Major Sax Scales | Efficient and Effective!

[@michaeldean9338]

"I can't speak Portuguese...Because I'm not practicing it." --- Dr. Wally... Love the channel, Dr. Wallace. Have learned a lot. Thanks again. Peace

[@mgman259]

When to use alternative fingerings, how to remedy ‘flying fingers’, slurring scales to reveal technique glitches, dividing practice into discrete chunks: there’s so much pure gold dust in this video. Thanks Doc Wally!

[@drwallysax]

So glad it's helpful, happy practicing Paul!

[@yvesbajulaz]

Best channel. I’ve played my whole life, and your teaching is really furthering my playing and making me aware of many poor technics… I’ve tried many other channels through the years, your way of teaching resonate way more with me. Thx so much for all the amazing content your are putting out, helping out the sax community in an immeasurable way. You are part of the solution… thx

[@drwallysax]

Well that is INCREDIBLY kind, thanks my friend. Hope you have a most wonderful weekend :)

[@millasanosa36]

Ich stimme voll zu 😎

[@drwallysax]

@@millasanosa36 Danke mein Freund

[@ihts9]

I totally agree.

[@tomralph2508]

It would help a stack if PDF's were available for all these fantastic exercises. Thank you for sharing your vast knowledge.

[@tctc2470]

I’ve often scolded myself for wasting too much time, scrolling through KZbin…but having it all lead to me finding Wally has validated every spider vs scorpion video I had to watch to somehow get there. Not sure how one led to the other but I will forever be grateful for the algorithm that allowed it. I consider Dr Wally to be a gift that forever keeps giving. Thank you DW!

[@McGillMusicSaxSchool]

Great video Wally and I really like your pressing and relaxing tip. Awesome.

[@drwallysax]

Hey, thanks Nigel! Hope you're well man, we need to chat and catch up!

[@willistaylor4077]

I love Wally's totally geeky/nerdy humour. 🤣😄❤️❤️🎶🎶

[@frankschaechner3119]

Dear Sensei Dr Wally Wallace, you are the best! Thank you so much for your great patience….❤

[@bobblues1158]

And I thought I knew everthing! One of your more humorous videos- love it!

[@drwallysax]

Much appreciated, Bob! Happy practicing my friend :)

[@shannond8480]

Fantastic, educational, and funny content. Thank you for all your videos. And your tone is a made of pure beauty. Hoping (and practicing) to get something similar myself sometime before I shed this mortal coil. I particularly appreciate that you offer classical saxophone content--in my long-ago high school years, I didn't even know classical saxophone was a thing, let alone that it would be the tone concept that would transform my deep affection for saxophone into pure love. Twenty years and one KZbin rabbit hole later, and I am living my best saxophone life.

[@drwallysax]

Thanks Shannon! I'm glad you're joining me down this "rabbit hole"! Next week we're studying Bach!! Stay tuned!

[@johnhalo123]

Love you videos and your sense of humor! Thank you!!!

[@wartinskater]

Dr Wally, your Channel and the Sax Fundamentals pathway, have been a Revelation for me. Every one of your advices are right on the pure crucial matter, de profundis. From the taks/scheudule related things to the most Tone and sound oriented advices. You bring from obscure not only the light, but also the matter and life around it, in a perfectly balance descriptive-but-not-so-much lenguage, much better for me than other obscure terminology. I have discover the Sax in a whole new angle, and your method fits me like nothing else. Really Love the work you are doing here. Every Time I follow your exercises and apply your tips, something clicks inside me. Real deep down thanks. Every one of your Lessons have been a bless for me. Thank you a Lot. My Sax Is breathing now! Also, If you ever have time and feel like it's beneficial for every of us down in the Sax Road, I would love to watch a Lesson on alternative fingerings from the essentials to the ocasional but clutch use. The C# was unknown to me and I feel it's a game changer!

[@keithcampbell6806]

Good morning Sir. Over the years lve watched you but this is the first time l saw this presentation. I don't ever use the bis key but this is a good exercise. I do something similar. For instance ascend in C then descend in C sharp. Then ascend in D and so on .Very similar but your exercise l am sure would be more fun .Thanks again Sir.

