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You are here: Home / Jazz Books (PDF Downloads) / Approach Note Velocity Volume 1-Major (Digital PDF Book)

Approach Note Velocity Volume 1-Major (Digital PDF Book)

Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 12 customer ratings
(12 customer reviews)

$11.99

SKU: 5001 Category: Jazz Books (PDF Downloads) Tags: approach notes, jazz improvisation, neighboring tones, steve neff
  • Description
  • Reviews (12)

Description

A number of years ago, I was frustrated with my playing over static major and minor grooves. It seemed like I always ran out of ideas and the ideas I had were stale and unoriginal. At that time, although I could play in all keys, more often than not I was held back to the same old diatonic patterns and licks I had studied as a kid. Besides this frustration, I felt like there were many keys with which I wasn’t comfortable. As a solution, I decided to come up with a comprehensive method using approach notes that I could use to systematically solve these perceived weaknesses in my playing.

I started by writing out every approach I could think of in every key. For about 4-5 months, I worked on these approaches while playing along to Jamey Aebersold’s Volume 24 “Major and Minor” CD. As I worked on, and added to, my collection of approaches, I saw the positive results in my performances. Not only was I able to play faster over tunes, but I was feeling a confidence that I could start an idea on any note and find a way to resolve it and make it sound good.
As I worked on them in depth, I began to notice that my confidence in every key was improving. Also, the method I was using was helping my ear to more easily hear key centers, and something cool was happening to my time concept. I was starting to play ideas in odd meters against 4. I wasn’t tied down to the 1,2,3,4 groove, but was playing across the bar lines. I really believe that working on these exercises has helped my playing immensely. I hope that you get as much out of these exercises as I have and that they will improve your performances. Thanks, Steve

12 reviews for Approach Note Velocity Volume 1-Major (Digital PDF Book)

  1. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Paul (verified owner) – September 20, 2007

    I just ordered and received Steve’s new book a couple of days ago; I had the time to play 3 keys out of the “Approach Note Velocity” book today and I’m delighted! This book’s fun! Steve took the time to do what I’ve been meaning to do for quite a while, (Hat’s off to ya man, I’m too lazy!). He did a great job with this book. The problem of making a line over static harmony interesting is one we saxophonists all encounter, so this book is truly useful. The constant suspension and resolution of the approach note exercises swings like crazy! I’ve been looking for a jazz book with an interesting concept that’s fun to read for quite a while and this one’s a keeper; thanks man

  2. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Michele Holevar (verified owner) – January 12, 2008

    Steve, I am a trauma surgeon with very limited time who is learning to play jazz guitar. I have purchased all of your books ( The Best II-V-I Patterns, Approach Note Velocity or Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale) and have found them invaluable in giving me an insight into modern improvising. The Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale is much clearer and user-friendly than the Baker books thtat I had been using (How to Pay Bebop). Instead of just a single riff, you provide building blocks that allow the student to really internalize the Bebop scales and actually make music with them. I am also using Approach Note Velocity in combination with the New York Guitar Method to master the use of chromatics in my playing. I have taken your advice and worked with the Aebersold Major & Minor CDs, and I beieve that the time I have invested in your method has paid off ten-fold. Like you, I have noticed that I am now “playing over the barline” and intuitively using polyrhythms in my playing. Thank you so much for taking the time to develop these books, and please let me know when you develop a new product!

    Michele Holevar

  3. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Phineas (verified owner) – September 20, 2008

    I just wanted to let you know that your velocity series was just what I needed. This kind of thing seems to be what was missing in my playing. Not that I would use these patterns all of the time, but they sure do make a cool addition to what I already do. I have read many books “Velocity Patterns”, “Jazz Rock Progressions” By David Chesky, the Bob Mintzer books, Sam Most etc…. These book are cool, however they really do not “break it down” and put the excercises into the hands of the player like your excercises do.

    Your Velocity lesson exposed a deficiency in my finger flow. I can zip through many scales, arpeggios, intervals, etc… However, I could not zip through these excercises right away. My fingers just would not co-operate! Especially on flute(my main horn). Just after a few weeks, I have seen a significant improvement across the board. I did a jam session last weekend, and could already feel and hear an improvement when playing on dreaded tunes like Blue Bossa and Footprints. The keyboard player had to signal me to stop because I had so many new ideas…lol It went over like a smash!!!(Good)

    These patterns are just fun to play! Just for kicks, I was playing the minor patterns over “Little Sun Flower” and “Sky Dive”. I got a real kick out of that. I am hooked.

    Peace, love, and prosperity my sax brother! Thanks again for your time and effort, and look forward to more of your lessons.

