Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. I used to really struggle to learn and remember jazz tunes until I discovered an easy system of harmonic building blocks that unlocked the whole Real Book for me. So in this post, I’m going to walk you through three key standards using this […]
These 3 Songs Will Teach You Jazz Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Have you been struggling with the altissimo range no matter how much you practice? It used to feel impossible for me too until breakthroughs with my air, embouchure and mindset finally made everything click. In this article, I’m sharing seven tips I wish I
Altissimo Was Hard Until I Did This Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Ever wonder what pro sax players actually practice?I worked on scales and arpeggios for years without making any real progress, until I discovered a way to practice that led to huge gains. This method is simple and incredibly effective. It transforms basic exercises into
Just Practice Like This Every Day – Jazz Saxophone Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Want a beautiful saxophone sound, but don’t want to spend an hour a day on long tones? After years of practicing and teaching, I found a warm-up that delivers even better results in just five minutes a day. So, in this post, I’ll show
Gorgeous Sax Tone in 5 Minutes a Day Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Do you think you can tell the difference between me playing a sax solo and AI? I set up an experiment using the AI music app SUNO, and the results are freaky. I wanted to see if I could get AI to play the
I Replaced Myself with AI, Could You Tell? Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Why is the sax world buzzing about this new affordable bari sax? People kept asking us to make a lower-cost horn that sounds and feels pro, and we did it. In this post, we’ll walk through what makes the new BetterSax Classic Bari
The New BetterSax Bari Changes Everything Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. A Musical Brotherhood Spanning Decades Eric Alexander and Vincent Herring have been performing together for more than 20 years. While each is a force in his own right, it’s their work together that creates a uniquely powerful musical chemistry. Their latest album, Split
The Greatest Saxophone Duo of Our Time – Eric Alexander and Vincent Herring Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Do you ever wish you could play your saxophone anywhere, anytime, without bothering anyone? For the past two years, I’ve been loving this super fun, pocket-sized sax. The keys are laid out exactly like the real thing, and it has solved my silent
Sax In Your Pocket! Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Are you tired of your solos falling flat even when you’re using the “right” notes?I used to feel the same way, until I discovered a super simple practice method that eliminated wrong notes and finally made my soloing click. This approach turns small scale
Practice This to Play Better Sax Solos Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Do you ever wonder how some saxophone players play incredible solos that seem effortless? After decades of teaching and performing around the world, I can tell you that it’s much more about how you practice rather than what you practice. This article breaks
Practice Pentatonics Like this Everyday for Killer Solos Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Staying Sharp at 75 At nearly 75 years old, George Garzone is still lighting up stages with an enormous sound, blazing technique, and fearless creativity. I caught up with him in Copenhagen after a couple of sets at Jazz Cup, and his playing had
George Garzone on Playing Jazz Saxophone Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Do you struggle to improvise with good time over chord changes? I’ve just found an amazingly simple technique that anyone can learn, which will immediately get you playing lines that sound great or right inside the changes and swing. So, in this video,
Practice Improv Like This and You’ll Nail the Chord Changes Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. If you’re like me, you struggle to hear your sax on stage over loud drums and amplified guitars, and you’re tired of your ears ringing after every show. For years, I tried every kind of earplug, but my new in-ear monitors have been
How In-Ear Monitors Made Me a Better Sax Player Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Do you want a beautiful saxophone tone every time you play? After years of teaching, I found one easy embouchure anyone can master for instant results. So in this article, I’m going to show you how to copy my embouchure and finally get
Copy this Sax Embouchure for a Beautiful Sound Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Can practicing less actually make you a better saxophone player? That’s exactly what happened to me after I made just four simple changes to my routine. Now I spend less time practicing but my improvement has skyrocketed. Below, I’ll show you exactly how
These 4 Simple Changes Make Good Sax Players Great Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Have you ever wondered why some sax players choose metal mouthpieces while others stick to hard rubber? I spent years extensively testing every kind of saxophone mouthpiece imaginable and discovered key differences most players never even consider. In this post, I’ll break down
Are Metal Mouthpieces Better Than Hard Rubber? Read More »
“Why don’t manufacturers just make reeds that work more consistently?” If you’ve played saxophone for any length of time, you’ve probably asked yourself some version of this question. It’s a fair question, especially when you’ve paid good money for a box of reeds and only one or two actually play well. In our recent
Why Don’t They Just Make Better Reeds? (And What You Can Do About It) Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Finally there is a great, American made Baritone Sax Mouthpiece at an amazing price. A couple years ago, we started this ambitious project to develop excellent mouthpieces that were made in the USA, hand finished, and affordable. We really want students and beginners
We Designed the Ultimate Bari Sax Mouthpiece for Beginners Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Throughout my musical education, I have worked through countless books on how to play the saxophone. There are so many good ones out there, this list is just a few of the ones all saxophone players should be aware of. By all means,
4 Books Every Sax Player “Must” Study Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. This is an American-made Buescher Aristocrat tenor saxophone. It was built in 1946 in Elkhart, Indiana. This is a great playing saxophone, it looks very cool, plays incredibly well in tune, and has a beautiful tone. There was a time when the best
One Change Killed American Saxophone Manufacturing Read More »
Check out the audio podcast version of this post on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. In a recent conversation with amazing saxophonist Will Vinson, we explored the challenges and breakthroughs that come with mastering jazz improvisation. Many students express frustration, feeling that despite their technical skills, their playing lacks excitement and creativity. Will shared his journey from being
A Cure for Boring Solos with Will Vinson Read More »
