Graham English

My saxophone teacher at the University Of Pittsburgh, Dr. Nathan Davis, developed a series of exercises he called, “The Holy Six.” Each exercise has a practical musical application and also builds fundamental technique.

• Holy Six #1 is a series of major arpeggios weaving up and down a half step at a time. For variation, try different chord qualities and inversions.
  
• Holy Six #2 is a pattern based on a V-I progression and is repeated by transposing a whole step. For variation, try different chord qualities.
  
• Holy Six #3 is a pattern based on the diminished scale. A favorite of John Coltrane, this exercise has plenty of practical application and room for variation.
  
• Holy Six #4 is a four note pattern (1-2-3-5) repeated in the interval of a minor third.
  
• Holy Six #5 is another four note pattern (b6-5-3-1) repeated in intervals of a major third.
  
• Holy Six #6 is a pattern I like to call, “The Windmill.” A flurry of fourths within a larger pattern of minor thirds—the faster this pattern is played, the more you blow people away.
  

Get the entire Holy Six for free:

If you want to be notified the next time I post something, sign up for email alerts or subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Rating:

 Loading ...

Tags: arpeggios, diminished patterns, diminished scale, exercises, John Coltrane, Nathan Davis, patterns, technique

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 26th, 2006 at 9:34 am and is filed under Music Education, Prose. You can leave a comment if you follow my Living Room Rules. If not, you can leave a trackback from your own site.