Advanced Sax
So you’ve been playing saxophone for a while?
You know how to play the saxophone, but sometimes you still get stuck in certain spots and want to know how to sound and play better.
Here are a few posts to help you out, and leave a comment if you have a question!
Saxophone Lesson by Kirk Whalum – Ideas for Practicing When You’re Stuck
Sax Players, What the Woodshed WON’T Do….
Practe the ‘Wrong’ Notes (too) on Saxophone!
Do You Think About Your Saxophone More Than You Play It?
Learning Saxophone – “Experiment is the sole judge of scientific ‘truth.’”
Saxophone Altissimo:
Saxophone Altissimo – Top Tones for the Saxophone
Saxophone Altissimo – Are You Ready?
Saxophone Groove:
Saxophone Gong Fu!
Saxophone by Ear:
Learning From Bad Musicians
Saxophone Tone:
Creating Your Own Sound on Saxophone
Saxophone Notes & Harmony:
Harmonic Structure & Poetic Structure
Active Ingredients for Chords on Saxophone
Saxophone Zen:
Saxophone Signal vs. Saxophone Noise
What Do Saxophone and Chess Have in Common?
Surrounding Yourself with Saxophone and Music
Do You Walk the Saxophone Walk?
Sax Players, How to Learn from Bad Musicians?
Approaching Saxophone & Music:
Breaking Musical Rules on Saxophone?
Failing on Saxophone!
Playing Saxophone Through Pain?
Saxophone Burnout Warning Light?
Unspoken Language – Saxophone Communication
Saxophone Contingency Plans!
Saxophone Philosophy:
Saxophone Styles and Martial Arts Styles
Saxophone Vision – Where Are You Going?
Mathematics of Saxophone Playing (And Music in General)
Working Sax Player:
“Earplugs for Saxophone Players – What Happens Without Them and When You Need Them.”
Hillbilly Flamenco Story
Musicians, the RIAA, and Derek Sivers (CD Baby)
Story of Captain T
Getting Gigs Guide by Daniel Kohn
How to get into the college market in 4 steps
Saxophone Improvisation – Telling a Story
Saxophone Improvisation – Saxophone Class Online
Saxophone Improvisation Part 1
Sax Improvisation – Books to Help You
How to Improvise Saxophone
Hearing to Playing Ideas on Saxophone – Sax Improvisation
Saxophone Improvisation – Brainstorming with Jeff Coffin
Improvisation on Saxophone
Sax Improvisation – Do you Sound Like a Robot on Saxophone?
Saxophone Improvisation + Online Class Positive Feedback!
Saxophones:
Clarinet- The Perfect Trip Horn
Sax Sheet Music:
Saxophone Books ♫♫♫
(Free Report)
{ 46 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi everybody. At 47, i have played tenor forever…..but am a total luddite. Now this phone….yeah! First, footage of Mr. Lee Allen, Red Prysock……then Saxstation. It really is first class man. I will say more……there is a chance however, that i will manage to lose this….or send it to some gardening forum. Take it easy….ade…liverpool…uk.
Sorry…i mean Saxstation is fantastic…..not the phone.
Interesting to see “sax zen”. Sparing the details, i have been off the circuit four years after an accident. My jaw was smashed to pieces. Overnight i was finished. For two years, i refused to accept the damage done….not so much jaw and teeth…but the nerve centres that control the endless permutations? r.e. muscle control. For a long time my jaw clamped shut, or hung open….like a door with one hinge. Also it hung to the left. The zen teachings of Jerry Bergonzi….saved me. The guy is remarkable. Day after day i was forcing a sound….any sound. Tearing muscles close to my heart….racked with tension…..cont.
Cool….you get the picture…..crazy embs…..constant mpc.changes…on andonadon…. Finally thanks to Mr. B….i realised, that for a while i should put the horn, mpc….all of it down. At first it freaked me…i was sure the only way back was by ten hour manic desperate efforts. I am sure a lot of you are into Jerrys’ methods. Some meditation….though focus on aspects of your playing. The shape and colour of your tone for example. I had to go real deep. It worked….i learnt to play again without use of a horn. I return to the circuit summer2011. Thanks for listening.
Hey Adrian,
Good to see you on here, glad you like it! Sorry to hear about the accident with your jaw. That’s awesome what Jerry Bergonzi taught helped you play again.
