How I Practice 4ths, Choose Chord Scales, and Work on Licks

Here's a walk-through of my practice framework » jazzpracticepyramid.com
Talkin' about practicing saxophone, improvising with fourths, and a tip for identifying the best scale to fit a chord (aka chord scales).
00:00 - Sometimes we make practicing more difficult than it needs to be.
00:14 - The way I often “use” practice books
00:53 - Trick to figuring out chord scales
01:52 - Instead of always thinking you need to put a thing through “all 12 keys,” try this
02:27 - the idea I’m shedding in this example
04:41 - Breaking down the phrase
05:12 - Something that really helps you play with 4ths over chords
06:02 - Why repetition is your friend
06:16 - How do you know when to move on from practicing an idea, or tempo?
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Bob Reynolds is an American jazz saxophonist and 3x Grammy Award-winning member of Snarky Puppy. He's toured with John Mayer, Larry Carlton, and many others and released 12 solo albums-4 of which reached the Top 10 in Billboard's Jazz Charts. A pioneering educator, Bob has coached thousands of musicians through his innovative Virtual Teaching Studio bobreynoldsmusic.com/studio. He is a D'Addario Woodwinds artist and lives with his wife and kids in Los Angeles, CA.
#practicing #saxophone

[@spudsmith]

I know you won't believe me when I say this because the inner critic always takes hold Bob, but you're sounding better than ever. Big hugs from across the pond! x

[@musicwithvishnu]

Gotta look both ways before you cross the street for chord/scale choice, great analogy, Bob! I'm gonna keep that one with me. @0:54

[@MikeLindup42]

Thanks Bob. I like the “hanging onto something that feels good until you no longer have to think about it” advice

[@dannytwitch3276]

I love how honest and vulnerable Bob is during his videos. So much knowledge he gives out. We are all grateful. Thank you Bob! 🙏

[@mr.cocking7664]

Great ... something I can play for my jazz band in class tomorrow!

[@prov324]

Thank you Bob for passing on your volumes of knowledge-you are a great teacher and performer!!

[@morejazzplz5746]

I got into jazz a few years ago and have been largely taught by the internet. This channel has always filled a really important niche where it feels like if I'm demotivated or something Bob will always give me the urge to practice.

[@thesaxcafe457]

Bob you are a kind master sax man sharing so many beautiful ideas - thank you

[@chrispage2782]

Thanks, Bob;; always a pleasure to peek inside the real, sometimes tedious. sometimes boring world of the woodshed with you….

[@HB-ve4wi]

Thanks 🙏🏻 Bob. The mouthpiece seems to suit you. You sound fantastic!

[@SteuartHedington]

Great, thanks very much!! I'm definitely going to be enjoying your videos!

[@XB29SP]

"I don't fish" 😅 I love repetition, locking into a drumbeat or track like you are. You left out "until you are sweating" Sounding smooth on that GS piece. Now to apply what's in this video 🎷 thanks!

[@michelmalts9053]

Thanks for exposing the concept. I will apply now in my pratice.

[@HelioCoelhoJunior]

Great ideas Bob ! Thanks for sharing !

[@ryan-shore]

Beautiful playing, as always Bob!

[@percyvolnar8010]

Yeah, Bob.... Loving it!

[@saxodrew1083]

Great phrase!

[@SaxophoneDanLive]

The Goat is back!

[@mariomalette4155]

I really like the way that you explain your tips on practicing ✌️ Thanks again for sharing.. Mario

[@davidmitton8272]

Sounds great Bob!

[@robinreidmusic]

Love to see an approach to working on something that I have done but haven't taught. Work something til it's easy! But especially your look-both-ways concept. Love that one Bob thanks.

[@rickbennettartmusicvideo7720]

very cool thanks

[@MrJColtrane68]

Yeah!!! Loved it Bob. Cycling over it until you’re not thinking about. Yes, I so get it. Thanks for sharing. Also, not going off the root on that lick. Great advice. 👍

[@patemblen3644]

Thank you 🙂

[@luclez]

Thanks Bob! Kind regards from Argentina !!

[@briangastaldi6136]

Bob, the get a sax piece sounds great AND bonus points for you looking more like the reincarnation of Stan Gets with a white mp. 😂 👍 P.S. the groan and taking the mouthpiece out can't help but remind me of Mincek, some things get ingrained in memories 😊

[@user-om9yx6mt4r]

just wanted to say I love the sound of this mpc! and in case my comment gets lost I relistened to your mpc video a lot and i think the SP2 was the closest to allowing you to do all your Bobisms with your sound. It looks like you're using one of the getasax mouthpieces, awesome! It definitely is "alive" and not dead, it sounds great.

[@peterankin985]

Good advice i am gonna practice this thesis bob

[@cristiconstantinescu9848]

Thank you for the video! Great stuff as always! I just found a thing last night while practicing, a 4 note pattern and it felt so good under my fingers, and it sounded so good, moving it through the octaves, and playing around with it. I did this for almost an hour and thought about it today, that I can't wait to get home and play with that some more, but also, a question arose saying "should't I practice something else? Or the same pattern in other keys?". You gave me the confidence to go home and practice this until it feels done and am ready to move on, not just because I have to move on. It's with 4ths by the way, and your video is exactly spot on. Anyway, you sound very good on the new mouthpiece. You sound just like yourself, so don't let the gear matter too much for you. I know it's hard :) Much love from Romania!

[@XxSaxCannon921xX]

There’s something about playing a lick or line over and over again. You kind of get lost in the zone. Each time you repeat it, you feel it in a slightly different way. I think that’s kind of what you’re alluding to. I do this sometimes until I feel like I’ve internalized it. For me, it’s more about focusing on the sound and shape of each note and hearing it in different ways. Anyway, you have a beautiful sound! Thanks for the video!

