Blues Lick for Saxophone (or any instrument) Old as Dirt

[@FleuryJoao]

Dat lick on the intro tho :O

[@estebanvenegas89]

so much

[@koenroels4549]

@@estebanvenegas89 Is there a lesson on the intro lick?

[@koenroels4549]

Oke found it out. (I think it is correct) I am a guitar player no sax player, but I love the sax licks and sound. I going to use the term (a small bend on some notes) I do not know how to call it in sax players language. So here are the notes: Eb small bend so the note is between Eband B - Db small bend to D Bb-Ab-F-Bb-Ab-F-Eb-Bb :)

[@alexrendon3899]

João Pedro Fleury it’s high E, F#, altissimo A, back down the arpeggio to F# and E, down to C (still above staff) from there it’s not too hard to figure out

[@onesyphorus]

Your approach to teaching people is very real, ethical, unique and untainted.... very effective my friend..

[@bettersax]

Thank you.

[@Redridge07]

do you know that ethical means?

[@jasonkrohn5416]

Quit sucking up to the teacher. 😂 jk

[@brandonm7952]

Redridge07 right lol

[@jacobtworks]

I hate when my saxophone teacher kills animals in our lessons

[@georgesember9069]

I’m an old 77 year old amateur guitarist. Enjoyed this seminar! I fortunately can play in most keys on guitar which isn’t a very large achievement! I’m a Clifford Scott, Lester Young type fan. Thank you for your generosity in posting your excellent quality seminar!

[@derycktrahair8108]

You're really talking about spacing and phrasing, and SILENCE....the loudest note of all. You are teaching good stuff. You always give us something to think about. Thank you.

[@bettersax]

Thanks Deryck!

[@AdreinMatthews]

Just a shout out from a guitar player. This is a great tutorial! Peace.

[@ObeytheRussianBlue]

Jay is the best downloadable, user-friendly, on-demand teacher in sax instruction! Genius teacher! Thanks Jay, for developing your lessons and putting out GREAT product!!! Rocket 🚀

[@anthonydupont3694]

Your one of the best teachers I've seen online wish i had you here in Texas keep up the good work

[@bettersax]

Thanks Michael. I appreciate that.

[@russelljazzbeck]

Thank you for breaking all this down and not cluttering it up with melody. There sooo much to learn from motif variation.

[@claireflute2]

This is blowing my mind! Thanks for this.

[@dileepnaik1312]

I love your style of teaching Sax play.

[@CBrown519]

Every time I see a new video, Jay, it makes me want to run right to my sax and play! Thank you!

[@bettersax]

Richard, that's exactly what I want my viewers to feel. Thanks for the comment.

[@frankdittmer8540]

Thank you Jay. You're the best. You always motivate me to keep learning. I love your teaching methods...🎶🎷

[@eriklustgarten1760]

Fantastic, amazing how many ways there are to improv on the blues scale! Mad steezJay!

[@alexanderhowardjr6698]

You've done it again, meaning showing me the way to improving my sax playing, moreover musicianship , thanks so much!!

[@bettersax]

Thanks for the comment Alexander.

[@joelpierson2628]

Just today, this morning I was listening to a recording of "The Thrill is gone" I made and thinking there is something I don't like but couldn't put my finger on it and this is it. Rhythmic variety but even more simple than I would have ever thought. I tend to over complicate things. I often think there are notes in other peoples playing that turn out to not be there but, in this instance, it's not the notes and not the rhythm in a time keeping context. It is a simple shift of a phrase that makes the difference. Jay's teaching seems to pull my feet back to earth and takes the weight off my shoulders. I highly recommend his courses Pentatonic Foundation and the Blues Foundation. The part about Guitar keys in the Blues Foundation course can save you some grief someday. I found that tidbit of information well worth the price of admission but, there is much more to be gained in these courses. No....this is not a paid endorsement and I don't know Jay nor have I ever met him! I just like his courses and teaching style.

[@bettersax]

Thanks again Joel. Glad the courses are helping and inspiring you...

[@ukestudio3002]

Good lesson to get on groove . Thanks

[@a.j.501st]

This has helped me out a ton, I’ve hit a bit of a rut in my saxophone playing and watching your videos has given me some pointers as well as initiative to get better. Keep up the good work.

