Saxophone For Dummies

Introduction
	About This Book
	Foolish Assumptions
	What You Don’t Need To Read
	Conventions Used In This Book
	How This Book Is Organized
		Part I: Basic Information about the Saxophone
		Part II: Getting Started: From First Notes to Special Effects
		Part III: A Variety of Styles: The Blues, Jazz, Pop, and Classical
		Part IV: Saxophone Accessories, Maintenance, and Practice Tips
		Part V: The Part of Tens
		Appendixes
	Icons Used In This Book
	Where to Go from Here
Part I: Basic Information about the Saxophone
	Chapter 1: Saxophone Basics
		Meeting Mr. Sax
			The invention of the saxophone
			The saxophone goes mainstream
		Getting to Know the Sax’s Components and Their Functions
			Parts of the saxophone
			How the saxophone sings
		Finding the Right Sized Sax
			Meeting the saxophone family
			Deciding on your perfect match
			Following your favorite sound
			Matching the saxophone to musical styles
		Acquiring a Saxophone
			Leasing
			Buying: New or used?
			Starting with a quality sax
	Chapter 2: Assembling and Tuning the Sax
		Checking Out Some Important Parts
		Needing the Reed
		Minding the Mouthpiece
			Structure of the mouthpiece
			Metal or rubber mouthpiece
		Holding It Together with the Ligature
		Assembling the Reed, Ligature, and Mouthpiece
		Putting the Saxophone Together
			Assembling the sax, step by step
			Making high and low sounds
		Tuning the Sax
			Tuning in to a common pitch
			Transposing: Different notes for different instruments
			Adjusting the saxophone’s tuning
	Chapter 3: The Body–Saxophone Connection
		Adopting Proper Posture
			Standing correctly
			Sitting correctly
			Practicing posture with the saxophone
		Breathing Technique for Playing the Saxophone
			Diaphragm and abdominal breathing
			Physical support
			Training the diaphragm with deep breathing
		Adjusting Your Embouchure
Part II: Getting Started: From First Notes to Special Effects
	Chapter 4: Notes, Intervals, and First Melodies
		Gearing Up for That First Note
			Producing good sound
			Positioning your hands and fingers correctly
			Starting with the note G
			Playing notes with the left hand
			Playing notes with the right hand
		Exercising Proper Finger Technique
			Trying a few fingering exercises
			Moving on to first melodies
		Understanding the Octave Key
		Deciphering Key Signatures and Accidentals
		Knowing All 12 Notes on the Saxophone
			C#/Db
			D#/Eb
			F#/Gb
			G#/Ab
			A#/Bb
	Chapter 5: The Language of Music: Articulation and Intonation
		Playing Short and Long Notes with Articulation and Phrasing
		Ascending and Descending Scales
		Getting Down with Dynamics
			Bringing dynamics into play
	Chapter 6: Have You Got Rhythm?
		Feeling Rhythm in Your Body
			Clapping yourself free
			Going over ten rhythmic clapping exercises
		Going from Notes to Songs
			Playing a bit of the blues
			Playing a pop ballad
		Letting Yourself Go with Improvisation
			How improvisation works
			Improvising with pentatonics
			Practicing improvisation exercises
	Chapter 7: Scaling New Notes and Expanding Your Range
		Discovering the Highs and Lows of the Saxophone
			Descending into the low notes
			Lower-register exercises
			Climbing up to the high notes
			High-register exercises
		Getting Personal with Scales
			Adapting your playing using scales
			Getting to know the major scale
			Examining the structure of major scales
			Remembering flats and sharps
		Conquering the Chromatic Scale
	Chapter 8: Special Rhythms and Techniques
		Getting Into the Swing of the Rhythm
			Re-examining the eighth note
			Playing with swing
		Reaching New Rhythms: Syncopation, Offbeats, and 5/4 Time
			Syncopation and offbeats
			5/4 Time: “Take Me to 5th Avenue”
		Having Fun with Sound Effects
			Vibrato
			Bending
			Growling
			Flutter tonguing
Part III: A Variety of Styles: The Blues, Jazz, Pop, and Classical
	Chapter 9: Getting Down with the Blues
		Using the Sax to Play the Blues
			The blues scale
			The 12-bar blues
			Playing the blues
		Going from Blues Licks to Your Own Blues Solo
			Playing blues licks
			The Blues Lick Solo
		Playing Your Own Blues Solo
	Chapter 10: Jazz — Practice Makes Perfect
		Swinging with “Walking Home”
			Preliminary rhythmic exercises
			Getting down to the song “Walking Home”
		Improvising on “Jack the Mack”
			First theme
			Second theme
			Third theme
			Solo improvisation
			The whole piece
	Chapter 11: Rock ’n’ Roll and Rhythm and Blues
		Rocking and Rolling to Rhythm and Blues
		Getting a Rock ’n’ Roll Sound
		Playing “Green Potatoes”
			Chorus 1 and 4
			Chorus 2
			Chorus 3
			Putting the whole song together
		Catching a “Late Night Train”
			Taking it chorus by chorus
			Playing the whole song
	Chapter 12: Getting Your Groove On: Soul and Funk
		Getting to Know the Horn Section
			Seeing how each horn section is unique
			Playing in a horn section: Five tips
		Playing the Quick Sixteenth
			Doing the math of sixteenth notes
			Playing sixteenth-note phrases
		Getting Funky with “Brown Sax”
		Grooving with “Crushed Ice”
	Chapter 13: Latin Music
		Diving Into the Diversity of Latin Music
		Checking Out Clave
			Rhythm exercise 1 — foundations for clave
			Rhythm exercise 2 — clapping clave
		Spicing Things Up with “Sax con Salsa”
			Mastering melody and tones
			Seeing the structure and rhythm
			Improvising
		Blaming It On the Bossa Nova
		Playing “Antonio’s Bossa”
			Checking out the parts
			Getting the fundamentals
		Stars of the Latin Saxophone
			Stan Getz (1927–1991)
			Paquito D’ Rivera (1948)
			Gato Barbieri (1934)
			Chris Vadala
			David Sanchez (1968)
			Wayne Shorter (1933)
			Joe Henderson (1937–2001)
	Chapter 14: Pop Saxophone: To the Point and Straight to the Heart
		Hitting the Highlights of Sax in Pop Music
			“Sax on Baker Street”
			Careless Sax
		Playing Around with Pop Techniques
			Growling
			Bending
			Grace notes and ornamentation
			Overtones and altissimo
			False fingering
			Glissando
		Playing with Courage, Intensity . . . and Clichés
			Decisiveness and courage
			Intensity and emotion
			Clichés, famous riffs, and originality
		Standing in the Spotlight at Showtime!
