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You are here: Home / Free Lessons / Free Video Lesson on The New Ultimate II-V-I Primer-Major Keys by Steve Neff

Free Video Lesson on The New Ultimate II-V-I Primer-Major Keys by Steve Neff

June 12, 2020 by Steve 5 Comments

I decided to offer a free video lesson on my book The New Ultimate II-V-I Primer-Major Keys (Digital PDF Book) for everyone. 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 chapters in the book.  I cover tips on the best way to use the book as well as demonstrating the various exercises so you can have a better understanding of how to use the book.  Here is a description of the book:

The purpose of this book is to give beginner to intermediate jazz improvisers a complete method to learn all the notes in a II-V-I progression in a systematic and organized way.  I have written this book so that it starts with the simplest of exercises and progresses to more advanced exercises as you work through the book.  It is very important that you take the time to fully master each exercise before moving on to the next one.  For example, if you are having trouble playing through the 12 keys II-V-I play along with just roots and thirds, then it doesn’t make sense to move on to the 1, 3 and 5 exercises.  You will just become overloaded and frustrated.  On the other hand, if you master the root and thirds lesson then when you add the 5th to the exercises you can just focus all of your attention on learning just the 5th.

The New Ultimate II-V-I Primer-Major Keys (Digital PDF Book) 14.99

The book is divided up into 10 lessons. Each lesson is focused on adding one note to each chord of a II-V-I progression. I give you a number of patterns for each new note that is added.  The goal of these patterns is to master the new note in relationship with each chord and to add these new notes to the notes mastered in the previous lessons.  I’ve written the patterns out in a number of different combinations that I think sound good.  Mastering these patterns will give you a multitude of melodic options while improvising.

After the patterns in each lesson, I give you 10 examples of how to apply 10  different approaches to the patterns already studied.  These approaches help to connect the chord tones from measure to measure as well as multiplying the various lines and ideas you can use over the progression.  Although this section only gives you 10 examples, you should apply the approaches liberally to the patterns studied so that you can come up with your own lines and melodies. 

The last section of each lesson is focused on giving you some ideas to use to create more melodic lines.  Many times students who are studying and learning patterns have trouble making the jump from pattern to melodic improvisation.  For this reason, in each lesson I give you 5 melodic lines based off of the patterns and approaches and give you some insights into why they sound good and how I created them.  Your goal should not be to just regurgitate patterns while you solo but rather to use the patterns and ideas to truly improvise.   Each practice session should end with a time of improvisation where you try to use what you have learned to create your own lines and melodies.  I stress this concept throughout the book.-Steve Neff

The New Ultimate II-V-I Primer-Major Keys (Digital PDF Book) 14.99

 


The Ultimate II-V-I Primer 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 The Ultimate II-V-I Primer-Major Keys book,  you can purchase one below as a PDF you can download immediately after purchase.  As I talk about in the video, the book is in all 12 keys and is 739 pages long.  I suggest only printing out one key and then trying to play the exercises in the other 12 keys without looking at the book if possible.  Thanks,   Steve

The New Ultimate II-V-I Primer-Major Keys (Digital PDF Book) 14.99

Filed Under: Free Lessons, Jazz Education Tagged With: free, Jazz Improvisation, modern jazz, saxophone, The New Ultimate II-V-I Primer-Major Keys, video lesson

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. AvatarIbon says

    June 14, 2020 at 12:14 pm

    Hi Steve! I am a saxophone player and teacher in San Sebastian, a city located in the Basque Country, in the north of Spain. I use to check regularly your blog, because I find it very interesting and guiding, specially in these times that we have lots and lots of disordered information available everywhere!

    I’m interested in your book as I consider it could give me an interesting approach to teach how to use many jazz lines over the II-V-I progression, but before buying it, it would be great if we could take a look inside the book, so that we can get a better idea of it. I would be very pleased if you’d put some images of the inner pages here.

    Many thanks for your help!

    Ibon

    Reply
    • SteveSteve says

      June 15, 2020 at 8:31 am

      Hi Ibon, There is a sample page posted at this link from a number of years ago when I released it. Steve

      https://www.neffmusic.com/blog/2008/10/the-ultimate-ii-v-i-primer/

      Reply
  2. AvatarFzona says

    June 21, 2020 at 6:34 am

    Hi Steve, Just downloaded your Ultimate II V I Primer and viewed your great 46 minute video review of the book. The book looks awesome and the video did a good job of explaining its purpose, content and how to approach and maximize it’s value.
    You’ve given me years of work to do. Thank you!
    Great job!!
    Frank

    Reply
  3. AvatarFred says

    June 28, 2021 at 12:25 am

    Hi Steve,
    I’m interested in your book ans just want to Know if your Ultimate II V I Primer exist in a french version. Thank!

