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You are here: Home / Jazz Lessons / Playing Outside-4 Tonic Dominant b9 Pentatonics-Lesson 1
Playing Outside-4 Tonic Dominant b9 Pentatonics-Lesson 1

Playing Outside-4 Tonic Dominant b9 Pentatonics-Lesson 1

Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 1 customer rating
(1 customer review)

$9.99

Categories: Jazz Lessons, Modern Improv Tags: 4 tonic, jazz improvisation, pentatonics, saxophone, video lesson
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  • Reviews (1)
  • Lesson Sample

Description

Playing Outside-4 Tonic Dominant b9 Pentatonics-Lesson 1 is the first lesson in a new lesson series based on the concept of using a dominant b9 pentatonic scale in 4 different keys over a minor tonality to create hip modern lines.

These great sounding pentatonic lines are all taken out of the diminished scale and give you some great approaches to creating lines that sound “outside”. I include a PDF with the Dominant b9 Pentatonics written out in the 4 keys we will be working on in this lesson. I also have written these lines out in 8 different pentatonic patterns for you to practice.

In this 36 minute video lesson, I take you through the steps in learning these 4 pentatonic scales and then show you how to best practice them to the play along. I demonstrate them for you to the playalong with the soprano saxophone. This is a great lesson to give you a unique way to create lines over a minor groove or minor ii-V-i progression. It’s also a great lesson to give you more insight and use of the diminished scale while soloing. (36 Minute Video Lesson, PDF of patterns in Bb, Eb and C, Playalong in C Minor Concert)

1 review for Playing Outside-4 Tonic Dominant b9 Pentatonics-Lesson 1

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    Rated 5 out of 5

    Stuart (verified owner) – June 16, 2026

    Wow! I bought this lesson some time ago, and after finally writing it all down, I just now started to get it! This is so cool! The “dom b9” pentatonic is sweet! I mean, dissonance never sounded so good! I just spent a couple of hours playing it and its 3 sisters over minor ii-Vs – and I just love it. It’s easy to remember the pentatonic, and having 4 of them to choose from keeps it from sounding too rote (even though that’s exactly what it is). It’s funny, at the beginning of the lesson, you warn us that it the subject is convoluted, but it’s actually beautiful, in a Douglas Hofstadter kind of way. [btw: in his book Around The Horn, Walt Weiskopf uses this pentatonic as his “arpeggio” for the fifth mode of the harmonic minor.] Now if I could just master Bergonzi’s patterns…

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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
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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
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I have been teaching sax and other winds for over 20 years, and you give me that “push” to give my students more!

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Mark Peotter
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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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)

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

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