Category Archives: Advanced

4 tips on how to play amazing solos on minor chords

20 August, 2021 Søren Ballegaard

4 tips on how to play amazing solos on minor chords
In jazz music there are so many tunes where you have long stretches of minor chords on which you should solo.
Just playing a Dm7 tends to get a bit tedious after a while.
Getting more vocabulary playing minor chords is both important for one or two bars and on long stretches of minor chords.
I want to show you how to spice the minor chord up melodically and harmonically with 4 great tips.

LINK TO VIDEO

In this tutorial
What are the basic theory, chord and scale material of the minor chord?
Minor 6
Minor 9
Minor major 7
Dominant b9
Minor chord solo add on manual
Show, play and analyze a short solo on “Softly as in a morning Sunrise”
Get the full transcription of the lesson:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/43289637

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Video links:
“Add ons for minor chord solos – minor 6, minor 9, minor major, dominant 7(b9)”
Transposed to the common minor keys
Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/43252315
Shop: https://sorenballegaard.dk/product/add-ons-for-minor-chord-solos-minor-6-minor-9-minor-major-dominant-7b9/

“How to play minor on dominant chords – 3 great minor sounds”
https://youtu.be/ExPAcooKQeI

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Mouthpiece is an old Otto Link Babbit – refaced from opening 6 to opening 8/8,5
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Soprano – Yanagisawa Elimona
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Advanced, Beginner, Chords, Intermediate, Learning methods/inspiration, Scales, Technique, Tier 5

Visualize and silent practice – Get the most out of your practise in this way

19 August, 2021 Søren Ballegaard

Visualize and silent practice – Get the most out of your practise in this way
Many saxophone players do not have the possibility to practise at home with sound. This is a huge obstacle in the development of playing and in the pleasure of playing.

I have used visualizing and silent practise for many years. This has given me the possibility to grow whenever I had time to focus on music.
Practise when you travel, in the train or in the car. Practise before you sleep, in front of the tv.

With or without the saxophone, with or without making sound – it is always possible to practise.
In this video I will give you all the ins and outs of visualizing and silent practise.

LINK TO VIDEO

In this tutorial
Why do I need to visualize when practising?
Why do I need silent practise?
What is visualizing?
What is silent practising?
How to visualize melody
How to silent practise melody
How to visualize chords
How to silent practise chords
How to visualize scales
How to silent practise scales
Show, play and analyze a short solo on “Perdido”
Full solo manual on Perdido
Get the full transcription of the lesson:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/43569123

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Video links:
“Full solo manual – Perdido
Solo, basic melody, chords and scale exercises and how to’s for melodic soloing”
– for both Alto and Tenor saxophone
Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/43528942
Shop:
https://sorenballegaard.dk/product/full-solo-manual-perdido-basic-melody-solo-chords-and-scale-exercises-ebbb/

“4 scale exercises you should know”
https://youtu.be/jH4BE08wJY4

“The 8 most important chord patterns you need to know”
https://youtu.be/oWV2LtH7GEw

Get more value from the Youtube lessons by supporting me:
https://www.patreon.com/sorenballegaardsaxophonelessons

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Lesson tutorials and live online lessons – check my shop:
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https://sorenballegaard.dk/saxophonelessons/

Advanced, Bebop, Chords, Intermediate, Scales, Tier 5

3 of the greatest bebop lick’s – apply to gain great flexibility

19 August, 2021 Søren Ballegaard

3 of the greatest bebop lick’s – apply to gain great flexibility
Using bebop licks when improvising is a must.
It almost does not matter what music style you improvise in – the bebop language is still so versatile and still so hip.

Get into these three most flexible bebop licks and add these to your vocabulary in any style.

