[Andrew Gibson]

I suppose playing arpeggios in 4ths there is a melodic relationship; similarly if you practised them in ii,v,i order, or blues i,iv,v. I think it’s a good practise to make exercises up that you might encounter in tunes, or improvising. One exercise I try is to practise say, a minor chord 1,3b,5 but throw in a passing note, or even miss a note now and then:

1,3b,5
1,3b,4
-,3b,5

A

[Andrew Gibson]

I use a hair dryer – set on cold – to properly dry the saxophone, even a quick once over during practice.

The other thing I’ve noticed is that key combinations I avoid, tend to stick more. I have trouble in G blues going quickly from middle C#-C-Bb and sometimes the keys stick. Now I’m playing that combination more, the keys are working fine.

[Andrew Gibson]

Good points. I think playing in tune, like most basics, it’s good to start simply, like playing each note exactly the same way, as you suggest. It’s all about consistency and that can help, say, in keeping a constant embouchre even when playing a tricky part.
A counterpoint might be that our music imitates life, in that we speak in a constantly changing pitch, tone and speed; that’s what makes it interesting and holds the listeners attention. Balance, as always, is the “key”.

[Andrew Gibson]

Thanks for a great chart Jeff. Your point about experimenting, I’m sure is a valid one. I’m trying to do a lot with blues using minor scales and chords. I’m finding that every note can have a place in a minor blues, just a matter of how and where they are played.

Andrew

[Andrew Gibson]

Hi sxpoet.

One suggestion might be to play scales or chords in time with the backing tracks; which I think you’ve suggested in a previous thread. That way, if you know your scales back to front, you can concentrate on the beats – and where to find them?

But don’t just play the scales monotonously, get them sounding melodic and cool…!

A

[Andrew Gibson]

Yes Jazz dead right I think. I have a feeling any technique works better if you can get to the stage of “practising” it in a tune, melody, riff. That way you start to forget about what you are doing, but instead focusing on how it sounds.

[Andrew Gibson]

The only thing I’d add is to learn to play softer/quietly as well as more powerfully(louder). When you’re playing softly, you have to be relaxed anyway so that will help with more breathing control. The way I learned was just to play a simple scale up – normal, then down – softer.

[Andrew Gibson]

Thanks Johnny and sxpoet.

I’ve been trying to compose simple tunes as a way of learning the theory; and then improvising around what I’ve written. I’m into 12 bar blues, so I’ll throw in some II V I chords into bars 9,10,11….thanks

[Andrew Gibson]

Hi Michael, that is so awesome. Hey can you tell us what you did to get noticed? Did you have an audition, join a blues club?

[Andrew Gibson]

Hey, sxpoet. I do a similar exercise, but rather than use the 5ths, I cycle through the I,IV,V minor chords in a 12 bar blues format.

That way, I’m effectively playing a tune! with a start and end point, which adds interest for me. I even write the music in the Crescendo music editor, which helps me learn about note values etc.

[Author]

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