I just released a new book I have been working on for a number of years now. It covers the basic pentatonic scale in all 12 keys with 29 great pentatonic patterns to practice. It also includes 11 altered pentatonics in these patterns that you can use for a more modern “outside” sound to your lines that I love. Here’s the full description of the book below:
Any serious fan of jazz has at one time or another heard a solo where the line being played made them turn towards the soloist with a look of concern. “Where were they going with this line?” “What are they thinking?” “Do they know they are playing the wrong notes?” If you have been in that seat looking at the soloist you know there is a moment where you feel some nervousness and anxiety. “Those notes are not right!” we think. Then the soloist masterfully weaves the crazy line he was just playing into sweet consonance and harmony. Our nervousness and anxiety melts away and we feel at peace with the world. Yet our heart is still pounding with excitement as if we just got off the world’s biggest roller coaster.
Digital PDF Version of “Mastering Altered Pentatonics”14.99
Printed Version of “Mastering Altered Pentatonics”29.99
The great players of jazz have learned the fine art of weaving in and out of a tonality whenever they please. It has the same affect on us listeners as riding a roller coaster or watching a tightrope walker performing sixty stories above the street. Those who have ears that perceive what is going on recognize the intricate balance of dissonance and consonance being played with by the soloist. Once we recognize it we are enthralled and unable to look away.
Mastering Altered Pentatonics
Digital PDF Version of “Mastering Altered Pentatonics”14.99
Printed Version of “Mastering Altered Pentatonics”29.99
In “Mastering Altered Pentatonics”, we are taking the most benign of scales, the pentatonic scale, through the ringer. We are working on mastering it using twenty-nine scale patterns that we then alter to create new and fresh sounds that are far from benign. At times, they sound almost dangerous in their tension and dissonance. By practicing these altered pentatonic patterns and weaving in and out of them we are practicing the fine art of balancing our lines between consonance and dissonance while we improvise. The more adept we become at this balancing act the more exciting and entertaining our lines and solos will become. Inside, we will take the pentatonic scale through eleven alterations. Each one having it’s own sound and flavor. Join me in discovering a new way to approach thinking and playing while improvising that will lead you to discover new and fresh sounding lines. I hope you enjoy the book as much as I have enjoyed working on it.
By practicing these altered pentatonic patterns and weaving in and out of them we are practicing the fine art of balancing our lines between consonance and dissonance. The more adept we become at this balancing act the more exciting and entertaining our lines and solos will become.
Inside, we will take the pentatonic scale through eleven alterations. Each one having it’s own sound and flavor. The book is 368 pages long and in all 12 keys. It comes with a 49 minute overview video lesson of the book where I talk about and demonstrate the concepts from the book on the tenor saxophone.
Join me in discovering a new way to approach thinking and playing your lines that will lead you to discover new and fresh sounding lines. I hope you enjoy the book as much as I have enjoyed working on it. Steve
Digital PDF Version of “Mastering Altered Pentatonics”14.99
Printed Version of “Mastering Altered Pentatonics”29.99
Sample Pages from Introduction of Book
About Steve
Hi Steve, I just purchased Mastering Altered Pentatonics the print version. For years Chris Hunter has been telling me about this but it always seemed too complex to figure out. Hopefully this will help .Will I get access to the video presentation? Thanx , Frank Elmo
PS ,I bought a Retro Revival Florida double Ring based on your review. I love It! Thanx ,keep up the good work!
That’s great to hear Frank. I’m glad you are digging the RR Florida piece! Not sure if you already have the video on Mastering Altered Pentatonics but if you email me the Lulu receipt I can send you a link to download the video lesson. Steve
Hi Steve
I find your playing brilliantly smooth which I like a smooth sax. Do you play an alto ? I notice in your video only Bb sax only. Do you do a beginner book ? I am a beginner but I intend to try things for more advance player. so I want to buy (playing outside new altered pentatonic lesson) but also interested in the other book also, (paper back only) so any tip it be most welcome. I blow a 54ref new style alto and curve & straight soprano. I am in hunt for a metal mouthpiece old stile playing but small in size like the Beechler metal but none so far, any thing you recc ? find rubber just big in the mouth
Glen
Glen, I do play alto sax on a lot of lesson. If you look at the lesson list there are beginner lessons near the bottom http://www.neffmusic.com/blog/lesson-index/ . In each lesson description I write what saxophone I am using for the lesson. The altered pentatonic lessons and book are pretty advanced. For a beginner I would suggest working on improvising using the blues scale and major and minor scales to start. Also using my II-V-I primer to learn your chords and melodic patterns. I also have lessons on Patterns for Jazz which is a great book to start fairly new players on. If you mean you are brand new to the saxophone I would check out the embouchure lesson as well as the articulation lessons. If you build bad habits with those it makes it 10x times as hard to fix it later in your development.
I have reviewed quite a few metal alto mouthpieces on my site here. You can check those out and see what you think. Steve