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You are here: Home / New 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 based on 4 customer ratings
(4 customer reviews)

$19.99

Categories: Jazz Books (PDF Downloads), New Lessons Tags: blues, dominant pentatonics, jazz improvisation, jazz method, minor sixth pentatonic, soloing, steve neff, video lesson
  • Description
  • Reviews (4)

Description

“Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues” is an exciting new improvisational concept I have been working on over the last few years. This book is a 444 page collection of my work on this dominant pentatonic concept and includes 52 blues exercises in all 12 keys.  The book also comes with a 113 minutes video lesson on the background of the concept, tips on how to practice the material as well as some demonstrations of some of the lines on the soprano saxophone.

Here are some examples of what the concept sounds like while improvising on a blues without any accompaniment on the tenor saxophone (there are more examples below). This whole solo is the dominant pentatonic concept but ideally you would obviously want to mix the concept into other concepts for more variation. It is pretty cool what shapes and patterns you can come up with using it………. Let me know if you have any questions. Steve

1.)These are a few one chorus samples from the book of exercises and etudes over the blues using the dominant pentatonic. (Some improv is thrown in on the last half of the clip.)

https://cdn.neffmusic.com/2023/DPBluesTenor-Patterns.mp3

2.)This is more freestyle improv using the concept over the chords of a blues more freely. All of this is using the dominant pentatonic material with the simple addition of the b3 grace note mixed into the dominant pentatonic to give it a more bluesy effect. Technically, nothing in this 3 minute track is a blues scale although it sure sounds like it. Hope this helps. This is really a powerful concept to get down with a ton of potential!

https://cdn.neffmusic.com/2023/DomPentBlues-BluesyTenor.mp3

The origins of this concept came from a lick that I picked up somewhere along my musical journey that I used quite regularly on an F7 chord.  I can’t even remember where I got this line from but it is a hip and modern sounding line that I absolutely love that uses the pentatonic scale of F,G,A,C and Eb over an F7 chord.  This pentatonic scale is commonly known as the minor 6th pentatonic scale if you were to start it on C but I found that basing the pentatonic off the root of the dominant chord was much easier for me so I relabeled this pentatonic as the “Dominant Pentatonic” which is based off of the root of the dominant chord.   I thought that if I dug this line so much, why don’t I try to use the concept it originates from over the whole blues progression and see where that leads.

Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (PDF Digital Download)-19.99

Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Printed Version)-39.99

I began writing down a variety of patterns using the dominant pentatonic scale and applying them to the blues progression as well as tri-tone substitutions on a blues. I was shocked by how transformed my lines sounded over a 12-bar blues.  I was playing ideas and lines I had never played before in over 40 years of playing the saxophone.  The lines sound intervallic, flowing and modern.  Here are seven examples that I took from my mouthpiece reviews over the last year as I was working on the dominant pentatonic concept using a few of the dominant pentatonic exercises from the book on a blues:

https://cdn.neffmusic.com/2023/DomPentBlues3Alto.mp3

One Chorus of Exercise 1C from the Book and One Chorus Improvisation-Alto Sax (10MFan SuperNova Alto Mouthpiece)

 

https://cdn.neffmusic.com/2023/DomPentBlues4-Tenor.mp3

The Same Exercise 1C but Slower with some Improvisation-Tenor Sax (Otto Link Tone Edge Early Babbitt Connoisseur Series Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece)

 

https://cdn.neffmusic.com/2023/Dominant%20Pent%20Blues%202-Soprano.mp3

Improvisation using the Dominant Pentatonic Concept on a Blues-Soprano Sax with Reverb (Ambika 3 Soprano Mouthpiece)

 

https://cdn.neffmusic.com/2023/DomPentBlues5-Alto.mp3

One Chorus of exercise 1C from the Book and some Improvisation using the concept-Alto Sax (GetASax GS NEW YORK Meyer Bros Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece)

 

https://cdn.neffmusic.com/2023/DomPantBlues6.mp3

Improvisation using the Dominant Pentatonic concept-Tenor Sax (Johannes Gerber Vintage Slant 7* Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece)

 

https://cdn.neffmusic.com/2023/DomPentBlues7-Tenor.mp3

Improvisation using the Dominant Pentatonic concept mixed in with some other elements-Tenor Sax (Macsax Jalapeño 8* Gold Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece)

 

https://cdn.neffmusic.com/2023/LambersonJ72021Blues.mp3

Improvisation using mostly the Dominant Pentatonic concept-Tenor Sax (Lamberson J7 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece)

This book is a 444 page collection of my work on this dominant pentatonic concept and includes 52 blues exercises in all 12 keys.  The book also comes with a 113 minutes video lesson on the background of the concept, tips on how to practice the material as well as some demonstrations of some of the lines on the soprano saxophone.  I think you will find it as transformational as I have.   Let me know what you think in the reviews section below once you get some time to work on it!    Steve

Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (PDF Digital Version)-19.99

Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Printed Version)-39.99

4 reviews for Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book)

  1. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Az Samad – April 14, 2023

    I’ve studied using saxophonist Steve Neff’s material over the years. The cool thing about working with Steve’s material is that it’s always very organized and musical.

