I decided to offer another free video lesson based off my book Mastering Altered Pentatonics for everyone. This is a short demo lesson based off of my full length lesson “Creating Modern Lines with Altered Pentatonic Variations-Lesson 1“. The full lesson includes a 38 minute video lesson and the 36 page PDF of the altered pentatonic variation lines written out in all 12 keys. I hope you find this lesson helpful. Steve
Altered Pentatonic Variations Lesson Demo
**If you are curious about the backing track I used for the lesson, it can be found here. Funk Fusion Backing Track Cm
I have sold many of these books and really want to make sure that everyone is getting the most they can out of them. You can consider this an “overview” lesson on the various pentatonics covered in the book although I don’t go through the 30 pentatonic patterns in the book. (I have more detailed lessons in my Neffmusic store). I cover tips on the best way to use the book as well as demonstrating the various pentatonics so you can hear how they sound with a background track. Here is a description of the book:
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.
Mastering Altered Pentatonics-Digital PDF Book 14.99
Mastering Altered Pentatonics-Printed Version 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.
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
Mastering Altered Pentatonics-Digital PDF Book 14.99
Mastering Altered Pentatonics-Printed Version 29.99
Mastering Altered Pentatonics Free Overview Lesson
I hope you enjoy the lesson and find it useful. There are 600+ more lessons in my Neffmusic store on a variety of subjects to check out. If you have a question on anything in the lesson feel free to email me or send a message and I will do my best to answer your questions. If this lesson stirs your curiosity in my Mastering Altered Pentatonics book, you can purchase one below as a PDF you download or a printed version that will be shipped to you. Thanks, Steve
Dear Neff,
I have been a follower of your lessons from Nigeria.
I need to know how I can eaily get your lessons in all formats
Donald, I’m not sure what you are asking by “all formats”? You purchase the lessons and then download them. They are either .mov pr .mp4 files. Most computers can play these types of files. Thanks, Steve