-Neal
Hi Neal…everybody. Real tired after a long day playing. Had to add to last post. In thanking, indirectly Jerry Bergonzi….i owe an equal and personal thankyou to my freind and master mpc.craftsman Mr. Morgan Fry. His patience and expertise…i…..well…thankyou Morgan. Quite why he left California to live in the British midlands….only joking Man. Read some of the conga thread. My Dad was a fabulous conga player. As i write, his old set of “Asbas”sit in the corner. Unfortunatley i no longer have a copy of an album he turned me onto….”Equations in rhythm”…..Jack Constanza and British tenor hero Tubby Hayes. If you can source it….it is a masterclass….cont.
Never met Tubby…”the little giant”….met. Ronnie Scott breifly. A real gentleman and a very funny guy. As a player…brilliant. Very sad. I once met. Spike Robinson. Beautiful guy…he played a few ballads. ..i’ll never forget that night. Anyhow…enough. If i can help with the conga thing…..i’ll sure try. Take it easy all….ade.
Hey Adrian,
Thanks for letting me know about those guys, wasn’t too familiar with them. I’m in California, so there’s a lot of latin music here and I play in a salsa band. What kind of music did your dad play?
-Neal
Morning Neal. My dad was an artist. He attended the Royal Academy of Art in the 1950′s. What better time for a young man to live in London. The players he saw and met…..remarkable. I used to sit and listen for hours to his tales. He died nearly six years back…prior to my accident. He was, and remains my best freind. I was. ..I had….a great start. It was a given, that i would never be a 9 to 5 man, though i respect those that are. From age12 through18…. i painted….took lessons from U.K. jazz drummer Ron Parry….and made my way into Tenor sax. I am a great beleiver in not trying to do too much. The tenor won…..i have never looked back. Dad was an amazing artist….so never played congas as more than a passionate hobby. I know he sat in on countless after hours sessions in 50′s London…..i miss him. Anyhow….any ideas for this evenings topic?…I really am enjoying this. I hope i am not droning on too much. Somebody please stop me.if i do. See y’all later…..have a good day. Ade.
Hey Adrian,
That’s really cool that your father has all those stories to tell, a bit like my grandfather it seems.
What have you been working on lately?
-Neal
Good morning. Did not have the best of nights…so unable to post. From time to time…i do too much….push too hard. I forget that i am not yet100% recovered. No big thing. I have been checking out some tenor mpcs. Back in the day, i used an old fatboy berg….and on occasion a levelaire (Brillhart). Both wide…#9. A hard bari reed with both. Different story now. I am playing/trying out #6….even a 5 or two. The transition has been cool. I have got to mention the re-issue rubber “slant” link. Tremendous…really good. Authentic…big sound…solid core. My kinda sound. Funnily…..if this were strictly a jazz site……i would not be here. 50′s…60′s..r&b…is my thing. The great “Chess” label, and its beautiful stable of artists. Jazz…is a big word. Of course i am not going to say…”i dislike it”….. that would be crazy….just not really my thing. I will try to explain this…sometime soon. I have commited sax hari kari a few times….by saying…..i dont like Coltrane……WHAT??? …Yeah, sorry. I dont doubt his skill. I dont dig his tone. The lowdown probably is….that not being a jazzman…..i dont understand it. Please let me be clear. All that i post is opinion….and discussion. If i can help anybody…cool…and of course vice versa. Before i go,…i mentioned my enthusiasm over Sax Station to a friend. She got back to me….most impressed at my being a commentator?…. I noticed this morning the small sidebar….”Awesome commentators”. Thanks…..but awesome???….have a great day……ade.
Hey Adrian,
I played around with bari reeds for a little bit. They seem to work easily with metal pieces.
Haha, and yes this is not strictly a jazz site, though I do like a lot of jazz.
My favorite player, Stanley Turrentine, played ‘jazz’ but what he played was classified as soul, R&B and many other names.
Coltrane played a lot of stuff! I like some of it better than others and some when I’m feeling a certain way. On ‘Tenor Madness’ with Rollins is pretty cool, A Love Supreme is also cool, but they’re very different.
I do appreciate your feedback, see you around on the site!