[@DuaneParham]

I purchased A ReedGeek about 3 years ago. After I got it I started bragging about it because it is an awesome tool. I remember I played at a wedding and several other horn players were there and one of the horn players had only one reed and it was bad. So I whipped out my ReedGeek and save the day, he act like Santa Claus bought him a brand new Mercedes he couldn't thank me enough!

[@bettersax]

haha, nice Duane

[@DuaneParham]

I LOVE YOUR LESSONS!!!!! Better Sax

[@alanhowell3646]

I agree, no reed is unplayable if you’ve got a ReedGeek.

[@alexcarter8807]

I play trumpet and I'm getting a lot out of your channel!

[@chaseeast7427]

just did my first ever decent sounding improvisation to this vid, awesome lick!

[@lovepeaceblues]

Hi Jay!! Mate, great lesson, I must admit that I actually have issues with playing in "sax friendly" keys!! always played in blues bands and rock and roll bands!!!

[@onesyphorus]

offbeats, esp on the swing offbeats! real spicy 🌶🌶 I can't believe how many rhythmic possiblities there was with blues! Now I have much more Ideas when I jam! (especially since I keep running into the same hole when being melodic!)

[@bettersax]

Thanks for the comment!

[@capitainejojo3618]

I didn't find the backing track even on the Blues Foundation Course... Nevermind I did it on random backing track on KZbin

[@adamdennis2936]

Thank you, thank thank you. Excellent teacher!

[@bettersax]

Thanks Adam.

[@stevenwaine4654]

I love that lesson Jay, I'm off to have a go now, so thanks 👍

[@espr7564]

Nice alto sound, good lesson thanks 😎🎷👍

[@waynewojnarowski3697]

Jay I'm still up in heaven with your Pent book! I happened to turn on U Tube and low and behold there you are blowing some funk, now I know were Maceo got his licks from! You DA Man Wayne Wojnarowski

[@bettersax]

Thanks Wayne.

[@claragary]

Great lesson, man!!! Excellent tips👍🎶🎶

[@briancollins2693]

I play with a couple guys who play alot of rock and roll and country music. I've had to become quite well versed with my f# and c# keys lol.

[@juanpabloreyes9206]

Excelente ,un abrazo desde argentina

[@esfahan1961]

Top teacher you are Jay, glad of all other courses out there I bought yours. Keep going man 👍🏼

[@gauthierostervall4849]

Nice! It sounds like the preliminary lesson on rhythmic displacement in Hal Crook's book "How to improvise".

[@jimmyb1133]

You make learning the sax fun, Jay ! Jim B here .....

[@bettersax]

Thanks Jim! Good to hear.

[@meldavis7183]

Wow! Been playing this lick for years but the way you presented it gave me new ideas. Combined with lick#1 and lick#2 I’ve created new improvisions. Plus on lick#2 instead of C C Bb C I also do C C Eb C. Great lessons. Just showed me I can always improve. What’s next?

[@jimneely2052]

Your the man Jay... always excellent instruction, the best on KZbin.!!!!

[@bettersax]

Thanks Jim!

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

Thank God you can slow the playback speed down. (3 dot icon top right corner, use .75) I have my eyes peeled for a nice Yamaha YAS 21 or 23. We have some highly rated shops out here (home of da blues) so finding a very nice, fully refurbished one shouldn't be impossible. I believe if i add a 25.00 Yamaha 4C mouthpiece, i should be happy as a clam for quite some time. and Thank God for Yamaha. They make inexpensive, durable, nice-sounding pianos, too. Someone gave me one and included the move in their gift :))) Wasn't that nice?? Curious why the same model horns can be vastly different in sound, tho?

[@pnelllott7300]

Man I can wait to get a sax , you make it Look fun.

[@brucesodervick2581]

ok, with fourth 16th note and shrarp tounging there was a difference in sound....finally.

[@brucehussar2600]

Really good video Jay. You have been so much help with your videos and courses.

[@bettersax]

Thanks Bruce. that's not a saxophone you're holding in your profile picture though...

[@brucehussar2600]

Yup that's what I use to make my own reeds.

[@gerrysmith9794]

Useful stuff Jay, thanks a bunch.

[@bettersax]

Thanks Gerald.

