Challenge #3: One Note Solo
Submission Deadline: April 25, 2013 (passed)
Try recording a four measure solo using one note (you choose the note), you can play along with something or just play saxophone solo.
Often early on, we worry about the notes we play, sometimes a lot.
We also can often overplay, playing too much in a solo.
As you play with only one note, you won’t have the other notes as options to change things. But you do have rhythm, articulation, phrasing, dynamics, tone, emotion, and space. Use those things to make it interesting.
It might help to check out the ‘one note jam’ at NAMM on the ear training page.
Also, Gil said something which I thought was interesting,
KT, Im also having a problem with challenge 3, with just one note, I started out with 4 quarter notes then 2nd measure 2 half notes and 2 quarter notes, and then I hit a brick wall, I see what your saying Neal about articulation, phrasing, and the other things you put down, but Im struggling and Im sure this is simple???
My response:
Hey Gil,
Sounds like you’re being very cerebral about this one. I would recommend a different approach.Either play along with a recording, or imagine a rhythm section in the background.
-Neal
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