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You are here: Home / Jazz Books (PDF Downloads) / Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale (Digital PDF Book)
Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale (Digital PDF Book)

Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale (Digital PDF Book)

Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 16 customer ratings
(16 customer reviews)

$14.99

Category: Jazz Books (PDF Downloads) Tags: dominant bebop scale, jazz improvisation, jazz method, steve neff
  • Description
  • Reviews (16)

Description

The dominant bebop scale is an essential tool in playing jazz. It is used all over the place in jazz music. If you’re transcribing jazz solos you won’t have to go long before you find some variation of this scale being used. In my Approach Note Books I tackled Major and Minor tonalities pretty thoroughly. In this book I focus on the dominant tonality and what to play over it. The book starts out with the basic dominant bebop scale. the next section deals with what I call “Bebop Scale Links”. These are small phrases or patterns that can be inserted into the bebop line to add variation. The next section deals with “Dominant Resolution Links”. These can be added to the bebop scale when the dominant chord is resolving down a fifth. I have written out each of these sections in all 12 keys so that you have a handy reference if you want to quickly jump to a specific key. The last section of the book I write about how to use and practice these scales and links over a standard blues progression. I provide a 4 chorus blues solo to demonstrate. This book is a gold mine of bebop ideas and lines. It is filled with many musical gems that once mastered will add greatly to your jazz vocabulary. The cost for these patterns is $14.99. You can print this file and get to work immediately. Have fun. I hope you dig these as much as I have over the years. Thanks, Steve

Here’s a clip of me using some of the concepts from the book on a blues progression.

https://www.neffmusic.com/images/mp3/Bebop%20Blues.mp3

 

16 reviews for Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale (Digital PDF Book)

  1. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Tom Schneider – 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.

  2. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Ed Zlotnick – August 22, 2009

    As a jazz sax teacher, I use all of Steve Neff’s Books. My students all want to cop jazz and swing feel, so often I play Steve’s MP3 examples for them with confidence. Mr. Neff swings with the best of them. His sound is awesome and his ideas are easy to grasp. The key is daily practice. The books are just guides lines. I favor Steve Neff’s books and any good Transcription in teaching jazz at all ages.

    Ed Zlotnick, Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute, in D/FW, North Texas

  3. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Wil Greenstreet – November 14, 2009

    As I’ve been playing jazz on the alto sax since 1981 and I have continually come up against the same question of what to play over a Dominant 7th chord. That question remained until I came across Steve’s book Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale. I immediately started to benefit even after a few days of studying the opening pages. I have continued with my study of this book and the difference is truly remarkable; I am never lost for an idea of what to play when I’m on the Dominant 7th chord of any tune now. I would highly recommend this book for the serious student of the jazz standard tunes.

  4. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Shane – January 27, 2010

    This book is great. I have used it for total of 6 hours in 3 days on chapters one and two and I already feel my playing changing for the better. When I finish this one I will be back for one of your other volumes. Thanks for the great resource.

  5. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Jazz Bassist – March 2, 2010

    This is a superb book which has aided my playing immensely.
    Steve can you please consider writing
    “Mastering the Bebop Minor Scale”
    Now that I have all this great material from your first two bebop scale books under my fingers I really feel inadequate playing over minor chords by comparison.

  6. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Michele Holevar – May 22, 2010

    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

  7. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Keith – May 22, 2010

    I bought Steve’s V7 book and took a couple of on lines 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 Be Bop 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 also have recorded lots of on line lessons and Steve’s explaining style and demonstrating ability is top notch. I wish he was close enough for direct lessons. I plan to use him in the future. Thanks Steve

  8. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Dave – August 10, 2010

    Just a quick shout to Steve Neff for another great book , this time on the dominant bebop scale. As usual it’s explained in a very unintimidating way and includes some great linking and resolving phrases with it.
    Sometimes in your development as a player, something will click or you’ll be shown something you’ll never forget- this for me is one of those things.-Dave

  9. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Jim D. – August 10, 2010

    More experienced players will find that Steve’s exercises “links” and “mixes” are great preparation for tackling the solos of the masters. Shedding this stuff will pay off big time when you surprise yourself on the bandstand playing authentic flowing bebop lines. There’s something here for every level of player. Whether you’re a beginner wanting a musical way to get familiar with the horn, or an intermediate player looking to move beyond blues scales, work with this book and you’ll reap benefits in every area of your playing.

