How to start improvising on saxophone easily

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Want to start improvising on saxophone but not sure how? This email will get you started fast!
Get the full "Introduction to Improvising" Mini Course with a 30 day free trial to Sax School here: saxschoolonline.com/
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Other stuff to help you:
Learn improvising on sax: • Learn Improvising on S...
Essential Saxophone Skills: • Essential Saxophone Sk...
Jazz Standards for Sax: • Jazz standards on saxo...
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In this lesson:
Learning improvising on saxophone can be very difficult if you don't have a clear framework to use. It's important to have a clear strategy so you can easily know which notes are important when you make your solos, how to choose notes, and how to make convincing jazz lines.
In this video you can check out one of the lessons from my "Introduction to Improvising" mini-course. This course is only for Sax School members, but you can have a sneak preview here!
In this lesson, I share some tips on how to make your first steps improvising on saxophone. In the full Mini-course I share a clear and easy framework or strategy you can use to make improvising easy, fun and most importantly, sound great!
Presented by Nigel McGill
SAX SCHOOL
www.mcgillmusic.com
0:00 About this video
2:01 Intro to Improvising
2:19 Starting easy
3:22 The notes
5:37 Improvisation rules
8:08 The Jam
9:39 Wrapping up
Gear we use: www.amazon.co.uk/shop/mcgillm...

Пікірлер: 142

@palletcolorato 5 жыл бұрын

Thx for all of the free tips. I'm on disability pension, and cannot afford to pay for lessons. You have done me and I'm sure others a great service. Thank you.

@doormatcat 4 жыл бұрын

"Let's improvise together." *Me watching this at 1:30 am*

@lydiavanhout2006 6 жыл бұрын

I never laerned to improvise . I am a very good 'reader' of notes. So this is a very useful lesson for me because I would like to be able to improvise . I am 58 years old, did not play for 30 years and now I started again since one year. Playing my alto gives me so much joy but always short of time because there is so much I want to learn. ( I am Flamish so sorry for my English writing) Thank you for your lessons.

@tiemenmoeyersons6236 6 жыл бұрын

Lang leve de sax school lessen!

@SlabHardcheese 6 жыл бұрын

Hi Lydia, I'm an older player too (59) so welcome to the club! You are right -- playing sax has brought much joy into my life. Have fun!

@oshnde65765 3 жыл бұрын

@@SlabHardcheese awesome

@kayodeajayi1923 3 жыл бұрын

I'm just glued to watching your lessons all this while. As I await the arrival of my saxophone, I'll keep following. Thanks so much for the simplicity. God bless your heart.

@rreganjjohnn 4 жыл бұрын

Nigel that was a very inspiring simple and informative lesson I loved jamming along with you while only playing the three notes. thanks again buddy

@eddieskarp4799 3 жыл бұрын

Just great exercise, I'm a guitar/piano player since childhood and never really got the hang of improvisation and going to get a sax soon. Looking forward to play here, super easy and fun!

@Kkeineetse 5 жыл бұрын

you are a fantastic and nteractive teacher, may you live to grow very old.

@albertusherwanta2123 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot for your sharing of experience and expertise. As a beginner I do learn much. Again, I am deeply grateful to you.

@randymiller248 6 жыл бұрын

Good to start slow and listen to your notes for ideas to play using just combinations of the G, B, and D. I use my soprano sax at the computer to play the b flat parts, Tenor is hard to maneuver around the screen and keyboard.

@mikekiguta724 5 жыл бұрын

Awesome. I haven't played the sax in about 10 years and want to get back to it again. This is a great way to start.

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 5 жыл бұрын

Go for it Mike. I have loads more resources to help you on my website. My free lesson Tool Kit is a great starting point. You can get it here: www.mcgillmusic.com/saxophone-tool-kit

@canilink 5 жыл бұрын

Great information I'm just about to start learning

@Panda-ej5sq 5 жыл бұрын

Off to have a go!! Thank you🎷!

@MikeBelchamber 4 жыл бұрын

Thank's enjoyed that! Only been playing for a month, not easy when you have never played any instrument before! but I'm learning?

@donnrabinu7661 5 жыл бұрын

It's cool... I love it.. Keep it up..

@johnhunter1731 5 жыл бұрын

Excellent and practical easy to use techniques thank you.

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks John, hope it was helpful.

@jonpileggi2621 3 жыл бұрын

Always great, thanks!

@zakheleshangase7054 5 жыл бұрын

Great lesson .

