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Hi! I am Steve Neff

I have been playing and teaching saxophone and jazz improvisation around the New England area for the last 30+ years. I love teaching and anything to do with the saxophone. I hope you find this website helpful in your musical journey. Thanks, Steve

The Best Saxophone Embouchure: Where’s that Bottom Lip?

June 30, 2020 by Steve 114 Comments

I just completed a new saxophone video lesson entitled “The Best Embouchure for Tone, Intonation and Endurance Lesson” in which I teach my approach to the saxophone playing embouchure and playing the saxophone.  While working on the sax lesson, I thought it would be a cool idea to search the internet for good photos of […]

Filed Under: Learning at Neffmusic, Saxophone Stuff Tagged With: best, bottom lip, embouchure, mouthpiece, perfect, playing, sax, saxophone

Theo Wanne Gaia 3 Hard Rubber Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

June 17, 2020 by Steve 29 Comments

I was excited to hear that Theo Wanne was releasing a new alto saxophone mouthpiece called the Gaia 3 a few months ago and asked Theo if I could review it.  I had reviewed the original Gaia alto saxophone mouthpiece back in 2010 and it was one of  the best alto saxophone mouthpieces I have […]

Filed Under: Alto Medium Baffle Reviews, Alto Mouthpiece Reviews, Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: Alto Saxophone, Gaia 3, hard rubber, review, sax mouthpiece, Theo Wanne

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 […]

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

Bob Mintzer Beautiful Everything Happens To Me Tenor Saxophone Solo Transcription

June 8, 2020 by Steve 6 Comments

I have another amazing treat for all of you!  A couple of weeks ago,  I discovered a new sax player on Facebook who was posting killer transcriptions on Youtube. His name is Dimitrii Sergheev from Moldova.  Dimitrii caught my attention because we seem to have the exact same tastes in great tenor sax solos that […]

Filed Under: Transcriptions Tagged With: Bob Mintzer, Everything Happens To Me, jazz sax, solo, tenor saxophone, transcription

Whoa!! Michael Brecker Performing on a Hard Rubber Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece!!

June 5, 2020 by Steve 36 Comments

I wanted to share this interesting video I found on Facebook this morning that was shared by Louis Gerrits who runs the website michaelbreckerliverecordings.com which is a website dedicated to the great tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker who passed away in 2007. *Louis was also kind enough to share the Michael Brecker photos in this article […]

Filed Under: Jazz Videos, Saxophone Stuff Tagged With: Guardala, hard rubber, Michael Brecker, otto link, saxophone mouthpiece, slant signature, tenor sax

Michael Brecker New York Minute Tenor Saxophone Solo Transcription

June 3, 2020 by Steve 1 Comment

I have a treat for all of you!  A couple of weeks ago,  I discovered a new sax player on Facebook who was posting killer transcriptions on Youtube. His name is Dimitrii Sergheev from Moldova.  Dimitrii caught my attention because we seem to have the exact same tastes in great tenor sax solos that need […]

Filed Under: Transcriptions Tagged With: Herbie Hancock, jazz sax, Michael Brecker, New Standard, New York Minute, solo, tenor saxophone, transcription

Max Ionata Ridiculously Great Parole Parole Tenor Saxophone Solo Transcription

May 28, 2020 by Steve 2 Comments

I have another treat for all of you!  A couple of weeks ago,  I discovered a new sax player on Facebook who was posting killer transcriptions on Youtube. His name is Dimitrii Sergheev from Moldova.  Dimitrii caught my attention because we seem to have the exact same tastes in great tenor sax solos that need […]

Filed Under: Transcriptions Tagged With: Greta Panettieri, jazz sax, Max Ionata, Parole Parole, solo, tenor saxophone, transcription

Michael Brecker Scarborough Fair Tenor Saxophone Solo Transcription

May 28, 2020 by Steve Leave a Comment

I have a treat for all of you!  A couple of weeks ago,  I discovered a new sax player on Facebook who was posting killer transcriptions on Youtube. His name is Dimitrii Sergheev from Moldova.  Dimitrii caught my attention because we seem to have the exact same tastes in great tenor sax solos that need […]

Filed Under: Transcriptions Tagged With: Herbie Hancock, jazz sax, Michael Brecker, New Standard, Scarborough Fair, solo, tenor saxophone, transcription

Bob Reynolds Donna Lee Tenor Saxophone Solo Transcription

May 4, 2020 by Steve 3 Comments

Here is another transcription of a great tenor saxophone solo by Bob Reynolds over the Charlie Parker tune Donna Lee.  This is a video I discovered on Youtube a number of years ago.  I immediately decided I wanted to transcribe this solo and put it into a folder on my computer entitled “Solos to Transcribe”.  […]

Filed Under: Transcriptions Tagged With: Bob Reynolds, Charlie Parker, Donna Lee, jazz sax, tenor saxophone, transcription

Bob Reynolds Funky Tenor Saxophone Solo on Eb Minor Groove Transcription

April 30, 2020 by Steve 8 Comments

Here is a transcription of a really cool tenor sax solo by Bob Reynolds.  I have been a fan of Bob’s for years and when I heard this solo on Youtube last week, I had to write it down.  It’s on a simple Eb minor (for the tenor sax) type of groove and Bob tears […]

