound musical. It doesn't have to be memorized, but it can be. It all depends on your goals.
Hello Scott I am a adult alto sax player (novice) I have been playing songs and I do have an instructor. I am working in the Paul De Ville book. My biggest problem or nemesis is 16th notes and how to play them faster. Please Help. Thanks
I started with Lotus Blossom, it's great until you get to the solo. Better then to make your own solo using pentatonic/blues scale (there' a way he does that, quite magical). Original rays is great too, real easy, but again, you might not play the solo. Sara's touch is a good one too. Has a key change in the melody, plus a written end to the solo that's a real exercise in saving your breath for the end. Dead easy smooth jazz is In the name of love. Baker street is easy (possibly embarrassing), and Careless Whisper (people ask for it regardless of any pseudo-subliminal disgrace in some of his songs). If you play tenor (or flute) and can't play Pink Panther then something is wrong. (We are supposed to play Yakety Sax too). The Godfather gets boring but it's easy and people like it. Cantina band is fun. For a bit. Trumpet Hornpipe (=Captain Pugwash) is a barrel of laughs. If you want a really challenging (but then easy when you've got it) head that goes into a simple 12-bar for solos then Inside Out is it (Brecker bros.). You can play the funky head chords for the first solo chorus, if you're real tough. Starting to use the altissimo, try Spherical. If you really want to work on altissimo get Solo and Anywhere I wander by David Sanborn. (Try to get them (highs) to sound the same, (needs friendly neighbors)). I could never remember anything, until I ignored the chords and looked at it as scale degrees (of the key). All of a sudden............ 10-year challenge = Learn Your latest trick and then try to get it to sound like the recording. (find the sax center channel version on You tube).
Doxy, Tenor Madness, My one & only love, It might as well be spring, My funny Valentine, On Green dolphin street, Misty, When I fall in love, Stella by Starlight, East of the sun west of the moon, as time goes by. To learn these songs I use Ireal pro on my iphone and a blutooth speaker. Recommendable!! The great thing about iReal pro is that you can set the key, tempo (bpm), style, number of times it loops, and you can tweak the rhythm section to your liking. For style, you can choose Swing or Latin but also “Long tones” which uses the major notes in the chords progression. Also a great way to learn the chord changes of a song!!!
Sounds like you've got a great set going there! Yeah, iReal Pro is the bomb!!! I use it myself all of the time, and as soon as my students start improvising I have them get it. I've never checked out the long tone option, definitely going to take a look at that one. Thanks!
Scott Paddock You’re welcome, but I made a small mistake, the option in iReal Pro is called Long Notes, not Long Tones. It is listed in the list of Jazz styles under L. Very useful.
I also change the key of some songs to learn these songs in another key as a scales practice. It combines the fun of owning a song with practicing scales in different keys.
that tenor on the way of the door swing is freaking me out!
Just seen it..oops
Me too😓
SUMMARY
1- learn new songs (repertoire)
2- scales (maj / penta / dorian etc.)
3- Tone: long tones / over tones / vibrato
4- technique
5- improvisation / ear training
thanks! at 7:11
Thank you
Yo this is my vocal/piano practice regime as well! I need to add more long tones though.
For those who don’t know technique is playing with a song or knowing alternate fingerings or maybe articulation.
Thank you soo much for this. I'm 42 and have always dreamed of playing the sax so I just began my journey. I want to be able to play "To God be the glory" and at church in general, pop and jazz for fun secondary.
👍👍👍
Right on the spot on the importance of scales. They may not be fun, but essential to play songs and they also help you to be able to improvise. Thanks.
Great one man Misty or autumn leaves. I think you pretty much encapsulated the entire meaning of life of sax in a few mins
I'm trying! Thanks Gary!!
You are so right on what you stated in this video. I'm on a fixed income so I really can't afford lessons. As far as TH-cam videos. You're the only one I watch. Your advice is way better than what I saw on You Tube before I seen your first video. I'm looking to play for my Church. What type of music I like to play back in the days when I was better than I am now. Dave Koz, Euge Grove, Paul Taylor, Kenny G., Dave Sanborn, Jeff Kashiwa, and a few others. 13 years my left had was damaged so I can't feel the upper keys, do to nerve damage. But all in all Scott, you're helping out a lot of us who want to better our skills/ technic. Keep up the good work and thank you.
