Alto Saxophone Scales You Need To Know
Introduction:
As a saxophone player, scales are an important part of your practice routine and should be implemented to help you utilize all of the notes on your instrument.
Not only do they help you warm up your fingers and embouchure, but they also enable you to play in any key with confidence.
Just one octave of each scale is not enough if you truly want to improve your saxophone playing.
Versatility on your instrument is what you may achieve on your way to learning all of these scales.
Synopsis
In this blog post, we'll take a look at some of the most important alto saxophone scales, including the major scale and minor scales, blues scale, pentatonic scales, and jazz scales.
Major Scales
The first scale every alto saxophonist should learn is the major saxophone scales.
Whether it is the C major scale, F major scale, or G major scale, these scales work hand in hand when first learning how to play the saxophone.
Learn the C major scale with this video from my YouTube channel
First flat and sharp
The F major scale includes B flat, a note which may sound tricky but is not all that difficult to learn and play.
The G major scale includes an F sharp at the top of the scale which also one of the easiest keys to learn, so don't be afraid to try it out!
Learn the G major scale from my video
Major scales continued...
Moreover, major scales are the foundation of all Western music, so it's important to get them under your fingers early on.
It's however not necessary to learn scales at a sax school before you play your first note.
Spelling the F sharp major scale
One of the most challenging scales is the f sharp major scale.
Here's how to spell it out by each note.
F sharp, G sharp, B flat, B, C sharp, E flat, F and F sharp again.
Some of the enharmonics may be inconsistent as you see above, however, these are the names that the notes are most commonly referred to.
Chromaticism
While choosing exercises, keep in mind that going up or down by a half step for each scale pattern can make the exercise sound more interesting to listen to and like you really know your stuff! (In my honest opinion).
So, practicing your scale in chromatic patterns will help you show off your skills.
Once you've mastered the all the major scales, you can move on to more advanced variations like minor scales, blues scales, and more.
Practice
Start by practicing your scales until you are comfortable.
In addition, using a metronome is an excellent way to keep time and help with comfort level during practice.
Amazon's most popular metronome
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Play your favorite scales comfortably!
This analog metronome contributes to developing rhythm, maintaining tempo, and playing accurately through increasing your musical awareness.
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Produce clicks at a proper pace when practicing scales on your saxophone or other musical instruments.
Features
Audible click with bell ring to bring proper time signature to the foreground with select options: 0,2,3,4,6.
Crucial to maintaining rhythm while reading sheet music.
How it works
Wind up mechanism produce metrical beats, without requiring battery.
A single full wind will produce 2160 clicks that can last at least 18 mins dependent on tempo.
Functionality
Tempo ranges from very slow 40 beats per minute to 208 beats per minute.
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Take out the metronome brake, remove the cover, choose the beat and tempo, and then you are all done with setup!
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Minor Scales
Next up are minor scales.
Unlike the major scale, the most obvious characteristic of minor scales are that they may include a flat note or many flat notes when you look at it on paper.
What you can expect to hear
Minor scales have a slightly different sound than major scales, but with enough practice you'll easily be able to tell between a minor and major scale.
These scales are often used in Jazz and Blues compositions.
Where to start
To practice your minor scales, similar to the major scale, start by playing the C minor scale, F minor scale, and G minor scale.
If you practice with a background track it will help you get a feel for how to use minor scales in a musical context.
Book for major and minor sax scales
This book is a thorough study on major and minor scales.
Systematic approach
It includes a systematic approach to mastering the entire range of the alto saxophone with major scales, minor scales and arpeggios.
Full range
Instead of focusing on the middle of the saxophone range and a few number of key signatures like a beginner, the goal is to teach young students to be able to read from all key signatures, including enharmonic keys, and to play comfortably in the extreme ranges of the saxophone.
Problematic registers
This book specializes in exercises that focus in these specific problematic areas.
It begins with just one octave scales and arpeggios and continues with exercises for the full register.
This learning method for saxophone is achieved through exercises extending upward and downward from the middle range with scales finally played through the full register.
Incremental key signatures
Each exercise is stated in order of incremental sharps or flats, eventually addressing all major and minor keys available.
Report card
Report cards for all of the exercises are included so that students can evaluate progress.
Jazz Scales
These unusual-sounding scales are essential for improvising solos over Jazz chord progressions.
To practice your jazz scales, you can play through them while looking over a lead sheet.
Top rated Jazz Scale book at Sheet Music Plus
Jazz Method for Alto Saxophone on Sheet Music Plus
Blues Scales
Last but not least are blues scales.
The blues scale is a variation of the minor scale in that includes an added flat 5th degree.
This gives the scale a distinctive "bluesy" sound that's perfect for soloing over Blues progressions.
How to practice blues scales
To practice your blues scales, start by playing each one in 12 keys.
Then, try improvising over a Blues backing track using only the notes from the blues scale.
This helps to get a feel for how to use the blues scale in a musical way.
Jazz method book overview
The methods provide a complete course for players of all ages, guiding students from their first note to learning ‘standards.’
It is arranged with the work of contemporary writers.
Backing tracks
This book includes high quality rhythm section backing tracks.
Right from the beginning, saxophone students can enjoy authentic jazz playing in the company of the pros.
Encouraging improvisation
Improvisation is encouraged from early stages through the systematic study of scales and arpeggios.
Advice on ear-training and chord progressions facilitates students’ progress through the book.
Extra suggestions
Included suggestions for listening, reading, and an Appendix containing all chords for 'live' accompaniment of the tunes.
The Jazz Methods are ideally suited for both independent students and those working with a teacher.
Quote from Jamey Aebersold
"John O'Neill has a solid understanding of jazz and how it can be taught. I highly recommend his educational jazz materials."
"...a rare opportunity for a new player to develop a really musical facility. A rare addition to the jazz improvising library."
Lee Konitz
"...very good original jazz tunes that students will use as stepping stones for further development... a non-jazz-playing flute teacher would probably find the book a godsend especially if students are studying GCSE music."
Included ‘Standards’
Included 'Standards' by Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins and Horace Silver
Popular Jazz method book
Jazz Method for Alto Saxophone on Sheet Music Plus
Pentatonic Scales
The pentatonic scale is another important variation of the major scale.
Unlike in a major scale where you play the fourth and seventh, pentatonic scales omit these two notes from the scale to create that unique sound.
Common use
It's frequently used in Rock and Pop music, and it's perfect for improvising solos over power chords.
While major saxophone scales can sound really good during improvisation, using a pentatonic scale sets saxophone players apart in their performance.
Practicing pentatonics
To practice your pentatonic scales, start by playing them in the circle of fourths/fifths.
This sounds really cool and makes it possible to show off all of that practicing.
Top rated workbook for Pentatonic scales at Sheet Music Plus
This 80-paged book lays out the musical theory behind using pentatonic scales in jazz.
After the theory introduction, there are 12 pages of transcribed solos and 40 pages of exercises.
For many years, this book has become a benchmark in the field.
Pentatonic Scales for Jazz Improvisation
Conclusion:
There you have it!
The major scale, the minor scale, the blues scale, the pentatonic scale, and jazz scales!
A rundown of some of the most important alto saxophone scales you need to know as an aspiring saxophonist.
Things to remember
Remember that the C major scale, G major scale, and the F major scale are some of the most important scales to get started.
Just one octave of these scales will be foundational to your saxophone playing that you didn't have to go
to sax school for.
Practice these regularly and before long you'll be able to play any composition with confidence!
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