• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Website of Steve Neff

  • BLOG
  • SHOP
  • MY ACCOUNT
  • RAVES
  • CONTACT

Search Neffmusic

You are here: Home / Jazz Lessons / Smooth Jazz & Pop / Soloing on Simple Grooves Lesson
“The Style of Charlie Parker-Major Bird Licks Lesson” has been added to your cart. View cart
Soloing on Simple Grooves Lesson

Soloing on Simple Grooves Lesson

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

$9.99

SKU: 053 Category: Smooth Jazz & Pop Tags: audio lesson, jazz improvisation, simple grooves, solo ideas
  • Description
  • Reviews (1)
  • Lesson Sample

Description

In this lesson I demonstrate on alto how to solo over some simple pop type grooves.  Sometimes the simple grooves are the hardest to solo over, because it’s hard to come up with new and inventive ideas.  This type of two chord vamp is extremely common in everything from Pop, to Funk, Latin and Big Band solo breaks.  In fact, for many players, their first experience in taking a solo is over a vamp style groove just like the ones I demonstrate here.
In this lesson I take two background tracks that a member sent me to get help on and demonstrate the different things I would use on them.  Both of these tracks just alternate between two chords.  The first track is Tequila, which just alternates between G7 and F every two beats. The second track, a Latin Cha Cha style vamp, is similar but alternates between E-7 and A7 every two beats.
I talk in depth about the devices I would use on solos like this, including…….blues scales, triad pairs, pentatonic, approach notes, altered scales, harmonic minor scales and bebop scales.

I discuss playing the groove itself in an appropriate style and how to avoid getting caught up in the fast moving chords.

Depending upon the style of the tune you’re soloing over, you can choose from any one of these approaches and even combine them to give you an endless variety of solo ideas that fit the style of the tune.

I demonstrate how you can use many of the scales, licks, ideas and concepts you’ve learned in my other lessons, over these groove type tunes.

Often when taking a solo break on these types of tunes you might only have an 8 bar solo break or maybe one chorus.  You don’t have a lot of time to build a solo and have to be able to come up with a blazing solo right out of the gate.  I discuss how to start your solo with high energy and demonstrate tips and tricks you can use to play a ripping solo right from the first bar! I discuss the use of high notes, growls, fast runs and other ideas that will help you raise the roof and keep them screaming for more.

Sometimes you will get the chance to stretch out over these types of grooves and for those occasions, I demonstrate a whole variety of approaches you can use to take the solo outside and add a whole new color and dimension to your solos.

I discuss and demonstrate the idea that simply changing your point of reference, even whilst playing the same notes, can totally alter the sound and feel you get over these grooves and I show you how you can do this very simply to great effect.

There are approaches and ideas here for all levels of players.  For the beginners taking their first solo break in the school band I discuss using basic chord tones and blues scales.  The Intermediate soloist will find the approach note and altered scale ideas both challenging and rewarding.  Whatever your current level, there’s something here for everyone.

Although the lesson is centered around these two background tracks, these concepts can be applied to many more pop and funk tunes.   (Audio)

1 review for Soloing on Simple Grooves Lesson

  1. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Andrew – February 4, 2011

    Absolutely brilliant!!! A clearly demonstrated range of approaches and tactics to use over these vamp style grooves. This lesson will be a great help to everyone from beginners taking their first solo break, to jaded old veterans looking for something fresh to play over those old crowd favorites. Check it out!

Add a review Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Lesson Sample

https://public.neffmusic.com/Solos%20on%20Simple%20Grooves%20clip.mp4

Related products

  • All The Things You Are-Embellishing a Melody Lesson

    All The Things You Are-Embellishing a Melody Lesson

    $9.99
    Add to cart
  • Major Triad Pairs 2x2 Lesson

    Major Triad Pairs 2×2 Lesson

    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
    Add to cart
  • All the Approaches Lesson 1-All the Things You Are

    All the Approaches Lesson 1-All the Things You Are

    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
    Add to cart
  • Developing Relative Pitch-Lesson 2

    Developing Relative Pitch-Lesson 2

    $9.99
    Add to cart

Primary Sidebar

Cart

Search Products

COMPLETE LESSON INDEX

PRINTED BOOKS


NEFFMUSIC PRINTED BOOKS

Testimonials

I just joined Neff Music last month. I can’t tell you how excited I’ve been to be able to pick back up on lessons. I’ve been in a rut and you got me out! I’ve especially appreciated the Lesson Path section. It was so clear I knew exactly where to jump in and start. Many many thanks!
Karin

Steve, just a note to say thanks.