-Neal
I miss those old mpcs. Today i took an 8* metal link, and a box of soft la voz. Good day…..real good. I would like to say i sounded very Scott Hamilton…..sorry. However it has given me a real solid foundation…..the future potential obvious. Actually i am double pleased. For many years i have really wanted to be a link player. I must have bought one every year for 20 years……..really. Some good….bad…..indifferent. Ten or so years back i nailed it. I found a beautiful Florida. At the time i had a pristine “Chu Berry”. Man that was some horn. In the late afternoon light the rich red/gold….too much. The combination of the two……….amazing. I had never sounded so good. I had to push for that little more. I reckoned if i had the mpc.opened some…i’d get a fatter sound….and a more positive vibrato. I did not know Morgan back then. Sorry i’ m rambling….anyhow the guy botched the job. The mpc. was f*******…..and that was that. Not the best post…sorry. Later…..ade.
To clarify….the guy that messed up the mpc. is no longer in business to my knowledge.
Morning Neal…..folks. In answer to what i am working on….tone…tone….and more tone. As an r&b player….my tone is my signature. Untill it is100%….i am not prepared to make a “comeback”. However summer 2011…..i will be ready. Travel is on the cards. I really hope to spend time in the U.S. at the end of 2011. Playing wise….i.intend to really enjoy myself. Over backing tracks….i will take “gutbucket” blues to the streets. Southern France, Prague, Holland,Belgium……purely to get some sun….and meet good people. Hopefully….i will raise enough to make the U.S., and maybe even buy my next tenor. That is the plan Neal……man i am looking forward to it. Right now……i gotta get out of bed (10.30a.m……u.k.)…shower, and work on my sound. This is my daily routine. 11.00a.m. through7.00p.m…..seven days. May sound a lot. It is my job…..my life….my “raison d’etre”. What is the story of your Grandfather Neal? Sounds like a cool guy. My Dad passed away…..six years back. All i am is thanks to him. A little more later. I really hope i am not Bogarting the forum. I just got this phone….dont have a computer….all this is new to me….i dig it. Have a real good day all….ade.
Hope all is good. I am gonna finish this mpc. post…..then take a few days off the forum. Yesterday morning, i got a call from my friend and mpc. guru Mr. Fry….. Morgan. Tells me he is sending back a dukoff of mine. He has had it ages. A standard spc.,…good mpc…..i just felt it could be improved. I never did make up my mind as to how….so back it came. Morgans’ final brief comment was,….that the tip had taken a small ding…..(by me)…and he had put it right….cool. This a.m. the post brings mpc. Oh man. Morgans’ putting a ding right, actually meant he had given the duk. the most beautiful new baffle….exquisite. It plays a dream. Today i ordered my new custom link from him….so am in mpc. nirvana. I have to check one more….C.E. WINDS….the “silver shocka”. I have heard a soundbite…..really my kinda sound fat, gritty….cool. The price is exceptional. Yeah man. … must do it. So that is my mpc.roster done….i am real happy with it.What do you play Neal? hope you are good man. Again great site…thank you for having me. Anything you need, please, contact me direct. adetenorsax@googlemail.com see you all soon…health and happiness….ade
Hey Adrian,
That’s awesome that you’re liking the new modifications. I had heard good things about Morgan pieces.
These days I play a Vandoren V16 T9 and I have an A8 for alto. Before that I was using a metal Selmer 7* and I have a Meyer 8.
Good to hear from you.
-Neal
Have a great weekend……back Monday. If anybody plays a Zimberoff Dukoff…i would like to discuss. Also…mpc. isometrics….anybody? Hey Neal…..r.e. the post on pentatonics. Would it confuse the issue by intro. to blues scales. Whilst on minor pents……it would seem a good time. However….you are the “theory guy”….and know best. Have a great weekend…..ade.
Hey Arian,
That’s not a bad idea, the minor pentatonic is just ‘missing’ a few notes compared to the blues scale. This page is getting a lot of comments though! I might just write a new post and then link them up. Thanks for the input.