LINK TO VIDEO

In this tutorial
Why is it very important to learn bebop licks?
How do I apply bebop licks to my playing?
Dominant 7 bebop lick
The pivot
Bebop arpeggio
3 of the greatest bebop licks and 100+ ways to practise and use them
Show, play and analyze a short solo on “Yardbird Suite”
Get the full transcription of the lesson:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/44107392

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Video links:
3 of the greatest bebop licks
100+ ways to practise and apply them
Transposed into 7 keys
Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/44072387
Shop:
https://sorenballegaard.dk/product/3-of-the-greatest-bebop-licks-100-ways-to-practise-and-apply-them/

HOW TO USE BEBOP CHROMATIC SURROUNDING NOTES
https://youtu.be/qFmIm_nZHco

How to use chromatic approach notes playing great jazz lines
https://youtu.be/5-EenXkudLE

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Advanced, Intermediate, Learning methods/inspiration, Standards, Tier 5

Want to learn jazz – learn these 10 tunes first

19 August, 2021 Søren Ballegaard

You need to know these 10 tunes first when learning jazz
When learning jazz we start by learning tunes.
Learning tunes from the American songbook is one of the most important ways how you learn jazz.
Why is this? Is what I am going to discuss in this video.
I also believe there are certain standards that give you a headstart when you have to learn jazz.
Therefore I have made the list of the 10 most important tunes to learn first – including the why’s and how’s.

LINK TO VIDEO

In this tutorial
The importance of Jazz standard repertoire
The form, the complexity, keep it simple
The list:
Blues, Perdido, Blue Bossa, Take the A train, Cantaloupe Island – modal, Pent up House, Autumn Leaves, Summertime, Rhythm Change, Solar
Full Solo Manual – “Pent Up House”
Get the full transcription of the lesson:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/44334490

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Video links:
Full Solo Manual – Pent Up House
Solo, chords and scales exercises, etudes and how to’s
For both Tenor and Alto saxophone
Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/44332147
Shop:
https://sorenballegaard.dk/product/full-solo-manual-pent-up-house-solo-chords-and-scales-exercises-etudes-and-how-tos-ebbb/

5 standards – here are the technical and melodic tools you should master
https://youtu.be/K7vDodntRMk

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Advanced, Beginner, Intermediate, Learning methods/inspiration, Tier 5

How to always practise the most important things in 5 minutes

19 August, 2021 Søren Ballegaard

How to always practise the most important things in 5 minutes
We all have 24 hours per day. No matter what you do you need to use the hours to the fullest.

You need to practise to get better, but maybe more importantly you need to have fun and live your life too.
This video is about how to get a super great 5 min practise, learn very efficiently, having fun and playing music.

LINK TO VIDEO

In this tutorial
Have fun and play music
Practise efficiently
Why 5 min of practise modules
How to plan and split up your practise
Practise examples on Take the A-Train
15 sec evaluation of your practise time
Full solo manual on “Take the A-Train”
Show, play and analyse a solo on “Take the A-Train”
Get the full transcription of the lesson:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/44919546

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Video links:
FULL SOLO MANUAL ON TAKE THE A-TRAIN
Transposed for alto and tenor
Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/44883581
Shop:
https://sorenballegaard.dk/product/full-solo-manual-take-the-a-train-solo-chords-and-scales-exercises-etudes-and-how-tos-ebbb/

How to setup a good practice routine make a practice program
https://youtu.be/1rP2AvDDdjM

The 8 most important chord patterns you need to know
https://youtu.be/oWV2LtH7GEw

4 scale exercises you must know
https://youtu.be/jH4BE08wJY4

Get more value from the Youtube lessons by supporting me:
https://www.patreon.com/sorenballegaardsaxophonelessons

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Subscribe for more free saxophone videos and lessons: https://www.youtube.com/c/SørenBallegaard

Lesson tutorials and live online lessons – check my shop:
https://sorenballegaard.dk/shop

Contact me for video exchange lessons or live online lessons
https://sorenballegaard.dk/saxophonelessons/

Advanced, Beginner, Intermediate, Learning methods/inspiration, SOUND/INTONATION/EMBOUCHURE/ARTICULATION, Tier 5, Timing

10 ways to improve your playing by using a metronome

18 August, 2021 Søren Ballegaard

GET BETTER TIMING
DO THIS AND IMPROVE ALL THINGS ABOUT YOUR PLAYING
10 ways to improve your playing by using a metronome

All great artists have one thing in common – great timing.
Some people say that you have to be born with great timing.
That is not true.
Timing is something you have to work for no matter who you are.
There are so many great and fun ways to work on timing so you should seriously consider to make working on timing a part of your practise routine.