			Styling, outfits, and accessories
			Moves and poses
			Freedom with a transmitter mic
		Feeling Starstruck: The Greatest Pop Saxophonists of All Time
			Rudy Pompilli (1924–1976)
			Sam Butera (1927–2009)
			Phil Woods (1931)
			David Sanborn (1945)
			Branford Marsalis (1960)
			Candy Dulfer (1969)
			Clarence Clemons (1942–2011)
			Kenny G (1956)
			Pete Christlieb (1945)
			Michael Brecker (1949–2007)
	Chapter 15: Classical Music: The World of Bach, Ravel and Co.
		Exploring the Big World of Classical Saxophone
		Examining the Repertoire of Classical Saxophone Hits
			Orchestral pieces for saxophone
			Concert pieces for saxophone
			Solo and chamber music for saxophone
			Saxophone and . . . Bach?
			Stars of classical saxophone
			Great saxophone quartets
		Getting Serious about Classical Sax
			Ideal classical sound
			Tuning, dynamics, and virtuosity
		Pondering Playing Techniques in Classical and Contemporary Music
			Top tones, upper register, and altissimo
			Double tonguing
			Flutter tonguing
			Slap tongue
			Circular breathing
			Multiphonics
			Quarter tone technique
		Selecting a Mouthpiece for Classical Music
			Typical and traditional mouthpieces in classical music
			The classical reed
			Choosing a saxophone
		Playing Bach
			Noticing the parts of the piece
Part IV: Saxophones, Accessories, Maintenance, and Practice Tips
	Chapter 16: The Right Tools for the Job: Saxophone and Accessories
		Selecting Your Saxophone
			Looking at top manufacturers and models
			Avoiding junk
			Being wary of vintage
		Looking at Mouthpieces, Reeds, and Ligatures
			Considering mouthpiece manufacturers
			Seeing reeds
			Looking at ligatures
		Finding the Right Support with Neck and Shoulder Straps
		Protecting Your Sax with a Case
			Types of cases
			Selecting a case
		Taking a (Musical) Stand
			Saxophone stands
			Music stands
		Meeting the Metronome and Tuner
			Metronome for time and rhythm
			Tuner for being in tune
	Chapter 17: Cleaning and Maintenance
		Keeping Your Saxophone Clean
			Swabbing your saxophone dry
			Caring for the mouthpiece and reeds
		Fixing a Sticky G# Key
		Maintaining Mechanics
			A well-oiled instrument
			First aid for the saxophone
		Storing and Reviving Reeds
			Storing a saxophone reed
			Adjusting a bad reed
		Following Some Final Advice
	Chapter 18: Practice Makes Perfect (Saxophonists)
		The Nine Commandments of Practicing
			Practice undisturbed
			Practice regularly
			Practice effectively
			Listen to yourself
			Structure your practice
			Use practice resources
			Work on technical exercises
			Practice with others and through others
			Practice with joy
		Approaching a New Song
Part V: The Part of Tens
	Chapter 19: The Ten Greatest Saxophone Players You Should Know
		Lester Young (1909–1959)
		Charlie Parker (1920–1955)
		Sonny Rollins (1930)
		John Coltrane (1926–1967)
		Dexter Gordon (1923–1990)
		Stan Getz (1927–1991)
		Maceo Parker (1943)
		David Sanborn (1945)
		Michael Brecker (1949–2007)
		Jan Garbarek (1947)
	Chapter 20: The Ten Most Important Sax Players and Their Best Recordings
		Lester Young: “The Lester Young Trio” (1946)
		Charlie Parker: “The Savoy and Dial Recordings” (1944–1948)
		Sonny Rollins: “Saxophone Colossus” (1956)
		Miles Davis with John Coltrane and Julian “Cannonball” Adderley: “Kind Of Blue” (1959)
		Dexter Gordon: “A Swinging Affair” (1962)
		Stan Getz: “Getz/Gilberto” (1964)
		Michael Brecker: “Michael Brecker” (1987)
		Maceo Parker: “Life on Planet Groove” (1992)
		David Sanborn: “Straight to the Heart” (1984)
		Keith Jarrett and Jan Garbarek: “My Song” (1977)
	Appendix A: Reading Music
	Appendix B: Fingering Charts
	Appendix C: About the CD
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