Hey Mike! Glad to hear you're enjoying my channel.
I used to have a terrible ear but after working on ear training for 3 years, I have a great ear now. I could transcribe any song and Improvisation on the spot.
Amazing Grace, bridge over troubled water, Georgia on my Mind, hey jude, would love to play them , great information
Sounds like a good list!
Satin Doll. Is my choice of song. Thanks again Scott
Hi Scott, I've been enjoying your videos and just started learning alto sax. I'm mainly a guitarist, but started out on clarinet in grade school. The songs I've started picking up by ear include Amazing Grace, Auld Lang Syne, As Time Goes By, Stranger on the Shore, Summertime, Can't Help Falling in Love, Desperado, Over the Rainbow, and the Bobby Keys solo from Dion's The Wanderer. I'll be checking out more of your videos,
Thanks, Mike
I can't stick to just one genre. I'm transcribing a few ones: Blues Walk (Lou Donaldson), Ben Webster Poutin' (There's a great video of Ben with the Oscar Peterson Trio) My Groove Your Move (Hank Mobley) and Goodbye Pork Pie Hat are my favorite Blues Jazz songs so far. The solos in these songs are a Masterclass. I listen to them over and over again and keep transcribing small pieces and licks.
Yesterday I started with the Skatalites Rock Fort Rock, which is easier compared to the ones listed above and great fun to play along and improvise with, as it's only in one key with few chord changes. All these songs can be found in TH-cam or Spotify fairly easy.
Thanks Scott for the advise, I'm looking forward to hear more about your new site.
Those all sound like challenging transcription pieces... small bites definitely the way to go. I have some favorite albums, and solos that I can listen to over and over and over also.
Hey Scott, From my point of view I try “ Ain’t no sunshine”, Summertime, Careless Whispers, Cameleon, Mercy Mercy mercy and other Acoustic songs on the Sax without backing tracks. Here in Columbus, Ohio, busking with an amplified speaker can get you a fine.. but, if your just playing a Sax it’s ok. So I’m hoping to get a list of songs to play without backing.. Thanks for all your videos, they’re what I need to remind me of things from high school. I’m yearly 50 and don’t track the sheet music like before. It’s been over 25years since I’ve played for a crowd..
Have fun out there busking... I'd suggest waiting for a little warmer weather :-)
Songs I have and am working on, Alone Together, All the things you are, Summertime, Sunny, Four, Bill's Bounce, Beautiful Love, Song for my Father, Take Five, Take the A train.
Another great video Scott.
Lady Bird, Bag's Groove, Blue Bossa, All Blues, Cantaloupe Island, Lorans Dance are in my repertoire.
Awesome!!
I'm doing Bags Groove and Blue Bossa at the moment. Got the melody down, it's the solos I struggle with
Happy birthday is the song i am working on right now
Black Orpheus, Mercy Mercy Mercy, My Girl, Freddie Freeloader and I just subscribed!
Thanks Joel! Check out my video tomorrow, I'm doing a tutorial on a Cannonball lick from Freddie Freedloader.
Ain't no Sunshine is my song at the moment. Great tune.
Love that song!
Harlem Nocturne, Unforgettable; My Favorite Things
Work song, summertime, all of me, april in Paris, misty and midnight sun
Stairway to Heaven - I like it because on my tenor it uses all the high palm keys and makes for some interesting hand/finger work. Never mind when it’s good, it sounds wonderful...
I've never played that tune on sax, I'll have to check it out.
Thanks Scott for these advises, now up to us to organize all your usefull videos in order to match with each advice, this is what I 'll try to do. Greetings from Bangkok.
👍👍👍
Groovy Kind of love is my go to song.
Hi Scott, I would learn Hey Laura by Gregory Porter. Great lessons, thank you.
I am really an amateur, but have always loved Night Train, Watermelon Man, Summertime, Harlem Nocturne (my favorite), and Georgia on My Mind. I could use the help as I do not sight read.
Those are some of my favs too!!!
Great advice. Thank you!
I've been playing since I was a kid. Kinda put it down in my mid 20s and picked it back up here in my mid 30s. I mostly practice out of the Bird Omnibook and the Cannonball Omnibook. I occasionally try to transcribe solos or learn them by ear but I'll admit, I get lazy about it. I also work on tunes out of the Real Books. And I do long tones and I pretty much know all the scales but it wouldn't hurt me to work on the harder key signatures more. For funky stuff, I like to throw on Maceo Parker and play along. Can't go wrong with Maceo!