In this tutorial I will show you 10 practise tools which can help you to get great timing!

LINK TO VIDEO

What does timing mean?
Why do you want better timing?
What does the metronome do
10 timing exercises to use in your practise routine
Show, play and analyse a solo on “Rhythm changes”
Get the full transcription of the lesson:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/45137934

Get more value from the Youtube lessons by supporting me:
https://www.patreon.com/sorenballegaardsaxophonelessons

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Video links:
“Chord pattern exercise manual – basic 7th chords of the major scale”
Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/posts/41195255
Shop
https://sorenballegaard.dk/product/chord-pattern-exercise-manual-basic-7th-chords-of-the-major-scale/

Chord note solos – Instantly boost your jazz skills using this method
https://youtu.be/kDRytP4m7jY

Develop your solos – train your rhythm using this method
https://youtu.be/GAEeJ-ZmcIc

Subscribe for more free saxophone videos and lessons: https://www.youtube.com/c/SørenBallegaard

Lesson tutorials and live online lessons – check my shop:
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Advanced, Beginner, Intermediate, SOUND/INTONATION/EMBOUCHURE/ARTICULATION, Tier 5

4 of the most effective sound exercises for your daily practise

18 August, 2021 Søren Ballegaard

MOST IMPORTANT – YOU SHOULD ALWAYS IMPROVE YOUR SOUND
4 of the most effective sound exercises for your daily practise

The first thing people listen to when they hear you play is your sound.
Not your great lines, not your speed, but your sound.
Luckily sound is one of the most easy things to practise.
With a very few great tools and practise methods you can get a really great sound or improve your already great sound.

In this video I will give you 4 of the most effective exercises to improve your sound.

LINK TO VIDEO

In this tutorial
What is a great sound?
What are the basic parameters for a great sound?
4 most effective sound exercises
The first sound exercises are breathing, relaxing and air flow foundation
2nd sound exercise – air flow
3rd sound exercises – strong sound
4th sound exercises – dynamics exercise
Show, play and analyse a solo on “On the Sunny Side of the Street”
Get the full transcription of the lesson:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/45962184

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https://www.patreon.com/sorenballegaardsaxophonelessons

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Video links:
“The overtone manual – exercises and licks – Get better control”
Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/posts/38835806
Shop
https://sorenballegaard.dk/product/the-overtone-manual-exercises-and-licks-get-better-control/

Practice overtones and get a much richer sound and better tone control
https://youtu.be/7AchOxuiDcE

Sound is everything – get a better sound – exercises and how to’s
https://youtu.be/q9htAAR3SLk

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Advanced, Beginner, Intermediate, Saxophones and mouthpieces, Tier 5

How to check out a saxophone for great, equal sound and smooth mechanics

18 August, 2021 Søren Ballegaard

BUYING A SAXOPHONE – DO NOT MAKE THESE MISTAKES
How to check out a saxophone for great, equal sound and smooth mechanics

There is a lot of trade in saxophones. Sometimes you want to trade up and get a better instrument. The reasons can be many.
The most important thing when you buy an instrument is that you are happy with your purchase, that you are stepping in the direction that you want – technical, sound wise and ability to grow.