[@MrJColtrane68]

Great exercise. Thanks Dr Wally. With my scale practice, I move around doing scales ascending chromatically, ascending in 4ths, 5ths and also by a major third twice then a 4th; C to Eb to Ab to Db then F, A, D, F#, Bb, Eb, G, then finally B. This is good to avoid getting locked into muscle memory and auto pilot

[@drwallysax]

Great observation and exercise, Anthony. You're right - fighting auto-pilot is a big part of the practice! (something I fight daily)

[@quangvinhinh5676]

Cảm ơn tiên sĩ bài học rất bổ ích.

[@clarinetninja]

Great video - and I wish my wall showed the scales I play like yours does! Great work all ascpects of this!

[@drwallysax]

It's the new Shermin Williams paint color: music pedagogy grey.

[@ΧαρίλαοςΠαπαδόπουλος-ω4β]

Awesome video!Once again!Thank you Dr. Wallace!

[@drwallysax]

Most welcome my friend!

[@roswellminard9350]

Great stuff! And the way you move your head when you talk reminds me of Thomas Dolby in the "She Blinded Me With Science" video LOL

[@paddylandreville8501]

Just love the way you teach the art of music.

[@drwallysax]

Many thanks, Paddy. Hope you're had a wonderful weekend!

[@sergiojaviersantanavaldes8550]

Very good this class. Thanks for teaching so well!.

[@drwallysax]

Most welcome sergio - happy practicing!

[@francistaylor5097]

I love this exercise. Thanks, Dr Wally.

[@drwallysax]

Most welcome Francis, have fun practicing this!

[@jamesjoyce6614]

Dr. Wally, thank you for another great video! I am working my way through the saxophone fundamentals course and I have been missing doing all 12 Maj scales daily, but I am trusting my Sensei to go deep on 1 Maj and the accompanying minor each month. Now I have this elegant excercise as well?! The quality of this channel is simply stunning. Ok, enough Johnny-like fanboying, I’m going to go practice.

[@drwallysax]

James, I can never get enough fanboying :) Have a great weekend my friend!

[@pacovalderrama4109]

Thank you Dr. Wally

[@Laura-wg5jk]

Dr. Wally, you are the bestest taskmaster! I think I will work on a line per week. Slow practice, but I AM practicing!

[@drwallysax]

If you take one swing a day at a mighty tree, it will eventually fall. Luckily we're not doing manual labor like woodcutting 😂 Keep at it, Dr. Wally is proud of you

[@instrumentalsax]

Great video.

[@eddyhoughton6542]

Great video, I love variations on scale exercises. I practice scales every day, but I've never considered this way. Good idea. I second the guy who asked for pdfs, or at least showing the scores on the screen. I play tenor, and spontaneous transposing isn’t something I'm good at! Getting two scores on the screen for B flat and E flat instruments would be marvellous.

[@bobpremecz5429]

Spot on efficiency. "Press and relax." - what a pearl of wisdom. PS - I like to also say "Bis be flats", which is my short way of recommending the use of Bis when the key signatures fall on the left side of the circle of 5ths.

[@Saxophoneabhijit]

Awesome 🌷🌷🌷

[@Naesman1167]

The best lesson I ever had.....

[@drwallysax]

Awwww, thanks! Unless the ellipsis was a pause before naming the best lessons that wasn't mine. But, happy practicing !

[@joshcharlat850]

I like your sense of humor.

[@millasanosa36]

Dankeschön von ganzem Herzen ❤️ 🌞🎷

[@drwallysax]

Sie sind herzlich willkommen!

[@thormusique]

I love this! I'm actually a guitarist but love your channel and approach (is that legal?). Seriously, I've learned more about playing music on the guitar from 'sax therapists' than from guitar players. When guitar students ask me how to player 'better' lines, I tell them to listen to every saxophonist they can, regardless of genre. And for myself, I like to practice from sax studies.That said, I find your no-nonsense approach (and sense of humour) very refreshing. I'm so glad I tripped over your channel while jogging the Interwebs. Cheers!