[@bobreynolds]

agree 💯

[@christophernorman8127]

Maybe it is because jazz is so collaborative, but as a classically (sort of?😊) trained pianist I find it interesting how watching videos/tutorials on - and even transcribing from - other instruments is just as useful as material which is piano based. As long as it's good stuff..which this is. Obv.!!!!

[@wisconsinmel]

I have a GS Slant and love the mouthpiece. Nice to see Bob working on one with GetASax. Do ligatures make a difference? It sure seems like it to me when I use a Francois Louis Ultimate ligature with my GS Slant. 😀🎷

[@sat.chid.ananda]

Oh man sticking to something that feels good is where it's at for me...though i sometimes won't move the phrase through 12 keys cus i'm too comfortable repeating that over and over

[@StompL7]

YES

[@Marcosls2015]

Bob, great video with applicable knowledge, as usual! Thanks for that! Please, if I may ask, how do tou like that sound reflector? And, is that something you might take to a gig? Thanks!

[@bobreynolds]

I love it in my practice room but I don't use on gigs. If I had to play outdoors unamplified it could really help.

[@ronylevy6334]

great video so much information, i love it (question - what is the round plastic attached to your horn, and for what)

[@bobreynolds]

Sound reflector

[@beckyn9338]

I’m a novice at all of this, but this fourths pattern is reminding me of triad pairs. (Which I really like!) Anyway, good stuff. Too bad I’m at work or I would go pick up my horn! Dang the day job. A necessary evil. 😅

[@joelpierson2628]

I think this is what I hear. C F Bb D G C F Bb Eb G C F C E G Ab G F G This is a great exercise, making me make those downward leaps in unexplored territory.

[@pederlong1784]

Nice sounding horn

[@riccagiaco]

Works on guitar too!

[@amineboucetta6569]

Listen to Steve Masakowski'' tino's blues 4:51

[@Yakushii]

Not for nothing, but whenever I transcribe Snarky Puppy horn section parts to guitar, I always find myself playing more fourth intervals than ever before. It's become this thing I expect from it, that there's always gonna be a lot of fourths, and groupings of five. I guess since on the guitar, playing a lot of fast fourths is a bit awkward, guitarists tend to do it less. That book on fourths would be agonizing to run through on guitar. Have you had the same experience transcribing parts from other instruments onto sax?

[@hayfordfrempong6369]

I want to play just like you teach me some new licks

[@timtully8015]

Great suggestion, Bob! Thank you. Please tell me why there is a hole in the reflector on your bell. I used to hang a rectangular piece of that stuff on the mic stand, just behind my mic. Even with crappy--or NO--monitors I could hear myself over the worst guitars! I think I want to make one like yours for practice.

[@bobreynolds]

it's just how it comes. i suppose so you can still play into a mic yet hear yourself back. It's made by JazzLab (no affiliation).

[@bassocanario]

THE BEAUTIFUL ART OF OBSESSION😎😉

[@Osnosis]

Oh, see D Oh, see D Oh, see D Oh, see D…

[@bassocanario]

@@Osnosis 😁😎

[@MrWillown]

Love that sound. What is that plastic thing you've got clipped to your bell called?

[@bobreynolds]

sound reflector by JazzLab

[@javierquesada798]

where can I get the book. name and details, thank you

[@ccqmusic]

Really helpful little tutorial Bob. Keep the Duval / Brent Majors vibe alive !

[@bobreynolds]

Thanks, Craig! Forever grateful to Brent for imparting the love of a strong foundation (when all I initially came to him for was to teach me how to play like Lisa Simpson.)

[@ccqmusic]

@@bobreynolds I still can’t believe we both were taught by Brent. Didn’t he have a collection of firebirds muscle cars ? Anyways please let me know next time you’re rolling through Bristol UK

[@DiegoErnestoGarcia]

Those "aaah" moments!! I can't catch what's wrong😅

[@QuevedoSax]

man this mp is a keeper! just sayin!

[@DeanJayJackmanJr]

Did NOT expect to see a clip of Devon Larratt in this video.

[@clevelandbop]

Off topic, but have you ever had the clasp on that neck strap "break"? Is that the old Dejacques strap?

[@bobreynolds]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/d33RZ4Fsi7mliZo

[@clevelandbop]

LOL... So you're the second guy I know that that happened. They're cool, but always have an extra strap. Ha! @@bobreynolds

[@bobreynolds]

@@clevelandbop fwiw it's the only time in 30 years of using them that's happened, and to be fair I'd already (accidentally) bent one of the two metal clips not long before. so this fail was on me

[@Kris-qt1en]

Sterner, you saxophone nerd! lol.

[@yoelhooper-antunez1016]

Your playing here reminds me a lot of Chris potter

[@davidmercer658]

I have a get-a-sax ottolink reso chamber copy. Great mouthpiece

[@bobreynolds]

Brian @GetASax knows what he's doing, for sure! I've tried some Resos, too and they're great. Not *quite* the fit for me but they play beautifully.

[@kwootamuckbear9294]

🎣🎶🎵🎶🎷

[@dardangjinolli7711]

Hi Bob, what mouthpiece is this?

[@bobreynolds]

Something in development I’m working on with @getasax

[@robstevens9590]

Is that a SYOS mouthpiece you're trying?

[@EricHomeAlone]

The mouthpiece is revealed at the end of the video.

[@Osnosis]

It’s a GetASax.

[@robstevens9590]

@@Osnosis I saw that at the end of the clip, but had never heard of that brand.