• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Website of Steve Neff

  • BLOG
  • SHOP
  • MY ACCOUNT
  • RAVES
  • CONTACT

Search Neffmusic

You are here: Home / Jazz Books (PDF Downloads) / Mastering Major Diatonic Patterns (Digital PDF Book)
Mastering Major Diatonic Patterns (Digital PDF Book)

Mastering Major Diatonic Patterns (Digital PDF Book)

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

$14.99

Category: Jazz Books (PDF Downloads) Tags: diatonic patterns, jazz improvisation, major, scale studies, steve neff
  • Description
  • Reviews (5)

Description

A Major diatonic pattern is a pattern of notes that travel through a major tonality. Learning your diatonic patterns thoroughly is an important step in mastering the fundamentals of technique, melodic development, tonal center improvisation, more modern intervallic lines and chromatic approaches. Learning these diatonic patterns in all 12 keys will give a jazz improvisation student access to thousands of melodic ideas that they can use in their improvisations. Learning these lines will also give a student the confidence and technical skill they need to play in all 12 keys.

In this book, I have included 150 diatonic patterns based off of the major scale. Some of these patterns are common but many of them are unique. I’ve written the patterns in all 12 keys as a resource for students to work from.  Mastering these diatonic patterns will take many hours of practice and discipline but you will find the process to be very rewarding and beneficial.  Once mastered, these patterns will give you the building blocks from which you can create improvised solos.  Each group of notes is not just a pattern, lick or technical exercise but a melody and idea that can be used while improvising.  The more melodies and ideas you have in your mind the more creative you can be as an improviser.

-Mastering Major Diatonic Patterns  has 150 great diatonic patterns in all 12 keys.  It is a PDF file that you can download immediately so you can get to work. 

-I have also included a 25 minute video lesson where I teach you how to use the book with an Aebersold play along and the best methods to integrate the ideas into your improvisation.

-Also included is a supplemental version of the book just in G Major for those of you who would rather just play the patterns in one key and then transpose them on your own.

Thanks,

Steve Neff

5 reviews for Mastering Major Diatonic Patterns (Digital PDF Book)

  1. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Michael J. Smith (verified owner) – June 12, 2012

    I have been using this book daily for over 2 weeks now and I must say that I was surprised how these patterns makes it easier to improvise and, as an added bonus, I find I am reading new music much easier. I can take some books that were too difficult for me to play from months or even years ago and now can play it. Steve’s book goes through numerous patterns that teach you note combinations which allow you to play more difficult material much easier. I guess that the book “teaches” your fingers to master many different note intervals and then don’t stumble when you need to play them when they appear in songs.

    When Steve sends me his newsletter, the first thing I look for is any new book because all of them are valuable to me as a player.

  2. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Claudio Marcolino (verified owner) – June 21, 2012

    Very nice approach of diatonic patterns.
    You can deal with technical, ear training and
    phrasing issues… Obviously, several aspects
    of improvisation are imensily covered.
    I’m really excited with the book!
    Another must from Steve…

  3. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Geoff Waldron (verified owner) – June 21, 2012

    Your major diatonic patterns book is great. Im 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 sittings when in the past I would have been lost until I did a significant amount of slow practice on the piece.

    Your going to do really well with this book. Keep up the good work…….

  4. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Chris Haigh (verified owner) – June 21, 2012

    I have had Steve’s new book, “Mastering Major Diatonic Patterns” for several weeks now. I have worked on diatonic patterns before, but Steve’s book is comprehensive. He starts with scale patterns and then moves on to 1-2-3-5 patterns, triads, seventh chords, sixth chords, chromatic approach patterns, and larger intervals, all with eighths, sixteenths and triplet rhythms. Honestly, that’s all I can see, but I have only had the book for a short time. My favourite part about this, and all of Steve’s lessons and books that I have, is that all of the patterns are applicable language. It’s not full of strange sounding intellectual patterns. These patterns relate to, and sound like the language of music that I want to learn about. I’m on #17 and I can see and hear how this book will help me really know my major scales. I genuinely do look forward to the lifetime of musical rewards that Steve wishes us from this book

    Sincerely,

    Chris Haigh

  5. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Charles Pratt (verified owner) – April 30, 2013

    A Clearing House of various ways to learn diatonic scale patterns!
    Mastering Diatonic Patterns by Steve Neff is an extremely essential book! Think of it as a clearinghouse for various ways to learn diatonic scale patterns and IN ALL KEYS! You can play this alone, or you can use Abersold’s Getting It Together as a backing track. Just pick a page you want to work on and explore the different pattern combinations – all 150 of them! I wish I had found out about Steve’s work earlier! If I had time, I would definitely take online lessons from him. I’ve also bought several of his video lessons and they’re a great addition too. So, if you’re bored with the same old same old books, pick up a copy of Mastering Diatonic Patterns. I did – meaning I’ve bought all the books over the past 35+ years searching for something to be comprehensive and very challenging. I’m starting to listen closer than ever before and don’t forget to read the introductory pages as Steve shares some cool tips, tricks, and things to think about. Most importantly, this book helps you develop better ideas for solos and I look forward to digging deeper into this method.