[@ashanesmusicdiary4972]

Best lessons Sir ❤

[@Schmidt-Sax]

Dear Wally💚 This is a very good teaching method for beginners. Super good .👍🏻🤝 Thank you very much

[@drwallysax]

Most welcome, Schmidt :)

[@Kridesaxguy]

nice lesson K

[@judithde9108]

Hi I have started your fundamentals class, but cannot find recordings for Etudes would you be able to post link or give direction where they are? Thanks😊

[@ekesamuel8795]

This video just confirmed something I found out myself. That is, articulation can disguise poor technique. Thank you so much for sharing your vast wealth of knowledge with us ❤️❤️❤️ By the way, that work out was 🔥🔥🔥

[@drwallysax]

Great revelation, eh! Good observation on your part - keep practicing! Have a wonderful weekend!

[@Lutemann]

I love this exercise and the advice on using the bis key. BTW, this is also ex. #34 in Jerry Coker's book, Jazz Patterns. Did you work through this book as a youngster?

[@javierquesada798]

donde where I can find them written that I can read thanks and cheers

[@solomann940]

Thanks for the lesson

[@drwallysax]

Most welcome!

[@prsrick4895]

Great exercise!! Where can I download a copy of the music? Thanks!

[@thepianokid27]

Thanks doc! Another great vid! 👍🏼

[@drwallysax]

Thanks! have a most wonderful weekend Ben!

[@mesayetedamilola6705]

This is amazing...we love you SIR

[@drwallysax]

I love you guys as well :)

[@ashanesmusicdiary4972]

Can You please do a lesson with play along excercise with alternative fingering ...❤

[@reuven8815]

Dr. W: this is GOOOD!

[@drwallysax]

Thanks Reuven, I'm having a lot of fun making these!

[@tsafrir100]

Thanks Dr. Wally! Are all the alternate fingerings in this video also applicable for tenor?

[@klaus8456]

Dr Wally are you supposed to use these alternative fingerings Upwards and Downwards, or only on the given variations of this excersice?

[@01contralto]

Good Dr Wally very good 👋👋👋👋

[@drwallysax]

Thanks my friend.

[@ivanovitchmarples2062]

Hi DrW This video is ace Is it useful, or just cumbersome, to play Side C when moving C to B or C to Bb, and visa versa?

[@robertpayne5233]

I've been doing something similar where instead of moving in fourths I move from one scale to another in half steps. It also gives you a workout in alternate fingerings. Also, it's good for my improvising as I often move from one chord to the next using half steps which is pretty common in jazz. Great video, and yes, flying fingers are a bad habit. those flying fingers also make your horn move which isn't all that good of a thing.

[@drwallysax]

I do love a good half step motion as well. Major arpeggios with half step is suuuuper cool too!

[@nick_cnc]

love the SOTW shade

[@drwallysax]

I absolutely never mentioned a specific forum. I'm sure whatever forum you mentioned is a lovely place where people are very polite and enjoy the craft. 😶

[@jazztime4]

Why no chromatic side-C on the C scale and G scale? I find this alternate B to C fingering valuable in many instances as it is adding a key instead of (more awkwardly) replacing a key. Shouldn’t this be a fingering alternative that is incorporated into an exercise such as this in order to help build muscle memory? (Have played 65 years and love your videos!)

[@dansherbon2482]

Side C on the C scale?

[@warrensledge5909]

Dr Wally what saxophone you playing?

[@maceonichols1987]

I play the soprano saxophone. The fingering for soprano is different than the alto can I Still use your classes.

[@laurentgodefroy3904]

Thanks a lot for this video and all the tips inside. However I cannot find the Pdf of the scales?!. Thanks

[@drwallysax]

not currently a .pdf available - but not necessary either!

[@MihaiIordacheJazz]

Great exercise, thanks! There’s something I don’t understand, though: when playing F# major, why end on side F#, though I have started with regular F# and the next scales (B, E, A, D, G) never return to side F#?

[@drwallysax]

Why does the boxer lift weights? He never has them in the ring?

[@20100delzenne]

Because you have to play the F natural (or E#)... it’s more obvious when you play descending f# major...

[@MihaiIordacheJazz]

@@20100delzenne Thanks, you’re right, I have figured it out in the meantime. It just seemed a bit counter-intuitive at first.