I’ve been playing a long time, but your material, laid out in such a thoughtful way, helps me to understand concepts in a new and deeper way.

You are a true gift to the jazz community.

60 lessons and going strong,

Kevin Ledbetter

Kevin Ledbetter
Hi Steve, I can’t express just how much I appreciate your teaching. My playing has improved so much over the past year since I have been studying and practicing with your lessons. It is possible to teach an old dog new tricks, these lessons are proof! Thanks, Michael Byington
Michael Byington

Hello Steve, I’m getting so much out of your lessons and books, amazing how much one may think one knows, there is always a new frontier or new way to view something you think you had somewhat down. You have taken it all to a new level and am so grateful. Your lessons are so down to earth and understandable and clear!  Thanks so much Steve! Cheers, Eddie

Eddie Parente
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
Michael
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 want to let you know that your instructional material is transforming my playing.  It is an immense pleasure to learn and play now, and I can’t tell you how grateful I am. The instructional material I got from you is by far the best of any I own (and I have over 100 books, DVDs, and what not). I literally can’t thank you enough! Deric
Deric
Absolutely the best learning experience in my 40 years of playing.These books are awesome!!
Alfred LaBella
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 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

Featured 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
    $19.99 Original price was: $19.99.$14.99Current price is: $14.99.
  • The Secret to Modern Outside Jazz Lines Lesson-Minor The Secret to Modern Outside Jazz Lines Lesson-Minor $9.99
  • Creating Modern II-V-I Lines with Simple Pentatonics Lesson Creating Modern II-V-I Lines with Simple Pentatonics Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • The Best Embouchure for Tone, Intonation and Endurance Lesson The Best Embouchure for Tone, Intonation and Endurance Lesson
    Rated 4.91 out of 5
    $9.99
  • The Secret to Altissimo (no one has ever told you about before) Lesson The Secret to Altissimo (no one has ever told you about before) Lesson
    Rated 4.75 out of 5
    $9.99
  • Lesson Series Deals-Save Big on Select Lessons

Product Categories

Recent Reviews

  • Bebop Scale-Altered Scale II-V-I Practice Lesson Bebop Scale-Altered Scale II-V-I Practice Lesson by Noah
  • Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book) Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book) by Andy
  • Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book) Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Russ
  • Creating Modern II-V-I Lines with Simple Pentatonics Lesson Creating Modern II-V-I Lines with Simple Pentatonics Lesson
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Timothy

Top Rated Products

  • Mastering the Major Bebop Scale & Sound (Digital PDF Book) Mastering the Major Bebop Scale & Sound (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $14.99
  • The Style of Dexter Gordon-Lady Bird Lesson 1 The Style of Dexter Gordon-Lady Bird Lesson 1
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • Tune of the Week-Days of Wine and Roses Lesson Tune of the Week-Days of Wine and Roses Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99

Footer

Recent Comments

  • Perry on Will the Real Michael Brecker’s Sax Mouthpiece Please Stand Up?
  • Steve on Will the Real Michael Brecker’s Sax Mouthpiece Please Stand Up?
  • Perry on Will the Real Michael Brecker’s Sax Mouthpiece Please Stand Up?
  • Dominique on Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review
  • Felipe on Drake Jerry Bergonzi Master Series Power Resonance 7* Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

Top rated products

  • Mastering the Major Bebop Scale & Sound (Digital PDF Book) Mastering the Major Bebop Scale & Sound (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $14.99
  • Tune of the Week-Softly as a Morning Sunrise Lesson Tune of the Week-Softly as a Morning Sunrise Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • The Style of Dexter Gordon-Lady Bird Lesson 1 The Style of Dexter Gordon-Lady Bird Lesson 1
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • Tune of the Week-Days of Wine and Roses Lesson Tune of the Week-Days of Wine and Roses Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • Tune of the Week-Invitation Tune of the Week-Invitation
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99

Product tags

alto sax alto saxophone approach notes audio lesson bebop scale beginner beginner saxophone blues blues licks blues patterns blues scale blues scales diminished scale dominant chords ear training fundamentals II-V-I improvisation jazz improvisation jazz lines jazz patterns jazz sax jazz saxophone jazz standard jazz standards licks Mastering the Blues Scale Michael Brecker modern improv modern improvisation online lesson patterns playing outside practice habits reading music sax basics sax lessons saxophone scales smooth jazz steve neff tenor sax tenor saxophone video lesson video lessons
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • SUPPORT

Neffmusic © 2005–2025