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You are here: Home / Jazz Lessons / Approach Notes / Approach Note Velocity Overview Lesson
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Approach Note Velocity Overview Lesson

Approach Note Velocity Overview Lesson

Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 2 customer ratings
(2 customer reviews)

$9.99

SKU: 004 Category: Approach Notes Tags: approach notes, audio lesson, jazz improvisation, jazz lines, jazz patterns
  • Description
  • Reviews (2)

Description

Approach notes are notes that are headed towards a particular target note.  Usually, the target note is a chord tone that you are aiming for that will give resolution to the line you are playing.  As you are playing these “approach note lines”, quite often there is dissonance in the line but when  you resolve it by achieving the target note it sounds great!  Many intermediate jazz improviser’s never get the knack of the dissonance resolution battle that goes on while they improvise  because they never work on nor master their approach notes.  Learning all your approach note patterns and lines is a great way to master the elements of tension and resolution.  It is also a fabulous way to  improve your ears, play faster more fluid jazz lines, understand how all 12 notes fit against a tonality  and finally, play some really fast cool jazz patterns that weave in and out of the changes in a hip and modern way.

In this 30 minute audio lesson, I give a general overview of my Approach Note Velocity books and concept.  This is not a step by step lesson series like the “Approach Note Freedom” series of lessons but rather an overview lesson  to get you started and up and running with the concepts.  I teach you how to best use the Approach Note Velocity books for the maximum benefit.   I take you step by step through the process that I myself went through years ago as I practiced all my approach note lines and patterns.  I demonstrate how to play the exercises and practice in the Approach Note Velocity books as well as the best way to practice these against Jamey Aebersold’s play alongs.   I  give you  tips and hints on how to apply the approaches to real life playing situations.  This is a great lesson for those of you who have my book and want further insights on how to get the most from it.  If you don’t have my “Approach Note Velocity” books then I would strongly suggest you get it in order to learn the most from this lesson.   (30 Minute Audio Lesson)

2 reviews for Approach Note Velocity Overview Lesson

  1. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Donato Soviero – March 11, 2010

    Thanks Steve! Your insights have really opened up a whole new area of study for me. These approaches are something I used to stumble on as isolated licks. You’ve really explored and organized the whole concept beautifully!
    Thank you, thank you!

  2. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    John Tattersall – July 24, 2013

    I just thought I would let you know how I’m getting on with the book. I totally get it now and am delighted with it. I’ve been working on C major only with the Aebersold Major backing track. Having memorized the patterns up to about No 4 and then combining them with existing jazz language which I already use I have found it is really opening another door to my improvisation improvement. I intend to make working on the patterns a priority over the next year.

    Many Thanks

    John

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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
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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.
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Shane
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John

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
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.
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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 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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