[@robertdouglas4293]

wish the best to your channel, ol jazz guitar guy,

[@StoneysWorkshop]

Great lesson, can spend a lot of time on this. Also, by the end of the video your sound really warmed up!

[@juanpabloreyes9206]

Gracias

[@vttandpointer5760]

Very nice 👏👏👏 thank you !!!

[@moonants]

I see you have an EWI in the background. I would be interested to hear your thoughts on playing it.

[@bettersax]

Ewi is fun. Needs to be practiced like a separate instrument. I may do a video about it soon.

[@moonants]

Can be set up with sax fingering, but has so many more options and possibilities.

[@DuaneParham]

THAT WOULD BE GREAT!!!!

[@cleciovilelarocha9129]

muito boa a aula ....top...mim ajudou muito.....obrigado.....

[@KrisVComm]

More of these please

[@musasiajohnkingtrumpet885]

That’s great teaching am impress

[@pablokesler7824]

Great video! The ReedGeek page is run out of their product because of the demand :(

[@bettersax]

Pablo, looks like they only have the G4 Black diamond model in stock.

[@andrekeizers8911]

Jay, the reed geek tool looks A lot like A 3 dollar machinist toolbit.... that is also very hard, and square. I tried in my reeds and iT shaves of perfectly

[@bettersax]

Yes, I've bought several of those and keep them in various sax cases. They don't work nearly as well though. The edges are not as sharp and the metal is not coated so can start to get rust spots after a while.

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

@@bettersax I'm a singing drummer. Trust me, your best friend on anything metal is Vaseline. It's the best cleaner, it doesn't freeze, and it won't corrode. I use it on all my cymbals. The best, easiest to use cleaner and I've probably bought all the junk at the music store. A big deal with drummers is not to ruin the stamped logos; it ruins the value of any cymbal, because you can't ID it. Vaseline has never ruined a logo (although never aim for them, jic).

[@learnsax]

Thank you for the tutorial easy to understand looking forward to remembering this. I like to play along with Sibelius software If I hear a song I like pull in a midi file then edit the score change the melody line for sax and simply the backing track.. Play slowly at first. I noticed an EWI in the background can this save as a midi file. Could you download some midi. I love the lick at the end of the video.

[@Anenome5]

So good!

[@gillesd91]

Excellent!

[@CristinaGuilbiac]

Gracias Beter , muy interesante , lo unico que siento es que no puedo recojer toda la informacion porque es en ingles , pero la parte practica si.Gracias .

[@bettersax]

puoi utilizzare la funzione di traduzione automatica su KZbin

[@CristinaGuilbiac]

ok ,gracias

[@Chronic.Pivoter]

It would've been better, in my opinion, if you explained the compositional value of the lick, specified the blues scale you used and gave the notes not just as degrees of the scale but also in letter form for the given key played. I am assuming this is the hexatonic minor blues scale, going from the fourth up to the "blue note" and then descending to the root. So, for the key of F# it would be B-C-B-A-F#. The lick can probably be made more interesting with introducing octave switches and the occasional C# and E.

[@NyattiSaxPrime]

Great insights!

[@bettersax]

Thanks!

[@robertdouglas4293]

extend high, love you brother

[@rafaelortsespadero4870]

Muchas Gracias !

[@freddiempanga5513]

Nice!

[@bettersax]

Thanks!

[@erwindormoy8156]

Thanks amazing

[@eliveltonreis6186]

Show!

[@saxcover.]

Very interesting videos thank you I want to ask which mouthpiece you use

[@robstevens9590]

Very nice. "Just what 'the doctor' ordered!"

[@bettersax]

Thanks Rob.

[@user-fv8bx5cv5u]

Play your original brand horn as demo, pls.

[@robertdouglas4293]

you remind me of a chigago fireescape my friend!

[@kwootamuckbear9294]

What alto you playing and, what kind of neck strap do you use? Thanks for the helpful lick-tips👍🏽

[@bettersax]

My alto is a Yanagisawa 991 and I use a Just Joe's strap with it.

[@henryeduardo4052]

Could you give us the link of the play along?, please

[@billyk5685]

Jay, what mouthpiece do you use? I really love this sound

[@serkangenc3624]

Hello, i’ll start to play sax but i couldnt decide which one i should buy? Alto or tenor? I liked your sax’s tone. Is it alto?