[@irfansheikhdehradun344]

plz make video for 12 bar blues if you can ...

[@drwallysax]

I've got a whole series on them!

[@irfansheikhdehradun344]

how long it will take to get...

[@drwallysax]

@@irfansheikhdehradun344 kzbin.info/www/bejne/epSxpGuPpbyLgJY

[@saxmanone]

how do I get the sheet music for this exercise?

[@drwallysax]

No pdf needed for this

[@andyquinn1125]

Oooh yeah. F# key on Mood Indigo baby! Okay another question Doc: chromatic scale uses F# key, and the sequence side Bb, B, side C, C#... Correct? Same for descending. I love it. Feels so good.

[@andyquinn1125]

Make that Basin Street Blues. F# key is perfect.

[@drwallysax]

You got it!

[@JayCee-hw4zc]

Was there a sheet to download with this?

[@drwallysax]

No .pdf needed - once you know your scales - it's a predictable pattern!

[@Saxmanjoe]

I quickly get lost trying to do the transposing stuff. What is the concert key to start in for the tenor so that the fingerings are the same as the alto?

[@drwallysax]

No need to transpose, these are "saxophone" exercises. They will sound different notes on Eb/Bb instruments, but we read/finger the same notes.

[@Saxmanjoe]

@@drwallysax Yes sir so if I use the same fingerings that you are what key would I be starting in on a tenor?

[@drwallysax]

@@Saxmanjoe Playing a C on tenor would be a concert Bb

[@Saxmanjoe]

@@drwallysax Young man, let me say on behalf of your senior citizen students that we very much appreciate your patience and long-suffering with us. All too often we don't have a clue!!! Have a blessed Sunday Dr. Walley! 🙏

[@johnsaliba7191]

I do this with all instrument study. scale use the way with instrument. You are So right nothing to urge here. JBS

[@BillRiedmann]

super helpful thank you now I'm going to go practice Portuguese

[@drwallysax]

Wait, that wasn't the take away....

[@BillRiedmann]

@@drwallysax seriously that's a great exercise thanks a lot It's a good one to just pick up the horn several times a day and go through

[@lion037]

Hey Doc! Is this exercise in the free book or available as a pdf? Also I need to work on not using the bis key for dang near everything...

[@drwallysax]

No need for a .pdf - once you've learned your scales (or as you learn them) apply them to this pattern!

[@lion037]

@@drwallysax Fine, make me do homework and use my brain to learn things. Next you'll probably say that "It's good for me." I'm on to you Dr. Wally "Eat your vegetables" Wallace!😋

[@drwallysax]

@@lion037 Sleep and hydration both benefit the performer as well ;)

[@schmuak]

Looking sharp as ever... maybe

[@insaneevillogan]

How would you practice this with adding the b6 from the major bebop scale? Would you just do major bebop work and this major scale separately or maybe do it in 9/8?

[@drwallysax]

I wouldn't. I recommend practicing diatonic scales and learning the alterations (not just the b6) in context of jazz phrases.

[@insaneevillogan]

@@drwallysax oh man, alright I gotta do some back tracking then I learned all my scales as major bebop scales 😃, shouldnt be too too hard

[@JeniTehan]

What if I said side b flat is the alternate fingering?

[@drwallysax]

Jeni, go wait in the car.

[@JeniTehan]

Sirvalorsax said he agrees.

[@jacquelamontharenberg]

You know Dr. Wally, I am a recording artist and producer. I am in the studio practicing and recording for hours at a time. When I am creating music and improvising, I am really not thinking about fingerings. It just flows. Unfortunately I have some bad habits as far as fingerings. I usually warm up with low Bb exercises, long tones, various scales and arpeggios. I am going to start practicing your scale method with alternate fingerings just to see if I can internalize the new fingerings. It makes sense, but it may be too late for me. Any suggestions?. Thanks. Love and respect bro.

[@drwallysax]

Love and respect back at you. Even if you never use them (you likely will), learning things in new ways can be a great way to spark creativity and keep us "young." I'll be interested to hear how it goes for you!

