[Dummies 01] • Saxophone for Dummies by Gabel, Denis -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Introduction

About This Book Foolish Assumptions What You Don’t Need To Read Conventions Used In This Book How This Book Is Organized

Part I: Basic Information about the Saxophone Part II: Getting Started: From First Notes to Special Effects Part III: A Variety of Styles: The Blues, Jazz, Pop, and Classical Part IV: Saxophone Accessories, Maintenance, and Practice Tips Part V: The Part of Tens Appendixes

Icons Used In This Book Where to Go from Here

Part I: Basic Information about the Saxophone

Chapter 1: Saxophone Basics

Meeting Mr. Sax

The invention of the saxophone The saxophone goes mainstream

Getting to Know the Sax’s Components and Their Functions

Parts of the saxophone How the saxophone sings

Finding the Right Sized Sax

Meeting the saxophone family Deciding on your perfect match Following your favorite sound Matching the saxophone to musical styles

Acquiring a Saxophone

Leasing Buying: New or used? Starting with a quality sax

Chapter 2: Assembling and Tuning the Sax

Checking Out Some Important Parts Needing the Reed Minding the Mouthpiece

Structure of the mouthpiece Metal or rubber mouthpiece

Holding It Together with the Ligature Assembling the Reed, Ligature, and Mouthpiece Putting the Saxophone Together

Assembling the sax, step by step Making high and low sounds

Tuning the Sax

Tuning in to a common pitch Transposing: Different notes for different instruments Adjusting the saxophone’s tuning

Chapter 3: The Body–Saxophone Connection

Adopting Proper Posture

Standing correctly Sitting correctly Practicing posture with the saxophone

Breathing Technique for Playing the Saxophone

Diaphragm and abdominal breathing Physical support Training the diaphragm with deep breathing

Adjusting Your Embouchure

Part II: Getting Started: From First Notes to Special Effects

Chapter 4: Notes, Intervals, and First Melodies

Gearing Up for That First Note

Producing good sound Positioning your hands and fingers correctly Starting with the note G Playing notes with the left hand Playing notes with the right hand

Exercising Proper Finger Technique

Trying a few fingering exercises Moving on to first melodies

Understanding the Octave Key Deciphering Key Signatures and Accidentals Knowing All 12 Notes on the Saxophone

C#/Db D#/Eb F#/Gb G#/Ab A#/Bb

Chapter 5: The Language of Music: Articulation and Intonation

Playing Short and Long Notes with Articulation and Phrasing Ascending and Descending Scales Getting Down with Dynamics

Bringing dynamics into play

Chapter 6: Have You Got Rhythm?

Feeling Rhythm in Your Body

Clapping yourself free Going over ten rhythmic clapping exercises

Going from Notes to Songs

Playing a bit of the blues Playing a pop ballad

Letting Yourself Go with Improvisation

How improvisation works Improvising with pentatonics Practicing improvisation exercises

Chapter 7: Scaling New Notes and Expanding Your Range

Discovering the Highs and Lows of the Saxophone

Descending into the low notes Lower-register exercises Climbing up to the high notes High-register exercises

Getting Personal with Scales

Adapting your playing using scales Getting to know the major scale Examining the structure of major scales Remembering flats and sharps

Conquering the Chromatic Scale

Chapter 8: Special Rhythms and Techniques

Getting Into the Swing of the Rhythm

Re-examining the eighth note Playing with swing

Reaching New Rhythms: Syncopation, Offbeats, and 5/4 Time

Syncopation and offbeats 5/4 Time: “Take Me to 5th Avenue”

Having Fun with Sound Effects

Vibrato Bending Growling Flutter tonguing

Part III: A Variety of Styles: The Blues, Jazz, Pop, and Classical

Chapter 9: Getting Down with the Blues

Using the Sax to Play the Blues

The blues scale The 12-bar blues Playing the blues

Going from Blues Licks to Your Own Blues Solo

Playing blues licks The Blues Lick Solo

Playing Your Own Blues Solo

Chapter 10: Jazz — Practice Makes Perfect

Swinging with “Walking Home”

Preliminary rhythmic exercises Getting down to the song “Walking Home”

Improvising on “Jack the Mack”

First theme Second theme Third theme Solo improvisation The whole piece

Chapter 11: Rock ’n’ Roll and Rhythm and Blues

Rocking and Rolling to Rhythm and Blues Getting a Rock ’n’ Roll Sound Playing “Green Potatoes”

Chorus 1 and 4 Chorus 2 Chorus 3 Putting the whole song together

Catching a “Late Night Train”

Taking it chorus by chorus Playing the whole song

Chapter 12: Getting Your Groove On: Soul and Funk

Getting to Know the Horn Section

Seeing how each horn section is unique Playing in a horn section: Five tips

Playing the Quick Sixteenth

Doing the math of sixteenth notes Playing sixteenth-note phrases

Getting Funky with “Brown Sax” Grooving with “Crushed Ice”