[@jimdepalo9245]

alto for sure jimdepalo

[@claragary]

Thanks, great lesson!

[@hilariodaragona4473]

Genial! gracias1

[@MrGirzzly]

Greetings Jay! I've transcribed all but the intro and after 9:50. Can't figure out the Altismo fingering. Would you email me good sir? I love my new Bundy by better sax! Thank you for everything.

[@bettersax]

Congrats on the new horn!

[@brucesodervick2581]

changing the beats didn't seem to really change the sound any for me., don't get it.

[@brucesodervick2581]

yup, still each way sounds the same... must be my laptop? Tried it with no visuals , still sounds same..well back to pastels? crayons?

[@ghuyskens2]

Hi, unfortunately the links to mp3 and pdf's are redirected to your trial pages, so no longer working like they might have in the past.:-((

[@NareshKumar-pj1ic]

You taught the beginning to play saxophone plz🙏

[@jasonkrohn5416]

I’m new to saxophone and was wondering what are the black things you have on your palm keys?

[@matthewhetzler4912]

Jason Krohn They are probably risers. I had rubber ones on my Alto at some point.

[@yamansitar6153]

hi , iam new to sax thanks for the video ,, theres one thing I can't seem to get. ,,if the blues scale for A is A,C,D,D'',E,G,A. and you say to play 4 ,b5 ,4 ,b3 ,1 to me that means D'',E,D'', D,A - but you play D ,D'', D ,C A , WHAT IS IT IM MISSING ,,thanks

[@Osnosis]

Not the 4th note of the scale, but rather a 4th up from the root (A).

[@wabek5882]

the first time i heard your name i thought you said "Jay Med Cafe" which i thought meant "Jay Medical Cafe"

[@JiveDadson]

I call it G flat. Otherwise, the keys are B, E, A, D, G, C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, and ... F#.

[@thomasschneider1785]

ok Jay isn’t the major blues scale 1 2 3b 3 5 6? Minor 1. 3b 4 4#. 5 7, What 4 are you playing, the natural or sharp one?

[@bettersax]

Thomas get the downloads from the link in the description where everything I'm doing is explained.

[@awe_ayo]

I didn’t quite understand the syncopated rhythm part

[@debzfiedler6100]

Ha! I have always called them "guitar keys" too!

[@hmbgamesandgains]

What kind of sax is this?

[@user-jk1sk7gf3z]

Where to find Backing Tracks from this video?

[@bettersax]

Click the link in the description. It’s in the Better Sax shed.

[@robb8773]

OK, you start on B but what are the other 4 notes fingered?

[@themagpieofjazz4439]

quick question , i have some trouble with keeping my sound from becoming sharp while playing it seems that when i play long tone at start it really sharp (my high c is like a c sharp) any sugestions? if i lower the pitch the tone isn't right either should i have a softer reed or harder reed. I play java green 2.5 with a berg larsen 90 sms

[@themagpieofjazz4439]

my problems star high A to high D the rest is pretty much good with intonation and sound

[@JiveDadson]

The final two notes of that lick are pronounced "be-bop."

[@estebanvenegas89]

is like the licc but blues licc

[@saxojuanchito7002]

Hello my friend how to contact you

[@holliew0rm]

is there a link to the backing track?

[@nielspasquier8938]

Why are you using the side C in this lick?

[@varungupta8423]

Do you give live online lessons?

[@bettersax]

Varun, hopefully soon, I'll be offering live lessons as part of the BetterSax membership.

[@robertdouglas4293]

is that da punch having fun,

[@andrianarisonnjato1667]

Jay do you give skype lesson?

[@Oddleif-DP3]

F major or Minor?

[@DaddySantaClaus]

I'm a guitar player and I practice in all keys 😂 Should I say all horn players only play in bb f and eb? 😂😂 It's not fair

[@jaylonavery7022]

What is the top note of that lick ?

[@matthewhetzler4912]

Jaylon Avery C He’s using a side fingering for c.

[@arafjan7488]

For a real basic alto saxaphone player-which notes are they?!!!

[@seanoleary9168]

Those notes would be B, C, B, A, and F#

[@arafjan7488]

@@seanoleary9168 Thanks

[@rico._5067]

Can somebody gimme the notes straight for alto?

[@Panda-ej5sq]

Hey 😁 B C B A F# try using the side c key !