These are great! It gets me used to the alternative ways to play. Being a flute player, I especially love the side keys/ right hand. Middle C. Why is that so much fun to play? =D. You are a great teacher.
Brilliant , love your tips! I have such a hard time slurring from all fingers to no fingers, or one finger (D-->C e.g.). My horn aways squeaks (I know nothing is wrong with it because sometimes I get it right). Actively practicing with the fingers aways touching the keys helped me A LOT! But I still have a long way to go... more tips on this kind of slur, anyone? Thank you a lot! Cheers from Brazil
Brilliant video and practice tips. (Couldn't help noticing that playing Exercise 1 at full speed, even you get some loss of clarity on the D on the way up, there's hope for us mortals yet!)
Any Alto Sax Lessons??? Today i practice on my Alto by watching your 7 Chromatic Workout Video, Thank you it was really nice by the way!!! it take me a little longer than i was hoping for since i only play by Ear... Im a Solo Steel Pan Entertainer now trying to add the Alto to my Musician Life.
Hi +Trevor Cole. You can use this lesson on alto too, but I have loads of other alto lessons on my RUclips channel. Also, checkout my full Sax School at www.mcgilmusic.com - there are hundreds more detailed lessons there that I think would help you.
Hi Nigel, This is a terrific lesson but I couldn't find it inside the sax school lessons where I'm a member. Can you post it there also? I find the lessons there easier to use since the scales might appear as a download and I can then practice from a printout. Thanks.
Love the alternative fingering. Would love to know what to do for practice for better breathing techniques. I'm a returning alto Sax player and have been playing for a over a year now, but I find my lips hurt and wonder if there is any techniques for improved breathing techniques. Any thoughts any methods work better then others. I'm practing long tones right now and probably the chromatic scales in your pdf. Again found the video very useful.
any videos or tips you can give me to jump back into being able to play my tenor sax again? it would really help cause i've missed playing it but i have gotten out of touch with reading sheet music
Hi. Have a dig through the other lessons on my channel to start with. I also have hundreds more in my main Sax School at www.mcgillmusic.com. Best advice is to just start playing and having some fun with it. Go for it!
Since you are reading these message, might I suggest the possibility of your adding some intermediate/advanced level classes to your repertoire. I did sign up but did not in the end find many classes to suit my needs: chord progressions, analysis of progressions, fast swing, be-bop, melodic embellishment etc. You do have some classes that cover such topics and others for players with 4-5+ years experience but I wish you had more. Maybe you could have different streams. Just an idea for you. Best wishes with your endeavours. You must miss Oz; sure I do here in Northern Thailand. Cheers, Mike
Hi there, I recently bought a tenor sax and one thing I've noticed is that the fingering and the note being played are different. As an example, I push down the fingering for D but the note being played is C. I've got no idea how to go about this since I am a beginner. Could you help me out? Thank you!
Hi. Your tenor sax is in the key of Bb - so it's designed to "sound" a whole step (or tone) higher than a piano or guitar. Lots of tuner apps have an option to "transpose" into Bb, so they will then display the correct note.
Hi +Jay LeVert , you could try using a more relaxed embouchure and also make sure all you fingers are fully down. It's common on tenor for people to leave their G key (left hand ring finger) not fully down. If all of those things don't help, it might be a good idea to get a repairer to check for leaks around the bottom of your horn. Hope that helps.
Thanks a lot for the tips. I believe it is breath supply and embouchure, but I will definitely check out your other suggestions in order to rule them out.
Great question. You can practice either way, legato or tongued, but I prefer to tongue them in groups. So, either octave groups, or beat groups depending on which pattern I'm playing.
The last chromatic idea, if you play the G# with the middle key on the platform,when you play the F# put that key back down. This sets you up for the low C#.
Thank u so much for sharing your knowledge and talent. You r the BEST. 😍 from your new Israeli student
Cheers Kobi!!
Clear and effective teaching!!! Many thanks from France🎷
These are great! It gets me used to the alternative ways to play. Being a flute player, I especially love the side keys/ right hand. Middle C. Why is that so much fun to play? =D. You are a great teacher.
Brilliant , love your tips!
I have such a hard time slurring from all fingers to no fingers, or one finger (D-->C e.g.).
My horn aways squeaks (I know nothing is wrong with it because sometimes I get it right).
Actively practicing with the fingers aways touching the keys helped me A LOT!
But I still have a long way to go... more tips on this kind of slur, anyone?
Thank you a lot!
Cheers from Brazil
have been watching your videos lately...its been only six months and i think ive really improved
That's great to hear Richard!
How much have you progressed so far?
thank you so much for the insight. i have always been trying to avoid the importance of alt fingering
Brilliant video and practice tips. (Couldn't help noticing that playing Exercise 1 at full speed, even you get some loss of clarity on the D on the way up, there's hope for us mortals yet!)
Ha! Yes I’m still working on these exercises too! There’s always room for improvement. 😃
I am very much impressed with your understandable English. I hope all of your lessons are adaptable to Clarinett as well.
Thanks! Planning more clarinet lessons soon.
Another great and helpful set of exercises, thanks heaps Nigel!
Any Alto Sax Lessons??? Today i practice on my Alto by watching your 7 Chromatic Workout Video, Thank you it was really nice by the way!!! it take me a little longer than i was hoping for since i only play by Ear... Im a Solo Steel Pan Entertainer now trying to add the Alto to my Musician Life.
Hi +Trevor Cole. You can use this lesson on alto too, but I have loads of other alto lessons on my RUclips channel. Also, checkout my full Sax School at www.mcgilmusic.com - there are hundreds more detailed lessons there that I think would help you.