-Neal
Hi Neal…..everybody. Had to take my tenor to my man Al. Needs a few little touches….nothing serious. Common problem,……bit of play on the bis key. Bottom stack needs adjustment. I only have one tenor right now….real old and beat up….big, big bore…..it has a huge sound. Problem is….it cannot take the 6-8 hour workout it gets each day. It needs to rest up a little…..a second tenor to share the load is needed. I will have to wait. As i said….i plan a trip to the U.S. end of next year. I know what i want…..the trip i am totally looking forward to. Al, gave me a sop. for the duration. Soprano…..i can play well enough……just dont have a great deal to say on it. I am not a jazz player….nor classical…..so, sop…….no big deal, just a day or two without tenor. So……i did not plan to post over the weekend….but now, beware….pages of my rambling to come. I am gonna eat dinner…..then back. Neal….do you know the guy from C.E. Winds. I am pretty sure they are U.S. based. I am real interesred in their “Silver Shocka” tenor mpc. Great, great price….and sounded awesome (soundbite). Anybody?….. some feedback would be cool. It looks, by my posts, that i am obsessed with mpcs. Yup. Not so much the pieces…..as the sound. I am happiest….trying, comparing combinations. As a rule i like to have 3….it works for me…..dinner…..
Enough on mpcs. I am obsessed with a great sound….it is a must…….have a great weekend. ade.
Hey Adrian,
Haha, I’m not quite as obsessed with mouthpieces as you, but I could maybe look into CE Winds and see what they’re about.
-Neal
Neal….would like to access “daily sax challenge”…..forgot my password…..no big deal…hope all is good. Do you surf man?
Thanks for your comments Neal. Was getting a little lonely on this page…i thought it was for players of advanced years….not playing….ho ho… As my ” return” nears….i have to remain relaxed and balanced. This site not only chills me out, but re-affirms my philosophies. I am in a sense talking to myself…..the world welcome to listen. Seriously….i am an advanced player…..by hard, hard work over a long period. I am not a naturally gifted player. Later i want to say a little about theory…..if that is cool. Also….if i may be so bold, i shall recommend.an album…..so….album #1….”Walkin’ with Mr. Lee”…by….Lee Allen and his band. I will refrain from comment….and let y’all decide. Feed back…..would be great. Have a real good week all…….ade.
Haha, I hadn’t thought about the category meaning that.
I’ll check out the album, wasn’t too familiar with Lee Allen.
Hope you are all feelin good. Last night…i remember tuning into….” Late night jaaaazz”…thats how the lady said it……”jaaaazz”….real affectation. Man…..she was so damn serious. For a few hours i drifted in and out. I have only heard Art Pepper once. I remember….all dixie clarinet….and not liking his alto sound. Never gave him another go. So…..in the middle of all this serious……comes a tune…..long-, 5-7 mins? It got my attention…..real nice alto….happily sitting on top of a groove. I wander off again…..but for the last couple of mins. I was really into it….too much. Yeah….it was Art Pepper…..1980. I think the album was….”Winter Moon”….the track…” Through the eyes of? ?? “…..dont remember. So…up and into the city….back later…..oh…” on the i pod”….as i post….”Joes’ Garage”…Zappa. Loved this guy forever…….ade.
Man…i know i am obsessive……but take a look at all this. Page after page…..haha….few pictures, it would make a book. A bestseller…..hmmm….doubt it. Sorry all….it is not my page. I am gonna kick back…..let some other dudes get in a word. Being a California based site…..it all seems very chilled. I dabbled on an alternate site a while back. Within days….i was branded….arrogant, a raging egomaniac….plus…full on insults online. I have had only good vibes here….thats how i like it. I just….well, time to take a backseat. I have said before…and repeat. I am no inspired genius……far, far from it. All i have done, has been by years of practice and more practice. Study and more study. 30 years of this has paid off. I dont even have an album……in my own name……yet. Any help i can be…..feel free…..adetenorsax@gmail.com health and happiness x
Hey Adrian,
Seems like you’re not too much of a raging egomaniac from what I can see. I appreciate your comments.
Thanks Neal…..i did not suggest an album this week….so….# 2…..”Aja ” by Steely Dan. I have liked and disliked this band for decades. Not a sax album…i suggest it for the title track. I will soon…talk about building up tension in a solo. Never been a huge ” Brecker” follower…though…..boy could he play. So…title track…..middle section. Steve Gadd….the greatest (sorry Vinnie! )….plays phenominal drum part….Mike Brecker (R.I.P.)…..solos over. Give it a listen. The intervals he uses….the sparce feel of just drums/tenor……every nuance……oh man. Building tension in a solo….please listen….take it easy all…
Hey Adrian,
I’ll check it out sometime. Brecker had a long career and played a lot of different stuff. Some of it I’m a fan of, other pieces are a bit too avant garde for me sometimes. Saw him do a clinic in Reno, Nevada onetime which was pretty cool.
