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You are here: Home / Jazz Lessons / Scale Studies / Pentatonics-Lesson 1
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Pentatonics-Lesson 1

Pentatonics-Lesson 1

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

$9.99

SKU: 046 Category: Scale Studies Tags: jazz improvisation, pentatonic scales, saxophone, video lesson
  • Description
  • Reviews (5)
  • Lesson Sample

Description

The Pentatonic Scale is one of the most useful scales to learn and use whatever style of music you want to play. Whether you want to play Jazz, Rock, Funk Folk, or Fusion, Pentatonic Scales are an essential tool to have in your repertoire. Whichever players you’re into, from John Coltrane to Jerry Bergonzi, from Michael Brecker to Dave Sanborn, the Pentatonic Scales form a large part of what you hear from these great players and by mastering these scales you’ll be able to utilize those same sounds in your own playing.
In this, my first lesson on the Pentatonic Scale, I introduce the Minor Pentatonic Scale and demonstrate how to play and practice it in every key. Listen as I demonstrate using the Minor Pentatonic scale over major and minor tracks as I show you how to set up a practice routine that will have you playing fluently with these scales in every key.
I show you some great patterns that will get these scales under your fingers fast. I play the patterns for you over both major and minor grooves and teach you how to alter the patterns by starting them in different places and on different beats to create a modern, hip sound. I talk about practicing these scales over standard tunes and how you can learn to recognize when and where you can fit these scales into different tunes.
What makes these Pentatonic Scales so great is that you can play the Pentatonic Scale over many different types of chords. Master the Pentatonic Scales and you’ll have a great tool to use over everything from Jazz Standards to Rock, Funk and Pop tunes and everything in between.
This lesson comes with 3 PDF sheets that show you the Minor Pentatonic Scale in every key and all the patterns I discuss and demonstrate in the lesson.  (Audio & PDF)

5 reviews for Pentatonics-Lesson 1

  1. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    C.N. – September 10, 2008

    Fantastic lesson! It’s Christmas every time I listen to one of your lessons for the first time. It’s Christmas again when 30 minutes later, I am playing things from the lesson, with out looking at the pdf. sheets, that I could not have played an hour ago! If you want to have a better grasp of your pentatonic scale and their delivery, get this lesson! C.N.

  2. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Mansax – July 16, 2009

    Great Lesson on Pentas! You make it look so simple…with your pdf sheets. A must for the 5-note fans.

  3. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Soruyo – December 4, 2009

    You can’t be a good player without working on this scale. I thought I knew penatonic scales but, after this lesson I realized that even when I knew how to construct a pentatonic scale I was really ideas-empty when improvising and trying to use it.

    This lesson is cool also because you learn what other chords you can play the pentatonic scale over.

    I guess the series of exercises is also what makes it challenging and helpful.

  4. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    saxmanrkb – February 3, 2010

    Steve I just downloaded and started working on lesson 1 in the Pentatonic series. Here I thought I knew what was going on with them, but your lesson really opened up my mind and other “doors” that will lead (with devoted practice) to some much more hip sounding improv-lines from me.
    Thanks
    saxmanrkb

  5. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    SelmerC* – February 4, 2011

    I am going to have to line up behind all the other great reviews for this lesson, Ok so I also thought I knew my pentatonics, well I do but in comparison to this lesson I have not got off the ground. If you need to address pentatonics this is the place to start! Steve You are Burnin’

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Lesson Sample

https://public.neffmusic.com/Pentatonics%20Lesson%201%20Minor%20Pentatonic%20clip.mp4

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I can’t say enough about my membership at Neff Music. Steve has taken the mystery out of playing the saxophone well and improvising both jazz and rock music. Like most struggling players I have a load of all sorts of books on my shelf just gathering dust. Books that I didn’t understand or know how to put to use…or just have the time to go threw them. Steve’s lessons really simplify things and he puts it in a way that I can understand. They inspire me to keep pushing and having him as my guide or… Read more
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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
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John Leclerc
First, I’m really excited about your materials! This site is a vast resource for any aspiring (and maybe already inspired) jazz musicians. I’m not a sax player, I play mandolin and fiddle, but have been learning jazz and playing weekly with a quintet for the past 6 months and have been struggling with all of the issues you get into in your lessons. I bought several books and lessons and plan to continue with some others as soon as I organize my practice routine. Thanks again for a great site … Read more
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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
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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