    Reply
    • SteveSteve says

      June 28, 2021 at 9:25 am

      Hi Fred, No, it is only in English. Steve

      Reply

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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
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

Hi Steve,

First, I want to thank you for all of your great lessons. They are like a “For Dummies” version of all the books on my shelf. The lessons break things down into manageable pieces, and give me the confidence that I’m practicing the right pieces. I’m starting to make progress.   Thank You,   Kim

Kim
I just joined Neff Music last month. I can’t tell you how excited I’ve been to be able to pick back up on lessons. I’ve been in a rut and you got me out! I’ve especially appreciated the Lesson Path section. It was so clear I knew exactly where to jump in and start. Many many thanks!
Karin

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
Hey Steve, I’m a 22-year-old from Australia. I thought it would be worth saying. You’re an absolute legend. I can’t thank you enough. You have helped me rekindle my love for the saxophone and music as a whole. All the best for the future, your work doesn’t go unnoticed. PS. I am loving your devastating minor lines pdf.
Sapph

Thank You Steve. I think that I will be busy for years. Thank You for your great contribution to jazz music. Your books, more than teaching “how to play jazz”, actually teach “how to speak jazz”. I wish I found your methods years ago.  

Jean-Eric

I want to thank you again, because, not only are you an inspiration to listen to, you are a fine teacher!

I have been teaching sax and other winds for over 20 years, and you give me that “push” to give my students more!

Mark Peotter

Mark Peotter
It is so refreshing to have a great player, who can provide lessons and examples in a manner which is understandable to most any enthusiastic saxophonist who is ready to improve. not just the, do this, do that, memorize this, memorize that… while all that is absolutely necessary, you go on to give reasons and examples to explain and validate why you have to do all of these things, the benefits, if you will… that is the key for me, you tell, explain, demonstrate, explain some more, you give perso… Read more
Cedric
Thank you so much for the great job you are doing to help further our jazz studies. Though I make my living as a repairer of musical instruments I am a student of jazz and have been fortunate enough to be involved with a big band and a combo for the last several years. As my children began to leave “the nest” I had decided to dedicate the next half of my life to a more serious study of the sax but I didn’t know exactly how I would go about doing this until a friend of mine turned me onto your si… Read more
Jon
Absolutely the best learning experience in my 40 years of playing.These books are awesome!!
Alfred LaBella
Hey Steve! I hope you and your family are well.  I’m just writing to say thank you so much for all the resources you have made available to the saxophone community. I have been using your material for many years and I always come back to it… in fact I just took a break from practicing to write this…( reviewing “CreatingModern II-V-I Lines with simple pentatonics”.) I am, and continue to be, one of your raving fans! Blessings to you and your family this holiday season! Wishing… Read more
Gerry Aylward

Mr. Neff,  I want to thank you for sharing your God-given talents through your on-line lessons.  My husband, Michael, is blind, but he is a great sax player and he has been enjoying your lessons for quite some time now.  It’s not unusual for me to hear “Hey, babe, listen to THIS!” – and he will cut loose on his sax, just thrilled at what he learned during his session with you.  His excitement warms my heart!  You have no idea how much you have poured into my husband.  You have opened musical … Read more

Carole B
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
I have found your videos and publications inspiring and your contribution to the world of saxophone playing is immense. Paul
Paul
I just started looking at my lessons and I have to say, dude you are awesome.  I ABSOLUTELY will learn from you!  I started the tenor about 1 ½ yrs ago and have since picked up an alto, and more recently a soprano.  I spend most of the time on the tenor, followed by soprano, and have only gotten to the alto a few times.  I think I’ll be sticking with tenor.  I’m having a great time and hope one day to play well enough to get regular gigs.  I’ve been playing keys for about 35 years (… Read more
Wil

I must say again how much I appreciate all your material. Including the video tutorials. It help keep me focused and knowing what to aim for. And your laid back teaching style appeals to me too. 

Thanks

P

P
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

Hello Steve,

I just want to say thank you so much for your unbelievable work, it is just mind opening, thanks for sharing it.

Wolfgang from Berlin

Wolfgang from Berlin
For anyone living in remote areas away from live jazz sax teachers, Neff is the way to go. In fact this is a great resource for anyone seriously interested in mastering the sax. I’ve never been disappointed in a lesson.
Oliver
I’m an experienced player in the pop/soul/funk areas of music and, previously, classical.  Over the decades I’ve been playing, I’ve always felt that I could do what I needed in those styles of music.  However, recently I began to feel limited by my use of the same old licks. When I discovered Steve Neff’s website, and heard the audio examples based on the exercises in his books, I realized they were what I needed.  I purchased all of them and have been working on them since.  It’s very hard work… Read more
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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

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

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