Steve Gadd is great, saw him play a few months ago.
Hi…please take a look at you tube. Grover…” Mr. Magic “. There are more than a few. The one with….long percussion-drum intro. Steve Gadd….oh man..i love that guy. In a strictly hetero…manly..non effete….macho way…ho ho. I am tempted to say more…but….beginners….intermediates….does this not thrill you. Make you wanna dance….are you not wishing you had been there….does the groove laid down not totally appeal?? It dont get better…ade xx
Hey Adrian,
Had posted that a little while back, brought it back to the front – http://saxstation.com/grover-washington-jr-mister-magic-solid-saxophone-groove.htm
Steve Gadd is a great drummer, saw him live a few months ago.
Good Morning….hope you are all good. Mr. Magic is just a great…” summer tune “. Grover was a cool guy. He found his thing and it worked. I am not suggesting we study the tune. Just enjoy it. When i was a lot younger…i busked a lot. Playing this type of thing…over b.tracks….you will do real well. The public used to dig it…i dig it. Sure you can go and busk your Ornette Coleman medely…..?? See how you do. Nothing against Mr. Coleman…..just making a point.
Music is a most powerful emotional tool…the groove lifts my mood all the time.” Booker T. & M.G’s for example….it dont get better. Many years back, i saw “Southside Johnny.”…..at a festival. Man the sheer raw power of the horn section….i will never forget it. peace….ade
Yep, I don’t think I would try and busk with Ornette Coleman tunes…. wonder which city/location that might work in.
Hi all…been meaning to post for a while. Been real busy; deciding on new tenor….i think i have it all sorted now. My chops are getting steadily better. Yesterday…i played a Bb chord pitch perfect….tonic-3-5…basic major triad….as a chord. It was amazing…..Multiphonics…i love. The true Genius behind multiphonics…is of course the amazing Bert Wilson. A leading light in 60′s phsycedelic movement…the guy played with em all….Trane included. For those of you not familiar with Bert….go to you-tube. Bert Wilson ” Teaser “….is a good place to start. From there…if you dig it…read his insights on his homepage. His eloquence…moreso his points…are essential reading. There has been a lot of talk onsite..r.e….multiphonics. Bert Wilson. If you dont dig it….(a)…please post with an opinion….then…(b)…swap your horn for some golf clubs!! ….Take it easy…….ade
Interesting, that’s cool you got that sound out.
-Neal
Morning…sorry gotta be quick….to make appt. Neal…site looking better man……phone me. New tenor arrived yesterday a.m……STOKED!! Will give extensive opinions…in a week. Tune of the day….just came on my i.pod. TheGENIUS….LENNY PICKETT…..tune….”Kathy”….for his lady wife…..it is on i- pod. Peace…..ade
Nice, I love how Lenny Pickett plays, will have to check out that tune.
Hi man. Yeah…i am a bit old to have “favourite players”….but Lenny…..if i am asked….yup. Hope this is cool Neal. I want to trade a mpc. I have a “re-issue slant link ” #6. Completley re-worked by Mr. Morgan Fry; i got it whilst undergoing all that dentel chaos. Needed a free blow. I am not interested in $….i need a real thin metal mpc…..” Berg… Quantum….Levelaire “. “Link ” has been played twice. If you wanna suggest a swap; DONT WORRY…..about the patina….condition of your offer. By that….if it is looking old….worn….cool..It however MUST!! play 99%..perfect…..all good? good!…..have a good week all…. ade
haha, I don’t know if you can be too old to have a favorite player.
Hi Neal…everbody. Been off site awhile. Truth is, new tenor, new mpc. selection…..NEW START. I will be around to answer any questions. If it important…mail me. adetenorsax@gmail.com. No problem. Take care….long notes..Health&Happiness to you all…….ade
Hey Adrian, thanks.
when is your next improv class??
Hey Ermel,
Right now I have two classes open
http://saxstation.com/sax-station-classes
I’ll do the eight week class again on December 6.
Thanks for your interest.
-Neal
Hi Neal,
I was curious if you had any videos or lessons or maybe advice on “growling” on alto. Can’t seem to get it!
Thanks!
Not yet, but I use it quite a bit in my playing. Might do a lesson on it before too long. Basically you’re growling in your throat as you play, that’s how I do it anyway.