Fourteen Major Key Explorations Excerpt

For Promotional Use Only

Eric Alexander

Fourteen Major Key Explorations

#####ERIC ALEXANDER

FOURTEEN MAJOR KEY EXPLORATIONS

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Fourteen Major Key Explorations

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Copyright ©2014 Eric Alexander

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http://www.ericalexanderjazz.com

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©2014 ERICALEXANDERJAZZ. COM

#####ERIC ALEXANDER


Preface Developing players often have the misconception that they can simply learn scales (major, minor, dominant, etc.) and apply them to chord changes to construct effective solos. The reality is that without using common, recognizable language, at least to some degree, improvisers have little or no chance of connecting with their audience—or with their fellow musicians, for that matter. What I have done with these fourteen exercises is combine common practice, modern jazz language ideas to create multiple measure phrases that can be used to develop harmonic awareness and technique in all twelve major key centers. Implicit in many of these exercises are harmonic movements such as V-I or ii-V-I or embellishing a diminished chord to I. It is important that players realize that they can utilize these types of resolutions over stagnant harmony. Furthermore, it's likely that players will recognize a multitude of options, in terms of chord progressions and standard tunes, for which these exercises would work exactly as written. Bb by Default!

I’m a tenor player and you probably are too. So all the notation in this ebook is in Bb by default. I haven’t forgotten about you alto, bari and soprano players- or any instrumentalist, for that matter- because the licks are transposed into Eb and C as well. Players of C instruments look at page 92 and Eb players go to page 103. If you’d like to explore this material further with me, I'm available for one-on-one online lessons via Skype and can be contacted directly for live performances, clinics and workshops. Eric

[email protected]

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How to Use This eBook I have recorded each of the 14 licks in this ebook for you to listen to. Included in your download is a folder named “audio-examplesand-playalongs.” Open this folder to find mp3 files of each lick as well as my solo over Rhythm Changes and a playalong for you to use as an accompaniment as you play the notated solo.

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Thank You for Reading This Promotional Copy This is an excerpt from my latest ebook, “Fourteen Major Key Explorations,” which has been available since late Spring. After compiling the exercises, which I've developed over the years as teaching tools to improve student's technique and understanding of harmony through phrases associated with modern jazz language, I discovered that all of them could be applied to "rhythm changes" with excellent results. I ended up recording a solo with a background track in which I utilize each exercise, intermingled with other improvisation, to create an effective solo. I am particularly pleased with the results, and I wanted to share this excerpt so that saxophonists can get a small taste of what I have done with my ebooks, which are available at ericalexanderjazz.com. Please send me your feedback. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Eric

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#####ERIC ALEXANDER


#1 The Loop High-Velocity Technique Builder This exercise utilizes ii-V-I movements as well as embellished diminished sound. Work on this lick until you can play it three times in one breath at quarter note=253.

Listen to audio example “1.mp3” to hear me play the loop at quarter note=253.

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The Loop Transposed The Loop in C, F and Bb

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The Loop in Eb, Ab, Db

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The Loop in Gb, B and E

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The Loop in A, D and G

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Chorus 1

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Measures 1-4: I play the ﬁrst 4 bars of #1. Measures 9-12: I play the second 4 bars of #l with slight rhythmic variation. Measures 25-28: I play #2.

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#####ERIC ALEXANDER


Study Jazz Improv Online with Eric Online Lessons Available at EricAlexanderJazz.com If you would like to explore the material in this book or any aspect of jazz improvisation with me personally, I o" er one-on-one lessons online via Skype at my website: EricAlexanderJazz.com. I am happy to work with beginners through advanced professional players. Here are some common areas that I work on with my students: technique (ﬁngering, embrochure, sound production, altissimo, vibrato, intonation, mouthpiece & reed choice), all aspects of improvisation, chordscale theory, composition, repertoire development, rhythmic concepts. Please email with any questions you may have. I’d love to hear from you. Eric [email protected]

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Fourteen Major Key Explorations Excerpt

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