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You are here: Home / NeffMusic News / New Release-Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale-Book 2

New Release-Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale-Book 2

November 19, 2016 by Steve 3 Comments

I just finished a brand new Neffmusic book that I am very excited about.  I’ve been working on this off and on over the last seven years and more intensely over the last eight months.

In the years following my release of “Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale”, I decided that a “Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale-Book 2” also needed to be written.  As I continued to study the solos of the bebop greats like Charlie Parker, Sonny Stitt, Gene Ammons, Hank Mobley, Art Pepper, Phil Woods, Cannonball Adderley and many others, I noticed that there were a lot of elements and ideas being used outside of the bebop scale material in my first book.

DevastatingFrontCoverMedium
Click to Purchase PDF Version -Only 14.99

Click to Purchase Printed Version -Only 29.99

My goal in writing this second book is to introduce you to some of these more advanced lines and ideas in a similar approach as my first book.  These more advanced  bebop “links” as I call them, create more complex lines that weave in and out of the tonality they are being used over and make the lines much more interesting.

The added benefit of learning these additional “links” is similar to learning words when studying a language. The more words you know and understand, the better you can communicate and the more ideas and thoughts you can convey to others.  The same holds true for each of these musical “links”, the more you learn and master, the more interesting and varied your lines will be while improvising.

The book is divided up into twelve chapters, one for each key. The first half of every chapter includes 33 new bebop links that can be added one at a time to your jazz vocabulary.  These are links that I have discovered since writing book one that I think add new and interesting sounds and textures to your jazz lines.

The second half of every chapter includes what I call “Substitution Links” as well as “Non-Chord Tone Links”. These are ideas and musical words that I picked out from the great jazz soloists listed above.   They don’t fit easily into the existing bebop scale rules from book one but with a little effort and creativity, I have created some new rules for each “link” to help you add it to your existing lines.

DevastatingFrontCoverMedium

Click to Purchase PDF Version-Only 14.99

Click to Purchase Printed Version -Only 29.99

Each “link” comes with multiple two bar and four bar lines that mix the varied “links” from book one with the new content from book two.  Think of each new “link” as a new word that you are adding to your vocabulary. When you speak, you are usually not thinking of every word you are saying but rather pulling words from your existing vocabulary stored in your brain.  The goal of this series of books is to help you get to the point where you can effortlessly use any of the musical vocabulary contained within  in a multitude of ways to express yourself musically.

Although many of these lines were taken from the solos of great jazz players, these lines sound equally “great” over more modern and funky grooves.  If you are soloing over a groove in a dominant or minor key these lines will surprise and even stun your listeners because of there awesomeness!

*Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale-Book 2 is 288 pages long and comes with a 39 minute video lesson on the book.  I talk about different insights I have had regarding the material in the book as well as some different approaches to practicing the material.

I hope you enjoy this book and that it does indeed take you one step closer to creating great lines like the bebop masters that came before us.       -Steve Neff

Here are a few sample pages from the book for you to check out……….

Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale-Book 2 Sample Pages

https://cdn.neffmusic.com/2016/Bebop2Sample2.mp3

Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale-Book 2 Audio Sample Clip

Filed Under: NeffMusic News Tagged With: bebop lines, bebop scale, dominant chords, Jazz Improvisation, mastering, steve neff

Steve

About Steve

Steve Neff has been playing and teaching saxophone and jazz improvisation around the New England area for over 30 years. He is the author of many best selling jazz improvisation methods as well as founding the popular jazz video lesson site Neffmusic.com.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Avatarmorgan says

    December 9, 2016 at 6:21 pm

    say I just received the book I ordered, great production value and teaching tool..
    where is the 39min video located not in book or container

    Reply
    • SteveSteve says

      December 10, 2016 at 10:48 am

      Morgan, I sent you an email. After you ordered the book you should have received a thank you email that said to email me the receipt and I would give you directions on how to get any other materials that go with the book. I think sometimes those emails get lost in people’s spam folders unfortunately. Steve

      Reply
  2. AvatarHein Reedijk says

    December 10, 2016 at 5:37 am

    Steve, you did it again! This is a great book, I’ve now been studying it for the last two weeks, and already making great progress in my playing. New doors have opened for me. Thank you very much!