[@lyntedrockley7295]

This is amazing. Your right lapel is invisible. How did you do that? Seriously spot on Dr Wally. A great approach. Lovely sound too. Looks like you have an early VI, mines a '56. I like the retro furniture too;-) It must have been a schlep taking it out and putting it back in again everytime you demonstrated a scale!

[@drwallysax]

Obviously I have professional furniture and lapel movers for my workflow, I'm not an animal. This particular 95k Mark vi is from 1961, I rather like it ;)

[@lyntedrockley7295]

@@drwallysax Ah that explains everything. Thanks. So the VI is a longbow? As you have a Yamaha too I'd love to see you doing a detailed comparison.

[@robinchrist7172]

Thanks Dr Wally, wheres the yamaha?

[@drwallysax]

safely in the case!

[@eflat3666]

Maestro grazie❤️. Sottotitoli in italiano please🌹

[@newbiostat]

Do you know what helped me with my "flying fingers"? Back in college, I decided to glue my fingers to the keys. Although the superglue was extremely difficult to remove my fingers from the keys...yes, someone had to help, but hands were glued, it did help considerably. BUT, I would NOT recommend it.

[@fluteluc1]

Danka.

[@andyquinn1125]

Thank Doc. Very helpful. Just wanted to check: F# scale - same fingering for descending? Even if going below the F# note?

[@drwallysax]

if going below - use the side: all about avoiding the finger flip of F-to-F#

[@andyquinn1125]

Is there any change in fingerings if the contour is reversed - C descending F ascending, yada ...

[@kami2302]

Super unterricht

[@drwallysax]

Many thanks my friend :)

[@johnnythe3rd182]

I felt completely ashamed, he called me out on the 11 Seconds 😯 I'm doing my best Dr. Wally, practicing with my 🎷daily 👍

[@drwallysax]

Ha! It's just a goal (and lighthearted joke), no calling out at all! Happy practicing!

[@joekappes8648]

I have to say Dr. Wally I don’t think it’s just my imagination that you definitely have a different sound on that Mark VI than on your 875. I think it’s interesting that every time somebody asks about using a different mouthpiece guys always qualify their answer with, “ a different mouthpiece won’t make you sound like player X, you’ll still just sound like yourself.“ But I think the difference in sound between those two horns with you playing both of them is maybe not huge but it’s definitely noticeable. Maybe it’s just me. I’m an old summer cat. I was playing a Mark VI back in the day - 1970s and 80s- but I stopped playing for a long time and sold all my instruments. Now after a 29 year break I have a student level Yamaha 23. It’s an excellent instrument and I like the sound of it- I’m studying jazz now versus classical earlier. But I will always love the “Selmer sound.” And I wonder if having played this Mark VI for a while, you’re feeling a little temptation to make the switch permanent?

[@joekappes8648]

Correction: “ summer “ should read “Selmer.” Which reminds me - I heard on a certain saxophone web forum which shall remain nameless that the Japanese are working on a saxophone with auto correct. Can’t wait.

[@drwallysax]

Hey Joe! I'm not sure if I'll switch, but I figure I should own a great example of a mark vi for comparison. This one (94k serial) plays exceptionally well. I MUCH prefer it to the Yanigisawa (traded in) and King Super 20, but not sure I love it more than the Yamaha (yet) ;) Hope you have a great weekend!

[@HaHaHaHope]

When you say side F# key? Never heard it called that. Always referred to it as the Fork key. Is called side F# in classical study? Also I always use bis key never side Bb. It took a couple years to get used to it. Will never go back. My fingers are always on the pearls. Well worth the time I put in to get it down.

[@drwallysax]

It's more commonly known as the "side F#" key - residing with the rest of the right side keys.

[@HaHaHaHope]

@@drwallysax wow, I’ve had a lot of teachers. Never once called it side F#. Including George Garzone.

[@drwallysax]

​@@HaHaHaHope Older teachers (who often studied with clarinetists) sometimes referred to it as a "fork" fingering. A "fork" fingering comes from earlier clarinet, recorder, oboe and bassoon fingerings (closed - open - closed tone holes). "Fork" is referring to a fingering, not a key. For the saxophone, "side key" is a much more accurate description, and more commonly used.

