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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

Boston Sax Shop S-Series 7* Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

January 30, 2021 by Steve 11 Comments

Today, I am excited to be reviewing the new BSS (Boston Sax Shop) S-Series 7* tenor saxophone mouthpiece released by Jack Tyler at the Boston Sax Shop. Jack Tyler is the owner of Boston Sax Shop and has been my saxophone repairman for the last seven years. I usually head down to Boston about once […]

Filed Under: Mouthpiece Reviews, Tenor Low Baffle Reviews, Tenor Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: Boston Sax Shop, BSS, BSS reeds, review, S Series, sax mouthpiece, Selmer soloist, superlative ligature, tenor saxophone

Michael Brecker Act Natural Tenor Sax Solo Transcription

January 26, 2021 by Steve 12 Comments

Here’s another great Michael Brecker tenor sax solo transcription I am excited to share with everyone. This transcription has been available out there on the internet for many years now, so I have never posted my transcription here on my site, but I kind of wanted to now for sentimental reasons. This transcription includes the […]

Filed Under: Transcriptions Tagged With: Act Natural, Don Grolnick, Hearts and Numbers, jazz sax, Michael Brecker, tenor saxophone, transcription

Michael Brecker Tenor Sax Solo Transcription-The Melody Still Lingers On (A Night in Tunisia)-Chaka Kahn

January 26, 2021 by Steve 7 Comments

About five years ago, I started working on a transcription of an incredible solo by Michael Brecker over “A Night in Tunisia” (Chaka Kahn calls it “The Melody Still Lingers On”). This is from a video on Youtube of Chaka Kahn performing a great version of this tune in 1981.  This is classic early eighties […]

Filed Under: Transcriptions Tagged With: Chaka Kahn, jazz sax, Magnus Bakken, Melody Lingers On, Michael Brecker, Night in Tunisia, tenor saxophone, transcription

Comparing Four SYOS Signature Model Tenor Saxophone Mouthpieces Side by Side

January 15, 2021 by Steve 4 Comments

Today, I am comparing four SYOS tenor saxophone mouthpieces that I have reviewed in the past side by side so that you can more easily hear and compare these tenor saxophone mouthpieces and sound clips to each other.  The comparison is between the SYOS Chad LB 8* tenor saxophone mouthpiece, the SYOS Tivon Pennicott 8 […]

Filed Under: Alto Low Baffle Reviews, Alto Mouthpiece Reviews, Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: Chad LB, comparison, Lorenzo Ferrero, Michael Wilbur, mouthpiece, review, Signature Model, SYOS, tenor saxophone, Tivon Pennicott

GetASax GS RESO FG Special 7* Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

December 21, 2020 by Steve 13 Comments

It looks like December is “Reso” month here at Neffmusic as I have three reproductions of Otto Link Reso Chamber tenor saxophone mouthpieces sitting on my desk to review this month. I have already reviewed the James Bunte ARC that is a reproduction of an Otto Link Joe Allard Reso Chamber tenor saxophone mouthpiece as […]

Filed Under: Mouthpiece Reviews, Tenor Low Baffle Reviews, Tenor Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: Brian Curry, FG Special, freddie gregory, Getasax, GS Reso, otto link, Reso Chamber, review, sax mouthpiece, tenor saxophone

SYOS Knoel Scott Signature Model Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

December 18, 2020 by Steve 9 Comments

Today, I am reviewing the Knoel Scott signature model 7 alto saxophone mouthpiece from SYOS mouthpieces in France.   I have already completed a number of Syos saxophone mouthpiece reviews here on the site and I thought all of these sax mouthpieces played excellently so I was excited to review this Knoel Scott signature alto saxophone […]

Filed Under: Alto Low Baffle Reviews, Alto Mouthpiece Reviews, Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: Alto Saxophone, Knoel Scott, mouthpiece, review, Signature Model, SYOS

GetASax GS RESO Model Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

December 10, 2020 by Steve 53 Comments

It looks like December is “Reso” month here at Neffmusic as I have three reproductions of Otto Link Reso Chamber tenor saxophone mouthpieces sitting on my desk to review this week.  I have a GetASax GS RESO tenor saxophone mouthpiece that is a precise replica of a vintage Otto Link Reso Chamber. The GS RESO […]

Filed Under: Mouthpiece Reviews, Tenor Low Baffle Reviews, Tenor Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: Brian Curry, Getasax, GS Reso, otto link, Reso Chamber, review, sax mouthpiece, tenor saxophone

James Bunte ARC (Allard Reso Chamber) Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

December 8, 2020 by Steve 13 Comments

It looks like December is “Reso” month here at Neffmusic as I have three reproductions of Otto Link Reso Chamber tenor saxophone mouthpieces sitting on my desk to review this week.   I have a Getasax Reso tenor mouthpiece that is a copy of an Otto Link Reso Chamber 5 mouthpiece with a Freddie Gregory Mark […]

