I have recently created more backing tracks for use with Evan Tate’s 250 Jazz Patterns book. Be sure to practice 250 Jazz Patterns on the new Major Chord backing tracks in all 12 keys post.
You can purchase Evan’s book at the following url:
Jazz Aids
Super Offer on Sax and Jazz from Evan Tate
I have written several articles that refer to Evan Tate and his publications and podcasts. To date, I have purchased Evan’s “250 Jazz Patterns” and also his “Blues and Rhythm Changes in All 12 Keys” books. My website has several backing tracks to practice on using Evan’s books. These are excellent books. I have also subscribed to Evan’s monthly online lessons. I plan to write a formal review of his lessons after I have received a couple of them.
Please checkout the following offer from Evan – this is a super good deal:
Digital Patterns in Jazz Improvisation
Dr. David Baker is credited with originating the phrase “Digital Patterns” . Many great jazz improvisors use digital patterns in their solo’s.
Digital patterns are groups of notes usually numbering four to eight notes. A digital pattern is constructed by assigning a number to each note of a scale.
A good digital pattern to begin with is a 1235 pattern.
The 1235 pattern for a C major chord would be:
CDEFGAB
1234567
The first note is C, the second note is D, the third note is E and the fifth note is G so the 1235 pattern for a C major chord would be C-D-E-G
The 1235 pattern for a C minor chord would be C-D-Eb-G.
Here are some additional patterns you can work on:
5-3-2-1
3-5-2-1
5-6-7-9
1-3-5-3
You should also create your own digital patterns. As always practice the digital patterns in all 12 keys. You can use my jazz standard workout in 12 keys post to practice your digital patterns. In the future I will post a bebop tune for you to practice over that will be a much faster tempo and shorter chord durations.
John Coltrane’s Giant Steps and Countdown songs are full of digital patterns.
Have fun with “Digital Patterns”!
Minor II-V-I Pattern 1 Based Upon Harmonic Minor Scale
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
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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