LESSONS
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Building The Minor Blues Series 4 - Lesson 1
In this first lesson introduces you to the melodic minor scale and explains the notes that make up this scale. The scales that James teaches directly relate to the chord sequence within the backing track to enable you to be able to improvise over the track. Learning and understanding the scales are essential for improvisation. It is not always obvious what scales are played over what chords. James as always does a great job of making it easy to understand and easy to learn. Learn from this great player.
Building The Minor Blues Series 4 - Lesson 2
In this second lesson James takes a similar approach to his other Series by teaching the arpeggios that relate to this melodic minor scale. The arpeggios allow for what James calls a vertical approach to playing instead of just playing scales. Again the first 'port of call' is knowing these arpeggios and being able to call on them at will. Unfortunately there are no short cuts other than learning them and getting them under your fingers. In this lesson James makes it easy and fun.
Building The Minor Blues Series 4 - Lesson 3
This lesson is putting into practice what you have learned in the previous 2 lessons. This lesson will really show whether you have learned your scales and arpeggios well enough. This is a lesson where James now uses the backing track interactively to encourage you to play the scales and arpeggios in the right place at the right time. This also brings your ear training from earlier Series into play and will test your ability as to whether you fully understand the form of the song and recognise the chord changes. Test your skills.
Building The Minor Blues Series 4 - Lesson 4
Here we have another lesson relating to 'licks and language'. Music is a language and licks are the words within the language. James provides you with some licks and language that relate to this melodic minor scale. They are licks that he himself uses in his own soloing. You can learn these great licks and put them into your own playing virtually straight away and add them to your library of licks. These licks are very accurately explained and demonstrated by James to make the exercise of learning them as easy as possible. Have fun.
Building The Minor Blues Series 4 - Lesson 5
This is an 'Improvisation Concepts' lesson. This targets playing a particular phrase or lick at different places within the bar and how it changes the feel of the music. James demonstrates this concept whilst the backing track is playing to make it as easy as possible to understand. He also explains the concept of stretching and contracting phrases that again changes things sometimes dramatically. This demonstrates how you can play the same notes and yet make them sound completely different at the same time. How great.
Building The Minor Blues Series 4 - Lesson 6
As the previous Series this final lesson is all about combining the things you have learned in the Series and putting them together in context. A good improvised solo is all about combining various concepts and techniques in order to evoke feeling within the listener. In this final lessons James goes about showing you how he might 'think about' constructing a solo utilising the melodic minor. This lesson is again designed to be interactive and fun. With what you have learned in all 4 Series your solos should now have 'real depth' and be sounding great.
Building The Minor Blues Series 4 - Example Solo
This brilliantly crafted example solo provided by James will gives you loads of ideas for how you can use the techniques and licks learned in Building the Minor Blues Series 4 to create great sounding saxophone improvisations of your own. Look to play along with James or simply take in the solo and enjoy watching him at full flow, before giving it a go yourself. There are plenty of great melodic minor ideas, licks and phrases within this solo that you can learn from. Enjoy
Building The Minor Blues Series 4 - Tone and Gear
In this additional video, James talks you through his saxophone set up, including the brand of instrument he uses, which type of mouthpiece and reed he prefers and why, and even which neck strap he uses. There are some great tips and ideas here if you're thinking of buying a new saxophone for yourself, but remember that your own instrument set up will be unique to you. Take note of James' tips then get yourself down to the music store to try some different instruments out for yourself!
Building The Minor Blues Series 4 - Backing Track Mp3
This brilliant backing track (mp3) was recorded live in the Pro Music Tutor studio. Recorded in the style of B.B.King's 'The Thrill is Gone,' this is the same backing track used for Building the Minor Blues Series 1, 2 and 3 , making it easy for you to combine all your learning across the three Series and play whatever improvisations you wish. This "live" backing track will sound great played over a PA or stereo system. The only requirement is for you to 'turn up the volume' and jam.
Building The Minor Blues Series 4 - Backing Track Wav
This brilliant backing track (wav) was recorded live in the Pro Music Tutor studio. Recorded in the style of B.B.King's 'The Thrill is Gone,' this is the same backing track used for Building the Minor Blues Series 1, 2 and 3 , making it easy for you to combine all your learning across the three Series and play whatever improvisations you wish. This "live" backing track will sound great played over a PA or stereo system. The only requirement is for you to 'turn up the volume' and jam.
