Transform Your Saxophone Playing Today
Stop guessing your way through practice. Follow a proven method to build a great sound, improve your timing, and play solos that feel amazing.
Welcome to the final lesson of the PSBE Crash Course. I’m very pleased you made it this far. I hope you’ve enjoyed the lessons and have gotten some value out of this course.
In this video, you will hear me play an improvised solo over the song form of Of Susanna, using our backing track.
In my solo, I only use notes that come from the Major Pentatonic Scale that has been the focus of this entire course so far.
As in lessons 4 and 5, we go through the song form 3 times. But this time around, I play the song the way I might in a live performance situation.
1st X through the form: Melody
2nd X through the form: Improvised Solo
3rd X through the form: Melody
Go ahead and watch the video to hear my solo…
I recommend you listen to that solo a few times, and pay careful attention to the on screen tips.
Start your practice session out today, by practicing PE1 along with the metronome. By now you should be able to play this a bit faster than a few days ago while staying in sync with the rhythm and without mistakes.
When you are warmed up, put on the backing track below and try for yourself.
Practice the same formula as in the video: Melody, solo, melody.
Oh Susanna - Backing Track
PSBE Lesson 6 Assignment
- Use the backing track to practice improvising a solo over the song form
- Limit yourself to the 5 notes of the pentatonic scale (no wrong notes)
- Make rhythm your number 1 priority
- Play musical and rhythmic phrases separated by space
- Have fun!
Extra Challenge
Learn to play some or all of my solo heard in the video. This is called transcription, and although it’s not easy, it is the single most effective thing you can do to become a better musician.