Don’t start by thinking about the notes. Start by listening to the song and the rhythm section. The bass, drums, and piano. Think about what you can play as a saxophonist that fits in the music.
You really should also know the melody very well before you try improvising.
Experiment when you play and see what works. You’ll find that certain counts in the measure should be accented (pay attention to the drums to figure that out). Listen to see when the piano/guitar plays something and try to work with them rather than compete. You’ll also find that certain notes tend to work better.
Notes are not the only thing that matter!
Think about rhythm, space, articulation, phrasing, dynamics, tone, everything else too.
The notes/harmony can get pretty complicated in some songs, and at the start of improvising you want to simplify things as much as possible. So that’s a reason to start with blues tune. You can stick with a minor pentatonic scale or the blues scale and then you don’t have to worry about the notes very much.
(mp3, right click and save)
Bb (concert) will be C for tenor and G for alto. Try thinking of it as the numbers for the chords: I, IV, and V.
I7 | I7 | I7 | I7
IV7 | IV7 | I7 | I7
V7 | IV7 | I7 | I7
The chords will be the one chord, the four chord, and the five chord. They are dominant chords.
I, IV, and V are the Roman numerals. They stand for 1, 4, and 5. For scales, say we’re in a certain key. C for example, then the first note is C, the fourth note is F, the fifth note is G. You can make scales starting on those notes.
The number seven next to the chord symbols indicates a dominant chord, which has a lowered seventh. It corresponds with the mixolydian scale.
Larry says
I’m confused… I,IV, V… Cranial nerves???
Seriously though… please explain this
Thanks
Larry
Neal says
How many of the major scales do you know?
I, IV, and V are the Roman numerals. They stand for 1, 4, and 5. For scales, say we’re in a certain key. C Major for example, then the first note is C, the fourth note is F, the fifth note is G. You can make a scale starting on those notes (all in the same key)
C D E F G A B C
F G A B C D E F
G A B C D E F G
I: C D E F G A B C
IV: F G A B C D E F
V: G A B C D E F G
What I’ve written out here is a little different than the blues form since I’m just using the key of C major. But that’s basically how the roman numerals work.
Gil says
Thanks Neal, I have to wait a couple of weeks b4 I have the money.
Gil says
Hi Neal, what is the cost? Thanks
Neal says
Sorry, put the wrong link, http://mastery.saxstation.com/bonus
Information is there.
Gil says
Hi Neal, now that I think about what you are saying, I think I should take a crack at it, what is the cost, etc.
Neal says
Hey Gil,
Here’s the link, http://mastery.saxstation.com/bonus
Also, I think I’m going to let Saxophone Tribe members get the premium version of the class while paying the regular price.
Thanks
Gil says
Thanks Neal, I played around with it tonite, will do some more tomorrow, I have to get a new mouse for my ‘computer is acting up, but thanks for the back up track. Haven’t decided what to work on yet. I don’t understand chords and symbols that you put down, that’s another area I need teaching on.
Neal says
Hey Gil, a while back you had said that you didn’t feel ready to try the improvisation class I put together. What do you think you would need to know before doing that?
Seems like you know enough at this point to me, but I would like to know what you think would be the prerequisite knowledge so to say.
Gil says
Hi Neal, I overlooked your comment above, would you mind making a few back tracks with band in a box?
Neal says
Played around with band in a box today, just added a back up track recording with a Bb blues, try it out.
What did you have in mind to work on?
Gil says
You can download back tracks from the computer, I might check into band in a box.
Gil says
Thanks again for the input, I guess if your not playing live with anyone play back tracks and impr0vise over them?
Neal says
That’s an option. Do you have some tracks like that?
I could probably make a few actually with band in a box.
You can also play along with any recording you hear.
It’s good to play with other musicians if possible though.