    Reply

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After reading your story I will never feel quite right about complaining about any of my MINOR health issues!!    God bless Steve and I really hope that your health doesn’t stop you from fulfilling your calling.    These books have been such a help to open up my jazz vocabulary…   Thanks so much for sharing your story and for providing these great teaching tools…   John Leclerc   Saxophonist / composer/ EWI player and professional working musician of 35 years….

John Leclerc
Your lessons on playing the blues is so clear . I have been through many books on blues playing and not one of them explains as clear as your lessons . Most of them say “Play the same blues scale over all three chords of a 12 bar blues ” Its very misleading .     Thanks
Martin

I am enjoying your style of teaching, and you’ve done a great job with the videos….good sound quality and well constructed lessons.  Balances the more guitaristic material found on the majority of guitar based programs.  Jazz vocab is what I’m all about at this point in the journey.  I especially dig the fact that you’ve studied with Bergonzi…helps me see his voluminous output in a more bite sized way.

Milton

Hello Steve, I’m getting so much out of your lessons and books, amazing how much one may think one knows, there is always a new frontier or new way to view something you think you had somewhat down. You have taken it all to a new level and am so grateful. Your lessons are so down to earth and understandable and clear!  Thanks so much Steve! Cheers, Eddie

Eddie Parente
I am enjoying your style of teaching, and you’ve done a great job with the videos….good sound quality and well constructed lessons.  Balances the more guitaristic material found on the majority of guitar based programs.  Jazz vocab is what I’m all about at this point in the journey.   I especially dig the fact that you’ve studied with Bergonzi…helps me see his voluminous output in a more  bite sized way.
Milton

Steve,

I have played for many years and have enjoyed going “back to the basics” in some of your lessons!  You have such a gift for explaining concepts.  As I have gotten older, some of the basic things have gotten muddled because I just play, not knowing why.  As I refresh myself with “why”, it increases my confidence and expands my playing.  Thank you so much for using your gift!  You are a blessing!

Julia
Hi Steve, I have been shedding your materials for quite a while now and I love them! They are extremely well organized and presented and there are tons of ’em! I really appreciate your methodical approach and find myself referring students to your resources often.  Thanks so much!  
Kenyon Carter
First, I’m really excited about your materials! This site is a vast resource for any aspiring (and maybe already inspired) jazz musicians. I’m not a sax player, I play mandolin and fiddle, but have been learning jazz and playing weekly with a quintet for the past 6 months and have been struggling with all of the issues you get into in your lessons. I bought several books and lessons and plan to continue with some others as soon as I organize my practice routine. Thanks again for a great site … Read more
Tony Galfano
Your major diatonic patterns book is great. I”m studying the first twenty patterns (first twenty pages) each day with different articulation each day and slowly increasing the tempo each week or so.  There is a noticeable improvement in finger coordination across all keys and its amazing how much more secure I feel on the difficult keys when attempting to play pieces with 5+ flats/sharps. I’m able to sort out the fingerings for these pieces now much more quickly than before, often in one or two … Read more
Geoff

Steve, just a note to say thanks.

I’ve been playing a long time, but your material, laid out in such a thoughtful way, helps me to understand concepts in a new and deeper way.

You are a true gift to the jazz community.