My go to practice favs - As Time Goes By
Moonglow
She
Unchain My Heart
You Don't Know Me
It Had To Be You
Chicken
Long Train Running - Solo
Let's Stick Together ❤
Song I would play? St. James Infirmary. When the Saints go marching in. C Jam Blues.
Thank you from Montreal !
👍👍
Thanks Scott. Super helpful!!
Alone Together. Exactly Like You. On the Sunny Side of the Street (learning from Joshua Redman on his CD)
I love Joshua Redman!
Great suggestions!
* Learning songs
* Scales
* Tone
* Technique
* Improvisation/Ear training
👍👍
Hi Scott...........The first song I learnt was Strangers on the shore, then Perfect (Ed Sheeran ) . Endless Love, (Palm Keys used scary lol) these last two are helping me though.
P.S. I hate you cos your so fricking good. Seriously though thanks for your help and tips, this vid was great. Playing 10 months by the way
So many awesome songs, in addition to the ones you mentioned mine are: Misty, My One And Only Love, Alfie, Easy Living, Autumn In New York, Skylark, Take Five, and In A Sentimental Mood. I just can't pick one 🎷👍🎉🆒😎
In a Sentimental Mood is one of my all time favorite ballads! I also love My One & Only Love. Good tunes!!
Hi Scott, I'm a really big fan of swing music like Benny Goodman. I'd really love to see you do a swing cover video some time in the future. Thanks
I love Benny Goodman! I actually toured with the legacy Tommy Dorsey Orchestra right after I got out of college. I'll try and throw some big band in there!
Cry me a River. Great vid Scott. I’m getting so go my ‘soul patch’ is coming in. Good work.
😁😁
I can almost play TEQUILA off by heart - so it’s going to be my party piece for friends.
Awesome , i am with you
Take Five is my current goal.
Great tune!!! And the solo is just the C blues scale.
Great advice scott...thank u man!!!
👍👍👍
I am learning All of Me right now. I also helping out this Rock band playing keyboards and Saxophone (Alto) playing on 3 solos and a Sax part. The solo's are Same Old Song & Dance (Aerosmith) Live with Me (Rolling Stones) Bitch is back (Elton John) and Bitch Sax part another Stones song.
Scott, have you done a session on mouthpieces, reeds, ligatures etc. Also, what is the blue coloured mouthpiece your using on the alto sax in your videos as well as the reed type(synthetic or bamboo) and strength and the ligature you use. Your insight would be of great help, regards
Thanks Marcus! I haven't done any mouthpiece videos. I honestly don't know a ton about mouthpieces. I put it on, if it sounds good, I play it. If it doesn't I take it off. I have no idea how facing and chambers, etc work. All my gear is listed in the about this video section of every video.
Thank you so much Scott! your way to teach is so good and i really apreciate and enjoy learning with your videos. Muchisimas gracias and always following your post on instagram =)
😁😁😁
The song I would like learn how to post Whitney Houston’s I will always love you on the alto saxophone
My goal is to improv..trying to remember scales and chords..just have FUN...I can follow n read music..Sergey playalong all the way here..I'm strong in some aspect..it just chords changes n scales, "chord progression" I know which notes to hit.but how to flow is where I struggle..that chop chop is that a packet? Patterns? I'll search on those books..patterns of jazz it was ok, but didnt grab my attention enough..t.y.
I did a few videos on improv. Check them out, they will get you headed in the right direction. Improv is one of those things that seems really tough until someone teaches you to do it, and then it is really easy. If you approach it the correct way you gradually add harder chords/scales over a long period of time until you are comfortable with most anything that pops up.
I been watching your vids for a while..repetition..repetition..repetition../practice..t.y...was taking lessons with a 65yrs gangsta..but where I work there are a lot of changes going so had to stop taking lessons until I get my life into a better place..
Nice very helpful !!!
A Tear for Crystal (alto), My Funny Valentine (tenor), My Favourite things (Soprano)
I'm not familiar with A Tear for Crystal. I should check it out
Mr PC- John Coltrane- is a starting place for learning songs for me.
That's a great one!
Winelight/Mr Magic/Let it Flow Tenor and Alto jamming in general is my goal. Blues+Funk Some jazz
Grover Washington jr is pretty hard to match and whenever I attempt to sight read anything of his my timing, fingering, and overall tone quality fail.