[@damianbiondo812]

OK, I hit 'subscribe." Now, what is the 13th Major Scale? I demand an answer.

[@drwallysax]

Blorgal Sharp - now go practice!

[@damianbiondo812]

@@drwallysax Classic!

[@bill3837]

Oh my God options are always good😅

[@donl3248]

What is the Circle (or Cycle) of 4ths? The Circle of 5ths backwards.

[@drwallysax]

the Circle of 5ths is the circle of 4ths backwards. And the circle of life is unrelated.

[@scrunchymacscruff1244]

@@drwallysax Ah! got it.

[@Trevayne4]

Great video! (shssss everybody I saw a Selmer logo...)

[@drwallysax]

I scratched it off, you can't see it!!! 😂

[@victorrusin7602]

I couldn't figure out what bis means. It's French for alternate.

[@drwallysax]

One of my French speaking students recently informed me of this! Yes, alternate or "back up"!

[@Dennisax100]

😍

[@websoupe]

Brilliant and extremely useful. Thank you and thanks for the lion playing saxophone, this lion is the heraldic blazon of my place in France (north). It was the emblem of the old county, before the revolution in 1789, but we still use it. fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drapeau_de_Flandre The French Gendarmerie still have it on the uniform. fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drapeau_de_Flandre#/media/Fichier:Gendarmerie_Nord_Pas-de-Calais.svg

[@ralfputz6076]

This obviously isn't for beginners?

[@MrBobbybrown7]

Dr. Wally Wallace? Is that your real name?? Seriously, I know an excellent sax instructor from Texas named Dr. Woody Witt! Great channel !

[@drwallysax]

Wally is my nickname. But it's a real nickname.

[@MrBobbybrown7]

@@drwallysax Hey! thanks for the reply! If you get a chance, check out Woody Witt sometime. He studied at the University of North Texas (I believe) and then he went on to become a professor there. At one time we had the same sax instructor, Leonard (Len) Eby, one of the best technical instructors for saxophone! Again, great channel!

[@stickyoctopus858]

Cool video. I don't play sax, but you sound like Vsauce.

[@drwallysax]

Vsauce? Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

[@RockRabot007]

I'm amazed that by doing this exercise I finally find out who I really am. (Not ideal).

[@drwallysax]

Nonsense, you are exactly where you should be. We're all works in progress.

[@rubenaaronovitch-bruce608]

Goes round in the circle of 4th flats C - n/a F - bizz Bflat Bflat - bizz Bflat Eflat - bizz Bflat Aflat - bizz Bflat Dflat - bizz Bflat + side Fsharp key sharps Fsharp - start on normal Fsharp + side Bflat + finish on side Fsharp B - side Bflat E - n/a A - n/a D - n/a G - n/a

[@MrDavidFitzgerald]

He misses out A, right?

[@rubenaaronovitch-bruce608]

@@MrDavidFitzgerald ah yes my bad

[@scrunchymacscruff1244]

And don't call me Shirley! 4:33

[@drwallysax]

Shirley only works when followed immediately by the 2nd person subject of the sentence. Surely, YOU must know this ;)

[@scrunchymacscruff1244]

@@drwallysax That's correct; however, I couldn't abate my desire to spring a corny joke, waiting for the perfect grammatical storm to blow in. Please accept my humble apology!

[@drwallysax]

@@scrunchymacscruff1244 "Waiting for the perfect grammatical storm.."!!!! LOOOVE IT

[@obadee2000]

Please your sound here was noticeably different. Please oblige me your set up -Mouthpiece, reed

[@drwallysax]

This was demonstrated on a classical mouthpiece: Backun Vocalise TM2 - reed was a vandoren traditional 3

[@johnsaliba7191]

Maybe Paul Deville

[@smarams]

Stylish, useful, progressive. Go practice!

[@drwallysax]

Well tanks you Rodrigo, most kind!

[@Jaujau933]

A great saxophonist for someone who is always dressed as a "Door to door salesman" 😊

[@ajbnmd]

Much better dressed!

[@javierquesada798]

donde where I can find them written that I can read thanks and cheers