This dominant 7 pentatonic pattern is similar to the previous pattern. It still moves up a half step for a total of 2 notes in an eight note pattern. But this time, the transposed notes are the fifth and eighth notes in the sequence. This means that … [Read more...]
Playing Outside: The Dominant 7 Pentatonic Scale Pattern 2
If Dominant 7 Pentatonic Scale Pattern 2 seemed easy to you, I guarantee you'll find this next one more challenging. Last time, we took a four-note pattern and transposed it up a half step for the second half of the bar. This time, we're using a … [Read more...]
Playing Outside: The Dominant 7 Pentatonic Scale Pattern 1
John Coltrane loved the Dominant 7 Pentatonic Scale. During the 60s, Trane (and other avant-garde musicians like Ornette Coleman) created a unique and dissonant style of "playing outside" the chord changes. Often, they would play a half-step … [Read more...]
Michael Brecker Has Died
Jazz World Loses Sax Musician Michael Brecker Tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker died Saturday at the age of 57. The artist was one of the jazz world's most prolific studio musicians. He toured or performed with Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, and … [Read more...]
Turbocharge Your Practicing
A practice schedule is an important part of your musical development. My sax teacher, Nathan Davis, used to tell me, "Go without practicing one day, and you know. Go without practicing two days, your friends will know. Go without three days, and … [Read more...]
Saxophonists Tricks of the Trade
To make marathon playing sessions easier on your mouth and to soften your sound for classical playing, buy a pack of cigarette papers. Before you play, fold one in half, put it in your mouth and let it soak for awhile. Then fold it across your bottom … [Read more...]