Beginning Improv
December 24, 2004 in Articles
spf40 writes “Ive been playing alto sax for about 5 years (I’m 16) and have played in a small jazz band outside of school . I am looking to begin learning improv and would like to find a book or a resource that would be great for a beginner in jazz.”
Best place to start is Jamey Aebersold’s Site. There is a wealth of information there!
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sunaric said on December 25, 2004
I suggest attending a summer jazz camp…You can really learn a lot quickly and have fodder for years of practice! Check out either Aebersold’s clinic (KY), Centrum’s Jazz workshop(WA), Stanford Jazz Workshop (CA) or another that is closer to you, with reputable jazz educators. Just hearing the teachers play, up close and personal, is worth the price of admission.
Santee said on December 25, 2004
I recommend my new book 
“SAXOPHONE – Everything Sax Players Should Know!”. You can view the book’s table of contents and some excerpts at http://www.aaronsantee.com
I wrote it to help sax players of all levels become a better all-around player/improviser. All scales are covered and written in the range of the saxophone (major, minor, minor 7 b5, Dominant, diminished, whole-tone, etc.), there’s lots of info on how to improvise and how to listen to other sax players for ideas. All in all, the book does what the title says, it provides “Everything Sax Players Should Know!” 
There are some questions and answers on Sax on the Web (www.saxontheweb.net) under “Sax Websites and Books” and I can be contacted via Email w/any questions. But I think you’ll find everything you’ll need at http://www.aaronsantee.com (in particular, http://www.aaronsantee.com/book.htm).
Enjoy & God Bless,
Aaron >
http://www.aaronsantee.com
http://www.shammah-fusion.com
Muffinmage said on December 26, 2004
Just wing it and listen to as much recorded jazz as you can find. That’s all the help I can give, but that’s all I’ve done.
But some sort of jazz camp is a good idea.
kurtanp said on December 27, 2004
I just picked up a book (and there are a gazillion books out there!) called, “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Solos and Improvisation” by Michael Miller. Man, I wish I had this book when I started! For once, in plain, step-by-step simple english, there is an explanation of where to start and how to progress. Of course, well-laced into the text of this book is the necessity of practicing and having all scales and arpeggios under your fingers.
In addition to this one, I recommend Jerry Coker’s “Patterns for Jazz.” In this book, you start exercising running a variety of scalar and chordal patterns over changes.
Finally, one of the best tools I have, in addition to the Aebersol books, is a software program called, “Band in a Box.” It’s really tough finding a back up band patient enough to keep playing while you are trying to figure it out. BIAB will be quite patient as you play a bushell full of clams.
If you don’t want to spend the money on this, go grab midi files of the standard tunes you want to learn off the web (there’s a gazzillion sites with midi files available) and set the repeat button to infinity and keep playing!
Speaking of standard tunes, you may want to invest in Sher’s New Real Books, Volumes 1, 2, and 3 or The Real Book. They have them transposed into C, Bb and Eb. Pick a simple standard, like “Billie’s Bounce,” or “Four,” grab the midi file or the Band in a Box equivalent and go to town. Memorize the head and play it with these files. Embellish the head of the tune as you are playing.
Next step is to play the root of each chord through the tune. Then play root and the 2nd. Then play root, 2nd 3rd. Then play root, 2nd, 3rd, 4th… etc. and do this until you can play the complete scale for each chord of the tune. Figure out what the pentatonic scales are for each chord as well and play them through the tune. Getting these notes under your fingers for every tune will give your ear what it needs as you learn the tune.
Next step is to grab one of the patterns you learned in “Patterns for Jazz” and play that pattern through the tune.
Hopefully, this will get you started.
neurone said on December 28, 2004
The 1st thing my teacher ask me is learn scale. I still make some scale sometime. Knowledge of scale and chords are a priority. The best book you can use to help you is Aebersold Major and Minor, the 1st book i have buy as far i can remember.
Aebersold book are incredible resource for everything. After Major and Minor you can refer to http://www.jazzbooks.com for next step and buy a book on specific type of improvisation. Feel free to buy any book from there, i’ve done a lot of transaction on the site and it’s secure. Aebersold is the best reference for advance player and beginner too.
spaceranger01 said on December 28, 2004
I would recomend the following method if you are new to jazz improvisation. My father wrote the method and is an experinced musician for the last fifty years. CHeck it out let me me know what you think.
Thanks Arron
http://www.jazz1improv.com/
jazzboy said on December 29, 2004
do you think there is any in north carolina
spf40 said on January 10, 2005
I didnt expect all this feedback but I think all of these replies were helpful. I went to Abersold’s and bought a couple of books. I might try a couple of the other ideas posted as well. Thanks again!