@floodgateable 4 жыл бұрын

lovely hint

@awesomegod6453 5 жыл бұрын

Thank u very much, it beautiful

@chiara2200 3 жыл бұрын

Great lesson, really good pace! Thanks

@TheBbutters 3 жыл бұрын

So great!

@judyglasel533 5 жыл бұрын

Excellent ! !

@raseshgandhi6702 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much

@jogiswar 6 жыл бұрын

thats justr superb

@drjimkowalski8393 Жыл бұрын

Great job. Really helpful.

@ernestmelchizedekboateng2012 6 жыл бұрын

Nigel, this amazing i love it

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 6 жыл бұрын

Great to hear that Ernest!

@elnauta9525 4 жыл бұрын

Very good, simple, well explanation and also nice because we play together!

@PonchMuniz 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your videos! Love’m! God bless!

@john0dell930 3 жыл бұрын

Really enjoyed this. Fun!

@sabnavees 6 жыл бұрын

Nigel, This is AWESOME. Am joining your school today .

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 6 жыл бұрын

Great! I’ll keep an eye out for you in Sax School.

@richardavila496 5 жыл бұрын

This was a great introduction, it gives us a beginning point and some great insight. Already makes me wanna jump in!!!

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 5 жыл бұрын

Cool! Glad it was helpful Richard!

@curtismcnairarnold 4 жыл бұрын

I've only been playing for a week, but this improvising video is the most fun I've had so I'm signing up for your classes!

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 4 жыл бұрын

Awesome, so glad it helped you Curtis. Looking forward to helping you inside Sax School!

@sax4passion 4 жыл бұрын

Thankyou so much. I will follow your channel. Thankyou for the great tips on improvisation i have just started to play on Tenor sax and this will really boost me in Jazz skills.

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 4 жыл бұрын

Great to hear that Rufus!

@silviocesarfarias7462 4 жыл бұрын

Gostei. Vou estudar com este vídeo essa semana. Parabéns pelo trabalho.

@erwindormoy8156 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks very nice

@luketravers9060 6 жыл бұрын

very helpful. i have a jazz band audition today and needed this thank you

@1kitts 5 жыл бұрын

Did you get in?

@neeltjedeleur9661 5 жыл бұрын

My first time. I liked it very much. Neeltje holland

@gorfgarf9735 4 жыл бұрын

your lessons are really funny and enjoyable. keep up the good work and thanks

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Virgile!

@litoffe 5 жыл бұрын

Very interesting

@frank9509 6 жыл бұрын

AWESOME .. i had so much fun playing it.. please make more such videos :-D

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 6 жыл бұрын

Cool!

@OfficialMrWills_Tv 2 жыл бұрын

AWESOME

@zephaniarutlokwana2891 2 жыл бұрын

Simplicity is the best method keep it up

@leerecordlabel 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks info. how to improvising on saxophone

@swibal1 6 жыл бұрын

Very helpfull!

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 6 жыл бұрын

Great to hear that Sylvain!

@annaperera4166 5 жыл бұрын

So useful- thanks. I find improvising so hard, especially making the rhythm interesting

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 5 жыл бұрын

That can be a real challenge - keeping it simple is the best strategy, particularly with your rhythm.Thanks for watching Anna.

@gillessaumure8955 4 жыл бұрын

VERY GOOD PATTERN TO START WITH AND SIMPLE, I VE HAVING A HARD TIME IMPROVISING

@isaiahd9947 4 жыл бұрын

WHY ARE WE YELLING?

@CARALVA 5 жыл бұрын

Very usefull

@HenrikAnkerstjerneHansen 6 жыл бұрын

Great exercise.. thanks a lot.

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 6 жыл бұрын

Cheers Henrik, hope it helped you.

@benharris8806 5 жыл бұрын

Great tips!!

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 5 жыл бұрын

Cheers Ben!

@madlord8666 5 жыл бұрын

awesome and brilliant

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 5 жыл бұрын

Cheers!

@barnabas5106 5 жыл бұрын

Im a trumpet player. I got some ideas from this cool

@jazzguy1304 4 жыл бұрын

Great stuff as always, I would love to go back to your course but like Tim, I am on my old age very low pension. I am 77, and hope I win the lottery so I can take your course. Keep on the great work.

@rbaker1819 4 жыл бұрын

Wow that was awesome. I enjoyed taking turns playing.

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 4 жыл бұрын

Cheers Rich. Glad you enjoyed it.

@neilstubbs4575 4 жыл бұрын

Good session. very helpful. A question I have, though, is - if my saxophone is getting inconsistent and some notes are sometimes coming out weird and still too high and terrible intonation, what could be wrong? My sax is often warbling badly and malfunctioning in the B and G note below the octave key in the lower octave. It's expensive to get these instruments fixed if and w hen they develop leaks in pads or other related issues. Any hints or suggestions?