    This is the case with his latest work, Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues.

    In his own words:

    “Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues” is an exciting new improvisational concept I have been working on over the last few years. This book is a 444 page collection of my work on this dominant pentatonic concept and includes 52 blues exercises in all 12 keys. “

    The accompanying 73-minute video is an essential part of this eBook as it explains the origin and importance of this sound for him. Besides explaining the theory part, Steve also shares how he came about this particular sound.

    In a way, the video puts in context what you’re about to embark on.

    As I spent time practicing the material, I got a lot of mileage out of it. For one, I learned a new pentatonic scale that I’ve never explored to this extent. In addition to that I was exposed to Steve’s systematic approach to mastering a concept.

    Everything in the book is laid out clearly so that you can get the most out of your practice sessions. I don’t want to reveal too much, but let’s just say that if you dig this sound, you will certainly have more than enough practice ideas to get this into your blues soloing.

    The book itself is 452 pages and everything is written out in all 12 keys so that you can just open it up to the key of your choice and start working on the material. Steve also demonstrates different ways you can get deeper with the material so that you don’t get stuck sounding mechanical. The video is key to helping you get the most from this material. I strongly recommend watching the video first before working on the material in the book.

    I learned a lot from working on this and am really happy that the written range sits nicely on the guitar too. I do have to mention that since this book is written for all instruments, there is no tablature, everything is in standard notation. That being said, (for guitarists) if you do read standard music notation, you’re gonna get A LOT of good stuff for your practice sessions.

    In conclusion, this is a very well written and well organized book. If you find yourself repeating the same typical blues phrases in a twelve bar blues, Steve Neff is here to both take your worries away and make it even more fun for you to improvise on a blues. This book is strongly recommended especially if you already have the more typical blues licks and language under your fingers. This is for those who want to get new ideas but still be in that blues context. Check it out!

    Pros: Great material, very well organized and taught with a lot of love.
    Cons: None.
    TLDR: If you want to get out from more standard approaches to the blues, this book & video set is a good way to get new ideas, shapes, patterns and sounds into your playing.

    Az Samad-Guitar Teacher

  2. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Paul – April 29, 2023

    Greetings from England. My copy of your book has arrived and – my goodness! – I’m trying to get my head around the amount of work you’ve put into such a volume. I look forward to incorporating it into my practice; In the meantime, my congratulations to you on such a comprehensive volume of exercises in all 12 keys.

  3. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Murray Middleman – April 29, 2023

    Excellent book for mastering the pentatonic scales in all the keys.
    Steve has outdone himself, in the comprehensive amount of ideas and organization in his new book. I highly recommend this book for any serious saxophonist who wants to improve their skills . Congratulations Steve .
    Murray Middleman , LosAngeles Saxophonist, Woodwinds Bandleader and Recording Artist

  4. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Lloyd Whitty (verified owner) – May 23, 2023

    I’ve struggled for too many years trying to play chord changes. Even more so with dominant 7 chords. Just like reading a book increases your vocabulary, playing these patterns have given me more to say. This book has increased my playing ten fold. I learn something new new each time I open this book. Thank you so much Steve for helping me learn another language. Musically that is!

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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
It is so refreshing to have a great player, who can provide lessons and examples in a manner which is understandable to most any enthusiastic saxophonist who is ready to improve. not just the, do this, do that, memorize this, memorize that… while all that is absolutely necessary, you go on to give reasons and examples to explain and validate why you have to do all of these things, the benefits, if you will… that is the key for me, you tell, explain, demonstrate, explain some more, you give perso… Read more
Cedric

Hello Steve,

I just want to say thank you so much for your unbelievable work, it is just mind opening, thanks for sharing it.

Wolfgang from Berlin

Wolfgang from Berlin
I just started looking at my lessons and I have to say, dude you are awesome.  I ABSOLUTELY will learn from you!  I started the tenor about 1 ½ yrs ago and have since picked up an alto, and more recently a soprano.  I spend most of the time on the tenor, followed by soprano, and have only gotten to the alto a few times.  I think I’ll be sticking with tenor.  I’m having a great time and hope one day to play well enough to get regular gigs.  I’ve been playing keys for about 35 years (… Read more
Wil
I bought Steve’s dominant bebop book and took a couple of online 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 Bebop 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 a… Read more
Keith

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