Paul Maine

Software Engineer, Musician and Life Long Learner

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Paul Maine

Minor II-V-I Pattern 1 Based Upon Harmonic Minor Scale

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There are numerous jazz resources that provide some nice patterns for II-V progressions that have a one measure duration. Many standards have II-V-I progressions that occur over 4 measures. Once such song is “All Of Me”.  Measures 5 and six are a B7 ( if you are playing tenor or soprano ) and 7 and 8 are an E-.  We can take the two measures of B7 and substitute F#m7(b5) and then B7(b9) . The harmonic minor scale lends itself to this type of progression.  Be sure to download the pattern and try it out on “All Of Me”. You can also use another harmonic minor pattern from the download beginning on measures 9-12.

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D Major Scale Exercise

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In order to improve our musicianship it is critical to improve our technique on the saxophone. Today I am providing you  with a D major scale exercise that you can download.  As you work through the scale exercise be sure to use a metronome. Record your progress as you increase the speed of the metronome. Do not increase the speed of the metronome until until you can play the exercise completely without error. It is also good to practice your jazz articulation ( please see my jazz articulation post ) on this exercise. This exercise includes an altissimo G. If you cant play the altissimo note just insert a rest for that note.

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Review of Beginning Improvisation: Motivic Development by Ed Tomassi

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Today I am reviewing a 33 minute DVD entitled “Beginning Improvisation: Motivic Development” by Ed Tomassi. Ed Tomassi is a professor at Berklee College of Music.

In the video Tomassi shows you how to use 2,3 or 4 note motives ( riffs ) to create compelling solos. He shows you how to add variety and depth by stringing several different motives together. Ed also tells you about “Through Composing” which along with motives provide for a “call and answer” in your solo.

Tomassi provides demonstrations while playing over the chord changes to “Blue Bossa”.

The DVD is an excellent addition to your improv library and get you to thinking in a very different way.

Buy

Beginning Improvisation: Motivic Development

250 Jazz Patterns by Evan Tate

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After many years of study and reading many jazz improvisation books, I have reached a conclusion that one of the best ways to learn to improvise is to use motives. Motives are short melodic ideas usually consisting of 2-4 notes.  Riff is a slang term for a motive. The basic idea is to pick a motive and move it through the chord changes while you are improvising.

It is necessary too keep in good physical shape in addition to practicing the saxophone. I like to think that it is necessary to “spend time in the gym” on both activities. When I go to the gym I usually download vidcasts or podcasts to my iPhone to listen to while I am working out. During a vidcast search on iTunes I came across a series of vidcasts named the “The 250 Jazz Patterns Vidcast” by Evan Tate.

Evan is a professional saxophonist and instructor with more than 20 years experience. He is currently on the jazz faculity of the University of Music and the Performing Arts in Munich Germany.

Evan has written a book entitled “250 Jazz Patterns”.  The book starts out with simple patterns or motives that are appropriate for a beginner and then moves on to more advanced patterns. Once such pattern is the 1,2,3,5 pattern. If you are improvising over a C major chord the 1,2,3,5 notes would be C,D,E and G. This pattern is built from notes of the C major scale. Evans book is full of excellent useful patterns.

I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to improve their improvisation skills. You can learn more about the book and purchase it from the following link:

250 Jazz Patterns by Evan Tate

Eventually you will proceed to a “Pay using PayPal by clicking here” link. Once you click on this page you will be redirected to a  PayPal screen that is in German but don’t fret. You just need to change the “Land” field from Deutschland to USA ( if you are English speaking ) and all fields on the form will change to english. The price of the book is 35 Euros. At the time of this writting that’s about $47.24. This book is a real bargain at that price.

Review of “The Saxophone Survival Kit” by Eric Daniel

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I recently began following Eric Daniel on Twitter. Eric is seasoned professional musician currently based in Rome, Italy.

In addition to being a wonderful musician, Eric is very forward thinking and is learning and using the new internet technologies to their fullest. A very important part of a professional musicians toolkit will be their ability to promote themselves on the internet.

Eric has written a book entitled “The Saxophone Survival Kit”. The 64 page book  is full of sage advice for any saxophonist and also has many bits of wisdom that anyone can benefit from reading. I read the book and would recommend it to anyone. For a limited time, you can cet a FREE copy from the following link:

The Saxophone Survival Kit by Eric Daniel

While you are at it check out Eric’s CD:

Old Sax New Soul by Eric Daniel and Friends