Sometimes it happens for me but more often then not I’m so pumped to jam that I disregard key signatures and play all the wrong notes. Few Examples on my channel it’s almost embarrassing but in the end I enjoy playing.
Very lovely
Confessions part 2
Tank!
Great video, just what I was looking for, Thanks great job, MY pick Candy Dulfer / Lily Was Here
😁😁😁
Harlem Nocturne, Yesterday and Someone You Loved
Street corner in New Orleans 👍🏼
Thank you!
Amazing Grace
Desafinado, Triste, Meditation, Blue Bossa, Besame Mucho, It could happen to You, Begin the Beguine. I love the Latin stuff.
Sounds like a fun set. I'd add a little Black Orpheus in there :-)
Scott Paddock. Flying to New Orleans on Tuesday. Hopefully get a jam or two. Any suggestions on good tunes to learn/play.
I hear All Of Me on every street corner when I'm there. Basin Street Blues. Make sure you check out Frenchman Street - that's where all of the great music is, and on a Tuesday night check out The Rebirth Brass Band at the Maple Leaf... it's not in the French Quarter but is some of the best music you will hear in NOLA. Definitely worth the $10 Uber ride.
That's fab Scott. Many thanks.
great video! you just summarised my work for the next few years ;-) I am playing since about an year but didn't really learned scales or technique. I learned some songs and trained my embouchure so far.
Question: when to start working on improvisation? what steps need to be completed before attempting improvisation?
Your videos are very helpful, thanks a lot and please keep posting!
Hey, you should check out my sax school. It will take you step by step through everything playing the sax, learning songs & scales, and improvisation.
I love Satin Doll or Harlem Nocturn
Great tunes!
Scott, thanks for all of your videos and valuble information in them. Are there any specific song books which will contain the classic Jazz, Blues type music. I've only been playing for a year on Tenor sax. Any help will be very appreciated.
i would instinctively play morning mood, but when I think about it I would play the oboe solo from Fate of the Gods by Steven cantspelllastname
A little bit of everything on my tenor, from georgia on my mind, hit the road Jack... to bossanova at the moment (how insensitive). Still haven't found an exact goal... just having fun
Fun is what it's all about
Misty..Georgia on my mind..stand by me..
My late Father love Autumn Leaves by Nat King Cole. Truly miss my Dad
Solar, On Green Dolphin St., Softly as a Morning Sunrise and Everything Happens to Me are the standards I'm working on memorizing currently.
Softly As In a Morning Sunrise has been one of my go-tos for years!! Love that song.
Desafinado, Corcovado, Girls from Ipanema, One note Samba, Bossa Antigua, Blue Bossa, Chega de saudade
I love the bossa and sambas!
I love Stan Getz's & Paul Desmond's
Personally I’d try to learn to play American patrol and you should try over the rainbow it’s really good for long tones and vibratos
So how would you suggest adult students approach practicing all this stuff? How much time a day? Or week or whatever? When it comes to improvisation, do you suggest starting off try to play along with iDeal Pro and a Real Book and just trying it, or do you have a system on working on some theory on chord understanding and scales that work?
I tell everyone to practice at least 30 minutes a day for 5 days a week if you want some results. Obviously, the more you practice the faster you will get better, but that is the minimum to make any traction. I did a couple videos on improv, have you checked them out? That's a good starting point. Teaching yourself improv is kind of tough, I'd definitely recommend a few lessons to get you started and help unravel the puzzle. Once, you get a few songs under your belt, figuring things out gets a lot easier.
Who else can teach you improv other than yourself? I'm guessing it's really a case of your level of musicality. If you know viscerally how songs/tracks tend to go, then once you've got the muscle memory down, it should be a relatively straightforward task to hear something in your head and then play it out.
I find your answer kind of baffling as surely it depends on someone's level of musical awareness and experience. I've been a closet singer for 40 years, so I think I know something about musicality and playing by ear. Will have to see once saxaphone turns up ... maybe it's really difficult, but I choose not to believe that ...
Petite Fleur!
How did you get so good so fast?
misty, mr clean, dahood, somewhere over, summertime
Great Video and info! Jordu
Thanks!!
Harlem Nocturne by the Viscounts and Summertime by the Marcells
Endless love. I will always love you. Baker Street. Dance with my father. Careless Whisper.