Filed Under: Transcriptions Tagged With: Bob Reynolds, Charlie Hunter, funky solo, Geoff Clapp, jazz sax, tenor saxophone, transcription

10mFan Chameleon Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

April 28, 2020 by Steve 28 Comments

Today, I am reviewing a new tenor saxophone mouthpiece from 10mFan sax mouthpieces.  This is the Chameleon 7** hard rubber tenor saxophone mouthpiece.   I have already reviewed a number of great 10mFan tenor saxophone mouthpieces and alto saxophone mouthpieces in the past that you can find here. Whenever Mark Sepinuck, at 10mFan mouthpieces, comes out […]

Filed Under: Mouthpiece Reviews, Tenor High Baffle Reviews Tagged With: 10mFan, Chameleon, hard rubber, review, saxophone mouthpiece, tenor sax

Dan Hitchcock “I’ll Remember April” Tenor Sax Solo Transcription

April 17, 2020 by Steve 4 Comments

Here is another great solo transcription of a player I never heard of before that popped up on my Facebook feed the other day.  I listened for a few seconds and thought “Wow! Who is this guy! He’s really good!”  Well, his name is Dan Hitchcock.   I didn’t really find much about Dan online except […]

Filed Under: Transcriptions Tagged With: Dan Hitchcock, I'll Remember April, jazz saxophone, solo transcription, tenor sax

Insane Sam Dillon “Cherokee” at 400bpm Tenor Sax Solo Transcription

April 16, 2020 by Steve Leave a Comment

Here is another insane tenor sax solo by Sam Dillon. Believe it or not, this is Cherokee at 400 beats per minute.  Yes, you read that correctly……. It’s just a fact of life that if you lock a jazz musician in a room in isolation or quarantine, they will not survive without a clear unfathomable […]

Filed Under: Transcriptions Tagged With: Cherokee, jazz saxophone, Sam Dillon, solo transcription, tenor sax

Doug Webb Swingin’ One Chorus Tenor Saxophone Solo on All the Things You Are Transcription

April 15, 2020 by Steve 3 Comments

Here is another swingin’ tenor sax solo by Doug Webb. This is over one chorus of “All the Things You Are”. This is actually a transcription that Abel Garcia Mendoza did and performed on Facebook yesterday. Abel was kind enough to share it with me and give permission for me to share it with all […]

Filed Under: Transcriptions Tagged With: Chad LB, Chad Lefkowitz-Brown, jazz sax, Oleo, Syos mouthpiece, tenor saxophone, transcription

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Testimonials

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
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
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 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

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
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
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
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 want to thank you for your “Ultimate II-V-I Primer”  which has sent me off on a much better path to improvisation.  The primer and the four bound books I have will keep me busy for a long time.  I like your lessons for two reasons.  The lessons work and THEY ARE FUN.  Thanks again.

Robert

Robert
I would like to say that in the last year my sax playing has progressed loads from your lessons. I have had a sax for about 20 years and dabbled with lessons from a few teachers and have learnt very little from them. As you have said in your lessons many teachers tell you to use the blues scale and leave it there, not even showing you the resolution points!!. I am now believing I can in time become a good improviser.
Thanks again,
Shane
Shane
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
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

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
Steve’s monthly lessons are entirely valuable. Without brow beating, he tells you all the stuff you deep down know you really should be working on, instead of just relying on the same old patterns. In spite of the fact that you’re taking a video lesson, Steve’s presentation is comfortable and “real”. In a little more than a year, he’s developed a library of lessons that seem to offer any player a lifetime’s worth of practice material. I’m just glad I stumbled upon it.… Read more
Grant

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
Hi Steve, I can’t express just how much I appreciate your teaching. My playing has improved so much over the past year since I have been studying and practicing with your lessons. It is possible to teach an old dog new tricks, these lessons are proof! Thanks, Michael Byington
Michael Byington
I have found your videos and publications inspiring and your contribution to the world of saxophone playing is immense. Paul
Paul
I like so many other subscribers feel so encouraged by Steve’s learning techniques; you will enjoy reading the comments of praise others have left as you too will feel that you share a common view and path. I feel very lucky to have come across Neffmusic and that feeling will remain with you as you search through a treasure trove of learning materials on offer, you will quickly find the lessons that you are suited to. You will instantly recognize the unparalleled quality of Steve’s teaching … Read more
Stephen
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
Just wanted to send you a quick note to say thank you for being you, your playing, your website and your desire to help others. I’m a professional musician in the US Army and I’ve visited your website almost every day since discovering it a couple of months ago. Your lessons are profound and easy to use. I’ve purchased most of your PDF books and now am starting to delve more into the video and audio lessons.  Thank you for being a great resource!
James
I’ve been downloading your lessons for 4 months now (20 lesson) and I have noticed tremendous growth in my playing thus far! I’m so happy that I stumbled upon your site!
Bob

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’ve been a member of Steve’s site for about six months now and the difference it has made to my playing is immeasurable. The (many) benefits of this membership are that you can have lessons at time convenient to you, they work out A LOT cheaper than face-to-face lessons with a teacher of the same calibre and you can replay them ad infinitum. I don’t know how many times have I had lessons in the past where I’ve ended up covering the same concepts when really a ‘replay’ of the last lesson would h… Read more
Nick

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