    Phineas

  4. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Claudio Marcolino (verified owner) – February 14, 2009

    Very good material. Fresh ideas for licks dealing with approach notes. Several licks in all keys. Highly recommended. I bought the printed version from Lulu and packaging was great too. Nicely done, Steve!
    Claudio Marcolino (Brazil)

  5. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Thomas Korner (verified owner) – March 20, 2009

    I must tell you that your approach note exercises are such a gift! They were the missing link of my improvisations. I am studying now all types of approaching each chord note of each chord according to your book. It sounds modern and cool, and it helps you to figure out the chord notes as well. Thank you for this book!
    Thomas

  6. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Tom Schneider (verified owner) – April 22, 2009

    I have been using Steve’s II-V-I patterns, Approach Note Velocity, and
    Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale books and can honestly say that my
    playing has grown more than any other methods I have studied. Steve’s
    practical approach really allows someone at any level to apply directly
    to their improvising. As a working musician I really do appreciate
    methods such as Steve’s that make the best use of my practice time…..
    these really work!

    Tom Schneider – R&B/Funk/Jazz saxophone during the night, Electrical
    Engineer during the day.

  7. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    John Pritchett (verified owner) – May 11, 2009

    Steve,
    I got the book.
    By the way, a few months ago, I noticed a sudden, distinct improvement in the improvising of our lead tenor player. (Joe Sullivan–Blue Moon Big Band.) When I commented on it, he pulled out a copy of Approach Note Velocity. Maybe this book + some hard work will do the same magic for me.

    Thanks,
    John Pritchett

  8. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Randall S. Closson (verified owner) – July 5, 2009

    I have been working regularly with both Steve’s II-V-I patterns (major and minor) and his Approach Note Velocity books. Instead of going from front to back on these, I concentrated on the keys that I use the most and gradually started delving in to the other keys. After ove 40 years of playing, I have never worked through anything that has opened me up to new ideas and gotten me out of a playing “rut” faster than these books. I am hearing new things in my playing and so are others and I am constantly getting more comfortable playing in any key. I am by no means finished working with these books and consider them a “lifetime” project. Who says you can’t teach an “old dog” new tricks? I just wish I had access to something like this about 35 years ago. Steve can expect that I will be adding his Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale book to my arsenal very soon.

    Randall S. Closson

  9. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Ian (verified owner) – March 25, 2010

    Thank you Steve!
    The exercises look good! Just taking a few minutes to flip through the book I can see how well it was made. I also plan to encourage my more advanced students to buy the book.
    I’m looking forward to getting my hard copy in the mail from Lulu so I don’t burn up my printer cartridges!
    Thanks again, Ian

  10. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Sinkdrain (verified owner) – May 29, 2011

    Well, in searching for a new way to help my students double time during solos I decided to give Steve Neff’s “Approach Note Velocity” book a go.

    The youtube clips of his approach reminded me of the lines I often play in the few keys I am very comfortable in. Got the book and realized that I would benefit greatly by working on this myself. Right off the bat it got me playing some appraches and lines I wouldn’t normally reach for. And best of all it got me playing in all the keys. I discovered that the sole reason I was comfortable in certain keys is because I already had a vocabulary of approaches. The book leveled the playing field in my uncomfortable keys by providing new vocabulary.

    Another killer thing that I have been doing is taking his smaller approach cells and rhythmically displacing them. To aebersold, I’ll take Neff’s 1st approach and improvise playing all of them on one, then another round on the and of 1, then another round of 2, then beginning the and of 2, etc… This is opening up my awareness of where I am in the bar. Forcing resolutions in locations I never would have otherwise. Cool stuff…

    These approaches are also polishing my altissimo register as the cells are very easy to hear and make a nice platform to play them up in that register with a quality tone and intonation.

    Get this book… It’s great stuff.

  11. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    David Machin (verified owner) – June 3, 2015

    This is a really special kind of teaching material Steve is producing. And it is all laid out easily and without complex terminology. What Steve is really good at doing is showing that starting with very simple ingredients you can make some great lines and that more complex and interesting ideas can easily then be built on these. With Steve’s books I really feel a clear sense of direction and confidence that I am building a repertoire. I can see where I am going and how I can get better. With older kinds of material I often lost my way with it, or just took some bits and pieces here and there, the whole seeming too much. Here if you just get one of Steve’s examples from the book down you can play something that sounds like music. Then you get two down and try combinations. Then you can imagine what will happen when you get say ten down and with more speed. You can see where this will take you. And for me that is the biggest difference with this material: I can see where the work and effort will take me.

  12. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Al Elias – July 31, 2017

    Hi Steve,
    I started working on the Approach Note Velocity books I recently purchased. What can I say but Wow! I can’t begin to describe the immediate sense of freedom, confidence and creativity these exercises have brought to my playing! I’m just following your advice (at the beginning of the book) and suddenly, this world of possibility has opened up. improving my ability to improvise…no end! I have a ton of jazz study material but this is by far the most logical approach to improvisation I have studied so far. Thanks so much 🙂

    Al Elias

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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

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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
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
Paul
I want to let you know that your instructional material is transforming my playing.  It is an immense pleasure to learn and play now, and I can’t tell you how grateful I am. The instructional material I got from you is by far the best of any I own (and I have over 100 books, DVDs, and what not). I literally can’t thank you enough! Deric
Deric
Thanks so much for putting all this great learning material out there. I don’t often have the time to take a lesson with a teacher, so the ability to download lessons is really invaluable. My playing has improved enormously (I think :)) – and the lessons are so varied there’s always something to be inspired by. Incredible value too!
Roger

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 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
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
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

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

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