@howardjulius5693 4 жыл бұрын

just great

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 4 жыл бұрын

Cheers.

@garryrobinson5194 6 жыл бұрын

Fantastic lesson just skipped through I’m defiantly going to have a go with my tenor and look at rest of the course thanks Mark

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 6 жыл бұрын

Brilliant! You’ll love the full course.

@HowardSaxMan52 6 жыл бұрын

Hi Nigel Great VID ,I HAVE ONLY JUST STARTED TO IMPROVISING,AFTER MANY YEARS PLAYING. Howard

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 6 жыл бұрын

Brilliant to hear that Howard. The full course will really help you I think.

@robloxrustleaker1459 3 жыл бұрын

This is theeee best video i have seen so far, and i want to create my own channel and try to teach others :) thanks so much. I have played alto and tenor i am in Year 8 and that other video you made on the three mistakes not to make really helped.

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome, great to hear you found this useful.

@alexramella7191 4 жыл бұрын

I'm watching this the day of my performance

@MelJones38 3 жыл бұрын

a great explanation of the blues scales. I've normally tried to play by 'ear' and failed many times. I've now got a structure to build on. Thanks Melvyn

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 3 жыл бұрын

Cheers Melvyn, I’m glad it was helpful.

@peterdrake5156 5 жыл бұрын

Superb first lesson - thanks for this. Where do I find lesson 2 please? Also - where do I find a backing track?

@mrswagalicous7023 5 жыл бұрын

Peter Drake same I need a backing track

@navaratnamahathichakravart8391 3 жыл бұрын

Super sir

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 3 жыл бұрын

Cheers!

@felonywood6969 6 жыл бұрын

I really love the beginning. It sounds really nice. I just can't stop listening to it. I like your playing from 0:16 to 0:20

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 6 жыл бұрын

Cheers Jason!

@Cvarier-channel 6 жыл бұрын

Agreed, I'd love to know more about this lick, it's so funky!

@johnwardsaxophonist2862 5 жыл бұрын

Very nice. Found I was often inverting your melodies.....

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 5 жыл бұрын

Cool.

@tristansmith962 6 жыл бұрын

Wonderful. Just wonderful. A longer loop of taking turns in different keys would be fun - you probably have that in the sax school? Anyway - new to the channel and absolutely loving it! :-)

@FritzSolms 3 жыл бұрын

That was very useful to start improvising - thank you. (PS: using a recorder ...)

@sheicu13 4 жыл бұрын

Can you please help us with only one name of a similar song to try your method?

@oyetundemarvelous7970 4 жыл бұрын

This is awesome. Please, how can I get the remaining videos on this course. First time

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 4 жыл бұрын

Hi Oyetunde. The full course is available inside Sax School. You can find out more here: www.mcgillmusic.com/join.

@peterjones8812 5 жыл бұрын

sounds good. stubby

@groovyguy1563 6 жыл бұрын

Hey Nigel, I have been playing tenor for 2 1/2 years, and I am looking for a new mouthpiece. I have been using a bad one that came with my sax, and I have been needing a new one. I am playing in a concert band, and will soon be playing in a marching/symphonic band. I am torn a little as well because I love playing jazz, but I am not in a jazz band, so I just want a mouthpiece that can be good in all genres of music. Do you have any suggestions for a new mouthpiece?

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 6 жыл бұрын

Great question. There are lots of options out there. Personally I am a big fan of the Theo Wanne mouthpieces for the same reason you mention - versatility. I'm playing on a Slant Sig hard rubber size 8 from Theo Wanne. It's a brilliant all-rounder for me. You could also check out the original Otto Link metal "tonemaster". I've also used a Vandoren V16 T8 piece a bunch over the years that is a bit dark, but very versatile. Hope that helps.

@heinzkanein4955 2 жыл бұрын

I'm a big fan of your sax lessons. You make it so easy to follow along. I very much appreciate it. I have listened and watched other wannabee teachers. There lessons have been sometimes more about showing of their playing skills, than trying to really teach the instrument. I'm trying to learn the circle of fifth, do you have a lesson about that? Please let me know.

