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You are here: Home / Jazz Lessons / Modern Improv / Playing Outside-NEW Altered Pentatonic Lesson

Playing Outside-NEW Altered Pentatonic Lesson

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

$9.99

Category: Modern Improv Tags: altered pentatonic, jazz improvisation, jazz instruction, modern improv, playing outside, video lesson
  • Description
  • Reviews (1)
  • Lesson Sample

Description

In this lesson, we are taking a more in-depth look at the use of altered pentatonics to play “outside” a key center.   I made a lesson many years ago that was called “Playing Outside-Altered Pentatonic-One Degree of Separation” that looked at 5 altered pentatonic scales and how we could use them to play “Outside” on a minor tonality.

In this lesson, we take another look at those 5 original altered pentatonics but also look at 7 more altered pentatonics.  I demonstrate using them over a groove in D minor (C concert) as I apply the altered pentatonics to them on the soprano saxophone.  I teach you the importance of getting the scales down but also of hearing the altered notes and how they sound against the minor chords. I teach how to resolve the notes and demonstrate weaving back and forth between the altered pentatonic scale and the home base scale of D minor pentatonic.  

This is a great lesson if you struggle with adding variety and “outside” lines to your favorite minor grooves.  Mastering these altered pentatonics will give you access to a range of sounds that will make other musicians ask what you were playing and thinking on your last solo……..

(47 Minute Video Lesson, PDF of altered pentatonics in D minor)

1 review for Playing Outside-NEW Altered Pentatonic Lesson

  1. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Jan (verified owner) – September 8, 2017

    Super lesson. You hear the sound of Branford Marsalis, Coltrane (My Favorite Things), Brecker come to life. Steve’s reference to Kenny Garrett playing Human Nature is most fitting. I remember a video where Kenny just kills it and Miles is so excited, he’s chewing his gum like there’s no tomorrow and sweat is dripping from beneath his wig. Moreover Steve sounds unleashed on some examples… great playing. Pentatonic 7 is what Herbie Hancock plays in Summertime (w. Joni Mitchell), I analysed it as augmented major 7 on the 7th of the 1 chord, and here you have it.

    • Steve

      Steve (verified owner) – September 9, 2017

      Thanks Jan! I just finished the book I talked about in this lesson. http://www.neffmusic.com/blog/2017/09/new-book-mastering-altered-pentatonics/ I’m very excited about it. Now comes the hard work of practicing it and trying to get these altered pentatonic patterns down! Glad you liked the lesson!

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Lesson Sample

https://youtu.be/jp-Ho313ptg

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Hey Steve! I hope you and your family are well.  I’m just writing to say thank you so much for all the resources you have made available to the saxophone community. I have been using your material for many years and I always come back to it… in fact I just took a break from practicing to write this…( reviewing “CreatingModern II-V-I Lines with simple pentatonics”.) I am, and continue to be, one of your raving fans! Blessings to you and your family this holiday season! Wishing… Read more
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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
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
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’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
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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

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