Thank you so much I learned 3 new notes because of u thx
+The one and only POPULARMMOS Cool, glad it helped.
Nigel, thanks so much for sharing your talent. Very much appreciated
My pleasure!
Thank you Gill. You are the best. Been looking for just this.
Just found your website! Can't wait to get started.
Awesome!
This is gold 🌟
Glad you like it!
Hi McGill thank you very much, will start my practice ASAP thankssssss
Cool!
Thanks so much for your videos!
No problem. Hope it was helpful
thanks
Hi Nigel, This is a terrific lesson but I couldn't find it inside the sax school lessons where I'm a member. Can you post it there also? I find the lessons there easier to use since the scales might appear as a download and I can then practice from a printout. Thanks.
Love the alternative fingering. Would love to know what to do for practice for better breathing techniques. I'm a returning alto Sax player and have been playing for a over a year now, but I find my lips hurt and wonder if there is any techniques for improved breathing techniques. Any thoughts any methods work better then others. I'm practing long tones right now and probably the chromatic scales in your pdf. Again found the video very useful.
Good job!
This is a really good excerciss but why not uss alternate b flat with the biss key wouldn't that be easier?
any videos or tips you can give me to jump back into being able to play my tenor sax again? it would really help cause i've missed playing it but i have gotten out of touch with reading sheet music
Hi. Have a dig through the other lessons on my channel to start with. I also have hundreds more in my main Sax School at www.mcgillmusic.com. Best advice is to just start playing and having some fun with it. Go for it!
You are amazing...great exercises
Thanks Robert!
Just found you out today awesome!
Cool! Enjoy checking out the lessons on my channel.
Dear Mc Gill,
Thank you for the insight.
I'm an alto sax.
oh my, if this is a challenge I wonder what would be to do that with the altissimos
Omg! You spoke my mind. Lol
Great stuff why not use the long B flat on the way down?
That would work too. Great suggestion.
Sure would like this printed out for us, so we could perhaps download a copy
fabulous thanks. Mike
+Mike Shortland You're welcome. Hope it was helpful.
Since you are reading these message, might I suggest the possibility of your adding some intermediate/advanced level classes to your repertoire. I did sign up but did not in the end find many classes to suit my needs: chord progressions, analysis of progressions, fast swing, be-bop, melodic embellishment etc. You do have some classes that cover such topics and others for players with 4-5+ years experience but I wish you had more. Maybe you could have different streams. Just an idea for you. Best wishes with your endeavours. You must miss Oz; sure I do here in Northern Thailand. Cheers, Mike
What tenor sax do you have and what does it cost?
Do you have lessons for Alto Sax Players as well?
Should this be done on all keys for effective result?
With chromatic scales they work in all keys, so just work through these patterns over as much of your sax range as you can.
Excellent exercises! But the web URL and whole site given is not working. The PDF to practice, for example is unfindable.
Sorry Randy, having web issues today, should be back up and running anytime. Glad you enjoyed the video.
Hi Randy, the links are back up and running now. Enjoy!
it helps me a lot make more vidios
Hi there, I recently bought a tenor sax and one thing I've noticed is that the fingering and the note being played are different. As an example, I push down the fingering for D but the note being played is C. I've got no idea how to go about this since I am a beginner. Could you help me out? Thank you!
Hi. Your tenor sax is in the key of Bb - so it's designed to "sound" a whole step (or tone) higher than a piano or guitar. Lots of tuner apps have an option to "transpose" into Bb, so they will then display the correct note.
please i want to know how to play d major scales on 4 octaves
Excellent
Sir what I can do for alto sax coz I have Yamaha yas 26 alto.....
It's the same thing for altos. The notes just sound different, but the fingerings are the same and you gain the same benefits.
Nice exercises.....
Cheers!
I have trouble playing below low D on the Tenor (Alto no problem). Any tips or suggestions?
Hi +Jay LeVert , you could try using a more relaxed embouchure and also make sure all you fingers are fully down. It's common on tenor for people to leave their G key (left hand ring finger) not fully down. If all of those things don't help, it might be a good idea to get a repairer to check for leaks around the bottom of your horn. Hope that helps.
Thanks a lot for the tips. I believe it is breath supply and embouchure, but I will definitely check out your other suggestions in order to rule them out.
Excellent lesson, but I have to ask one thing. Do You practice the scale legato?
Great question. You can practice either way, legato or tongued, but I prefer to tongue them in groups. So, either octave groups, or beat groups depending on which pattern I'm playing.
Very, VERY useful answer. Thank You!!! You ar the master!!!
The last chromatic idea, if you play the G# with the middle key on the platform,when you play the F# put that key back down. This sets you up for the low C#.
Exactly!
Ex6. Flight of the Bumble Bee 🐝. LoL
Thanks mate. just one question, do u tongue each and every note?
Hey Daniel. You could tongue every note, but I find it's best to slur the notes in groups.
McGill Music Sax School Thank you so much mate
cant find the worksheet in sax school?
Ron Bartosik Hey Ron, you can grab the downloads here: www.mcgillmusic.com/articles/7-chromatic-scale-workouts
+McGill Music Sax School thanks
How about alto?
You can use these exercises on alto too! Have fun.
useful
Neo looks at Morpheus: I know side fingerings!
Do you have a whatsapp chat group for other saxophonists?
Prá cromática, Bb não se usa o indicador.
I like your videos!!!! what a sound!!!!
+Tony Saxo Cheers!
V
brillant!!!!!!