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Heinz! Glad you’re enjoying the videos. We definitely have lessons on circle of fifths inside Sax School PRO. saxschoolonline.com/courses/

@AJ-yh6tz 3 жыл бұрын

the only improvement i can think of to this video is a short explanation of transposing these simple exercises to concert pitch but aside from that this was really helpful for applying sax concepts to the ewi

@liamf1463 5 жыл бұрын

Could you tell me if you could use triad pairs and the pentatonic scale at the same time. What I mean is if soloing and you say improvise over 4 bars using the pentatonic scale could you use triad pairs in the following 4 bars? Thank you

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 5 жыл бұрын

Hi Liam. There are lots of different techniques you can use to build your solo. The important thing is that you have a system for how you are using them. So, test and practice lots of different things, but keep the structure of what you’re doing at the front of your mind. Hope that helps.

@zibba54 3 жыл бұрын

Anything specifically for soprano sax?

@Cleeeny 6 жыл бұрын

What are these minimalistic looking ligatures u are using especially on your alto saxophone? I really like them.

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 6 жыл бұрын

Hi, I'm using a Theo Wanne ligature on my alto. It's a nice simple ligature - works great.

@Cleeeny 6 жыл бұрын

Thanks :)

@hugh8325 4 жыл бұрын

Very Interesting. Do you have clarinet courses?

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 4 жыл бұрын

Hi Hugh. Sorry, I haven't put out any clarinet courses yet.

@dougmoran3340 4 жыл бұрын

I refer to the short “jamming” session ........ it was great ..... very entertaining. But could you please explain how you chose those three notes for the tenor. It just wouldn’t have worked with a random selection of any three, so how did you decide on those ones ?

@diegoasseosoledad9941 4 жыл бұрын

They are just the chord notes. The root : G, the third: B, and the fifth: D. Those are the notes the vamp is playing.

@dougmoran3340 4 жыл бұрын

Diego Asseo Soledad ........ I’m none the wiser.

@jogiswar 6 жыл бұрын

can i came personally and learn

@zakheleshangase7054 5 жыл бұрын

How does one enroll for your lessons. You seem like the kind of mentor I need. What are the costs.

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 5 жыл бұрын

Hi Zakhele. You can find out about my courses here: www.mcgillmusic.com

@rdaugherty52 6 жыл бұрын

Hey that was really cool I didn't have my sax but used my mouth to keep up with the rhythm.Now I will get my sax and try it soon as I can

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 6 жыл бұрын

Awesome. Glad it helped!

@alexiskinsou7959 3 жыл бұрын

I just start learning sax 🎷 alto and I really need help

@diggerman3605 2 жыл бұрын

Very usefull but if got long way to gone 7

@Kkeineetse 5 жыл бұрын

take me by the hand and teach me, please, keep me on the loop. I am a total novice and I am enjoying it without any technique.

@muhammadbimo4808 6 жыл бұрын

I'm verry good reader but i cant understand about improvising. Could you teaching us about how to make simple rytm

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 6 жыл бұрын

Good question. Rhythm is something lots of us struggle with. I’ve made a full course on it inside my Sax School actually which I’m sure would help you. If you’re interested I have a 30 day free trial here: www.mcgillmusic.com

@muhammadbimo4808 6 жыл бұрын

McGill Music Sax School thanks. So what should i do for get rhythm ?

@zachhorgan4302 4 жыл бұрын

What's the most reliable type of reed

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 4 жыл бұрын

Lots of choices there. I played Vandoren “blue box” reeds for years but now only use Legere Signature reeds. They are more expensive per reed, but last much longer and are more consistent, so in the long run are far more economical.

@zachhorgan4302 4 жыл бұрын

@@McGillMusicSaxSchool I currently use vandorens and I will look into the other brand you suggested. Thanks so much!

@lovejazz 5 жыл бұрын

Hey Nigel what brand Tenor are you using ? or Soprano ?

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 5 жыл бұрын

Hey Juan. My tenor is a Dave Guardala, my soprano is a Yamaha Custom Z. Thanks for watching.

@judithburns2983 5 жыл бұрын

I've never known how to start improvising but this seems like it might work...and its fun!

@theseventhson8896 2 жыл бұрын

Short licks to rehearse on please

@1peakie 4 жыл бұрын

still cant get a note

@SaxDBA 5 жыл бұрын

What kind of mouthpiece is that?

@McGillMusicSaxSchool 5 жыл бұрын

I’m playing a Theo Wanne “Gaia” 8 hard rubber on alto.

@SaxDBA 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks! @@McGillMusicSaxSchool

@spyros8282 3 жыл бұрын

Yo who here for music class

@markfisher4216 Жыл бұрын

Not wishing to be negative but if you have never improvised before the chances are you haven't much of a clue about backing tracks. Look on line and there are hundreds and hundreds. Very frustrating when we are told ... right let's play over this track...as if this "track" is as obvious as knowing which way up you hold a saxophone!!