How to Play Arpeggios for Tenor Saxophone

Arpeggio is derived from an Italian word meaning "to play the harp." It's nothing more than the notes of a chord played one at a time instead of all at once. Arpeggios are more than a substitute for a chord, they are a major part of music improvisation, not only for tenor sax, but for guitar, violin, hammered dulcimer and almost any musical instrument.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Learn the notes of the chord you want to play as an arpeggio on the tenor saxophone. For instance, a C-major triad consists of the notes C, E and G.

2. Begin by playing the notes in order, such as C-E-G-E-C. Practice until you can do this very quickly and smoothly. Practice by tonguing each note and then slurring the notes.

3. Experiment with mixing the notes. Find combinations that appeal to you and fit the song you're playing. You can also play an arpeggio over more than one octave.

4. Memorize the notes of other chords to expand your repertoire of arpeggios. Begin by learning major triads, then minor 7th and dominant 7th chords. Finally, you can learn more complex chords.

Tips & Warnings

• A basic knowledge of music theory will save you from having to memorize chords. Instead, you'll know how to build any chord from the root position.
• For arpeggios consisting of more than four notes, some notes may be optional. Try skipping one or more of the notes to see how the arpeggio sounds. You can also try altering some notes by a half step to create diminished or augmented chords.