How to get this buzz sound your sax have? What's your setup Scott?
Equinox, Darn that Dream, Naima, Footprints
Great tunes!
Youre the man.
😁
I'm coming back to playing after not playing for ~8 years. Now that I'm not in any type of ensemble, it's been tough finding music to play on my own and not be bored. Do you have suggestions where to find backtracks to songs and sheet music just to play for fun? (for alto sax) really enjoying your channel so far!
Thanks! Hmmm, I'm sure there are some websites. I don't know the names of them though, but try googling sax backingtracks. I know there are some with music on TH-cam.
My funny valentine,geogia on my mind,europa,the nerness of you, the man i love, the shadow of youre smile,look of love,
My way, im a fool to want you etc etc
I Guess I’ll Hang My Tears Out to Dry.
Scott, please when telling us a song, tell us who played it; who did summer time please and autumn leaves ?? And Scott, I would love if you could give us tips of more kinds of music, we do jazz and funk a lot, I would appreciate if you add some African tunes to your tutorials, Afro pop, that kinda thing 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Hey Nyes, thanks for the comment. Those are all jazz standards played by tons and tons of people. I'd suggest putting the title in TH-cam or Spotify, etc and listening to some of the versions that come up. I never play African tunes, or afro pop....... so, I'd probably not be a very good guy to get a tutorial from.
Songbird, Tears In Heaven, You and the Night and the Music
How do I break into a local jazz or popular or local reggae or ska scene? Also, how do I distribute recordings and advertise myself?
When you say learning songs, do you buy the sheet music, or try to learn by ear? I am having a hard time just remembering licks.
What does "learn songs" mean? In the end there was a side comment of "almost memorized". Is that the goal, to memorize? Or maybe it is to play it in different keys? Play with a singer or other instruments? Just wondering.
To me, learning a song means being able to play the melody and make it sound musical. It doesn't have to be memorized, but it can be. It all depends on your goals.
Autumn Leaves, Blue Bossa,
The solo in Jungleland.
As time goes by, over the rainbow
Great tunes!!
Reaching for the Moon.
I would chose to play amazing Grace
Dig Dis, Yard-bird Suite, Blue Bossa, Take Five to name a few
Yardbird is one of my favorite CP gig tunes!
Besame Mucho
Take Five
👍👍👍
Dance with my father, St james infirmary, perfect, ain't no sunshine, wonderful world.
Luther Vandross! Great songs.
Love IT...... SUCCES MAESTRE 👍👍👍💗
👍👍👍
Hello Scott I am a adult alto sax player (novice) I have been playing songs and I do have an instructor. I am working in the Paul De Ville book. My biggest problem or nemesis is 16th notes and how to play them faster. Please Help. Thanks
‘Moanin’ - Bobby Timmons
I started with Lotus Blossom, it's great until you get to the solo. Better then to make your own solo using pentatonic/blues scale (there' a way he does that, quite magical). Original rays is great too, real easy, but again, you might not play the solo.
Sara's touch is a good one too. Has a key change in the melody, plus a written end to the solo that's a real exercise in saving your breath for the end.
Dead easy smooth jazz is In the name of love.
Baker street is easy (possibly embarrassing), and Careless Whisper (people ask for it regardless of any pseudo-subliminal disgrace in some of his songs).
If you play tenor (or flute) and can't play Pink Panther then something is wrong. (We are supposed to play Yakety Sax too).
The Godfather gets boring but it's easy and people like it.
Cantina band is fun. For a bit.
Trumpet Hornpipe (=Captain Pugwash) is a barrel of laughs.
If you want a really challenging (but then easy when you've got it) head that goes into a simple 12-bar for solos then Inside Out is it (Brecker bros.). You can play the funky head chords for the first solo chorus, if you're real tough.
Starting to use the altissimo, try Spherical. If you really want to work on altissimo get Solo and Anywhere I wander by David Sanborn. (Try to get them (highs) to sound the same, (needs friendly neighbors)).
I could never remember anything, until I ignored the chords and looked at it as scale degrees (of the key). All of a sudden............
10-year challenge = Learn Your latest trick and then try to get it to sound like the recording. (find the sax center channel version on You tube).
👍👍
Mercy mercy mercy
Love it!
Gene Ammons, I Sold My Heart to the Junkman
I played this before it purty fun
Nice.
Thanks!