Add a review Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related products

  • Mastering the Blues Scale Vol. 2-Dominant Chords (Digital PDF Book)

    Mastering the Blues Scale Vol. 2-Dominant Chords (Digital PDF Book)

    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $14.99
    Add to cart
  • The Best Major II-V-I Patterns (Digital PDF Book)

    The Best Major II-V-I Patterns (Digital PDF Book)

    Rated 4.94 out of 5
    $14.99
    Add to cart
  • Approach Note Velocity Volume 2-Minor (Digital PDF Book)

    Approach Note Velocity Volume 2-Minor (Digital PDF Book)

    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $14.99
    Add to cart
  • Diatonic Patterns Practice Regime Lesson

    Diatonic Patterns Practice Regime Lesson

    $9.99
    Add to cart

Primary Sidebar

Cart

Search Products

COMPLETE LESSON INDEX

PRINTED BOOKS


NEFFMUSIC PRINTED BOOKS

Testimonials

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
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
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 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
Thank you for the wealth of helpful lessons you’ve provided over the years.  I truly feel as though it has improved my playing more than the 4 years I spent at Berklee… and that’s not a slight on the school as I loved my experience there.
John
John
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

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’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
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

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

Featured Lessons

  • Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book) Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $19.99 Original price was: $19.99.$14.99Current price is: $14.99.
  • The Secret to Modern Outside Jazz Lines Lesson-Minor The Secret to Modern Outside Jazz Lines Lesson-Minor $9.99
  • Creating Modern II-V-I Lines with Simple Pentatonics Lesson Creating Modern II-V-I Lines with Simple Pentatonics Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • The Best Embouchure for Tone, Intonation and Endurance Lesson The Best Embouchure for Tone, Intonation and Endurance Lesson
    Rated 4.91 out of 5
    $9.99
  • The Secret to Altissimo (no one has ever told you about before) Lesson The Secret to Altissimo (no one has ever told you about before) Lesson
    Rated 4.75 out of 5
    $9.99
  • Lesson Series Deals-Save Big on Select Lessons

Product Categories

Recent Reviews

  • Bebop Scale-Altered Scale II-V-I Practice Lesson Bebop Scale-Altered Scale II-V-I Practice Lesson by Noah
  • Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book) Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book) by Andy
  • Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book) Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Russ
  • Creating Modern II-V-I Lines with Simple Pentatonics Lesson Creating Modern II-V-I Lines with Simple Pentatonics Lesson
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Timothy

Top Rated Products

  • Mastering the Major Bebop Scale & Sound (Digital PDF Book) Mastering the Major Bebop Scale & Sound (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $14.99
  • The Style of Dexter Gordon-Lady Bird Lesson 1 The Style of Dexter Gordon-Lady Bird Lesson 1
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • Tune of the Week-Days of Wine and Roses Lesson Tune of the Week-Days of Wine and Roses Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99

Footer

Recent Comments

  • Peter van Raak on Otto Link Tone Edge Early Babbitt Connoisseur Series Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review
  • Steve on Otto Link LA Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review
  • Don Nicholson on Otto Link LA Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review
  • Steve on Otto Link Tone Edge Early Babbitt Connoisseur Series Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review
  • Peter van Raak on Otto Link Tone Edge Early Babbitt Connoisseur Series Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

Top rated products

  • Mastering the Major Bebop Scale & Sound (Digital PDF Book) Mastering the Major Bebop Scale & Sound (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $14.99
  • Tune of the Week-Softly as a Morning Sunrise Lesson Tune of the Week-Softly as a Morning Sunrise Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • The Style of Dexter Gordon-Lady Bird Lesson 1 The Style of Dexter Gordon-Lady Bird Lesson 1
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • Tune of the Week-Days of Wine and Roses Lesson Tune of the Week-Days of Wine and Roses Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • Tune of the Week-Invitation Tune of the Week-Invitation
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99

Product tags

alto sax alto saxophone approach notes audio lesson bebop scale beginner beginner saxophone blues blues licks blues patterns blues scale blues scales diminished scale dominant chords ear training fundamentals II-V-I improvisation jazz improvisation jazz lines jazz patterns jazz sax jazz saxophone jazz standard jazz standards licks Mastering the Blues Scale Michael Brecker modern improv modern improvisation online lesson patterns playing outside practice habits reading music sax basics sax lessons saxophone scales smooth jazz steve neff tenor sax tenor saxophone video lesson video lessons
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • SUPPORT

Neffmusic © 2005–2025