60 lessons and going strong,

Kevin Ledbetter

Kevin Ledbetter
Thank you for the wealth of helpful lessons you’ve provided over the years.  I truly feel as though it has improved my playing more than the 4 years I spent at Berklee… and that’s not a slight on the school as I loved my experience there.
John
John
I bought Steve’s dominant bebop book and took a couple of online lesson from him. I really appreciated Steve’s careful listening of what I wanted to get done in a lesson and his clear, concise ideas on next steps to improve my playing and musical interpretation.  His mastering  the Dominant Bebop Scale has lots of exercises to use a scale that addresses the largest percentage of chords I come across in pop/blues music. The dominant V7.  Needless say it has improved my playing.  I teach and a… Read more
Keith
I can see from your instructional videos that you are a fantastic teacher – one that can truly relate to all ages – humble yet very positive in approach – never coming across as superior and yet so totally capable of demonstrating the principles and techniques that you seek to impart to the students. I have gained so much confidence in my playing from “pouring over” time and again these invaluable lessons. Invaluable not only in musical content, but also in human interaction content. I am absolu… Read more
Ron

Love your lessons!  I have been using your lesson packages for many months now, and am learning a lot.  It is so perfect for me with a very busy adult schedule and difficulty in taking jazz/improv music lessons from reputable instructors who live and hour or more away from me.

Lenore
I want to say something about Steve Neff’s series of lessons, Beginner Jazz Improvisation. For a couple of years I tried many beginner lessons and my problem was that there was a gap between lessons that were fairly simple and ones that I was not quite ready for and my progress stalled out. That problem was solved with the series Beginner Jazz Improvisation. He guides you step by step along the way and builds a foundation for learning jazz and blues. He leaves no question about what to practice … Read more
Pete
Two years later I began a search for a sax teacher and happened to come across Steve Neff when I was searching YouTube for sax teachers.  I went to neffmusic.com and was very impressed with the lessons Steve Neff was offering.  The concept of selecting lessons was an approach that I thought was unique and purchased a few lessons.  I liked the lessons so much that I signed-up for a 6 month package. I was very happy with all the lessons I selected.  I also purchased Steve’s book Mastering the B… Read more
Michael
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Bob
I have NEVER seen material like yours.  Amazing!!
Jerry
Steve- I joined your site this month and have downloaded 4 lessons and also purchased your new book and video on diatonic patterns. I just want to say I am very pleased with your approach and teaching techniques. I am getting back into playing after laying off for some time. The information you offer on your site is of great value and I am enjoying being a member. Thank you for what you are doing for the saxophone community.
Tony
I just wanted to write a thank you note to you for this website. I play and teach saxophone, but I have always been intimidated by the gear aspect. Your website has helped me become a lot more knowledgable. Your knowledge is staggering! I’m telling all my students about your website. Pierre
Pierre
Steve really changed my way of practicing: I got a whole lot of new ideas for my playing the tenor.  His lessons are really helpful, give a lot stuff to practice and give clear answers to complicated stuff.  Steve has a lot of humor and I wish I had laughed so much in my former days with the horn.  All topics, from Blues to Approach note are dealt with clearness that wet ones appetite to play and practice that great ideas.
Uwe

Your material is great! I got your New Altissimo Lesson 6 months ago and I have learned more from that than in all my 44 years of playing! I appreciate your down to earth teaching method and I really appreciate the heart that you teach with. I have been a subscriber to your lessons for the past 6 months and I have learned a great deal. Over that period of time I have had some questions and you have never failed to respond. Thanks! I have already recommended your lessons to a number of players in… Read more

Michael Byington
Thank you for all the educational information you provide.  I am a classically trained musician.  Professionally, I am a 4th and 5th grade band teacher.  I have played piano and sax for many years, but now I am starting to gig out more. I have always improvised by ear in the past. I have gotten by with my strong sense of pitch, rhythm and melodic contour. However, I want to go deeper. I want to play with a greater variety of melodic and rhythmic ideas to pull from.  I have studied to gain a … Read more
Ray

Hello Steve,

I have not received my alto yet but have already gone through 14 lessons. I love your approach, style, knowledge and competence. I now regret so much to have stayed away from playing the sax for the past 45-50 years…(I am 65).  But It is never too late to get back to your first love. After 23 years in compuer sciences and 22 years in finances…I am now back to music for the rest of my life.

Doing some research on the net, I found this:

http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?1… Read more

Claude

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