Chapter 13: Latin Music

Diving Into the Diversity of Latin Music Checking Out Clave

Rhythm exercise 1 — foundations for clave Rhythm exercise 2 — clapping clave

Spicing Things Up with “Sax con Salsa”

Mastering melody and tones Seeing the structure and rhythm Improvising

Blaming It On the Bossa Nova Playing “Antonio’s Bossa”

Checking out the parts Getting the fundamentals

Stars of the Latin Saxophone

Stan Getz (1927–1991) Paquito D’ Rivera (1948) Gato Barbieri (1934) Chris Vadala David Sanchez (1968) Wayne Shorter (1933) Joe Henderson (1937–2001)

Chapter 14: Pop Saxophone: To the Point and Straight to the Heart

Hitting the Highlights of Sax in Pop Music

“Sax on Baker Street” Careless Sax

Playing Around with Pop Techniques

Growling Bending Grace notes and ornamentation Overtones and altissimo False fingering Glissando

Playing with Courage, Intensity . . . and Clichés

Decisiveness and courage Intensity and emotion Clichés, famous riffs, and originality

Standing in the Spotlight at Showtime!

Styling, outfits, and accessories Moves and poses Freedom with a transmitter mic

Feeling Starstruck: The Greatest Pop Saxophonists of All Time

Rudy Pompilli (1924–1976) Sam Butera (1927–2009) Phil Woods (1931) David Sanborn (1945) Branford Marsalis (1960) Candy Dulfer (1969) Clarence Clemons (1942–2011) Kenny G (1956) Pete Christlieb (1945) Michael Brecker (1949–2007)

Chapter 15: Classical Music: The World of Bach, Ravel and Co.

Exploring the Big World of Classical Saxophone Examining the Repertoire of Classical Saxophone Hits

Orchestral pieces for saxophone Concert pieces for saxophone Solo and chamber music for saxophone Saxophone and . . . Bach? Stars of classical saxophone Great saxophone quartets

Getting Serious about Classical Sax

Ideal classical sound Tuning, dynamics, and virtuosity

Pondering Playing Techniques in Classical and Contemporary Music

Top tones, upper register, and altissimo Double tonguing Flutter tonguing Slap tongue Circular breathing Multiphonics Quarter tone technique

Selecting a Mouthpiece for Classical Music

Typical and traditional mouthpieces in classical music The classical reed Choosing a saxophone

Playing Bach

Noticing the parts of the piece

Part IV: Saxophones, Accessories, Maintenance, and Practice Tips

Chapter 16: The Right Tools for the Job: Saxophone and Accessories

Selecting Your Saxophone

Looking at top manufacturers and models Avoiding junk Being wary of vintage

Looking at Mouthpieces, Reeds, and Ligatures

Considering mouthpiece manufacturers Seeing reeds Looking at ligatures

Finding the Right Support with Neck and Shoulder Straps Protecting Your Sax with a Case

Types of cases Selecting a case

Taking a (Musical) Stand

Saxophone stands Music stands

Meeting the Metronome and Tuner

Metronome for time and rhythm Tuner for being in tune

Chapter 17: Cleaning and Maintenance

Keeping Your Saxophone Clean

Swabbing your saxophone dry Caring for the mouthpiece and reeds

Fixing a Sticky G# Key Maintaining Mechanics

A well-oiled instrument First aid for the saxophone

Storing and Reviving Reeds

Storing a saxophone reed Adjusting a bad reed

Following Some Final Advice

Chapter 18: Practice Makes Perfect (Saxophonists)

The Nine Commandments of Practicing

Practice undisturbed Practice regularly Practice effectively Listen to yourself Structure your practice Use practice resources Work on technical exercises Practice with others and through others Practice with joy

Approaching a New Song

Part V: The Part of Tens

Chapter 19: The Ten Greatest Saxophone Players You Should Know

Lester Young (1909–1959) Charlie Parker (1920–1955) Sonny Rollins (1930) John Coltrane (1926–1967) Dexter Gordon (1923–1990) Stan Getz (1927–1991) Maceo Parker (1943) David Sanborn (1945) Michael Brecker (1949–2007) Jan Garbarek (1947)

Chapter 20: The Ten Most Important Sax Players and Their Best Recordings

Lester Young: “The Lester Young Trio” (1946) Charlie Parker: “The Savoy and Dial Recordings” (1944–1948) Sonny Rollins: “Saxophone Colossus” (1956) Miles Davis with John Coltrane and Julian “Cannonball” Adderley: “Kind Of Blue” (1959) Dexter Gordon: “A Swinging Affair” (1962) Stan Getz: “Getz/Gilberto” (1964) Michael Brecker: “Michael Brecker” (1987) Maceo Parker: “Life on Planet Groove” (1992) David Sanborn: “Straight to the Heart” (1984) Keith Jarrett and Jan Garbarek: “My Song” (1977)

Appendix A: Reading Music Appendix B: Fingering Charts Appendix C: About the CD John Wiley and Sons Canada, Ltd. End-User License Agreement Cheat Sheet Download CD/DVD

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