In this video I will go through how to check a horn – the do’s and don’ts

LINK TO VIDEO

In this tutorial
Why do you want a new saxophone?
The urge to get another instrument
You do not want…
What do you need to check on a saxophone
Sound check
Technical check
Price check
Get the full transcription of the lesson:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/46485991

Get more value from the Youtube lessons by supporting me:
https://www.patreon.com/sorenballegaardsaxophonelessons

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Video links:
Full lesson transcription – Buying a saxophone
Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/46485991
Shop:
https://sorenballegaard.dk/product/buying-a-saxophone/

Overtones
https://youtu.be/7AchOxuiDcE

Sound is everything
https://youtu.be/q9htAAR3SLk

You should always improve your sound
https://youtu.be/Y5rd49zooJ4

Subscribe for more free saxophone videos and lessons: https://www.youtube.com/c/SørenBallegaard

Lesson tutorials and live online lessons – check my shop:
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Contact me for video exchange lessons or live online lessons
https://sorenballegaard.dk/saxophonelessons/

16th notes, Advanced, Chords, Scales, Technique, Tier 5

How to practice and add 16th note lines to your playing

18 August, 2021 Søren Ballegaard

DOUBLE TIME – YOU NEED TO START SLOW
How to practice and add 16th note lines to your playing

Rhythm is the most important matter in music.
You really need to be able to make variation in your playing by spicing up the rhythm.
A great and super cool way to do this is by going from for example 8th notes to 16th notes.

In this video I will give you the tools to practice and add 16th notes lines to your playing.

LINK TO VIDEO

In this tutorial
Why spice up your rhythm?
What do you need to know to play 16th notes?
Different 16th note lines that is already in your playing
How to build up 16th note lines
How to practice 16th note lines – three 16th note example lines
Go slow
Get the full transcription of the lesson:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/46814754

Get more value from the Youtube lessons by supporting me:
https://www.patreon.com/sorenballegaardsaxophonelessons

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Video links:
DOUBLE TIME – YOU NEED TO START SLOW
Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/46814754
Shop:
https://sorenballegaard.dk/product/double-time-you-need-to-start-slow/

The 8 most important chord patterns you need to know
https://youtu.be/oWV2LtH7GEw

HOW TO USE BEBOP CHROMATIC SURROUNDING NOTES
https://youtu.be/qFmIm_nZHco

This is how to play music while practicing your scales
https://youtu.be/vXI7SQOjKv4

Subscribe for more free saxophone videos and lessons: https://www.youtube.com/c/SørenBallegaard

Lesson tutorials and live online lessons – check my shop:
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Contact me for video exchange lessons or live online lessons
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Advanced, Beginner, Intermediate, Learning methods/inspiration, Tier 5

How to set up a short flexible practice routine – gamify and have fun

18 August, 2021 Søren Ballegaard

BEST PRACTICE – USE YOUR TIME THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE
How to set up a short flexible practice routine

Do not get strangled in long practice programs stretching over months of time.
Always make sure you can step in on what is happening at the moment.
Be ready to follow what makes you happy.
Being inspired gets you to the next step in your practice.

In this video I walk you through how to be flexible in your practice and still set up a flexible practice routine.

LINK TO VIDEO

In this tutorial
What is good practice?
Stay motivated and grow your skills faster
How do you stay flexible in your practice? – gamify and have fun
Do not lock yourself up in long term goals
What topics do you need to get around in your practice
Setting small term goals in your practice
How to make a short term and flexible practice program
Get the full transcription of the lesson:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/47159620

Get more value from the Youtube lessons by supporting me:
https://www.patreon.com/sorenballegaardsaxophonelessons

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Video links:
How to set up a short flexible practice routine
Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/47159620
Shop:
https://sorenballegaard.dk/product/how-to-set-up-a-short-flexible-practice-routine/

How to set up a good practice routine make a practice program
https://youtu.be/1rP2AvDDdjM

Get the “Ultimate Practice Program Planner”
Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/46968265

– sign up for my newsletter: https://bit.ly/subscribetomynewslettersorenballegaardsaxophonelessons

Subscribe for more free saxophone videos and lessons: https://www.youtube.com/c/SørenBallegaard

Lesson tutorials and live online lessons – check my shop:
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Saxophone-inspiration-motivation