  10. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Junior – January 13, 2011

    hi steve, i purchased and have been practicing your invaluable bebop scale exercises for about 3 months now. i find that the “starter exercises” are superb just as workouts and i have gained an amazing amount of dexterity and evenness practicing them in all the keys– more so than regular scales i’ve practiced in the past. i usually practice accompanied with Aebersold’s Major or Dom 7th play-a-long books. i can’t wait to plunge into the next sections. Bless you for your dedication to your great learning resource. sincerely, junior

  11. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Dan Ryan – April 12, 2012

    Hi Steve, Just got this. It’s great. These little “link” phrases that fit, building right onto a strong grasp of the scale itself, is a great idea. It is natural enough to start figuring out what works, how to break things up, etc…lots of little geometric note-math stuff. So for you to do all this legwork, and codify it into these atomized language fragments (which, the longer I play, the more it seems it seems to come down to that) is just great. Real red meat in the cage. Thanks. (I play guitar, BTW)

  12. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Nathan – June 27, 2012

    I downloaded your PDF book “Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale” And I just wanted to tell you that the content is brilliant! I’ve just been jamming away on the G and already I’m getting so many more ideas after running through some exercises. Just wanted to give you some positive feedback. I’m looking forward to tackling all keys!

  13. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Joe Nickerson – October 12, 2012

    I’ve been playin jazz guitar 30 years.. sax for almost 4.. this book has many of the type of lines I’ve known for years but even more and presented in such a way that makes me much better and gives me new ways to use the dominant bebop scale in every key.. I love the prep-lines and use them as starters in 16th notes and extend them through the 2nd octave and that launches me into spontaneous continuations.. and the links are a brilliant idea steve.. we experienced musicians can just fly with them and combine them spontaneously.. what inspirational material you’ve shard with us.. thank you! and please add more (like the new devasting series) to the blog page so we can snap them up!!

    joe nickerson

  14. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Shane – June 27, 2013

    This book is really taking years of transcriptions and licks I learned and organizing them so much better as well as teaching me tons of great new licks. It is giving me the freedom to use a lot of stuff I already new in so many more ways. It goes way beyond licks and scales. Because of my strong base in my scales the concepts in the book are instantly helping my playing in all keys even though I have gone through only 2 keys in the book. It’s helping me in my minor keys as well just by the way it has me thinking. Thanks again.

  15. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Clinton (verified owner) – July 4, 2014

    Not that you need another five star review to convince you that you ought to check out this book, but now you have one anyway. These books have absolutely changed my playing for the better, and what else are you going to get for twelve dollars!? The price for the content is just too good!

  16. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Mike Pautz (verified owner) – August 6, 2014

    Hi Steve,

    I just wanted to let you know that I’m really enjoying your books. I’ve just picked up your Mastering Dominant Bebop book which is my 4th book so far (along with Mastering Major Diatonic, Devastating Minor Lines, Velocity Approach Vol. 1). Your books are really great, I’ve found them to improve my instrument facility pretty significantly as well as my confidence in sight reading.

    Thanks so much for putting these books together. I’m no where near where I want to be playing-wise…..yet 🙂 but your books are definitely helping to speed my otherwise slow progress.

    Cheers and much appreciation.

    Mike Pautz

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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
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Your lessons on playing the blues is so clear . I have been through many books on blues playing and not one of them explains as clear as your lessons . Most of them say “Play the same blues scale over all three chords of a 12 bar blues ” Its very misleading .     Thanks
Martin

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
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
I have been a member of Neffmusic for more than a year now and have enjoyed every minute of it! I have not only been going thru the Dominant Bebop Scale lessons and book (OUTSTANDING!) but the mouthpiece reviews, solo clips and transcriptions are very interesting. Steve approach to beginning and intermediate improv have given me many new pathways to teach my high school jazz ensemble students. Congratulations Steve, great product!
Craig
I can see from your instructional videos that you are a fantastic teacher – one that can truly relate to all ages – humble yet very positive in approach – never coming across as superior and yet so totally capable of demonstrating the principles and techniques that you seek to impart to the students. I have gained so much confidence in my playing from “pouring over” time and again these invaluable lessons. Invaluable not only in musical content, but also in human interaction content. I am absolu… Read more
Ron

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
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
Hey Steve, My name is Jason Freese and I play keyboards and sax in the band Green Day.  I grew up taking sax lessons from Eric Marienthal when I was a kid and got out of it for a long time. I ran into you on youtube while searching for sax stuff. I bought a whole bunch of your lessons and have been loving it! Thanks! Here is my wikipedia so you can see the albums I’ve played on….Thanks again. It’s sparked my interest in practicing again.   Jason
Jason Freese (sax player for Green Day)
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

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