Music Basics

In this article you will learn basic techniques that will improve articulation. Great for begginners and any level of musician alike these 3 easy to follow steps can help you become a better player.

Playing the saxophone is not a difficult task. It is the easiest woodwind to pick up and play, but more difficult to master. There are basic fundamentals one must become comfortable with to begin...

In saxophone playing, knowing what the root is serves as a good reference point. Know what the root is when playing saxophone with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on...

When a third note on a saxophone stays the same, but the sevenths change, the chord becomes a dominant seventh chord. Know what the third is when playing saxophone with lessons from a music theory...

When a seventh note is involved on a saxophone, the fifth note is often left out. Know what the fifth is when playing saxophone with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on...

In saxophone playing, arpeggiating the seventh chord is known as outlining the seventh chord. Know what the seventh is when playing saxophone with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free...

Knowledge of saxophone chords allows saxophonists to recognize familiar music. Discover the importance of saxophone chords with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind...

For the saxophone, a triad is a chord that can be played simultaneously. Learn about triad chords in saxophone playing with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind...

In saxophone chords, the root is the defining point of any triad or chord. Play saxophone chords and learn about the root note with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on...

For saxophone, the third note can be lowered a half step from the major to be a minor note. Play saxophone chords and learn about the third note with lessons from a music theory teacher in this...

In saxophone playing, the fifth note isn't essential, but it's important in sealing a chord. Play saxophone chords and learn about the fifth note with lessons from a music theory teacher in this...

When a seventh note on saxophone is lowered half a step, it makes a dominant sound. Play saxophone chords and learn about the seventh note with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free...

When playing saxophone arpeggios in the key of C, the notes C, E and G are used. Play arpeggios in the key of C on the saxophone with tips from a music theory teacher in this free video on...

When playing saxophone arpeggios in the key of G, the notes G, B and D are used. Play arpeggios in the key of G on the saxophone with tips from a music theory teacher in this free video on...

When playing saxophone arpeggios in the key of D, the notes D, F sharp and A are used. Play arpeggios in the key of D on the saxophone with tips from a music theory teacher in this free video on...

When playing saxophone arpeggios in the key of A, the notes A, C sharp and E natural are used. Play arpeggios in the key of A on the saxophone with tips from a music theory teacher in this free...

When playing saxophone arpeggios in the key of E, go from B to E with the octave key. Play arpeggios in the key of E on the saxophone with tips from a music theory teacher in this free video on...

When playing saxophone arpeggios in the key of B, the notes B, D sharp and F sharp are used. Play arpeggios in the key of B on the saxophone with tips from a music theory teacher in this free...

When playing saxophone arpeggios in the key of F sharp, try practicing with a bass. Play arpeggios in the key of F sharp on the saxophone with tips from a music theory teacher in this free video...

When playing saxophone arpeggios in the key of C sharp, the notes C sharp, F and G sharp are used. Play arpeggios in the key of C sharp on the saxophone with tips from a music theory teacher in...

When playing saxophone arpeggios in the key of F, the triad of F, A and C is used. Play saxophone arpeggios in the key of F with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind...

When playing saxophone arpeggios in the key of B flat, it's helpful to play the bass. Play saxophone arpeggios in the key of B flat with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on...

In saxophone arpeggios, use the bass to play in the key of E flat. Play saxophone arpeggios in the key of E flat with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind instruments.

When playing saxophone arpeggios in the key of A flat, the triad of A flat, E flat and C is used. Play saxophone arpeggios in the key of A flat with lessons from a music theory teacher in this...

When playing saxophone arpeggios in the key of D flat, the triad of D flat, A flat and F is used. Play saxophone arpeggios in the key of D flat with lessons from a music theory teacher in this...

In saxophone playing, the F scale includes a B flat note. Play an F scale on the saxophone with tips from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind instruments.

When playing a B flat scale on saxophone, an E flat note is added in place of E natural. Play a B flat scale on the saxophone with tips from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind...

The E flat scale on saxophone includes playing an A flat, which is also a G sharp. Play an E flat scale on the saxophone with tips from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind...

When playing saxophone scales, remember that A flat is the same as G sharp. Play an A flat scale on the saxophone with tips from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind instruments.

Some saxophone scales may look different, but are actually the same scale. Play enharmonic notes on the saxophone with tips from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind instruments.

When reading music for saxophone, remember that the beginning of pieces will have a key signature unless every note is natural. Learn about key signatures when playing the saxophone with tips from...

When notes of a chord on saxophone are played separately, they are known as arpeggios. Play arpeggios on the saxophone with tips from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind instruments.

In saxophone playing, the G minor scale is extracted from the B flat major scale. Play a G minor scale on saxophone with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind instruments.

On the saxophone, the D minor scale is extracted from the F major scale, and everything is natural except for B. Play a D minor scale on saxophone with lessons from a music theory teacher in this...

For an A minor scale on the saxophone, all of the notes are natural. Play an A minor scale on saxophone with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind instruments.

When playing an E minor scale on saxophone, remember that the E is not sharp or flat. Play an E minor scale on saxophone with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind...

On the saxophone, the B minor scale is a very popular minor scale for concerts. Play a B minor scale on saxophone with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind instruments.

The F sharp minor scale on saxophone is like an inverted version of the A scale. Play an F sharp minor scale on saxophone with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind...

On the saxophone, the C sharp minor scale has only four sharp notes. Play a C sharp minor scale on saxophone with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind instruments.

The natural F minor scale on saxophone finds the F as the sixth of a flat major. Play an F minor scale on saxophone with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind instruments.

When playing saxophone, think of the B flat minor scale as a C sharp scale. Play a B flat minor scale on saxophone with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind instruments.

The E flat minor scale on saxophone can be easily thought of as F sharp. Play an E flat minor scale on saxophone with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind instruments.

On saxophone, the A flat minor scale has an equivalent in G sharp minor. Play an A flat minor scale on saxophone with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind instruments.

When playing saxophone, minor triads are taken from minor scales. Play minor triads on saxophone with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind instruments.

A minor seventh chord on saxophone is extracted from the natural minor scale. Play minor seventh chords on saxophone with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind...

Any type of saxophone plays in the treble clef. Play a natural minor scale on saxophone with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind instruments.

When playing saxophone, a C minor scale would normally have E, A and B natural as flats. Play a C minor scale on saxophone with lessons from a music theory teacher in this free video on woodwind...

Playing a low C on the saxophone is done by playing a higher note such as a C# or low D and rolling down to a C since an open saxophone is C#. Play this low note by listening to tips from an...

Playing a C on the saxophone is done by playing B and A fingerings. Play this combination of notes to create a true C by listening to the tips from an experienced musician in this free video.

Playing long tones on a saxophone not only allows the musician to feel the instrument with their hands and lungs but with their whole body as they expending their entire lung capacity into the...