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

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1 2 3 4 5

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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Hi Steve, I have been shedding your materials for quite a while now and I love them! They are extremely well organized and presented and there are tons of ’em! I really appreciate your methodical approach and find myself referring students to your resources often.  Thanks so much!  
Kenyon Carter
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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
1 2 3 4 5

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
1 2 3 4 5
Just to say thanks for your advice and lessons.  I’ve just read your amazing story.  I really appreciate what you do in regards to teaching.  I have bought a couple of your lessons and frankly they’re undersold.   I’ve learned much more with these two lessons than with 2 years of sax teachers.   Thanks so much………..
Mike
1 2 3 4 5

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
1 2 3 4 5

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
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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
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Absolutely the best learning experience in my 40 years of playing.These books are awesome!!
Alfred LaBella
1 2 3 4 5

Steve,  Just want to say thanks for all you are doing for all of us. I’ve learned more from you than anyone else in my 40 years of playing.

If you can give some tips on One Note Samba, Ceora, and Wave… that would be cool.  I really like learning how you apply your concepts to actual songs!

Have a great year,

Kevin Ledbetter

I've learned more from you than anyone else in my 40 years of playing.
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