Filed Under: Mouthpiece Reviews, Tenor Medium Baffle Reviews, Tenor Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: ARC, chamber, James Bunte, Joe Allard, Reso, review, sax mouthpiece, tenor saxophone

Gottsu Sepia Tone VI Marble Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

December 8, 2020 by Steve 12 Comments

If you like the sound of Paul Desmond, this review is for you.  Today, I am reviewing a hard rubber alto saxophone mouthpiece from Gottsu mouthpieces in Japan.  I had received some emails from a few different fans of my site who were impressed with the Gottsu sax mouthpieces they had played and I decided […]

Filed Under: Alto Medium Baffle Reviews, Alto Mouthpiece Reviews, Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: Alto Saxophone, Gottsu, Paul Desmond, review, sax mouthpiece, Sepia Tone, VI Marble

Sakshama Branford Marsalis Model Delrin Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

December 3, 2020 by Steve 28 Comments

Today, I am reviewing a Sakshama Branford Marsalis model Delrin tenor saxophone mouthpiece that I bought used online because I was curious about this tenor sax mouthpiece.  I have read that Branford Marsalis played a Guardala tenor sax mouthpiece in the 80’s and 90’s (not sure when he switched to something else) and I have […]

Filed Under: Mouthpiece Reviews, Tenor High Baffle Reviews, Tenor Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: Branford Marsalis, delrin, mouthpiece, review, Sakshama, sax, tenor saxophone

Jerry Bergonzi You’re My Everything Tenor Saxophone Solo Transcription

December 1, 2020 by Steve 8 Comments

Here is another great tenor sax solo transcription by Dimitrii Sergheev.  This a solo by the great Jerry Bergonzi over the jazz standard “You’re My Everything”. Jerry Bergonzi is a great jazz tenor sax player and teacher from the New England area and if you went to school in Boston like I did, Jerry Bergonzi […]

Filed Under: Transcriptions Tagged With: jazz sax, jerry bergonzi, solo, tenor saxophone, transcription, You're My Everything

Chris Potter’s Burnin’ Impressions Tenor Saxophone Solo Transcription

November 30, 2020 by Steve 2 Comments

Here is another great tenor sax solo transcription by Dimitrii Sergheev of Chris Potter soloing on Impressions by John Coltrane.  Chris Potter is at the 2019 Groundup Music Fest when people could still hang out together and listen to music. Boy, do I miss those days….. Last summer,  I discovered Dimitrii Sergheev on Facebook when […]

Filed Under: Transcriptions Tagged With: chris potter, Impressions, jazz sax, solo, tenor saxophone, transcription

Phil Dwyer Gentle Rain Tenor Saxophone Solo Transcription

November 26, 2020 by Steve 2 Comments

Last summer,  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 to be transcribed. I reached out to Dimitrii on Facebook and […]

Filed Under: Transcriptions Tagged With: Gentle Rain, jazz sax, Louis Bonfa, Phil Dwyer, solo, tenor saxophone, transcription

Adam Larson Chord Tone Blues Tenor Saxophone Solo Transcription

November 24, 2020 by Steve 6 Comments

Here is a short two chorus transcription of the young tenor saxophonist Adam Larson playing a tenor saxophone solo over a blues progression that I saw on Instagram the other day.  Adam is mostly just using chord tones on this tenor sax solo with a few tritone substitutions here and there.  It is not overly […]

Filed Under: Transcriptions Tagged With: Adam Larson, blues, jazz saxophone, solo, tenor sax, transcription

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Steve Neff has been playing and teaching saxophone and jazz improvisation around the New England area for over 35 years. He is the author of many best selling jazz improvisation methods, numerous saxophone related reviews, as well as founding the popular jazz video lesson site Neffmusic.com.

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Testimonials

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

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
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
Hi Steve, I live in a gorgeous but rural area of Oregon-no music store within 80 miles. Your lessons are my lifeline!  Truly the best there are anywhere online. Love your playing. Love your teaching.  Thanks again. Ed
Ed Woodmansee
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
Absolutely the best learning experience in my 40 years of playing.These books are awesome!!
Alfred LaBella

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

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
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 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
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

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’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

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
Just a brief note to compliment you on your teaching skills and in particular for the honesty of your lessons.  I am a returning alto sax player in my 50’s and I was looking for a no nonsense, straight to the point kind of guidance. I had intended to email you with a few questions regarding the use of the bis key but then I noticed that there was a lesson on that specific topic and after viewing it,  all my questions were answered. I once took a group lesson with a well known professional sax … Read more
Patrick
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
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 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
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
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
I am a music book junkie and I have to say that your books are the most clear, user friendly, and helpful books I own.  They are my absolute favorites and I only wish I had them years ago.  I wouldn’t change a thing about the experience I had in acquiring my degree at Berklee, but my playing has perhaps grown more in the time I’ve spent buried in your books and lessons.  Keep up the great work!!! Thanks, John
John

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

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

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